Lexington, KY - Have you ever heard the saying, "a rising tide raises all ships?" I believe this saying to be true in many situations, including health and fitness. I have been in the health and fitness business for over 20 years. I currently am seeing a "rising tide" trend that I have not seen before. Even though the news is full of gloom and doom reports about the rate of obesity, shortening of lifespan, etc., I see a trend toward health and fitness that I have not seen before.
Yes, the number of people that are overweight and obese is higher than it's ever been; this is a sad fact. Yes, healthcare expenses related to obesity are spiraling out of control and could help bankrupt the Medicare system as well as cause insurance rates to continue to rise. However, there is a tiny bit of a silver lining in the midst of this black cloud of facts.
Because of the enormity of this weight/health crisis, there is unprecedented attention being given to it. It is hard to go through one day and not hear, read or see some story or special program on the obesity epidemic and the negative ramifications it is causing. All of this attention is creating a level of awareness that I have not seen before. I hear more people talking about their weight, health and fitness than I ever have before. And the words I hear are less related to vanity (how I look or want to look) and more related to health and disease (how I feel or want to feel).
If you are engaged in a healthy lifestyle - eating nutritiously and working out - I think it is important for you to know that your own healthy actions can greatly affect others around you. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, you are setting an example for those around you and over time your example can help those around you improve their own life.
Remember, humans love to be followers. Right now, it seems like eating healthy and working out are in style. The simple need for humans to fit in could be an important component in improving our nations overall health. I don't care why people work out, eat healthy and keep their weight under control -
I'm just happy that they do it.
If you are the only person in your family or in your office or in your group of friends that eats right and works out, try to remember that you can help people around you just by talking about what you do and why you do it. Don't be preachy, but don't hide it either. Let it be known that you are making a conscious decision to not perpetuate Kentucky's shameful ranking as third fattest state in the nation.
There is no shame in taking personal responsibility for your own health and well-being. You should be proud of what you do to stay out of the healthcare system and to be less of a burden to your loved ones.
What you do to improve and maintain your health and fitness will pay big personal dividends, especially later in life. However, those same actions are contributing to the overall rising tide that I am seeing. I applaud all of your efforts for your own personal health and fitness and appreciate you being a part of helping to change the behavior of our nation. It will take a lot of effort by a lot of people to raise all of the wayward ships that are out there, but if the tide is strong enough it will happen.