Being in health and wellness, I am often forwarded articles from friends and family about new studies, diets, exercises, etc. that pertain to our communities well-being.  The majority of the forwards are tagged with, “Is this true?” or “What is your opinion on their recommendations?”  I understand that the vast majority of the population is either oblivious to the health epidemics surrounding our culture or oversaturated with links and conflicted messages about the ways to get fit fast or the magic bullet to solve all health issues.  It really is confusing to seek out what messages are important and what action steps to take to obtain optimal health.

A friend sent me an excerpt from the Atlanta Business Chronicle this morning that sparked the idea to write this blog.  I included the original report from the Trust for America’s Health below for you to check out the findings:

http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/

Basically the article summarizes the findings from a recent report titled: “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future.”  The alarming statistic that provoked my reflection on health was that Georgia ranked 17^th in obesity out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.  More alarming was that 28.1 percent of Georgia’s population was categorized as obese; not just overweight, but obese.  It’s not a wonder that insurance rates are skyrocketing and chronic disease is sweeping the nation, when a vast majority of health risks are linked directly to obesity.  Another distressing statistic was that 21.3 percent of Georgia youth is categorized as obese, ranking it 2^nd in the most childhood obesity.   The south harbors the majority of the leading states in obesity, and upon reflection there isn’t much wonder as to why.  The southern culture uses food as a symbol of pride and love. Soul food and southern cooking are infamous for the use of butter, gravy, and other sources of flavor that incorporate bacon fat and cream.  While I am the first to admit that southern style green beans and fried green tomatoes are among my favorites, there is a certain amount of reflection that eating these comfort foods leads me to. 

On top of the southern flavors is the lack of physical activity.  If you step out around noon today, it’s easy to understand why taking a seat in an air conditioned room is more favorable than a mile jog outside, but at what cost.  What do we sacrifice for comfort?  Honestly, it is years off of our lives.  I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but looking at the big picture we see that all the little choices we make not only impact ourselves, but the people that surround us, our communities, our nation.  What are we doing to reverse the trend of obesity in America?  What role does each of us play?

This is my challenge to you.  Think about your actions.  Are they healthy?  Do you impact the choices of others?  When you cook, do you look for healthy alternatives?  When eating out, do you opt for a healthier side or ask to go light on the mayo?  Do you make a habit of exercise and encourage others to participate with you?  Each of us can have a positive impact on our communities, even if it is simply making an example of yourself.  People notice when you becoming health conscious, they are more apt to become aware of their own health states.  I know when I see runners/walkers/cyclist out exercising on my way home  I am much more likely to be active when I park the car.  When my coworkers bring in their new healthy recipes, we start brainstorming on how we could incorporate even more healthy options into our diets.  Set the stage to make a difference, not only because it will prolong your life, but because you might just light that fire for someone else.  It takes a revolution to change a culture, but the even the smallest effort can get the ball rolling! 

Please feel free to share ways in which you encourage others to be healthy!  Do you go on a walk through your neighborhood after dinner or organize a healthy potluck/recipe share for your co-workers?  Do you bring your GMM meals into the office to show others what a balanced meal looks like?  I would love to get ideas on how our readers/customers are sharing their passion for health and wellness!

I decided that this two month challenge would fit nicely into a training program with a capstone event (another way to motivate yourself to reach a goal!).  While I have always been active in sports, I often struggle with the motivation to participate in solitary physical activity.  Years of wear and tear on my body from competitive athletics make it difficult to still compete in sports such as soccer or tennis, so I am leaning towards something that I can train at my own pace, and focus on my physical gain rather than a final score.  I have decided that for the first time in my life, I am going to train for a triathlon.  As I said, I rely on the social aspect of sports to motivate my desire to workout, so I have enlisted some of my friends to train with me.  This is a great way to get started: build a support network of workout buddies and have a mutual goal.  I am lucky enough to have some friends that are eager to join my cause and willingly agree to train with me and keep me accountable.  Some have raced in triathlons before, but most are newbie’s like myself, just looking for a new passion and a method to increase their health.  It is amazing who you can bring together when you pitch an idea on getting healthy!

Step 2:  My group has decided that the former swimmer among us will lead the swim training, I will route the runs, and another friend will lead the bike rides along the Silver Comet Trail.  Things are looking good.  This means that at least 3 days a week I am getting in a different form of cardio and the diversity should keep me from getting bored (another great tip to getting started)!  I am sticking to my Good Measure Meals to take the guess work out of my diet-  I know that I am getting a balanced diet and the proper amount of carbs, proteins, and fats to facilitate my healthy weight loss.  I think I might expand my plan to also include snacks.  That way I have an immediate source of energy to replenish after my workouts-wherever I may be!  With this new training schedule I am glad to have the grocery and cooking time cut out of my schedule too! 

Tune in Thursday for Part 2 on “The Triathlon”  and more tips on how to integrate fitness into your wellness plan for the healthy challenge!

Challenge Update: It’s 15 days into the Challenge and I have lost 4 pounds and am feeling great!  That is right on target, although there might be some lost water weight in that due to the extreme heat!  Better stay hydrated!