Decision-Making Part 2

In essence, this physical and muscle activity guideline apparently is not very difficult to achieve. One doesn’t even have to go to the gym and become a gym rat. In fact, one can clean the house, rake leaves, park at a greater distance for shopping, go dancing, go bird watching, tote   groceries, ride a bike, etc. All these choices can add to better health with increased longevity.

The fact that the majority of Americans are either overweight or obese and do not accomplish minimum activity guidelines suggests the following. Let me provide one example of a friend who has a high BMI index and overweight. He recently told me that his health was good because of his low blood pressure. This suggests that his conclusion about his health was incorrect because of his anxiety, rationalization and denial of all the negative health conditions related to being overweight. Or, is this intelligent man simply unaware or ignorant of the association between weight and health?  No, because in another conversation, my friend told me that he needs to reduce sugar and carbohydrate intake. One might ask, how can anyone, with all the information provided, be unaware of the health risks of improper eating and lack of exercise? If one is not unaware of the risks and goes ahead incorporating or leading a poor lifestyle, then perhaps, one has an unconscious death wish, aggression turned inward, need for abasement and has given up. There is definitely an inhibition pertaining to healthy eating behavior. Certainly, if one has ill health and not doing much to change that condition, then I can understand of not wanting to live. Who wants to live with exacerbated health issues during the aging process?

 One study suggested that DNA accounted for less than 10% related to longevity. As a result, maintaining a desire to live while being healthy is determined by choices in the area of foods consumed and physical activity. Therefore, recommendations include incorporating as many positive associations between food and food consumption along with proper physical activity. Consistency is paramount because man is irrational, short term pleasure seeking, provides many excuses for himself like employing cognitive dissonance, and defense mechanisms like denial and rationalization. Man can and does justify any topic or self-behavior under the sun especially regarding eating and exercise.

As I have been advising for years, keep moving.