Why?

It’s an important question to ask yourself regarding your health. “Why should I try to eat healthy?”, “Why should I exercise?”, “Why should I try to stay fit?”

Did you know that there was a recent study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings from the National Health and Nutrition Committee that showed less than 3% of Americans live a “Healthy Lifestyle”!

AMAZING!

The study defined a “healthy lifestyle” as one that met four qualifications:

• Moderate or vigorous exercise for at least 120 minutes per week.
• A diet score in the top 40 percent of the Healthy Eating Index.
• A body fat percentage under 20 percent (for men) or 30 percent (for women).
• Not smoking.

Those are not difficult qualifications to follow!

Only 46% percent of adults got enough exercise, only 38% ate “healthy”, and only 9% had a “healthy body-fat percentage”. Only 2.7% met all 4 qualifications. Those are very disturbing results for this country.

(side note: when I got certified in 1993, the average male was supposed to be between 8-12% bf and the average women was supposed to be 17-21%……. So, you see how this country has started to grade on a “scale” – no pun intended.)

This is an alarming study. Meeting more of these qualifications were associated with fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. Being active and having a healthy body-fat percentage were associated with favorable outcomes in eliminating 90% of all risk factors.

Whether your answer to the question “why” is because you want to look better naked or just live longer – it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that something is motivating you to want to be a healthier person.

When I started working out, many of you know, I was a fat kid who was tired of being fat. So, the motivating factor for me at 19 years old was highly superficial. Most 19 year old kids aren’t thinking about their mortality or cholesterol levels.

But, as I aged my motivation changed. I workout now because I do worry about cholesterol, blood pressure, stress relief, weight, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and most importantly – Living Longer!

Becoming a father changed my perspective drastically. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done with my life. My family is my motivation for everything I do. I cherish time spent with them and want to do everything in my power to make that time last as long as possible. Those people who choose not to do the things that could improve the length and quality of their life just amaze me, and I can’t comprehend it.

I don’t always want to workout or eat healthy, but I think of why I should……..

I started a tradition 4 years ago with my son. I let him skip school and we go to opening day at Fenway Park every year. This is something I cherish and hope to do for many years to come.

There are few things I enjoy more than seeing my 4 year old daughter dance. The joy she exhibits and the love she has for dance is contagious. I can’t imagine not being around for her recitals.

My wife and I work, and work, and work. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to take time for each other, so we make special times to share (concerts, overnight get-aways, etc.) and remind each other why we fell in love in the first place.

There are so many reasons “why” you should workout. Find the one that motivates you, so that it keeps you around to do those things you love with the people you love.