The Process Of Becoming Healthy, Make the Decision To Start The Journey

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The Process of Becoming Healthy, Make the Decision to Start the

Journey

By: John D Zelem MD

 

I am a General Surgeon with a passion for Health and Wellness. As I

watch what is going on in our country I am beginning to believe that

we are becoming a " credit card " society; we get what we want now and

are willing to pay for it later. We desire immediate gratification.

That does not work with our health. The media suggests to us that we

can lose large amounts of weight or get a " six-pack " abdomen in a six-

eight week time frame. That is impossible and the media knows it

because, if you look at the advertisements, their disclaimer will

say " Results not typical. " They are interested in the " fast buck " and

they don't care that it sets us up for failure with unrealistic

promises. If we don't achieve it we feel we are to blame and quit. We

take these kinds of external influences into consideration when it

comes to our health and look for those " immediate " results.

Becoming " Healthy " is not an overnight miracle; it is a process just

like learning how to walk is a process. You could not cheat this

process or find any shortcuts. You cannot take a seed and grow it to

harvest in three days. You cannot change or cheat the " Process " of

nature.

 

As you read this editorial you are, either, becoming healthy or

unhealthy. You cannot stand still. It is just like if you were

standing on a staircase; you either go up or down, but cannot stay on

the same step forever. The question becomes " Do you want to get

Healthy? " You, first of all, need to know your reasons why you do.

Some of us just need to look at our medical history and there are a

plethora of reasons there. We, as a nation, are beginning to lead the

world in obesity and diabetes. It is getting to epidemic proportions,

especially in our youth. Becoming healthy can reverse many of these

trends. Once you know your reasons, you need to make some commitments

to your cause. We, as human beings, are good at making commitments,

but, for the majority, do very poorly in completing them. Just look

at " New Years Resolutions. " We also tend to react to crisis faster

than the subtle hints that we get everyday. We decide to improve our

health after the heart attack instead of doing things to help prevent

it.

 

There are two phrases to keep in mind as you consider this

content. " The definition of insanity is doing the same thing everyday

expecting different results. " We all are guilty of that in all

aspects of our lives, not just our health. We feel that we can change

our results with our old habits and actions but if you continue to do

what you have always done, you will continue to get what you have

always gotten. The other phrase is: " If you want to make some changes

in your life, you have to make some changes in your life. " Change is

often uncomfortable because we are so secure in our comfort zones,

but change is good. It is part of the " process " . We will not make

these changes that we need to make to improve our health and lives if

the reasons for doing so are not important enough.

 

I am a perfect example of these phrases. I never was one to stay in

shape. I was too busy trying to get money for my education and I

needed to get good grades to become a physician. I did not pay

attention to the health challenges that I was developing as my weight

kept going up and my activity tolerance kept going down. I got the

subtle hints but did not pay attention to them. Then one day I was

informed after a routine CT cardiac scoring that all of my coronaries

were significantly calcified. Even then I finally tried getting

healthy, but, with only a half-hearted attempt. I was too busy trying

to survive in the world of increasing malpractice premiums and

decreasing reimbursements from HMO's. I was doing the same thing

everyday hoping for different results. I did not get any. I still did

nothing for my health. My weight was the highest it had ever been and

I still ate with the same habits.

 

Then came the financial crisis. I pretty much was going out of

business in my practice. I had to do something. I was made an offer

from out of state that I would have been a fool to refuse. I kept

hearing the phrase; if you want to make some changes in your life you

have to make some changes in your life. I accepted the position and

moved. While I was starting all over again in my profession I said to

myself that it was now also the time to start making some changes in

my health. I started going to the gym and got myself a personal

trainer. I have since lost many inches, and my weight is gradually

coming down. I have also found out that I have the Metabolic Syndrome

and have changed my eating habits and my lipid profile continues to

improve. I was on the road to destruction; luckily I changed my path.

 

So with all of this as background, how does one get started? Stated

very simply, take the first step: make the decision to start the

journey. That is how every journey begins. Make some commitments;

develop new habits. You do that every day of your life for your job

or profession because you want the result at the end of the week, a

paycheck. What about another result? Your good health.

 

One caution: Don't do it alone. Find yourself a mentor, someone who

has done what you want to do and is very successful at it. In the

area of health it may be your doctor, a personal trainer, a

nutritionist, etc. Find someone with the fruit on the tree and follow

their direction and advice. You will pay a golf pro to improve your

game. Find a pro in health. Finally, set some goals and go after

them. Let your mentor guide you in the process initially.

 

What are some of the other benefits of becoming healthy? Aside from

preventing diseases, some of the direct benefits are as follows:

 

• Decreasing hypertension

• Decreasing hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia

• Increasing the release of endorphins, the natural " feel-good "

chemical

• Increasing your HDL and lowering your LDL

• Developing a better self-image because you like the way you look

• Having a more positive attitude

• Being a good role model to your patients and family

• Knowing that it can be done

• Wearing nicer clothes, not those that hide your size and weight

• Better tolerance for activities

• Increasing your quality of life

 

Remember this: Becoming healthy is a process, which must be an

ongoing journey. Learn to enjoy the journey for, believe it or not,

the success of achieving these goals is not in attaining them, it is

the " process " of becoming who or what you need to become while you

are doing it.

 

 

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Dr Zelem is a practicing General Surgeon with a passion for Health

and Wellness. He received his education at Boston College and Boston

University School of Medicine. He is presently giving seminars on the

content of the book and on the Metabolic Syndrome which is believed

to be responsible for 20-25% of the obesity that we see. It may very

well be a precursor to diabetes. Our country is in sad need of

turning to health.

 

Article Source: http://www.wellnessarticlelibrary.com