Why should you join?
The Oklahoman, March, 2006
Proper fitness can help keep medicines away
By Brian Attebery, The Oklahoman, 3/14/2006
Fitness can be a frustrating experience filled with plenty of conflicting information.
Earlier this year, one of my clients had a cardiac event while having a colonoscopy. Luckily he was fine, but after six weeks of bed rest, he was weak and had lost 30 pounds. His doctor told him to begin walking but not to lift weights.
I contend that by regaining his muscular strength in his thighs, he would not have to push himself so hard on his walks. This would reduce the stress on his heart in the long run. His muscles would perceive walking as a huge strain on the cardiovascular system, much as running is more difficult than walking due to increased muscular exertion. His muscles were so weak already that walking would feel to his cardiovascular system like running.
This would be much more difficult than lifting a light set of weights and then resting between sets to allow him to recover and catch his breath. He could pace himself and slowly build his volume.
I recently had a female client diagnosed with the early signs of Type II diabetes. To my excitement, her doctor agreed to wait before prescribing medicines to lower her blood sugar. I told my client to ask her doctor if she could have 90 more days to be re-evaluated. This meant my client had to closely follow her diet, exercise and supplement program. Her doctor gave her a blood glucose monitoring device so she could track her blood sugar levels.
At six weeks, she was about 10 pounds lighter and about 25 percent lower on her blood sugar levels in the morning. Now, if her doctor had started those medicines for her, do you think she would be as motivated to lower her blood sugar through lifestyle changes?
Four years ago, a patient had a blood pressure measurement of 150 over 100. Normal blood pressure is about 120 over 80. The patient was determined not to get on medication. The doctor told her she had to visit me and follow my advice if she wanted to walk out of his office without medicines. He re-checked her six weeks later, and her pressure was 124 over 80. It was near perfect through proper nutrition and consistent exercise, without medicine. The latest check she reported to me was a blood pressure reading of 110 over 60.
I had a client who visited the chiropractor for an ongoing hip and lower back problem. Her hip joint would pop out periodically, and the chiropractor would pop it back in every few weeks and sometimes weekly. This went on for about 10 years. The woman was overweight and out of shape. Through pure frustration, she asked the chiropractor if her condition would improve if she lost weight and started exercising. He said it probably would. Six weeks later, her hip problem virtually stopped. The muscles simply needed to be strengthened to align the hip as part of the chiropractic adjustment process.
You should think about how much control you have over your health. Prevention is a key to proper health. Exercise and nutrition are key parts of your whole body’s preventive maintenance process. Check with your physician before beginning an exercise program, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek a second opinion. Be proactive with your health.
Attebery is a nationally recognized, degreed and certified trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center in Edmond.
Copyright © 2007 Edmond's Best
