Written by: Simone Kay
It is my belief that anyone can succeed when you remove all the obstacles that real life presents and prescribe exactly what is needed to deliver a short term result.
The Biggest Loser Families which began last night creates an artificial environment for success.
The real challenge with health and fitness is finding the right solution for long term success. As a personal trainer of 10 years I see that the real challenge for fitness trainers today is to create self belief in the individuals they train and support within their teams that will last beyond the short term program for which they have signed up and deliver lasting and meaningful change.
My TED share today https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_balcetis_why_some_people_find_exercise_harder_than_others highlights the value of keeping your ‘eyes on the prize’ and the positive difference this can make to an individuals perception of the challenge at hand.
For morbidly obese individuals, many of whom are likely to have co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and depression, maintaining a realistic vision of that goal for the long term is like summiting Mount Everest without oxygen. The view from the top is bound to be freaking awesome, but there is a very real fear of death before you get there.
So I have a few suggestions to make to help everyone get healthy.
Flip to a parallel universe and start the journey not with a week long eat fest of poison, but rather with a country homestay introducing the benefits of great food right where it’s grown.
Create curiosity in the adults, and their children, that engages them in the process of creating and enjoying food. Facilitate a paradigm shift that allows them to truly enjoy the taste and texture of food, the chemistry of food, the incredible positive emotions of great food, rather than simply using it as stuffing to dull down negative emotions.
Spend time planting seeds, pruning plants, picking vegetables, collecting eggs and feeding the animals.
Be active ‘farm boy’ style (thanks to Michol Dalcourt for this apt description of what movement should look like). Let’s move our bodies to get the work done that needs to happen on a farm.
Finally, engage and connect, over the sharing of food. Let conversation be the objective of the meal, rather than gluttony.
My now 94 year old grandmother grew up on a dairy farm. They were outdoors and active from sun up to sun down. They were busy and engaged in life for the duration of their days, at the end of which they made time to sit down together, she, her 9 siblings, parents and other farm hands and be grateful for food, for each other, for conversation and without knowing it good health. I know that things are different now, however fresh air, fresh food and being active outdoors are still a great recipe for success.
As a species we can do better caring for ourselves and caring for each other. Take on the challenge for lasting change today and create the biggest wins in your own life.
