Are your actions today focusing on the short game? Or the long game?
When you make food choices, movement choices (or lack thereof), are you only thinking about how those actions affect you in that moment?
Or are you thinking about how those actions and habits affect you in the future?
If you’re not thinking about your future, today is a good day to start.
One of the reasons I am passionate about preventative medicine is as a nurse, I have seen first hand the power that mobility and health has on us as we age.
As a caregiver to my father who suffered a devastating stroke in 2019, I understand that life can change in the blink of an eye.
Every moment that we get to choose how to react to stress, how to eat, how to move or not move is a gift. The mere option to choose is a gift many don’t have today.
So why should you be thinking about your future?
Two words: Metabolic Syndrome
What is it?
Metabolic Syndrome is diagnosed as having 3 or more of the following traits:
- Waistline greater than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men
- Fasting glucose above 100 mg/dl
- HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dl
- Triglycerides above 150 mg/dl cholesterol
- Blood Pressure of 130/85 or higher
Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for developing heart disease (the number killer in the US today), diabetes, stroke, or all three.
A 2016 research study referred to it as a “global epidemic.”
The fascinating thing to me is, you could be living a relatively healthy life and not be aware that you fit into any of these categories.
The thing with aging is we assume it is normally accompanied with bad health.
Woof to that.
Gaining weight as you age, losing mobility, embracing chronic inflammation and stress is in a very large part a result of your actions during the first half of your life.
“The way you practice is the way you play.” We said that a lot in high school sport practices.
I see the same holding true for how we age.
So let’s say you don’t fit any of those traits for metabolic syndrome, that’s fantastic!
Fight to keep it that way.
Research shows that metabolic syndrome is increasing, and increasing in individuals as they age.
How can you stop that trend in your own life?
Embrace your metabolic health. Prioritize life habits and routines that help you to have optimal levels of those markers.
Metabolic health is a pivotal part to any health and wellness goal.
When you focus on:
- Blood sugar balance
- Triglycerides
- HDL cholesterol
- Blood Pressure
- Waist Circumference
Maintaining a healthy weight will likely be a secondary result of doing so.
Want to improve your future and current self? Need help improving your metabolic health?
Click here to apply to join my program.
.jpg)
Can something as simple as a calf raise help to balance blood sugar? Here's a good reminder that small actions can create a huge impact.
The real reason most people fail to maintain what they accomplish on their health journey.