Chris Christian's Blog
Posted by Chris Christian
As a society we are constantly bombarded with negative information. Mentally digested from the news, newspapers, radio, conversation with others and the inter-net, it’s basically everywhere. We don’t have to look hard to find it, in fact what we have to work hard at obstructing it from infiltrate our space, our minds and ultimately our thinking process.
There is documented proof that what we think impacts our bodies. Negative thoughts release hormones that can damage the body; by the same token positive thoughts release powerful healing hormones. We may not even realize we are being influenced physically by the information and thoughts that pervade our consciousness, our sub-conscious. Thoughts and information affects how we feel emotional and physically. They also impacts our immune system and it’s ability to protect us from disease and infection.
Guess what? If you attempted to guess what, you proved my next statement. We have complete control over our minds and what we allow to enter them! Not only that but we are free to formulate whatever thoughts we choose to. If I said “these are stressfully times we live in”, that is the thought or belief I chose to entertain. However if I say, “Live can sometimes be challenging but I enjoy the challenge”, I have altered my thought, belief, perception and thus the affect it has on my physical body.
We possess creative control over our thoughts and what we allow to influence our perception of life. I suggest we choose thoughts that make us feel good and filter the information we allow to permeate our minds; after all it could be the difference between health and illness.
Posted by Chris Christian
The evidence continues to mount, exercise is the proverbial fountain of youth. Everyday a new study is released touting exercise as the youth elixir. Lift weights to sustain bone density, stretch to maintain elusive youthful agility, run to arrest disease. Science and medicine are proving one thing is for certain, staying active obstructs the aging process allowing us to preserve youth longer.
I had an inclination of this very hypothesis some time ago based on the physiology of the human body and it’s innate nature. We (at least some of us, a majority of us, you might say) are far too inactive. Think about it for a moment, our bodies were designed to move, if not we might be rocks or trees or mountains, a park bench, but we have limbs and lungs and the ability to use and store energy. We have muscles and bones and joints designed to generate motion. I was right.
Let’s use the old adage “the body is a finely tuned machine” yeah you’ve heard this before right? Well it’s true (which is why it’s an old adage) if you keep this machine stored in the basement and hardly ever use it, it will start to deteriorate form lack of use. Well the human body is pretty much the same although it’s not a machine, if it sits on it’s butt all day long rarely involved in physical activity, it too will begin to deteriorate. Illness and disease are the repercussions of this neglect.
Go down to the basement dust off your machine, oil it, use it, that is why you have it in the first place, right? Allow it to do what it was designed to do; either that or it will soon be off to the big junkyard in the sky!
Posted by Chris Christian
Ok now that the Olympics are in full swing, we’ve had a chance to observe and admire the physiques and physical prowess of some of the athletes. Lurking quietly, secretly, within the depths of our minds (our imagination) is our desire to morph into a body similar to a particular athlete (only you know which one).
I personally believe it’s a prodigious concept if it motivates you to activate dormant muscle fibers, joints and energy systems. In fact, preserve the image, drawing from it strength, motivation, determination, passion, commitment, stability, balance, deliverance, tenacity. Internalize these qualities; summon them when you descry vulnerability emanating.
Research has shown mental imagery can be the catalyst for instigating the activation of the sedimentary. Conversely, attempting to tabulate rationale for the implementation of lifestyle alterations produces little compliance. So basically, you have a much better chance for success if you focus on the results and the actions associated with those results than you do if you contemplate why you should become active.
The Olympics are a wonderful opportunity to live vicariously through the activities of another. We can also utilize this ceremony of international competition, sportsmanship, pride and the prevailing emotional undercurrent stirred by the thrill of victory, to propel ourselves toward our own reward, opulent health.
Go USA! Athletes and citizens!
Posted by Chris Christian
If you have not heard yet, scientists have discovered that the properties of a chemical compound called AICAR mimic the effects of exercise. But, before you get too excited, the tests have only been conducted on mice so far, so they are not sure if the drug will have the same effect when used by humans. It seems the drug produced physiological changes to the muscle structure of the mice given AICAR daily for four weeks.
Whether it will work for humans, in the same way it does for mice, remains to be seen. But, imagine for a minute if scientists really could produce a formula that would allow you to sit on your couch all day long eating cookies, chips, ice cream and cheeseburgers and never have to exercise. You would only have to pop your exer-pill (fictitious name) 3 times a day to melt the fat away. Right now it sounds to good to be true, but who knows it just may come to pass.
There are some conditions for which this drug would be very advantageous. Think of the people who are obese and really can’t function normally due to their weight; this would be the perfect drug to reduce body fat content, allowing them to improve the quality of their lives and function normally again.
Ah yes! The exer-pill, for those of us who really have been meaning to hit the gym, lay off the sweets, reduce our intake of fats and processed foods and eat more fruits and veggies. Simply wait for the pill to hit the market and all our problems will be solved. NOT!!!
Posted by Chris Christian
As long as news and research indicate the collective fitness level of this country is declining, I will continue to stress the importance of transforming your lifestyle. Those people who need to take this step are probably not the one reading this blog, but if you are, good for you. You should be commended and so, I commend you, keep up the good work. I really mean that!
If you happen to be someone who is well on the path to a healthier lifestyle, please share this information with someone who may, by some miracle, be unaware. Healthy living is a lifestyle; you should not expect yourself to make all the changes at one time. It is best to begin slowly and gradually build up from there (where you currently are).
I have found over the years as a personal trainer that some people, mainly gen-x (but other generations as well), don’t focus much on food choices, activity level (or lack there of) and how these choices will affect them later. They really haven’t considered the long term affects and won’t until they are diagnosed with an adverse condition or disease. There is good news surrounding these diagnoses, however. Changing your eating habits and adjusting your activity level can quite possibly reduce the impact of the condition or get rid of it all together.
Of course the other choice is, don’t wait until you are diagnosed with a disease or condition to begin the process of altering those unhealthy habits. It’s your choice. I’ll talk more about the steps you can take to shift from unhealthy habits to healthy habits, smoothly and easily in my next article, “Shifting To A healthy Lifestyle”.
