Dx: Hypokinetics
One primary and preventable root cause condition which has contributed to the proliferation of disability and death here in this modern age, here in these United States of America, and the remedy there-in, is something that is quite easily accessible, low cost, and well within our grasp; it does not require any special equipment, a doctor’s visit, a pill, a shrill, a procedure, a pin-prick, or a single act of congress, to enact. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, obesity, and diabetes, are the top medical conditions leading to death and disability today; and as a Physical Therapist, I am in a unique position to help people forge a greater understanding about one quite simple and comprehensive treatment strategy; and that is encouraging people to get started moving again; in a way that makes sense to them; or in medical parlance, how to get started exercising their muscles, which in turn will automatically help each person to simultaneously begin exercising their heart, soul, mind, strength, and spirit. It really is a Beautiful thing!!
The problem plaguing we the people of America, and possibly every other society across the seven continents around the world, is the unintended consequence of progress, innovation, electronics, manufacturing, and AI. Self-imposed Hypokinesis, is the medical term describing this plague which has overtaken the lives, minds, and physical bodies of far too many people, for far too long. There once was a time when people near, far, and wide, did not have the luxury of today; and they were compelled to physically move beyond their individual zones of comfort, for good reason, and with positive effects; because today what I experience on a near daily basis, in the lives and times of my dear old people residing in the confines of nursing homes and hospitals alike, is the end result of living a Life of Hypo-kinetics; which oftentimes is brought about by their own self-imposed limitations on their movement patterns. Newton’s 1st law of inertia states that a body at rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion, unless some external force intercedes.
Our body weight, size, and abdominal protuberances, are the summation and end products of the equation; Calories-in minus Calories-out; or said another way, “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!!” Snacking, abundance, commerce, pretty packaging, advertisements, and pretty-personalities, are all pulling against our desired mind of moderation here in America. When we don’t move much, we can’t eat much; and on top of that, when we follow the pop-culture advice to eat frequently for better hunger and blood-sugar control, we dig ourselves in deeper and deeper. HUNGER is not our enemy, it can become our Super-power; because when we are hungry, that means that our bodies are remodeling to reduce, conform, and fit into a lighter, brighter, and more beautiful frame. That’s the way that it works; to lose weight we have to consume less calories than our bodies need at the moment, and from my reading of the scientific literature and from my own experience, that will end up leading to some hunger calls from deep down. But let us not be afraid, our bodies, minds, souls, and spirits, are far more resilient than we give them credit for; It has been shown that HUNGER is a fleeting experience and it is like nearly every other thing that we want to get better at; with a little education, practice, familiarity, and success along the way, we can master the art of remodeling; and today it has become my Super-power!!
Here are a few things that we can all do to avoid over-eating:
- Realize that boredom is the #1 reason we snack and pack it on
- Apply KEY-32: enjoy, savor, and flavor each and every bite
- Tune into your body and be mindful of your unique satiation cues
- Learn to practice the “push-away” from the table when it’s time
- Don’t be afraid to leave some food on your plate; take it home if you must
- Better to dump-it, than deposit-it for later use
- Don’t buy it and bring it home if it is not for your betterment
- Treats are ok, but try not to obsess; keep your distance
- Better to snack on a carrot stick, your favorite veggie, or a piece of fruit, etc.
- Don’t feed the Hunger
- Feed your LIFE
- Whole foods are better than processed, but don’t get over obsessed
- Enjoy a glass of water or a Diet COKE once in a while
- Remember, it all comes down to balance
- Enjoy foods, drinks, friends, and desserts, from the whole smorgasbord of LIFE; just don’t consume the whole darn thing!!
PLEASE ADD YOUR FAVORITE MINDfUL IDEAS!! LET’S MAKE THIS A GROUP PROJECT!!
“Thank-you very much, let’s give it a try, we can do this people!!”
P.S. to counteract the effects of Hypokinesis, we will also need to find some creative, enjoyable, and desirable activities, exercises, or movements, to engage in on a regular basis. Physical activity is where we can burn some significant calories, and this is possibly the most powerful component of any successful, long-term, and Life-changing, health, nutrition, and weight-loss program, out there!!