When we talk about fitness and nutrition, we label activities and food as differing degrees of healthy and unhealthy. It doesn’t explain everything though. I have seen people who eat poorly or do little to no exercise that seem super healthy. More commonly I have seen people who force themselves to exercise ridiculous amounts and count calories, yet they continue to have health problems.
I think there is another axis to what is healthy. I’m calling it the Fear/Love axis.
If you study the business of fitness and nutrition, you will see that the profit lies in promoting fear and helplessness. There is an entire industry that makes billions by exploiting your fears of getting cancer, obesity or not having ripped abs. Once they have exploited that fear, they present themselves as an expert and if you buy their potion, DVD, seminar or whatever, you can be saved.
I listen to fitness podcasts where people in the top 1% of health ask panicky questions about the most minute detail of their diet or fitness regiment. Meanwhile some trucker is laughing with fellow drivers while he is enjoying the cheeseburger he has been thinking about for 500 miles. In society we applaud the neurotic fitness junkie and scorn the fast food customer.
There are 4 quadrants in the lovely chart above.
[A] Fear / Healthy – This is what the fitness industry wants. They can scare you into paying for products and services or you’ll get fat / cancer / whatever. Trained helplessness.
[B] Love / Healthy – You embrace healthy food and activities because you enjoy them. Perfect!
[C] Fear / Unhealthy – The worst group. They know they are living an unhealthy life and are stressed about it. They are targets of both healthy and unhealthy marketers. They will buy a pizza and a gym membership on the same day and then curse both decisions.
[D] Love / Unhealthy – A disappearing group. They get bombarded with messages that they are doing everything wrong and will certainly become sick and die. Yet they shrug it off and enjoy their smokes, beer and pasta. They like who they are are on the inside. I can respect that.
We punish ourselves for not getting up at 5 AM to exercise or because we ate a cookie. Becoming more healthy is not simply removing the unhealthy. We must add the healthy food and activities that we love. What if you haven’t found those foods or activities? Become an explorer. There are foods out there that taste great and will lean you out. Same is true with exercise.
Aaron
Oct 7, 2010 — 9:46 pm
“Becoming more healthy is not simply removing the unhealthy. We must add the healthy food and activities that we love.”
Wiser words I have not read in awhile. And you are so right on to encourage people to explore new options for health and fitness.
I think too many people look at healthy eating as ‘what do I have to give up’, as opposed to ‘what can I ADD’. And they look at fitness as ‘how much do I have to add’, instead of ‘what fun things can I do’
Having a positive outlook on making some changes will go a long way for most people in achieving their health goals.
PS I have ordered a quarter of a pastured Buffalo for my winter meat supply. Raised right here on the Western Slope of Colorado. Now that’s what I call ADDING something to my diet!
MAS
Oct 8, 2010 — 9:30 am
@Aaron – thanks for the comment. Now I want to eat a buffalo burger!
Beverly
Dec 3, 2010 — 6:47 am
Have any suggestions.
Getting married on Dec. 11th and marrying a man who smokes a pipe.
He smokes down the basement, but still I smell it upstairs.
My worry is will all the carcinogens (sp) seep into my lungs
anyway. I love this man dearly he is so sweet but cannot ask him
to give up his pipe, I don’t think he can, he’s been smoking it forever.
He is not healthy by anymeans. But I am.
How can I prevent myself from getting a smoking related illiness?
I was recently given an air purifier for one room.
Any other suggestions.
MAS
Dec 3, 2010 — 8:35 am
@Beverly – I can’t speak directly to your situation, but worrying about the possible dangers can’t be healthy. I’m not afraid of 2nd hand smoke, especially from a pipe.
I’m currently reading a book that covers the native Galethic populations that used to burn peat moss in their homes all year round. They had no issues. I wish I could recall the name of a book I read about 2 years ago that discussed the evolutionary edge given to humans that could handle smoke.
I wouldn’t let it bother you. Maybe increase your intake of anti-oxidants as a proactive measure.