Month: May 2021

“The first wealth is health.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I hear it said that the United States is among the wealthiest of nations, I can’t help but think: “At what cost?” This wealth gives us the “best” and most expensive health care in the world, but health care is not necessarily health. We can buy treatment for what ails us (though some will argue that this is not true for everyone), but health is not something that is affordable or unaffordable. Health is more valuable and more necessary than health care.

There is certainly disease that is out of the control of the individual. Much of the disease that plagues us, however, is avoidable. Inactivity and obesity are modifiable risk factors. They are risk factors that can be affected at the individual level, but, moreover, at the societal level.

A society that is not healthy is not wealthy. Likewise, a society that is wealthy and does not attend to the health of its people is foolish.

I dwell a lot on the obesity crisis (often to the criticism of others), but never with an intent to sham. Rather, my intent is to inform and to help. Hopefully, I can somehow affect the policy makers.

COVID-19 should be an be awakening the powers-at-be to the crisis of obesity. Sadly, they are focused on superficial treatments—on combating a virus (that rightfully needs to be fought) without considering the more underlying issues (i.e., obesity, inactivity—and, of course, the social disparities that underscore these issues). They ignore the impact that obesity and corresponding comorbidities have on the virus. They ignore the tremendous cost of obesity and inactivity on health care. Prevention is the best medicine. Exercise is medicine.

Emerson wisely wrote that “the first wealth is health.” Unfortunately, we are treating health like cryptocurrency rather than the gold standard. I fear the cost will be too high before we realize the path we are on.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

This is my first Mother’s Day without my mother, who passed earlier this year. Our relationship was not always perfect—as is the case in all parent-child relationships. I learned much about forgiveness and forgiving with my mother. I would not be who I am without the good and the bad of our relationship—as well as the many other relationships and interactions in my life.

My younger sister has been going through the wealth of photographs saved by my mother and it has been a trip down memory lane. We forget many of the details of our parents in their younger years—like I had forgotten how tall my mother was (she was quite kyphotic in her later years. I remembered how she loved to sew—and how, being the only boy, I escaped the matching outfits my sisters got to wear.

My mother saves a box of old sports programs, memorabilia, and artwork from my youth. I wonder why some of it was saved—what it meant to her—like a letter from my college dorm RA with the list and addresses of the guys assigned to Borman Hall-C or a note and assignment from Mr. Colley’s Health class at Jay Neff Middle School. Much of it certainly had some greater meaning to her than to me.

I am grateful for my mother. I am grateful for the memories and for who I am—and who my sisters are. Mother’s Day is different this year. I am sure I will miss calling my mom the Sundays to come and hearing her talk about how much she loves the flowers and how they are still fresh. I am grateful for the nearly 58 years of memories and for who I am today.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

Polarity is possibly at an all-time high in the United States. We are dangerously divided and being led by loud, extreme voices.

I was considering a proposal that is coming before the Faculty Senate at the university at which I teach (beyond the scope of today’s posting). As I considered my thoughts on it, I came to the conclusion that “we are in an unhealthy state in this country–Spiritually, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially, as well as Physically.” This was no epiphany. I have written to this countless times before, but it brought me to the state of this nation and, more specifically, to the state of education. We claim in education to be “inclusive,” to promote “equity,” and to be expanding the minds of our students. I see, first-hand, that his claim is quite often bullsh**. I see many who would prefer to indoctrinate rather than educate. I am sure that to some extent, I am guilty—though I make a conscious effort not to be. (I want my students to challenge me—to question everything that I teach them. I want to learn as much as I want to teach. I want to grow with my students.) The thought of a “liberal” education is more often linked, today, with a “leftist” education than with the true meaning of “liberal.” Education should not be political—it is neither left nor right. Nor is it “centrist.” I would suggest, however, that is should be “well-centered.” That is, it should promote growth of the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social self. It is not to teach student what to think. Instead, it is to teach students how to think. It concerns me that the proposal that has so aroused me is being initiated by a Philosophy professor.

We are not a “well” nation. The last year, in particular, has revealed that. We are far from being other-centered (Spiritual), we are Physically unhealthy (coronavirus aside, we are only starting to recognize—if we are willing to recognize—the tremendous cost of obesity and inactivity on our society), we are continually lowering our Intellectual standards, and we are Emotionally and Socially wanting. We need to stop listening to celebrities, self-proclaimed “experts”, politicians, and even educators and learn to think and act for ourselves. We need to learn to have polite, albeit uncomfortable, discourse. We need to challenge our thoughts and the thoughts of others. Stop being told what is right and wrong and prove it for yourself. I don’t mean this in a sense of moral relativism or the like. I mean this in the sense of absolute truth in a world of “my-truths.”

Seek to grow toward a better and more united nation/world. Let your world view be challenged and pursue wisdom. Stop following after idiots.

“Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but delight in airing their own opinions.”—Proverbs 18:2

And, yes, the above proverb applies to me, too.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

As more people wear the badge, “I am vaccinated,” many tend to feel comforted that the fight against COVID-19 is about over. I hope so, but I am not so confident. Why? Because the vaccine is (albeit necessary) only treating a syndrome to a much bigger health concern. Increasing evidence is pointing to obesity being the more dangerous pandemic—the pandemic we are less inclined to talk about. Not only is it a key factor in the severity of symptoms and death due to the coronavirus, but it is also central to type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, as well as other medical conditions. In addition, it is known that obesity decreases the efficacy of vaccinations (including the COVID-19 vaccines?). While COVID-19 warrants immediate concern, obesity warrants attention.

As I sit waiting to hear that my University is going to follow other Oregon schools and require vaccination for Fall term, I can’t help but ask: “Why, if we can be required to be vaccinated, can’t we require faculty to reduce body fat and be more active?” After all, this would have much broader and effective impact on the health and well-being of the campus. Of course, we can’t ask this of someone (or can we??), but the message has to get out that reducing body fat will decrease hospitalizations and medical expenses.

Obesity is a global issue¹. We can’t ignore it any longer. Sadly, it does impact some populations more than others, and some lack the necessary resources to make healthy changes. According to Popkin et al.¹,

“The COVID-19 pandemic challenges all countries enormously. Our systems, institutions, health and welfare will feel the impacts for many years. The high prevalence of individuals with obesity exacerbates the threat to everyone’s health, and the economic, social distancing and stay-at-home components compound the impacts. We will need creative solutions quickly to prevent undesirable dietary patterns and promote healthy eating, which is so critical to our future health and for building resilience against future threats.”

It is a community issue. It affects all of us. It warrants global attention. It is the fight that we have before us.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

¹ Popkin, B.M., Du, S., Green, W.D., Beck, M.A., Algaith, T., et al. (2020) Individuals with obesity and COVID-19: A global perspective on the epidemiology and biological relationships. Obesity Reviews, 21:e13128. doi: 10.1111/obr.13128

I believe in science. It is easy to make the claim, but I do. After all, I teach exercise science. To make this claim, however, I have to admit that my beliefs can be wrong. I have to accept the data. I cannot “cherry-pick”—I can’t choose only to accept the research that supports my narrative. Sadly, though this is increasingly the practice in the US. Worse, many would accept the summary of singular studies as “scientific.” Articles in the popular press, however, are not research studies. Thus, they need to be read carefully for bias and completeness. It has long been a frustration—even before COVID-19.

I am cautious when reading news articles and other popular press reports. In general, I first look for the scientific citation and go directly to the original source. More often than not, it will give me a complete picture of the study—whether or not it is well designed and if the reporter has accurately  represented the data. I also want to read similar studies.

The phrase “proven” is a red flag for me. Studies prove nothing. The results of a study are analyzed statistically and reported as probabilities of whether the results occurred by chance. (In statistics these are called “p-values. When a researcher reports that a comparison had a p < 0.05, this suggests that there is a reasonable likelihood that the difference did not result by chance—but there is never 100% certainty. Research as my Education Psychology professor taught us proves nothing. We only come closer to knowing the truth. One study certainly proves nothing.

We have become too accepting of what we read in the media. We have lost (if we ever had) critical reasoning skills. We read it (and it fits our narrative) so it must be true. Of course, when it doesn’t fit our narrative (and the “fact-checkers” support that it doesn’t) we reject the information.

I tell my students to challenge everything I teach. I am not often wrong, but I can be. I, too, after all, am learning. But, if you are going to challenge my ideas, you better come to me with support—more than just a magazine article or someone’s blog. In exercise physiology, you better have a physiological argument for your case. If you can’t, well, you are probably wrong (or you are right, but you lack understanding about that which you are arguing).

We owe it to ourselves and others to get the facts. I learned many years ago from my high school English teacher, Mrs. Moore, to cite original (i.e., primary) sources. Secondary sources, like newspapers, books, blogs, YouTube videos—and particularly social media, need to be confirmed. Even primary sources need to be taken with a grain of salt when they are singular.

Base decisions on reliable information—reliable as in “repeatable” or that which is capable of being duplicated. Base decisions on the strength of the information—not bias.

Logic seems to escape the decision-makers. Data. Show me the data! I understand data, not opinions.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

A few years ago, I wrote, “Reflections on turning 55.” I followed with “Now I am 56” and, somehow missed 57. Now, I am 58. Honestly, I don’t feel that much different than I was at 55. Age is still but a number–the passing of calendar years.

The question I have every April 30^th is “am I better today than I was last April 30^th?”  I hope I am.

Spiritually.  The Universe continues to grown around me. As I wrote at 55, “I see myself as less and less central to my Universe.”  I continue to struggle to live “I am third.”

This last year has been a year without church. Confession: I don’t miss it. It has been challenging to find a like-minded community. (By “like-minded” I mean a community that seeks continual Spiritual growth rather than self-acceptance.) I have lost religion and found Christ. Still, I need others to be “other-centered.”

Physically.  I have managed to permanently shed more than 20 pounds of fat and gain strength and muscle. Sure, I have aches and pains, but they are the same aches and pains I had when I was 55—the same aches and pains that I have had for decades.  I have made measurable progress.  I am squatting and deadlifting more than I ever have.  I don’t quite squat ATG, but I go deep, and I am going increasingly heavier.  I have no major health issues.  The hairs are continuing to gray, but. like when I turned 55, those are the ones that have chosen to remain in my scalp.  Physically, I feel great.

Intellectually.  Yes, I am still more ignorant this birthday than I was last. I take this as a sign of growth, though. I know more than I did at 55. I just  keep learning.

Emotionally.  I may be more of a grouchy old man. I am still not making progress in that department. In my heart, though, I still try to cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Socially.  I continue to be blessed by my wife and two incredible children. I have few friends, but the friendships I have remain strong. Strong relationships remain important. This last year—the “COVID year”—was a rough one socially. Though, it was a blessing to spend more time with family, it lacked our usual social interactions. It has, however, been fun to have the kids now invade the “15-minute check-in” that my wife and I have made a practice (though it does make it harder for us to have together-alone-time). We know each other better as a family.

I am still content (more or less—though sometimes more less). Life at 58 is great. Here’s to another year!

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!