The High Cost of Healthcare

Time for a little rant about the high cost of healthcare, but it's not really about why the cost is so high, it's more about those people that complain about the high cost but do absolutely nothing to keep the cost down.

It seems like everyone complains that healthcare is too expensive, but they do everything in their power to plant themselves firmly in the middle of the same system that they complain so much about.

These people base their nutrition on highly processed foods full of chemical additives and artificial sweeteners with absolutely no nutrionally redeeming values.

They will spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a home entertainment system so they can sit on their fat butts drinking beer and eating chips and dip for hours while they watch someone else be active. They will pay someone else to mow their lawn, do their gardening, and even walk their dog. Then they complain about their rotten health, and the cost of healthcare. When they do finally get out for some sort of activity (ahh, the weekend warrior), they are so out of shape and their bodies are so unprepared for the stresses they're put under, they inevitably end up with an injury. Of course, since their nutrition and fitness levels are so poor, their bodies don't stand a chance of healing themselves.

These people take a reactive attitude toward their healthcare rather than a proactive and preventative attitude. They abuse their bodies and then go to their doctors for the magic pill, or even surgery, to fix the damage they've done.

Time to put your time and money in perspective.

If you think you don't have time for a fitness program, think about the time you will be spending in the doctor's office (which you will undoubtedly complain about) and the time you'll spend recovering from surgery, or just laying at home miserable because of illness and injury. If you don't find time for your health and fitness now, you’ll really come up short on time at the end of your life. Find the time now to get healthy and stay healthy, and you’ll more than make up for it by living a longer and/or more functional life.

If you don't think you can afford to eat better or start a fitness program (either on your own or with the help of a trainer), think about the lost income when you have to call in sick or injured to work, or think about the cost of your medications and doctor's visits.

There are, unfortunately, too many things in life we can't control when it comes to our health, such as our genetics, accidents, etc., but so much of our health is in our hands. Start taking a more proactive and preventative approach to your health and reap the benefits.

A Relaxing Sunday

I got my day off to a great start with 5 circuits of the following:

pullups x 5
thrusters (65#) x 10
back extensions x 15
crunches x 20

I followed this with an hour long bike ride, and in the afternoon spent over an hour trail running and hiking behind Lithia Park.

All in all, a pretty good day I'd say.

Surprise?

Oh please! Does this really come as a surprise to anyone?
Foods Surprisingly High in Added Sugar -- http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/diet-fitness/2009/08/24/foods-surprisingly-high-in-added-sugar.html

TOPFIT Birthday Workout

Today after walking the Beast 4 times with TC and BC, I did the "TOPFIT Birthday Workout" which is 4 circuits of:

KB swings (24 kg)
squat thrusts
pullups
pushups
SB crunches
SB leg curls

The reps per exercise on each of the 4 circuits were (1) my age--51, (2) the month I was born--8, (3) the day I was born--25, and (4) the year I was born--58. Dare ya to try it! (adjust weight, and type of pullup and pushups you do according to your ability, and use your own birthday numbers)

Plus, I ended the day walking Elmo twice.

Working Out The Stiffness

In addition to what you see on the Blog, this past week has been full of more bike rides, runs, walks, and workouts in my garage (weight lifting, heavy bag, etc).....all culminating in yesterday's totally awesome trail run and hike. So, to help work out the stiffness, I took a great hour long bike ride today. Add in a couple hours of VRAs and you have a pretty decent day of activity.

Wagner Butte

In addition to two 1/2 mile warmup/cooldown walks and a quick workout with RF, I ran and hiked the Wagner Butte Trail. This is a little over 5 miles up with about a 2200 ft elevation gain. Fantasic hike and awesome views!!

Tabatas and More

In addition to the two 1/2 mile warmup/cooldown walks I took with a client this morning, I decided to do pretty much the same workout I've had a couple people do recently (weights adjusted according to ability):

Pullups 4 x 10
Tabata dumbbell rows (w/60# DB)
BB bench press (185#) 4 x 8
Tabata pushups
Stability ball leg curls 4 x 15
Tabata stability ball crunches
Stationary lunges (w/50# DBs) 3 x 10/leg
Tabata squats

Not a bad start to the day.

Later, I spent 20 mins on the heavy bag and threw in some of the usual VRAs to round out the day.

The Seven Secrets of Highly Obese People -- http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2009/08/the_seven_secrets_of_highly_ob.html

A Great Day Of Activity

Just because I haven't been posting doesn't mean I've been inactive, so I thought it was time to show you another fairly typical day.
I started with a great hour long bike ride followed by about 1/2 hour of kettlebell swings, snatches and clean & jerks. Later I fit in 20 mins on the heavy bag and finished the day with a lap of Elmo.

A Fairly Basic Day

A good hour long bike ride followed by 1/2 hour of heavy bag and kettlebell swings got my day started. I ended the day with a couple laps of Elmo.

Put Down Those Sugary Drinks -- http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090811/LIFE/908110302/-1/OREGONHEALTHYLIVING

Mt. Ashland Meadows

Had a fantastic hike and trail run for several hours along the Pacific Crest Trail around the Mt. Ashland Meadows area today..........what a beautiful place!

TOPFIT 1000+

Here's a little workout I did today that will really kick your butt if you're up to trying it (complete all reps of each exercise before moving to the next exercise):

x-trainer x 20 mins (moderately high intensity)
pullups x 100
pushups x 200
squats x 300
crunches x 400 (these were non-stop)
x-trainer x 20 mins (moderately high intensity)

Plus, I plan to go to the track later for a little running.

Lots Of Moderate Intensity Activity (and some high intensity too)

I started my day by walking the Beast twice and followed this with a great hour long bike ride that included some decent hills. Then I mowed the lawn and spent 20 mins doing circuits of the following:
pullups x 5
ring pushups x 10
squats x 15
SB crunches x 20
I finished the day walking Elmo twice and threw in lots of VRAs throughout the day.

Walking and Hiking

Two 1/2 mile warmup/cooldown walks with the kids got my day started, then I spent about 3.5 to 4 hours hiking the Soda Mountain area............fantastic day!!

Bike, KBs and Heavy Bag

I got the day off to a great start with an hour long bike ride, which I followed with a 45 min workout of power cleans, 1 arm KB swings and heavy bag.
Throw in all the VRAs I have planned, and it's going to make for a fantastic day!