Where To Begin
In order to simplify all the noise from the “fitness” industry, we need to go back to the foundation of what wellness is. Let’s be clear, this isn’t about who is right or wrong, it’s about what is true. Specifically, what is true for you. This series will be full of information on what is true for most folks, unless you have medical conditions or injuries that would affect what nutrition and exercise would look like. If you live with chronic illness (like me! I live with POTS, Endometriosis, Elhers-Danlos, and MCAS.), most wellness/health advice needs to be modified or adapted to what you can do. I will specify different guidelines, for my chronic illness friends, as they come up throughout this series!
Wellness is defined by the GWI as “as the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. It is not a passive state, but an intentional, conscious, and ongoing process of achieving one's full potential across multiple dimensions.” The first step of this journey is to accept that in order to achieve true wellness, one must consciously change and be willing to leave behind behaviors that leave you stagnant. Literally and figuratively. Health is defined as being free from disease, illness, or injury. It is no secret that in order to avoid disease and illness one must lead a healthy lifestyle. Our health is a chain reaction of everything we are or aren’t doing.
At a young age, I witnessed my father’s struggle with Type II Diabetes, and vowed to myself that I would make no excuses when it came to taking control of my health. I knew with an unquestionable doubt that through choosing a poor diet or not exercising (for a lot of people, both), disease was eminent. Not some far off possibility, but waiting for an injured knee, or back for it to rear its ugly head. By choosing a lifestyle where you eat for nourishment and move for longevity, you create a lifestyle that is sustainable throughout your life and adapts as you grow. In doing so, you drastically reduce your risk of developing alzheimer’s, kidney, heart, or liver disease, as well as reducing risk of falls or injuries. Reducing risk of unnecessary disease/injury, naturally reduces risk of pre-mature death or needing full-time, bedside care. Keeping our independence and feeling good for as long as possible truly matters.
My biggest hope is that this guide may provide the knowledge needed to inform you of not just what to do and how to do it, but why it matters. Being in control of your health is your responsibility, yet many do not know where to begin. The way to get there is a simple equation, and has remained consistent throughout the decades and across nations. I have spent years studying human anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology to apply it in my own life, so I know how much information is out there. But regardless of where you are in your journey, the basics remain true for everyone: we must eat well, in order to move well, so that we may live well.
