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 what is true for most folks, unless they have medical conditions or injuries that would affect what nutrition and exercise looks like. If you live with chronic illness (like me! I live with POTS, Endometriosis, Elhers-Danlos, and MCAS.), you know how draining to is to hear fitness influences talk as if you live in a normal body without limitations. Regardless of where you are, the basics remain true for everyone: we must eat well in order to move well so that we may live well.
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.
My biggest hope is that this guide may provide the knowledge needed to inform you of why choosing to live well matters and how to achieve it. 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 to my own life. At a young age, I witnessed my father’s struggle with Type II Diabetes, and vowed to myself that I would make no excuses on taking control of my health. I knew with an unquestionable doubt that through choosing to poor diet and not exercising (or 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 head. By choosing a lifestyle where eating for nourishment and moving for prevention is imperative, you drastically reduce your risk of developing alzheimer’s, kidney, heart, or liver diseases, as well as greatly reducing risk of injuries. Reducing your risk of unnecessary disease and injuries, naturally reduces your risk of a pre-mature death or needing full-time, bedside care. Keeping our independence and feeling good for as long as possible truly matters.
Our health is our responsibility, not to be blamed on genetics or injuries. As someone who has multiple chronic illnesses that affect how and when I am able to move my body, I have never made it an excuse to stop taking care of myself. As someone who has sustained a serious TBI that affected my ability to stand and walk, I know how important any movement at all is. There is no excuse to not take accountability for your habits, both good and bad.
