It’s Time! By Liz Jones

Everyone knows that healthcare is changing. That is not news anymore… It’s time now to stop complaining about it and start taking ownership in it. Most people, even the “experts,” don’t fully understand all that the changes entail or what the outcomes will be long-term. What I think we all can understand is that, as a nation, healthcare costs are phenomenal. Hopefully you are still with me and haven’t gone off on a political tirade about whose fault it is. Stay with me…

What we do need to acknowledge is our own part in the solution to this. Some of the reasons health care is costing us so much is because people are not taking ownership of their own health, preventative care is by far the BEST way to avoid disease and to slow down the deterioration of the body. Staying healthy now, rather than trying to get your health back later, is something we can take charge of for ourselves and our families. I was at a presentation this morning in Dallas and liked the phrase that he used, that we need to present this to people as “slowing disease production.”

Right now, numbers show that over 80% of the male adult population in the United States is overweight or obese. Evidence is also starting to show that, more important than weight, is the circumference of your waist.
A high waist circumference and too much abdominal fat puts you at high risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. It means you need to lose weight.
By measuring your waist circumference, doctors can track your body composition before, during, and after your weight loss efforts.

A high-risk waist circumference is:
• A man with waist measurement over 40 inches (102 cm).
• A woman with waist measurement over 35 inches (88 cm).
*Source WebMD.com

It’s clear that there is a problem when 80% of our population is overweight, undernourished and inactive. Although “reality shows” about how to survive in the woods, obstacle courses such as “American Ninja Warrior”, and shows such as “Extreme Weight Loss” and “Dancing with the Stars” are becoming more and more popular, the people who need to be participating in activity the most, may very well be the people who are on the couch watching the show, as well as before and after the show (admittedly I’m loving the “American Ninja Warrior” and “Extreme Weight Loss” programs as well, when I have a chance to catch them on TV). What will you do today to help our nation bring the cost of health care down? What can you do to stop being a victim of your body and start being the steward of it?

Liz Jones is a wellness professional in Rockwall, Wylie, Mesquite, and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].