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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

HAHPN - December #1 2010 - Possibilities


  • (Re)Think Possible
  • Brett Favre'd

(Re)Think Possible
My old and dilapidated Nokia flip phone from 2004/05 conked out on me on Thanksgiving Day. So, I had to catch up with the rest of society and buy a new and more current phone by AT&T, the wireless carrier with the "Rethink Possible" slogan. I realized that I finally needed a change. I realized that it was possible to perform better in the cellular world if I made a change.

I am still getting used to my new phone: out with the old and in with the completely new everything it seems.

Although I liked my old phone mainly because it lasted for a very long time (probably 40 years in cell phone life) and gave me good results until the end, I needed better results as the industry changed. Oh, how this phenomenon is paralleled in our daily lives. For example, you may have a nutritional, behavioral, or physical issue to which you have been so accustomed; but it needs more than a tune-up. It needs a new cocoon or rebirth! You may have endured a lot of setbacks this year that have lead you to 'dead-ends' and down paths that are unfamiliar.

Right now, you could be thinking that everything or most things seem realistically impossible. Something or someone else could be driving your thoughts on impossibility, but you should, in fact, be thinking about possibility. Believe me, I am not a preacher. I'm just a health professional that sees many similarities between health, fitness, and wellness, and what you may call real life situations.

There is an immense analogy.

December is a great transition point between this year and next year. If you have set a health goal, stick to it! Don't write it off and say whatever because it will nag you over and over until it becomes the same, tired, and dilapidated goal you set every year. Anyway, if you set the same goal every year is it really a goal?

(Different thought process than a team or individual that sets their sites on winning a championship every year. News flash: every team or individual wants to win a championship every year. Hello, you don't play to lose!)

Brett Favre'd
So, you've heard the story. He's broken many National Football League (NFL) records. He's won a Super Bowl. He's won over many fans and enemies. He's gained a lot of respect. He even plays hurt.

He also cannot make up his mind whether to stay retired or go through the rigors of professional football - this might be true until now. I'm looking at Brett Favre, quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, as though he sees how possible it is to keep playing professional football. I mean he can still play in the league. He's probably better than most quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Similarly, he cannot or will not be demoted. I do think that if Favre had an attitude of "I am an old NFL quarterback who thinks he cannot win, does not want to win, and will quit no matter what" than the outlook would be different. Look at all of the players who quit on their teams and are not injured or think they cannot do something.

So, Favre is looked at as someone who has trouble making up his mind. The whole saga is annoying. I'm not taking sides here, but old #4 is pushing. Someone has to be at least taking note to any present perseverance.

Be well,
Derek

Sunday, December 5, 2010

HAHPN - November #8 2010 - The Customer

  • (Customer) Service at Its Best
(Customer) Service at Its Best
It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But, some people like the spring better anyway.

During this time of year, stores will be packed with holiday shoppers. The essence of customer service is so vital right now. Since you all have been good sports and have endured the increase in emails this month, I wanted to leave you with something to look forward to for the month of December. The topic of customer service is a little different from health and fitness, but it does pertain to the context in which they are given. Not to mention, good customer service should be exercised in every retail store, home, church, in normal conversation, and more. However, this problem exists: good customer service is not always present.

I have a slight...yea, a slight (I was going to say "huge")...problem with poor customer service, especially in my field.

For so many people, this time of a year is a vulnerable time. Therefore, special attention to good customer service should be practiced. Rudeness does not have room. Going above and beyond keeps the customer/guest, and the worker/employee/host seeks great care.

Happy December,
Derek

HAHPN - November #7 2010 - Recipe Sector

  • Quick Note
  • Movement Recipe
  • The Doctor's Note

Quick Note: Bare with me as I give you all two e-newsletters in a row. I had intended on giving you the 7th November email last week and the 8th one this week, but I had an unexpected loss. So, things changed just a little bit. You were supposed to get a video, but December will bring more videos instead.

Movement Recipe
What is it? A movement recipe is simply another way to move better. It may involve re/organizing your office, house, room, or desk space in a manner that makes you move more. For example, let's say you sit at your desk for hours. The phone is conveniently placed in arms length. The printer is just a backwards push of your chair away. For starters, you can place your printer further away; so you have rise up from your chair and walk to the printer, which could lessen muscle stiffening.

But, do not think to have pity on yourself just because you know or may find out that you may not move as fluidly as you did 5, 10, 15, or even 30 years ago. Before that happens, this season or even this week visit someone who is sick. They're either in the hospital, in a nursing home, a family member, a friend, or a stranger. We're all involved in this wellness plan!

The Doctor's Note
Just because the doc says all vitals are fine does not mean everything is absolutely perfect. Sure, 120mm Hg/80mm Hg is normal blood pressure and total cholesterol below 200mg/dL decreases your risk of heart disease, especially among men. You may walk out of the doc's office svelte and happy. That is good by the way. But, look down and you see a tire. Or, look up and you may feel a lot of tightness in your neck. Better yet, look to the side and you may realize that you're limited in your range of motion.

Ah yes, the doctor did not give you the lab values for these movements. These are the small intangibles that escape the doctor's good vitals news. A normal blood pressure reading could mean that you cannot ambulate up a flight of stairs quickly without breathing hard. It's a smoke screen with an elephant in the room (no pun intended).

Sometimes, the good health news we receive is only good; but it's not great or excellent. It sounds good to our ears (hey, you have a normal heart rate and blood pressure), but is it truly good for what we do or how we feel after exiting el doctoro?

Be well,
Derek

HAHPN - November #6 2010 - Video Supply

  • Benjamin's Insanity
  • YouTube Videos Are Here!!!
Benjamin's Insanity
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting good results - Benjamin Franklin

Oh, how appropriate this quote (of many) is to health, fitness, and wellness.

YouTube Videos Are Here
I like to be a man of my word. As promised a while ago, I mentioned that I would post videos on YouTube. Well, guess what they're posted! Three videos for your viewing, so far.

You may find the YouTube videos at the following url:

www.youtube.com/user/TeemPTmicUp

Be well,
Derek