I often ask my clients if they are hearing the signs their body is giving them ? Some people are in tune with their bodies while others feel they have an alien inside them. The human body is very intelligent and was created to give signs when things are not performing as intended. Some of the signs are subtle such as digestive issues or minor aches and pains in muscles and joints. Other signs are less subtle such as constant or stabbing pain, loss of feeling in limbs , and the inability to perform normal every day tasks. If you take action when the subtle hints arise, then you may be able to slow down or even stop the momentum of the problem. If you don’t take action then the situation may continue to progress and cause irreparable damage. This is what I call the  BOOM.

As we get older, we blame age and all it’s evil siblings for everything that goes wrong from weight gain , weak bones, incontinence, and poor vision but the real question is what are you doing to combat the natural aging process. There are some natural uncontrollable changes that occur with getting older, but are you doing the best you can with the many controllable factors ? Start by paying attention to the signs your body is giving you. Take charge of your own health with these simple steps :

1. Understand your yearly blood work. If you are relying on your primary care doctor to update you on every single change that is not going to happen. Physicians see a large number of patients per day so they only have a certain amount of time to spend with each patient. The more information you can provide your doctor, the more personalized the response will be. For example , do you know your blood sugar and HbA1C numbers? These are the numbers that tell you if you are at risk of becoming diabetic. Most physicians only perform a glucose test which is the amount of glucose in your blood at that particular time. You may have had a high starch meal the night before and your numbers were elevated or you could have had a low carb meal the night before and your number was low or normal. This is not a accurate way to see your blood sugar numbers on a regular basis. Your HbA1C is a 3 month average of your blood sugar which is a better indicator or your diabetes risk. Don’t be afraid to ask for this test especially if you have a family history of diabetes, had gestational diabetes when you  were pregnant, or often get dizzy when you don’t eat or feel overly tired after starchy meals.
2. Constipation is not just an inconvenience, but a health risk. If you are not emptying your bowels daily then you are literally full of shi?. When you are not able to get rid of the waste, it will rot inside your body releasing toxins and wreak havoc. For some people it may mean high cholesterol, hormone imbalance, or intestinal inflammation. One of the simplest things you can do is stay regular. Fibrous foods are important to include in your diet such as fresh fruits and vegetables with the skin, nuts, seeds, and grains.
3. Keep moving. Life is full of ups and downs. The details of your fitness plan are not as important as the big plan which is to keep MOVING. Ask anyone over the age of 75 that is active is enjoying life what their secret is. The most common response I get is to keep moving.

Most people tend to complicate the issue of health ,looking for that smoking gun that is often not there. Instead of looking for the detour , try the main road hitting all the stops along the way to give your body what it needs. CONSISTENCY. If you need help getting back on track so you can live your best life, I would love to hear from you. I can be reached at 316-650-9437 or [email protected] .