Trends and Fads abound!

There seems to be this aversion towards movement and gravitation towards ingesting “stuff” in modern society, in hopes that this stuff will somehow take the place of what a given set of movements can produce naturally in our bodies. I feel that this aversion is why there will always be personal trainers and a market for those creative individuals looking to make some money selling something that we can ingest for that magic bullet. And if the marketers can somehow attach the right celebrity name to a given substance, it may quite possibly be the next big fad, or even have more staying power, and become the next big trend for a while. Let’s look at some of those fads and trends in more recent times.

During the 1940s and 50s, cigarettes were part of cutting edge health and fashion and Hollywood’s elite advertised their benefits to the public. Ronald Reagan was the spokesperson for Chesterfield cigarettes, and advertisements said that he gave them to all his friends for Christmas. What a guy. More doctors smoked Camels than any other cigarette, extolling their calming effects. Dentists actually recommended Viceroy. The novelist Ayn Rand saw smoking as a symbol of creativity and regarded the health warnings attributed to smoking as a socialist conspiracy.

Coffee has been around for centuries, originating in Ethiopia in the 9th century, and making its way to North America by the 1700s. But during the 1970s coffee was pushed to an entirely new level. A company called Star Bucks had the bright idea of developing a premium coffee that gave more of a jolt to both body and pocket. People bought this concept, as they could then get more done during peak hours of the day, taking time management to an entirely new level. Truth is, once the body adapted to the caffeine, ingesting the coffee was important just to function at a sub-par level, but there seemed to be such a void (or lack of one) without the drink that Star Bucks had them hooked, and franchises exploded internationally. This trend is still continuing.

Our nation is stuck on quantifying and synthesizing “stuff”. There must always be something to measure, always something to synthesize to get to the quintessence of this living force we are after. Take the French and wine. It is known that wine is a staple of their menu, and that the antioxidants in the wine, in high doses, may have a longevity effect. We go into a tailspin over this, assuming that it is the wine and not their overall lifestyle that is attributed to their lack of obesity and heart disease. In our little world, there must always be something that someone, somewhere, somehow, is taking – and this is the difference. But it’s not the wine; it’s the lifestyle, stupid.

All of these substances have side effects to one degree or another, and in time, make us slaves to them so that all we can do is try and make it through the day. What about movement? Depending on the type and intensity of movement will influence the ebb and flow of various hormones running through our blood to maintain homeostasis. It is the resource that is always available to us but is rarely harnessed correctly. If used appropriately, it will produce the desired effect we want or need for our body.

For instance, the endorphin or “runner’s high” can be attained without all of the unhealthy side effects attributed to smoking cigarettes. Aerobic activity will release endorphins for several hours afterward. It will also reset our baroreceptors, decreasing total peripheral resistance in the blood vessels, and as a result, decreasing blood pressure several hours afterwards. Cigarettes will do the opposite.

Feeling tired during the mid-afternoon? Instead of grabbing that cup of coffee, we could do some strength training. The workout will engage our sympathetic nervous system, lifting us up, but not letting us down a few hours later like coffee will – with a crash!

Are we exhausted and stressed after a long day at work but having a hard time falling asleep? Instead of reaching for a few beers, some wine, or something stronger, we could calm ourselves down by participating in Tai Chi, Yoga, or Chi Gong. The activity will sedate our sympathetic nervous system and engage the other part of our autonomic nervous system, the parasympathetic. This will also lower our cortisol levels and boost our immune system as a result.

Bottom line, let’s work with our body, not against it. By allowing our body a chance to function optimally, without ingesting substances that throw it a curve ball on a daily basis, we will ultimately feel better. When we feel better, we have a better outlook on life, and can begin living it again. Let’s choose movement: the drug of choice!

Do you need help with your exercise program. Would you like to implement this concept into your own routine? If so, I am here to help and would like to set up a time to meet with you to discuss your goals and objectives. Contact me at ben.a.barrett@pfizer.com

Ben Barrett