Fourth Quarter has dedicated a forum to health and fitness. The simple reason is this. In this century it is possible to stretch so called middle age at least into a person’s mid 70’s if not later. This is self evident from observation. But, it is also evident that most people enter old age in their 60’s.
No one can control disease with any certainty. Some people are simply unlucky. But, at the same time, there is increasing research that supports a conclusion that life habits can work for or against you as it relates to disease. It is overwhelmingly believed that physical fitness can help prevent disease. A disease free person who is physically fit can stretch middle age in ways never before ever believed. In this sense, middle age is being defined as a physical state that prepares the individual to participate in a wide range of activities to, in effect, lead a relatively unconstrained life – to play vigorously, to fish, to ride a bike, jog a hill, play with kids, walk a golf course, work out, swim, hike, sight see for hours, travel, and so forth.
We believe that there are many people who have thought very carefully about this subject, who have been experimenting for years with different approaches toward building physical fitness. The goal of this forum is to capture and dialogue about the ideas that some of these people can contribute to our thinking.
As a start position for such a dialogue, we are developing here a general typology of subjects and disciplines that might help promote clarity on this subject. In effect, we are searching for solid, simple ideas. We are seeking core principles. We are looking for the 90% approach.
This subject area is in an early stage of development.
No one can control disease with any certainty. Some people are simply unlucky. But, at the same time, there is increasing research that supports a conclusion that life habits can work for or against you as it relates to disease. It is overwhelmingly believed that physical fitness can help prevent disease. A disease free person who is physically fit can stretch middle age in ways never before ever believed. In this sense, middle age is being defined as a physical state that prepares the individual to participate in a wide range of activities to, in effect, lead a relatively unconstrained life – to play vigorously, to fish, to ride a bike, jog a hill, play with kids, walk a golf course, work out, swim, hike, sight see for hours, travel, and so forth.
We believe that there are many people who have thought very carefully about this subject, who have been experimenting for years with different approaches toward building physical fitness. The goal of this forum is to capture and dialogue about the ideas that some of these people can contribute to our thinking.
As a start position for such a dialogue, we are developing here a general typology of subjects and disciplines that might help promote clarity on this subject. In effect, we are searching for solid, simple ideas. We are seeking core principles. We are looking for the 90% approach.
This subject area is in an early stage of development.
THE CHALLENGE
- OPTIMUM HEALTH IS DEPENDENT ON DOING VERY SMART THINGS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF DISCIPLINES IN A COORDINATED FASHION
- THE EXPERTS IN THESE DISCIPLINES HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY SPECIALIZED AND COMPARTMENTALIZED, NO MORE SO THAN IN MEDICINE. IN GENERAL, THE CHAMPIONS OF DISCIPLINES ARE NOT VERY HELPFUL IN COORDINGATING PROGRAMS ACROSS DISCIPLINES
- MANY UNHEALTHY PEOPLE CANNOT FIND A SOLUTION FOR THEIR PROBLEMS FROM ONLY ONE DISCIPLINE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE WHEN ONE IS TRYING TO MOVE FROM AN INJURED OR DISEASED STATE BACK TO A HEALTHY AND FIT STATE. MANY BECOME FREE FROM INJURY OR DISEASE BUT DO NOT BECOME PHYSICALLY FIT.
- MANY HEALTHY PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A SIMPLE, COORDINATED PROGRAM THAT FOSTERS OPTIMUM FITNESS AND HUMAN PHYSICAL EFFECTIVENESS
- A LACK OF FITNESS AT ANY AGE REDUCES DEFENSES FROM INJURY AND DISEASE
- A LACK OF FITNESS REDUCES LIFE EXPECTANCY
- A LACK OF FITNESS HASTENS ENTRY INTO OLD AGE AND REDUCES THE FULL ENJOYMENT OF THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LIFE
THE STARTING POINT
- OPTIMUM HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS IS BUILT AROUND AN INTER-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO HEALTH AND FITNESS.
- THUS THE JOURNEY IS TO CREATE AN INTER-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH, WITH PRESCRIPTIVE GUIDANCE, TO AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPTIMUM HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS
A CONSTRAINT
IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT A DISEASE FREE PERSON CAN BE PHYSICALLY UNFIT; AND A FIT PERSON CAN CONTRACT DISEASE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE JOURNEY INCLUDES HELPING PEOPLE MOVE FROM A DISEASED STATE TO A PHYSICALLY FIT NON DISEASE STATE; AS WELL AS HELPING PEOPLE MOVE FROM A PHYSICALLY UNFIT STATE TO A DISEASE FREE PHYSICALLY FIT STATE.
THE DISCIPLINES
- GENERAL MEDICINE
- SURGICAL
- NON SURGICAL
- PREVENTATIVE
- PHYSICAL THERAPY
- CARDIOVASCULAR MAINTENANCE
- MUSCULAR AND SKELETAL MAINTENANCE
- RESISTANCE TRAINING
- FLEXIBILITY MAINTENANCE
- STRETCHING
- YOGA
- PILATTES
- DIET
- FOOD
- NUTRITION
- SUPPLEMENTS
- BEHAVIORAL TRAINING
- STRESS MANAGEMENT
- MEDITATION
- CROSS DISCIPLINES
- SPECIFIC TO A SPORT
- SPECIFIC TO A TYPE OF INJURY OR DISEASE THAT PRECEDED PROGRAM
- SPECIFIC TO AGE GROUPS LISTED BELOW
A SET OF OBJECTIVES FOR EACH GROUP, WITH RESPECT TO EACH DISCIPLINE
- THE THREE OVER-WHELMING DO’S
- THE THREE OVER-WHELMING DON’T’S
REALITY
- MANY PEOPLE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WHO ARE DISEASE AND INJURY FREE INDIVIDUALS SIMPLY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION
- MANY DISEASED OR INJURED PEOPLE, STRUGGLING TO TRANSITION TO A DISEASE/INJURY FREE STATE WOULD ACT IF THEY HAD MORE CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT TO DO
- THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY MIGHT CARE ABOUT SUPPORTING SUCH AN ACTIVITY
- AARP MIGHT CARE
- EDUCATORS MIGHT CARE
- BIG CORPORATIONS MIGHT CARE BECAUSE THEY SPEND SO MUCH ON HEALTH CARE
DISCUSSION
While there is a huge volume of research, opinion, cases, etc on each of these disciplines, the Fourth Quarter goal is narrow it down to a small core of principles in each of these areas. This may not be easy.
For example, some do’s:
For example, some do’s:
- Raising your heart rate to a sweat level is unequivocally beneficial (cardio)
- Raising your heart level to a sweat level for thirty minutes four times a week (cardio)
- Lifting, pushing, pulling weights will promote healthy muscles and support your skeleton structure (muscular)
- Lifting, pushing, and pulling weights to a point where you cannot do more repetitions will promote… (muscular)
- Excess volume of eating is never good (diet)
- Certain food groups promote health (greens, fruits, nuts, fish) and certain food groups do not promote health (fatty foods, excess dairy, sugars, excess salt) (diet)
- Smoking is a direct threat to health
- Alcohol must be used in modernization (diet)
- There is universal agreement that certain supplements contribute to health and fitness
- Stress can be managed
- Meditation promotes reduced stress and clear headed thinking
