Back to school again....

It's that time of year, and many in other states have already done so, but it's back to school.  Where we live, the public school system begins this upcoming Monday, and the University on Tuesday.  This is that time where the students are "hungover" from their summers, the teachers/instructors/professors are anxious to get back into the swing of things and earn that paycheck.

It's the time of year to where schedules that were once open are now closed and full of activities, meetings, etc. for all of the parties involved.  It's also when nutrition and fitness become an afterthought.
Do not forget, that if you're a parent of a student or a teacher of one that your fitness and nutrition is important.  Just because you put it out there for another doesn't mean that it's the right decision.  Make sure that you take care of yourself so that you may take care of others.

If you don't have time to hit the gym, there are other options available.  Go for a walk, get together with other teachers, parents, or whomever and do a home workout.  Plan your meals and prepare them in advance if possible.  Whatever the best scenario, go ahead and work through it.

Think of this time of year being for a new you, and not the New Year.  This is the moment to seize the change, not the New Year.  Go ahead and make it so.  

A prescription for exercise? No thank you!

My previous post was not met with a whole lot of fanfare.  For those who are interested, you can check it out here.  I'd like to clarify that I'm not against doctors, I have a lot of respect for them and the training by which they've earned their position.  I'm more of a patient advocate if you will, asking questions or even questioning the doctor when his or her orders are vague or even emotionless.

A client and I were talking today regarding her recent visit to the doctor.  For the condition she's dealing with, she's gone 5 times, some of which were for a bronchitis related condition.  The most recent was for a severe pain in her ribs which was brought on by her incessant coughing that was a result of the bronchitis.  Anyway, her doctor recommended only walking as a form of exercise for her.

I'm not against walking, but as an exercise professional I can acknowledge that most people, even with a rib strain, can do more than that.  The problem that I have is that when it comes to exercise, many doctors do not have adequate training in understanding the dynamics of varying exercises and their effects on the body.  As of now, there's very little interaction with doctors and exercise professionals, unless they happen to be in an environment to where they are employed side by side.

The point that I'm trying to make here is that many doctors are inadequately trained in exercise.  They may have had a semester or two in college regarding nutrition and exercise, but for the most part it's really minimal.  This is where fitness specialists and even physical therapists come in, to bridge the gap.  So if you go to a doctor and they recommend exercise, it's probably a good idea to seek out some specialized coaching, even if it's for only a little while.

If we can get more doctors on board with recommending exercise and improvement in nutrition, specifically with pointing to adequate coaching as their prescription, we can change the entire landscape of the United States.  It is going to take the doctors respecting the fitness professional and the advice that they can give to change the tide.  What could strengthen the relationship will be the fitness professional reaching out to the doctors and even buying them lunch, like a drug rep would, so that they can explain their scope of knowledge and ultimately work side by side.