While I was running my first ever marathon last Sunday, I saw several signs that the volunteers and family members were holding up, which stated, "Less than 1% of the population will run a marathon this year." Though this statement did not truly sink in while I was running the race, I started to dwell on it a bit more in the days afterwards. If this number were true, that means roughly 3.6 million Americans ran a marathon and 60 million people world wide, which is a very large number. However, when I began to think about the percentages of chronic disease (i.e. heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer) in our country, it all fell into perspective.
In a recent seminar that I attended, one of my mentors explained that 80% of Americans have a diagnosed chronic illness, which amounts to over 288 million people in the United States alone. Now that number is a bit larger than the 3.6 million that may have run a marathon. Those chronic illnesses cost our country over $12 billion per DAY. Every one of us knows at least one person who is taking a drug for one of these chronic conditions and the effects are to taking a giant toll on our lives and economy. The issue that drives me crazy is that these conditions are completely 100% preventable!
Now let us take a step back and consider what it took to run these 26.2 miles of the marathon? I did not just wake up the morning of the race and decide to run. It took nearly 6 months of preparation. I made up my mind back in October (the race was May 15) that I was going to train for the marathon. I placed the marathon date on my calendar and then began to research training programs. I spoke with other people who had completed marathons and they shared their experiences and training methods. Even through the bitter northeastern winter, I had to discipline myself to get out and run, sometimes early in the morning or late into the evening.
As a side note here, it makes me cringe when people state, "I am not a runner" or "I could never run a marathon." Well, with that mindset you are absolutely correct. Let me explain that I would not have considered myself a runner either. I have always been the type of person who loves to work out at the gym and lift a lot of weights. If I did add running to my workout regimens, it would never be more than 6 miles in an entire week. However, I made the decision that I wanted to run a marathon and to do so; I was going to have to follow a training program that I have never completed before, running close to 30 or 35 miles in a week.
How does this have any relation to the 80% of people with a chronic illness? Well you did not wake up one morning and just have diabetes or high cholesterol. It took years of over eating the wrong foods, not participating in daily physical activities, or taking advice from ignorant health professionals. The bottom line is that if you wish to GO where you have never been before (a state of health), then you will have to DO what you have never done before (healthy actions)!
As a disclaimer, I understand my tone may have been a little direct in this post. However, I want the absolute best life possible for you and your family, and I know what it takes to get there. Change takes discipline, responsibility, accountability, and time. Not only are we all blessed with the ability to change our life and circumstances, but I believe we have the responsibility for our future generations. With my first child on the way, this really hits home. I think it would be wonderful if we could show our children a world of prosperity that humanity has yet to see. But, in order to GO where we have not gone, we need to DO what we have not done!
Please continue to follow my blog to find out what you can DO to lead a healthier life for you and your family.
Always empowering,
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