I grew up in a traditional family with “typical” family values. My mother made certain we began our day with breakfast before the kids went off to school and dad set off to work. The kids participated in sport and after school activities but we all came together at the end of the day for dinner. Mom prepared a well balanced meal every evening as the family sat and discussed what we had done that day!
Weekends were hectic with everybody doing their thing while mom and dad (mostly mom!) scrambled to keep track of who needed to be “where”-“when” for their particular event and how to get everyone back home at the end of the day!
As I got older and began life away from home, my ability to continue with the routines established in my earlier years slowly went by the way side. Time between “well balanced meals” grew further apart while participation in sporting activities -let alone “exercise” - also became something of the past.
My life was still what I would categorize as “typical” to many - with a focus on career - when I moved to Dallas, TX in 1992 at 28 years old. There was a popular fitness club just down the road and I thought, “Well, maybe I should join the club and workout a little.” I signed up for a “health and fitness assessment” and first workout with one of the trainers. Completing the assessment was a humbling experience to say the least, realizing my fitness was “poor” in most categories and learning (after being pinched and measured with skin fold calipers!) that my body fat percentage was above 20%! But “stay tuned,” it gets better.
Moving from the battery of “tests” to the “first workout,” the trainer started me out with some light cardio to get me warmed-up, and then had me perform a few movements-a seated leg press, knee extensions, knee flexion…and then we had to stop. More specifically, I had to stop and lay down-okay, the truth is, pass out . A meeting with my doctor the next day confirmed what I had suspected all along-I was typical- “typical” in that most people are engaged in the process of slowly letting their health and fitness slip away!
At that point in time I made a decision-a decision to change my life and take control of my health. It really wasn’t too difficult and has resulted in not only a change in lifestyle but a change in my career as well. Fitness and Personal Health has become so important to me that I spend my time educating others exactly how to take control of their own health.
I can tell you that the secret to success is getting back to basics and returning to some of the “typical” traditional family values so many of us grew up with!
So what are the basics and how do we begin to take control of our personal health and well being? Here are some recommendations based upon years of experience and working with individuals on a daily basis!
- If you use drugs and/or tobacco products, STOP!
- Include some form of physical activity most, if not every day.
- Limit your consumption of animal fat, cholesterol and sodium.
- Increase your consumption of complex carbohydrates and fresh fruits & vegetables.
- Hydrate properly.
- Achieve/maintain ideal body weight.
- Include antioxidants from whole food sources.
- Fasten seat belts.
- Limit sunlight exposure or wear sun block.
- Consult with your physician regularly.
Total wellbeing translates into practice of good health habits and positive lifestyle behaviors so that we may be better prepared to enjoy our day to day lives to the utmost! We must take advantage of whatever opportunities we can to support a positive lifestyle on a daily basis. Once we accept responsibility for our health we understand it is not an “either/or” state of being. It is a dynamic process that we affect everyday through the choices we make.
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Kyle Radaker, M.S.
Exercise and Sport Science Consulting
is located at
TEMPO Indoor Cycling and Endurance Training
1009 Anna Knapp Blvd, Suite #103
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-884-4822
