*Over the past fifty years we have believed that the responsibility for our health was chiefly the domain of the medical establishment. Those days have long gone. For starters no one can afford the hefty price tag of all inclusive medical supervision in regards to maintaining health. But those kinds of beliefs were never very good for our drive to stay well as it not only imposed a lack of accountability for us all but also a helplessness that did nothing to help overall well-being.

During the past confusing era there is one thing that has emerged clearly and that it is each one of us (the consumer) has to chart our own course for good health and wellness.

It means that we must reclaim a level of self-responsibility and climb back in the driver’s seat and take action in a few key areas that will help protect our own health and well-being. This is something that has not been practiced for at least the last century.

Our grandparents knew what was necessary for good health and there is so much overwhelming scientific evidence to back them up. Regular exercise and good nutrition were at the top of the list but that is far from what is common today. People live no-exercise lifestyles and exist on diets of processed foods with little to zero nutrition.

Chronic lifestyle diseases are epidemic – heart disease, cancer and diabetes along with dozens of others are picking off the weak and vulnerable like flies. There is nothing in the wellness bank account to withstand these killer diseases. Years or decades of lack of proper exercise means the ‘growth and repair’ hormones that keep us healthy are not stimulated as it takes regular vigorous movement to activate them.

Without these hormones telling our brain to keep our body strong chemicals whisper to the cells – decay – degenerate – die.  When disease symptoms present themselves it may have taken many years to get to that state. There is not a doctor, drug or surgical procedure that can fix a broken human body when it has arrived at that state.

To take this risk is madness. There is so much that you can do to keep yourself healthy and at the top of the list is muscle strengthening exercise. Strength is the foundation of your health and if you allow it to erode away with a sedentary lifestyle you risk your health and a shortened life.

Just a couple of proper strength training sessions each week of an all over body program is all that is needed to keep your strength. Support your exercise program with good nutrition which means ditching the processed foods and replacing them with natural whole foods cooked from scratch.

Every workout and every healthy meal is a deposit in your wellness bank account and soon you will have such a healthy balance you will withstand the occasional bout of flu or even a more substantial health crisis.

However if your wellness account is already overdrawn with ‘no proper exercise’, poor nutrition and a ‘don’t care it’s not my problem’ attitude you risk your life when the wheels fall off somewhere down the track. Your health is no longer in your control and to claim it back you have some work to do.

After all who cares more about your life than you?