STEP 1: My New Path to Wellness

I decided to take a new path for my wellness. Despite having diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol in my family history, I have no chronic conditions...thank God! My mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness is quite satisfactory, too.

You may be asking "So, why are you taking a new path to wellness?" Well I'm going on this new journey because I know I can be better and healthier. I want to lose some excess weight, as a preventive measure towards my future health. Lastly, I want to be an example for my son (Khary) and others on their Christian walk.

If you're like me, you need a little variety and change. When it comes to fitness, I've never been afraid to try something different. I've practiced karate and yoga. I've tried Jenny Craig twice and NutriSystem once. I've had a personal trainer and have even taught my own brand of yoga and pilates. I've been trained for CPR/first aid, wellness coaching, and complementary alternative medicine. The outcome for all of these things has been success, but I want to continue to learn, evolve, and teach. Now I'm on a quest for optimal health, because I seek longevity and I believe I found my solution.

Several weeks ago, I stopped at the Goodwill store to shop for hidden treasures. Along with other items, I purchased a book called "8 Weeks to Optimum Health" (by Dr. Andrew Weil), for just $1.99. Because I had heard of Dr. Weil before (and I've previously purchased set of breathing CDs by Dr. Weil), I knew this book could be good for me. Unfortunately because life has had so many other distractions, I hadn't cracked my new (old) book until now.

I'm sharing my new journey with you because if just one of my new experiences can help one of you, I've effectively done my job as a Christian. So here's a summary of what I learned...

Part 1: The Capacity to Change | Chapter 1 - People can Change

Dr. Weil describes this book as "a tool for changing your life." His 8-week program is designed to improve health and to gain the power for spontaneously healing the body. In this book, he will explain the changes to what to eat, how to exercise and breath and how to think. Dr. Weil will recommend dietary supplements (herbs, minerals, and vitamins), to help protect the body's healing system. Lastly, he'll suggest ways to change the existing behavior patterns that damage optimal health.

The 8-week program will step by step build the foundation for a healthier lifestyle. Once the 8 weeks are over, participants can decide what part of the program they'll permanently retain. According to Dr. Weil, "The Eight-Week program will enhance and protect your body's own healing system, which is your best defense against illness, the stress of modern life, and the assaults of a toxic environment." [Wow! This book seems to be everything I've been looking for. I can digest change when it is explained to me and when the change is not drastic.]

Dr. Weil defined inertia as resistance to motion, action, or change. [FYI, I looked it up and Merriam Webster's definition is "a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in uniform motion in the same straight line unless acted upon by some external force".] Dr. Weil states that inertia is general trait of living and nonliving things. Many people want to change their lives but don't know where to start without help.

Dr. Weil goes on say:

> "This book is about changing behavior. If you condemn unwanted behavior without acknowledging what you are getting out of it, you may not be able to give it up no matter how much harm it is causing. You must be clear about what satisfaction that behavior is giving you as well what it is costing you, then make a conscious decision to move."

> "I recognize the efficacy of fear in facilitating behavioral change, I feel that seeking positive reinforcement (a reward you can enjoy) is better than pursuing negative reinforcement (avoidance of something you do not want to experience), because research shows that positive reinforcement is better at maintaining new behavior. If fear is your motivator, when fear subsides, so does motivation. Fear can also paralyze you, preventing you from moving at all."

> "All I will ask you to do is to add positive behaviors, to strengthen and extend habits you probably already have, habits of eating, exercising, breathing, using your mind, and nourishing your spirit. I will leave it to you to moderate or eliminate any unhealthy behavior."

Towards the end of Chapter 1, Dr. Weil includes 3 short, patient letters to support the fact that people can change. I believe people can change if they really want to change. I pray the Lord will give me the insight and discipline I need to make positive changes in my life. I encourage you to interact with me, so that we can learn something from each other.

Although next week I will share information from Chapter 2 (An Overview of Health and Healing), I'm anxious about starting the 8-week program, so I've skipped ahead to Chapter 5. So far, I have...

> Weighed myself daily (ugh!)
> Slightly edited my dietary choices
> Started taking Vitamin C - 3 times a day
> Walked around my office complex for 10 minutes each day

I'm also keeping my fitness dietary to document my progress. Once I've taken you through Chapters 2 to 4, I'll share more details about the actual program. If you have questions, by all means email me at learnutopia@stimuliart.com. If you have comments or suggestions, please post them here.

Finally, I like to end things with Scripture:

17 Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

18 For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.-Job 5: 17-18

Be Blessed! Pam


SOURCE: Weil M.D., Andrew (1997). 8 Weeks to Optimum Health (A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body's Natural Healing Power). New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.