October 15, 2014
There has been a lot of hype and conversations since Obama took office on the issue of health care reform. (Don’t worry, this is not a political blog post!) No matter where you stand on nationalizing or privatizing health care, one thing we can all agree on… health care is a concern for many.
As the baby boomer generation ages, and the number of those diagnosed with diseases related to obesity and unhealthy diets surge, health care has become a concern for many.
We have one suggestion for Obama that he may not have considered: focus more on health, than care.
New Zealand gets it. They include stipends for fitness programs and nutrition in their health care, as a means of preventing health problems as opposed to simply preparing to deal with the onslaught of complications of an aging population.
Until the White House gets on board with injury/disease prevention measures, this issue is a personal one.
Where is Health Ranked in Your Priorities?
Everything in life has a cost. This month I was looking at my bills and found the usual health insurance, auto insurance, rent, groceries, cell phone bill, gas and the list goes on and on. Groceries are for me quite high in cost, due to my desire to only purchase local, organic produce and limit my intake of unclean foods. I also spend money on time with friends, fitness, activities and higher education courses.
You can tell a lot about someone’s values by looking at their finances.
Everything in life has a cost. What makes people categorize certain costs as “have to haves” versus the “nice to haves” is the value they place on those.
If I were to ask you what you would remove in the following list, what would you choose?
– Vacation
– Training
– Eating out on weekends
– Cell phone
– Cable TV
– New attire for business
Different people place higher levels of value on health and fitness. Other place a higher value on vacation, or fine arts.
We don’t mean to assume that if you are not spending money on fitness, you are not choosing health. Plenty of people prioritize team or outdoor sports that are low in cost, and high in time. For those that want encouragement, accountability, trainer expertise and to make and reach fitness goals, personal/ team training is an effective choice.
Ask yourself the following:
– Where does healthy living expenses show up in your monthly statements?
– How much time per week do you spend on fitness or healthy eating?
– Do you feel this reflects your value system?
Now think about your parents. Is there a difference in the amount of money spent on health care or healthy living? Many would agree that health care expenses escalate as one ages.
You do not have to settle for that. Don’t wait around for health complications to catch up to you. Pave the way to a lifetime of freedom from health care burdens. Reap the financial benefits of that choice in the long term.
Investing in Your Health Today Pays Like an IRA
Simply said, an investment in fitness and healthy diets today is in many ways as good an investment as your Roth IRA’s.
Like your Roth IRA, you put in money now to get returns in the future. People put a lot of money into their Roth IRA accounts. Say you put roughly $5,000/yr into this account. You won’t see that money for 10,20, or 30 years, but you feel good about it because you know that money will “pay you back” in your old age.
Training is the same idea, only you see results throughout the process, not just at the end. We put money in our healthy living bank each month and expect gains in our old age. Less weight to carry around and stress out our heart, bones and body. We expect larger range of motion for more of our life.
Treat your body well now and have it operate better in a physiological and biological standpoint throughout your life.
People don’t realize that a single instance of hospitalization could be as expensive as years of training. If you can ward off a fall when you are seventy, or fend off a work related injury or ward off a major illness taking you away from money making hours in your business, you are saving yourself costs.
Personal training can be expensive, don’t get me wrong. But it makes sense because you’re paying for someone’s time and experience/education as it applies you.
Health may come with a life re-direct as you negotiate your monthly budget to account for it. You may have to go without your morning Starbucks ($5/day, 7 days a week = $35/week,) or eat in on Friday night to make $50 each week fit into your budget. But it’s worth it.
The money you “get back with personal training” is not in dividend form; it’s in the money you save.
From a value standpoint it makes a lot more sense to put $50/week towards your health. You will feel better during the years of training, and in your old age you will be in far better physical shape which will only support your financial security by side stepping the lofty hospitalization fees and in-home care that consume many seniors’ savings.
The Purpose of Group/Personal Training is Not Just To Look Good Naked, It’s To Promote Health for a Lifetime
The goal of Gymnazo is to promote overall health to the human body and in doing so help clients ward off diseases that stem from unhealthy diets, inactivity and obesity. Our goal is not to just be looking good, it’s to feel good and be healthy and build a strong foundation for the rest of our lives.
If you want true Health Care Reform to spread throughout America, it comes with re-defining the role health has in your life today, and invest in preventative fitness for your future!
How’s that for Change, Mr. President?
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