Marrying What Your’re GOOD at and what you LOVE!

So where do we start? I plan on these weekly blogs to become meetings where we talk about how to accomplish living a healthy life. These topics needs to be practical and worth yours and my time. Otherwise, what are we doing here? So onward! Last week we talked about Eating Healthy and Exercising to be simplistic enough. That’s great and all but now what? Start! “Where?”, you say. My response, “do something or a variety of physical activities that you are good at and that you like doing.” Find things you currently enjoy or in your past you enjoyed and focus doing them. I don’t believe the majority of people will succeed living a healthy life in the long term if they choose a physical activity they hate. I really don’t like lifting weights. Every once in a while I will try my hand at them again and guess what, still hate it. To me it seems pointless to pick up something heavy unless it is some heavy object which fell and is smashing someone. Similarly, I remember back in Junior High and High School I was a pretty good runner. In 9th grade I ran and 4:51 minute mile with very little training, it came naturally. I just ran as hard and fast as I could to win the race then collapsed on the track while struggling for air. I had a lot of raw potential in running but I hated it! Round and round and round that stupid black rubberized track. I thought, “How pointless, I put in all this effort and what do I get out of it? I end right where I started and all I see is the same boring scenery over and over and over again.” However, I loved to ride my bike. We lived near Millcreek Canyon and I loved to time trial 4.5 miles up to from the stop sign to the gate. I was able to do it in 19 minutes which was a 14 mph pace, ok for a 13-14 year old. Most of all it was beautiful and at the end I was able to effortlessly coast downhill viewing the majesty of this beautiful canyon. When I started at Skyline High School I played football and basketball. I was then asked to run long distance for the track team. I said that I would and began with the track team. I thought they would be good with me training the way I had in Junior High, on my bike! Unfortunately, they said I had to run on the track I hated so badly. I lasted two weeks and found myself not running track but I continued to ride my bike up the canyon a lot. How does this information help me know? First, I know from my history I was a pretty good natural runner. Additionally, common sense tells me most people typically like doing things they are good at. So why did I hate running so bad when I was younger? Second, I know I hate track and field tracks. Third, I love the canyons and mountain trails I grew up on. Fourth, aren’t there trails I can run on? I realized if I was more mature at 15 I would have negotiated to run on the trails instead the track. It seems so logical now. I learned that I love to run, I just don’t like to run on tracks. I enjoy the experience of getting away from the masses of folks in the city and being alone to think while I get in shape. Whether it is on a bike or a run, I like to get away on a secluded trail where humans are hard to find. The perfect marriage of what I love and am I’m good at. Each of us has things we are good at and things we love. I recommend right now everyone write down the physical activities you are good at, the physical activities you enjoy or love and then the other related things you love. If you love music and dancing then you have a place to start. If you love music and the mountains then Utah is your oyster! Armed with your Ipod and some time, you’re on your way. Just look at your list and find a way to marry what your good at and things you love and marry the two together. Dr. Douglas Roland Smith is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Chief Medical Officer of Arches Health Plan.


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Arches Health Plan: Jorge Fierro

Jorge Fierro owner of Frida Bistro and Rico Brand talks about his businesses. About Arches Health Plan Find affordable health insurance coverage options. Individual, family, and group health plans from Utah's best insurance provider, Arches Health Plan. Arches is committed to making your health care better and more affordable by facilitating full collaboration between you and your physicians. Our unique health plan model has been proven to yield better health results for patients while saving them and their employers money. Arches. The way health care gets better. Our vision, as a CO-OP non-profit, is to align members and providers of care around value through care delivery, payment reform & appropriate benefit design.

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801.312.9860

The Importance of Eating Healthy and Being Active - Arches Health Plan

One of the most frustrating yet potentially powerful conversations I have with patients is about their lifestyle. It is not uncommon for me on a daily basis to discuss patients poor lifestyle and how it is affecting not only their health but their wallet. Being sick costs a lot of money and good years of life. It is estimated 2/3 of us in the USA are either obese (BMI 30+) or overweight (BMI 26-30). Along with being overweight, there is an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea, heart failure, depression, liver disease, menstrual problems, infertility, gallbladder problems, etc. Holy-smokes, that is a boat load of problems and all because of me not doing the things every day to invest in myself.

My experience is when people change their lifestyle by eating the right things and exercising every day they lose weight and as they lose weight they also lose many things including medication, pain, depression and progression of the above mentioned problems. I have had the conversation many times which goes as follows, “I just want you to know that I do care for you and really enjoy you as a patient. But, when you go home tonight and have “your” stroke or heart attack, I will go to my home and have dinner with my wife and kids. When you are lying in your bed having someone change your diapers because you can’t, I am out riding my bike or enjoying a run. Though I do care for you as a person and patient, no one cares for you as much as you do! Will I lose sleep because of what you did to yourself? I will feel really bad for you but the answer is-No, If I did I would never sleep! Then I would be at risk of bad health.

So what do you need to do? Start! Start today to invest in yourself! If you’re worried about starting, see your doctor. Once you start do so moderately and don’t go out full steam which likely will set you back a few steps with an injury. Progress as you can tolerate and before you know it you will feel great! Go watch a great documentary which inspired me to take better care of myself called “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.” If they can do it you can. I hope this inspires you as much as it did me. Is change easy? No! Is it worth it? Only you know what is worth it to you but I would suggest it is!

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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arches-HeDr. Douglas Roland Smith is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Chief Medical Officer of Arches Health Plan.

 Arches Health Plan
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5505 S. 900 E. Suite 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
801.312.9860