Chance are, you have heard maxim that is the title of this article before, along with pearls of wisdom like, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" and "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment!" It is likely that all of us, on some level, know that preventing something bad (or injurious) from happening is far, far better than dealing with the aftermath. This is why there are seatbelts, airbags and auto insurance, but we still require everyone to attend driving school and take a test to obtain a license.
Intuitively, we get this. So why am I talking about it? Because most of us are very, very bad at it when it comes to our own bodies. This is especially true if we don't like something that is good for us, like healthy food or exercise. We become very choosy about what we will and will not do in order to maintain health or improve performance. This is why I know people who won't eat certain foods because they are bad for them, but are in the bars every weekend. It's not that they're misinformed, it's just that they are willing to compromise on only so many things. Think you don't know someone who does that? Look in the mirror - we all do, in some fashion, and I will be the first to raise my hand and say I am guilty of drinking Diet Coke (lower calories, no high fructose corn syrup) but scarfing down far too much ice cream.
But it's not just diet (which is only one part of healthy living). When I speak about prevention, I'm talking about the things we can do to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Here are a few things that will all help us be better, healthier, active adults.
* Do the things you don't like.
Most workouts will include some aspect of the following, with one probably being a main focus: mobility, stability, strength, and conditioning. It is likely that you hate one of these things, or at least part of one of these things. For me, it's the dynamic warm-up. I'll foam roll all day, but after that I just want to get under the bar or out on my run or bike route. So, why not just skip it? PREVENTION!! (Remember??) If I skip the dynamic warm-up, my program is lacking a vital component. The warm-up is what allows me to lift as well as I do or run without being injured, as I wrote about last week. So, while I find it irritating, I know that it actually makes me a better lifter, runner and cyclist.
* Do things that are hard.
We do easy things all the time. We do hard things a lot, too - I will not take that away from you. But, when it comes to the gym, we need to make a commitment to the hard stuff. I struggle with rotational stability. I can hang clean with the best of them, but ask me to chop and lift and suddenly I'm a new fawn, all wobbly and soft. Because it is hard for me to do, it's easy to skip it - but it being hard is precisely the reason I need to work on rotational strength more, not less. It's hard because it is my weak spot, which means I am susceptible to energy leaks and injury. Find what is hard for you and become a master at it.
* Once in awhile, do something when you don't want to.
This is a tough one. If we are lucky, we are doing what we want to do for the majority of our waking hours, making the occasional push to do something unpleasant (but beneficial) a little easier. If we aren't so lucky, we spend a lot of time (perhaps at work or in school) doing something we don't really want to be doing. I am always reminded of the dad from the Calvin & Hobbes cartoon, who is constantly trying to get Calvin to do something he doesn't want to because, "...it builds character." At the risk of sounding like a parent, that guy was onto something. In fitness, we tend to do the things we enjoy doing. I became a runner basically because I hated running. Yes, that's counterintuitive. I've been athletic and active my entire life, but I wanted a new challenge that fit into my current lifestyle - running fit the bill. Sandwich one thing you don't like (say, Mountain Climbers) between some things you do like (front squats and Turkish Get-Ups, obviously) - you get the idea. You will find there is a special satisfaction in completing something you're not thrilled about doing in the first place.
* Once in awhile, don't do something when you do want to.
I put this in here as a reminder that recovery is important. While for some of us the issue is not moving enough, for others the issue is slowing down. Running through injury, lifting when sick, or just plain working out every day of the week without a break will only lead to breakdown in the end. Go have fun! Yes, working out can be fun. Go do something else that is fun (Dear Red Sox, Please feel free to help me avoid injury by giving me tickets to a game a week so I have something fun to do other than working out. Love, Me). Speaking of fun...
* Make a commitment... to doing something FUN.
In reading through my list of the first four, it sounded a bit like a manifesto on how not to enjoy life! Nobody wants to be forced to do something they don't like or that is hard all the time. Likewise, we don't want to take away the things we enjoy. That's why working activity into your life in ways that bring other forms of enjoyment is important. I could run just to run - for the health benefits or whatever. But, I run road races because I get further enjoyment out of the inner (and occasional outer) competition, the camaraderie of "we're all in this together" and the social aspect of having a post-race pint. Beyond running, this activity brings me joy. Do exercise and fun coexist in your life?
I opened the blog saying that balance is the best form of prevention. Living a balanced life will enable you to stay healthy and realize your full potential. Work and play. Activity and rest. Flexibility and strength. Mobility and stability. We need all of these things to be complete.
On a personal note, the last few weeks have been a bit of a roller-coaster in the lives of people I know. Two untimely deaths have been met with a birth and a wedding - and with these events I have witnessed utter despair and unbounded joy. In this moment I am thankful for the people I love and who love me, for the opportunities I have and create, and for the ability and drive to be better and move forward, however incrementally. As my RoadID says, "Momentum trumps inertia."
I thought I'd leave you with another Calvin and Hobbes strip!
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