Conventional Thinking Only Goes So Far

History is replete with narratives that have been repeated over and over to the point where they are accepted as fact. We were taught in school to believe that the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor which precipitated U.S. involvement in World War II was unprovoked and a complete surprise. The truth is that President Roosevelt did everything he could to instigate a Japanese attack, including issuing an oil embargo, breaking off negotiations, and moving the Pacific fleet to Hawaii so that it was in range of Japanese bombers. American sentiment was firmly against U.S. involvement in the war, and an attack on American soil would give Roosevelt justification for entering on the side of the Allies (I first learned this by reading the book "World War II: The Rest of the Story and How it Affects You Today" by Richard J. Maybury). As in most cases, the truth generally lies somewhere below the surface. When it comes to exercise and health, conventional thinking has mostly gotten it wrong over the past 60 years. At Total Results, we believe in examining each situation individually, seeing it holistically, and using critical thinking skills to come up with a solution. Conventional thinking only goes so far.

If you watch television and trust the legacy media as your primary news source, you would believe that the American medical system is the best in the world. Although there has been an enormous spike in cases of autism, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic diseases over the past forty years, our system is better than that of other countries, right? That's conventional wisdom. It is true that I would rather be in an American emergency room than in Africa if I were hit by a car; emergency medicine in the U.S. is still better than that of the rest of the world. However, when it comes to preventative care, nutrition, exercise, curing chronic disease, and alternative therapies, the U.S. medical system is abysmal. Bureaucrats, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies pull the strings and realize that it is far more lucrative to treat symptoms than address and fix the underlying cause of disease. Simply listening to your doctor and taking prescription medication without asking questions or doing your own research is a recipe for an endless cycle of doctor's visits, dependence, and loss of quality of life. Think outside the box! There is a place for chiropractic care, acupuncture, and herbal remedies alongside Western medicine.

Current general knowledge about nutrition is far more advanced than it was thirty years ago. Fortunately, the internet has given a voice to alternative viewpoints; however, conventional thinking still looms large with the power of Big Food and Big Agriculture. If you believe conventional wisdom, you're still under the impression that red meat is bad for you, saturated fat causes heart attacks, and processed foods are good for you as long as they are designated as "low fat" or "heart healthy." To be sure, the field of nutrition is ever-evolving, and there is no "one size fits all" approach. Some people can get away with making poor choices that others cannot. Each one of us has a different genetic make-up, so a nutritional program should be tweaked and modified to meet the needs of each individual. Within this framework, there are certain things we do know. Saturated fat does NOT cause heart disease (read "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick); processed foods, sugars, and trans fats are far more dangerous (so use butter instead of margarine). You should consume protein, fats, and some carbohydrates in the form of single-ingredient whole foods in sufficient amounts to meet your needs for vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Supplement to fill in any gaps and be accountable when you fall a little bit short.

Some people still believe that any form of activity qualifies as exercise. In my opinion that is not only conventional thinking, but also lazy thinking. I'm not sure who came up with the idea that it is optimal to walk 10,000 steps per day (which equates to over 4 miles), but it strikes me as arbitrary. How was that figure arrived upon? I do believe that incorporating movement into one's routine is important, but just performing low level activity does not qualify as exercise. Exercise must be brief, it must be demanding, and it must be of sufficient intensity to stimulate an adaptive muscular and metabolic response. Muscular tissue is the engine of the body; this is what academic exercise physiologists have always struggled to understand as they touted their hollow theories of VO2 Max. Total Results exercise is the one form of weight training (or any form of activity, for that matter) that meets these requirements in addition to being completely safe. Movement is certainly important, but it should be thought of as a complement to high intensity weight training. Sure, your heart is an critical muscle, but if you lack the strength to move and be self-sufficient your heart will suffer.

If you think conventionally, you will achieve conventional results. Think outside the box; that's what we do. This requires an active interest, participation, and ownership. Challenge yourself to be the best possible version of yourself in mind, body, and spirit. Choose Total Results and be ahead of the curve.