Common vs. Normal

 #23

"If you want something different, you have to do something different."


Welcome back to another Friday newsletter. The theme this week is breaking away from the "norm." Normal is often a standard measured against everyone else, or defining what is typical rather than what is good. Is it exciting to hear you are normal when most, yes, most of the population is unhealthy? Now consider your behaviors. You may want to prevent becoming obese like over 40% of Americans, but are your actions different from the majority? If the majority is fat, weak, and poor, wouldn't you want to steer clear of what the majority is doing? America has become so unhealthy that you can be considered weird just for being healthy. For the sake of the following segment, normal will refer to a true normal or good standard. Let us consider what is common versus what is truly normal (a good standard.) 

Common vs. Normal

  • Common is eating from the cafeteria or grabbing fast food everyday while at work. If you bring your own meal you will often get looks or remarks on being a health nut. Bringing a meat and veggies meal you prepared yourself is more normal behavior, not obsessive "health-nut" behavior. What is weird is overpaying for garbage meals that negatively effect your health over time. 
  • Common is drinking soda or similar beverages that are loaded with more sugar than anyone should consume in one day, much less one sitting. Normal is drinking mostly water.
  • Common is never allowing 10 hours of life to pass without eating something. Normal is actually letting 16 or more hours go by most days without eating. We used to do this all the time, food is just so prevalent and convenient now. 
  • Eating multiple meals that are primarily carbohydrates is common. How often is pasta (carbs) served with a side of bread (carbs)? Normal is eating mostly meat and greens while sometimes eating some carbs for extra energy. (Carbs are not bad, they just are not essential like protein and fat)
  • Snacking is common, not normal. Have you ever really evaluated this? You just don't need them. I promise you will make it from lunch to dinner without starving. (Yes, that is lunch and dinner, not dinner and supper.) So often I am asked for healthy snack ideas; the reason people have hard time coming up with them on their own is because snacks typically are not healthy. Think of what is marketed as snack food: chips, bars, desserts, little processed foods in convenient packages. Just eat real food when you are hungry, stop forcing the snacks. 
  • Abstaining from anything athletic as an adult is common, but not normal. Those of you who are 30+ and reading, when was the last time you sprinted? You don't have to be a champion of all things sports, but everyone should have some small level of athleticism. Remember that article about pickleball saving your life? I think you should have at least enough athleticism to prevent a fall, escape from danger, or even save someone else from danger. 
  • Giving kids dessert is common and it might even be normal, but let us reconsider the amount and frequency. Every get together they are served the same amount as an adult 8 times their size. Imagine what 8 ice cream cones would do to you. If babies are not given candy and dessert they do not even care. If toddlers grow up with limited sugar intake they do not even crave it later in life. Matter of fact, studies show that restricting sugar in-utero and during the first two years of life can have a long term effect on preventing diabetes and hypertension. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39480913/
  • Complaining about being unfit or unhealthy and doing nothing to change it is common, but not normal. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

Challenge for the Week: Posture Reset
So much of what we do today is right in front of us. Think of all the time we spend slightly hunched forward over our phone, book, computer or steering wheel. These small steps can help to prevent or undo some of the damage of our forward head posture to keep you from turning into a hunchback. 
First, lie with a foam roller under your mid back attempting to unlock some stiffness. Arch over the stationary foam roller working to arch the midback without defaulting to overarching the low back.
Then perform some band pull-aparts by holding a resistance band straight out in front of you and stretching it apart until your arms are straightened out slightly behind you. 
No bands? Lie on your tummy on the ground and stretch open your arms like you are Rose from Titanic flying on the bow. This should lift your chest off the ground and give it a nice stretch while flexing the back muscles. Your homework: Do this 3 times within the next week.
Want more tips to fix your posture? Go to Squat University on Youtube and search for 'fix posture' videos. https://www.youtube.com/@SquatUniversity

Win the weekend!


Brad


Durable Dad Training

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