SWITCH ON. SWITCH OFF - MIND POWER

SWITCH ON SWITCH OFF

Ashley Galliard

(This article by Ashley Galliard was published in SABPP Newsletter, July 2017  

http://sabpp.co.za/switch-switch-off-ashley-galliard/)

We live in exciting times! With exponential advances in technology we literally have the world  at our fingertips at the touch of a button! Communications, global meetings and networking opportunities, VR gaming and conferencing technology, a device and app for everything from data analytics to calling a taxi to monitoring sleep patterns - we live in an age where, if you can think it, you can do it!

Human beings are hard wired to be most productive during cycles of full engagement with activities followed by deep and complete rest. In other words, we are at our best when we go from being switched on, to being switched off. These types of intermittent bouts of stress followed by relaxation have numerous health benefits and develop optimal brain function. The problem is, rather than encouraging engagement with a task, in which we are present and focused on what we’re doing, technology can easily overwhelm and distract us (as I write this I’m listening to my cell phone beeping in the background and wondering who is trying to get hold of me).

We find ourselves in an almost surreal state in which we are seldom, if ever fully engaged in our lives, as we haphazardly multitask, juggling ten balls in the air and putting out fires. Our head space lives somewhere between the past and an imagined future, we don’t engage with the present and so never really switch on. At the same time, because of all the distractions, we never fully switch off! So we’re in a sort of ‘standby mode’ wasting unnecessary energy on distractions, struggling to switch on or off and slowly wearing ourselves down to a frazzled standstill.

The detrimental effects of being in ‘standby mode’

Just as our bodies develop and change with exercise and applying a regular stimulus (muscles adapt, grow, use energy more efficiently, bones remodel and strengthen, neural pathways develop etc), so too, our brains develop and change according to the stimulus applied. When we are fully engaged and present (switched on), we develop neural pathways in higher brain centers responsible for complex processing (eg frontal cortex). When we are distracted, jumping from task to task, doing ‘half a job’ and putting out fires,  our brain activity shifts towards the more primitive limbic system responsible for the fight or flight response. Over time, our brain becomes conditioned to be more anxious and distracted, as we lose our ability to concentrate and organize our seemingly chaotic life.  This chronic state of anxiety results in an ongoing over supply of stress hormones that if not properly regulated cause a multitude of health problems, from anxiety to depression and mood disorders, obesity, heart disease, certain cancers, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and the list goes on.

In addition to the stress response and the effects on our brains, we see all sorts of health problems linked to too much time spent using smart phones and other devises; from postural problems and chronic headaches to carpel tunnel syndrome, to disturbed sleep patterns and sleep deprivation to burnout. Furthermore, sedentary lifestyle patterns that develop with too much screen time add to the toxic concoction resulting in chronic pain and the ever present threat of lifestyle related chronic illness.

On a social level, relationships can suffer as we are never really present in our interactions-always having one eye on your smart phone or lap top when your wife or child is trying to tell you about their day. It is not conducive to building strong relationships and bonds and is a bad example to our kids. The addictive nature of technology which from a brain chemistry perspective would involve the same mechanisms as any other addiction - needing to get your fix to stimulate the release of dopamine and other ”feel good” brain chemicals, puts anyone at risk and particularly people who may be prone to addiction.

Since people are any organizations biggest asset, if they are ill or in any way not performing optimally, the wellbeing, (including the financial wellbeing) of the organization is under threat.  By some estimates absenteeism costs the South African economy over 15 billion Rand a year. It is estimated that presenteeism, a phenomenon in which employees are present at work but unable to perform optimally due to ill health, stress, burnout, distractions etc, by some estimates could cost our economy 4 times that of absenteeism!  In addition, rising medical insurance costs add to the powerful argument for companies to do all they can to keep their human capital healthy and switched on! Here are some tips to practice yourself and promote in your company.

Five Daily habits to  help you switch on and off

1.     Read

It comes as no surprise that some of the world’s top CEO’s are avid readers, amongst them Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. It’s estimated that the average CEO reads between 4 and 5 books per month!  According to Tom Corley author of rich habits:- ‘The daily success habits of wealthy individuals,’ ‘rich people’ read for self-improvement, education and success. If you’re not an avid reader, start with a few pages a day of anything you enjoy, go to a quiet place, switch off your devices and free yourself from distractions. Reading will help you clear the white noise in your head, take you out of standby mode and switch you on as you engage with the task. It is only when you’re switched on that you know how to switch off as your body and mind readjust to the natural cycles of engagement and rest, and so reading plays an important role in switching off!

2.     Exercise

We are never more present, in touch with the reality of the here and now, as when we’re  exercising. It is also the most natural response to stress, (the primitive fight or flight response requires a physical action) and so is one of the most natural ways to regulate stress hormones, promote the release and uptake of feel good endorphins and clear toxins from the brain. Schedule time to do some exercise every day, anything you choose, even if it’s only 5 minutes! It can be a 5 minute walk in the fresh air reconnecting with nature, or 5 minutes of stretching or punching a bag, anything you choose, but schedule it in your diary everyday at least 2 weeks in advance, make it an appointment. Aim to increase your exercise over time, but for now, commit to what you’re comfortable with. You will be amazed at how much better you feel and how that 5 minutes can potentially catalyze great change.

3.     Create a ‘Priorities List’

Often we’re “busy being busy.” We need to spend more time prioritizing our schedules and activities. Some things are genuinely urgent and require a meeting or a quick email response;  other things we only perceive to be urgent and can actually wait until tomorrow. Without actively prioritizing your to do’s, often we can spend way too much time on relatively unimportant matters, neglecting the really important matters that then become matters of urgency and we end up pulling ‘all-nighters’ trying to get them finished, putting out fires, slowly becoming more and more backlogged and caught up in the chaos.

Whatever system you may use, categorize work and life tasks into levels of importance, from high to moderate and low and add your daily tasks into each category. Plan a time frame for each activity and tick them off as you do them. Attend to the important stuff first during work hours, so that after work, as often as possible, anything you have to do is not of imminent importance-   stuff you can do tomorrow. Finally, schedule time to work quietly in solitude with minimum distractions.

4.     Make time for social interaction

Make a conscious effort to switch off your devices whenever possible during family time:- this includes smart phones, pc’s, television  and the like, even if it’s just for an hour or two. Eat dinner together, talk, have a laugh as a family or with friends, connect with each other, bond. This will not only nurture your most important relationships, it’s a stress release and it will take you out of standby mode, switch you on, and is likely also  to foster healthier eating habits.

5.     Develop a night-time routine

Try these five tips to help you fully switch off at night and start knowing what it is to get a good night sleep again!

• Switch off technology 30 minutes before you go to bed. Artificial light affects melatonin production a chemical that assists with deep sleep.

• Nutrition: Eat a smaller supper portions (eat until 80% full) comprising vegetables minimally processed lean protein carbohydrates and fats. Some slow digesting carbohydrates can help you to feel sleepy. Reduce or eliminate caffeine intake after lunch time and reduce fluid intake at night (which may keep you up all night going to the toilet)

• Exercise: Practice slow, deep breathing, stretching or other gentle meditative exercise for a few minutes before bed time to release relaxation chemicals.

• Blackout: Make the room as dark as possible and go to bed at the same time every night (aim for at least 7 hours of sleep).

•  Clear you mind: Right down everything that is on your mind before you go to bed to help you clear your mind and relax.

We can only truly switch off when we are switched on and vice versa. The ability to switch on and off is about returning to our natural cycles: being fully engaged with the here and now, working hard and effectively, playing hard, appreciating people and nature, and then deeply resting and recovering. Technology is a truly amazing servant but a cruel master keeping us in a suspended state of standby. Mastering technology and learning to control our on and off switch is key to success, health and fulfillment and could just be our next phase of evolution!

 Ashley Galliard July 2017

ARE YOU GETTING THE ROI FOR YOUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

ARE YOU GETTING THE ROI FOR YOUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME?

By Ashley Galliard

(This article appeared in the SABPP Newsletter, June 20017  

http://sabpp.co.za/getting-roi-employee-assistance-programme-employee-wellness-programme-ashley-galliard/)

Over the next few weeks we will be exploring whether your  company’s Employee Wellness Programmes (EWP) and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) are giving you bang for your buck and are achieving what they are designed to do – improving the wellbeing of your employees! (For the purpose of this article we will discuss EAP’s and EWP’s together in an attempt to cover the broadest possible spectrum of employee wellbeing). Available research (primarily out of the USA) strongly supports the benefits of effective EAP and EWP interventions, for example, Johnson and Johnson leaders estimate that wellness programmes have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade and a return of $2.71 for every dollar spent between 2002 and 2008. (Leonard L. Berry, Ann M. Mirabito and William B. Naun Harvard Business Review Dec 2010.) Many companies however still see wellness as something intangible and difficult to measure, and so opt for a ‘bare minimum’ approach to EAP and EWP solutions. This tends to lead to disappointing returns on investment and little or no improvements in employee wellbeing. This will be the focal point of our discussion.

In our fast paced world, we are required to devote over 50% of our waking hours to the companies that employ us. In addition, with technology, it is common place to take work home to meet stringent deadlines, conduct conference calls after hours, service client needs after hours, take calls from the office and so on…..We never get to switch off, and being constantly ‘switched on’  in loyal service to the company is considered a badge of honour! People are suffering the effects of the fast paced lifestyle that modern business demands and chronic physical and mental illness are reaching epidemic proportions in many industry sectors.

Against this backdrop, it stands to reason that the need for companies to look after the wellbeing of their biggest assets, their people, has never been greater. Companies have a very real ethical responsibility to its devoted employees and what’s more, a healthy staff means greater productivity and bigger profits. Enter EAP’s and EWP’s.

EAP’s and EWP’s are in principle very necessary and have the potential to effect significant change on the wellbeing of employees, and some undoubtedly do. Broadly speaking EAP’s are employee benefit programmes that are concerned with your employees mental and emotional wellbeing providing assessment, support and referral to help employees find relief or assistance on matters that may impact or affect their ability to function properly on the job. They cover areas such as substance abuse, family matters, emotional distress, work relationship issues, work life balance, financial matters and almost anything relevant that makes the life of the employee a little easier both at work and outside of work,  for example, assistance with the enrolment of children into schools, etc.

EWP’s on the other hand aim to keep your workforce fit and hardy and cover primarily areas of physical wellbeing.  They include services such as health screening, education about the prevention and treatment of health conditions; they may offer medical advice/support services including education, support and the provision of opportunities for exercise, relaxation and healthy eating. EAP’s and EWP’s may overlap depending on the way they are structured and together they complete a comprehensive and holistic picture of employee wellbeing.

EAP’s and EWP’s are often driven through Interactive software programmes in which employees have their own personal online wellness portal, a ‘one stop shop’ that provides seamless access to the above mentioned services, as well as access to call center and online support and other valuable resources to employees and HR/ wellness professionals including: information resources on topics related to health and wellbeing ; marketing resources to create awareness around health campaigns eg HIV/AIDS; peer education programmes in the form of online courses, workshops aimed at equipping wellness champions with the skills to drive the company wellness agenda; software to track absenteeism, compliance and the like.

In addition, EAP’s and EWP’s are delivered in part through medical insurers offering wellness days at which assessments are conducted and professional support provided both onsite and online. Furthermore, comprehensive executive medical programmes offering assessment and interventions addressing a broad spectrum of mental emotional and physical components of wellbeing may form part of the EAP/EWP offering. Some companies also offer onsite clinics/gyms and wellness centers.

As you can see, EAP’s and EWP’s are often delivered together, seamlessly as a comprehensive employee wellbeing solution. So how is it possible that something seemingly so valuable may not be delivering bang for your buck?

 An over-reliance on technology

Companies in which there is not a well-established culture of wellness tend to view EAP’s and EWP’s as a necessary evil, an intangible  that simply has to be complied with to keep staff happy and ensure the necessary health and safety legislation boxes have been ticked. In such cases, the simplest, most cost effective solution to reach as many people within the organization as possible, with minimum input from HR departments (who are already over -burdened with what the company views as more important issues) is opted for. These are your software driven, automated EAP and EWP services, like the online programmes providing information, online and call center support, data analytics, peer educator campaigns and the like for which companies would typically pay a nominal monthly per person rate (say R10 or R20) for a bouquet of services.

On the face of it, the thought of paying R10 or R20 per person for a comprehensive bouquet of services  is very attractive for companies, the information they provide is often very good  and there is a great deal of perceived (and potential) value in them. The way in which these services are structured and marketed by service providers: a turn-key solution into which companies can plug, giving staff access to private online wellness portals, call center support , information resources, analytics software etc, it is tempting as wellness or HR professionals  to fall into the trap of thinking you can simply plug in, sit back and watch the health and wellbeing of you company’s staff improve. What’s more, you reason, that if the staff don’t make use of the amazing services on offer, hey, well that’s their choice, management has played their role, they’ve  provided the necessary tools, wellness is taken care of, time to focus on the hard issues of business, making money!

 So, ultimately, the company is happy, it has ticked all the wellness boxes with minimal expense incurred, the EWP/ EAP provider is happy, it has sold the company a bouquet of services (primarily automated software driven solutions that doesn’t cost them very much, and is not likely to be used extensively by staff (software alone does not create compliance), and so gets paid per person  to service a high volume of people but actually does relatively little, it’s a good business model.  What about the health of the employee? Well, in many cases that deteriorates or remains unchanged year on year despite all the sophisticated software driven EWP and EAP solutions on the market.

A service is only of any value if people use it, and in wellness and behaviour change, technology alone does not drive participation and compliance, for that job you need PEOPLE! If people drive compliance with wellness programmes internally, for example, a well-organized wellness committee and wellness ambassadors, logic dictates that staff will use the EAP/ EWP services more, (including call center support and the like).  For non-automated services, if every organization made full use of their EAP/EWP bouquet of services, this would ultimately drive up the costs of running the services in the long run as the need for man power would increase (more personnel required to run call centers or respond to queries, more onsite services or coaching services would be required to meet employees needs etc). These costs would ultimately be passed onto the consumer, in this case the company. All of a sudden, EWP/EAP services don’t look so attractive to those companies who are simply looking for an inexpensive solution to tick a wellbeing box. Off course, if staff were that driven to improve their wellbeing, the additional investment into them would pay handsome dividends in the long term, seen in reduced absenteeism, greater productivity, reduced risk of injury, lower medical insurance costs, better staff retention etc (something some companies see as intangibles that they can’t see the value in, which I’m happy to say is a trend that is changing).

Good software is an incredibly valuable tool, I use it to great effect in my own online coaching business, but it is just that, a tool to be used strategically BY PEOPLE to effect change. When you rely on software as your primary EAP/EWP driver, in our experience you’re unlikely to see any significant uptake in participation and compliance rates and therefore minimal or no change in employee wellbeing. There is a need for a healthy balance between software driven solutions and strategic thinking by management and staff, driving wellness initiatives internally.

So the question that faces companies is this: do we spend a nominal amount per person for a software- driven, automated solution that fulfills a basic requirement, and expect little or no improvements in the health and wellbeing of employees? Or do we invest in creating a wellness culture, driven internally by staff within the company that may require more additional capital outlay, but for which we are likely reap the rewards in the long term? For us the answer is simple: as a business there is no sense in putting money into something that is unlikely to yield returns. Success is always a long game (wellness initiatives need to be developed and nurtured long term) and investing in the development of people can never be money wasted. So, invest in software driven EAP/EWP solutions, but only once you have invested in the development of a wellness team that can maximize their benefits as one of many valuable tools to drive a wellness culture.

Wellness is a team approach and driving a wellness culture requires foot soldiers with a shared knowledge base, passion and vision. No one can do it alone, and as a standard recommendation companies should aim for one wellness ambassador for every fifty to one hundred employees. In a corporate climate in which employee volunteer programmes (EVP) are taking center stage in driving  CSI initiatives in many companies, finding passionate volunteers to train and upskill as wellness ambassadors is not a hard sell, particularly if it means greater opportunities to improve the wellbeing of health conscious volunteers whilst at work. Here are some pointers to help you in the process:-

• ·     Develop a team of wellness ambassadors consisting of representatives from all tiers within your company, from senior management, to department heads, supervisors, office workers and team leaders (the committee)

• ·    Choose your team according to their passion and the example they set for living a healthy lifestyle. These are your role models.

• ·  Upskill your team with the knowledge of company policies procedures, a holistic knowledge of wellbeing and understanding of systems to drive the wellness agenda.

• ·       As a team, create a shared vision, values and objectives for wellness, aligned to those of the company.

• ·   Understand the wellness needs of your company through conducting and analyzing surveys and assessments.
• ·     Look for the business case: Ask yourself as a committee, what is the company’s vision, goals and objectives, what is the current wellbeing profile of our staff, and where does it need to be in order to achieve that vision, objectives and goals?  Companies have great ambition and it’s going to take a strong, healthy and resilient staff contingent to achieve its objectives. This is a great opportunity to use your software wellness analytics to determine wellness parameters and objectives that will translate into rands and cents returns.
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• ·     Set short, medium and long term goals, and plan your wellness programme accordingly monitoring continuously for improvements. Remember, you’re in this for the long haul.

All this sound like a lot of work, but with the right training, guidance and the implementation of good systems, it is possible and with minimum capital outlay. Ultimately, employee wellbeing is about good business and developing your greatest asset, not only to retain their loyalty and to do the right thing but  to drive your company’s success well into the future.

Ashley Galliard June 17

WHAT IS GFIT 4DFITNESS ALL ABOUT?

GFIT 4D FITNESS

The GFIT 4D Fitness concept is an outdoor exercise experience designed to develop your inner athlete. A well-conditioned athlete has developed the following attributes:-

·         Efficient pain free movement patterns.

·         Functional strength (strength in relation to the demands of a sport and everyday activities)

·         Balance (static and dynamic)

·         Metabolic conditioning ( how effectively your body uses energy)

To develop your inner athlete, to look and perform like an athlete, you too need to develop these attributes, and ANYBODY CAN!! The GFIT 4D Fitness classes develop the attributes of an athlete by combining the ideal balance of the following elements and exercise modalities:-

• ·         Yoga and Pilates
• ·         Mobility around major joints
• ·         Symmetry (addressing areas of muscle imbalance)
• ·         Functional movement patterns under load, including squatting, lunging, lifting, vertical   and horizontal pushing and pulling, slamming and rotation.
• ·         Speed and power work, including plyometrics
• ·         HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training).

Classes are run by experienced Strength and Conditioning Specialists Ashley and Adrian Galliard and cater for all fitness levels, (every exercise chosen has a beginner, intermediate or advanced option).

So what can you expect:-

• ·         Expect to have FUN
• ·         Expect to be CHALLENGED
• ·         Expect to SURPRISE YOURSELF with what you can do.
• ·         Meet new friends

·         And with a bit of commitment and the support of the GFIT team, you can look forward to looking, feeling and performing your best.

CLASSES EVERY SATURDAY MORNING AT WAVERLEY SPORTS CLUB, WEEKDAY CLASSES COMING SOON! If you want to come on Saturday mornings, please RSVP to 0832789469

For enquiries contact Linda:   linda@galliardsfitness.co.za  or call 0824934530

SMART TRAINING FOR CYCLISTS

SMART TRAINING FOR CYCLISTS

For a good many of us, time is the biggest obstacle when it comes to preparing for a mountain bike stage race.  You’ve been told that you have to put in the minimum number of hours on the saddle each week if you want to be ready for the grueling challenge ahead.  However, for many of us riders, finding the time for training is very difficult, with work and family commitments.  So unfortunately what we do is, we opt out because we simply can’t meet the traditional weekly time commitment associated with this sort of training, and that is a real pity.

What if I told you that you could shave off several hours a week of on the bike training, and still achieve your fitness goals in preparation for a big stage race?  Well you can!  How?  By having a scientifically formulated off the bike exercise and nutrition plan developed specifically for you.

Off the bike gym/exercise training has for many years been accepted as an essential component to achieving optimal results on the bike, and most if not all professional cyclists do it.  But how many of us do it properly?  GFIT has had 17 years of experience in developing top level sports specific exercise an nutrition programmes for thousands of clients, both online, and at our private facility in Norwood,  and have achieved some amazing results.  By incorporating the latest sports science methods we can help you train smarter, not longer, thereby shaving off those precious hours a week.

I have ridden in many stage races, and I have never put in the traditional weekly hours on my bike, and  I have progressively improved on every race.  So if you are struggling for time but still wanting to do the races, contact us.  We can set you on a plan that will get you to your goals!

Adrian Galliard January 2017 

LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF

LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF 

It’s interesting how we tend to place conditions on our love and acceptance of ourselves. We can love and accept ourselves if we lose weight, or achieve our performance goals, or look great on the beach or excel in business. Our value is tied to WHAT WE DO, what we achieve, rather than WHO WE ARE. 

We place enormous pressure on ourselves to constantly be on top of our game. If we miss a workout, or eat that piece of cake or take our foot off the gas in any way, we berate ourselves, convince ourselves we’re incapable and not even worth the effort. Exercise and healthy living becomes a condition we place on ourselves, a kind of high stakes ultimatum:- I WILL LOVE AND ACCEPT MYSELF IF I DO/ACHIEVE XY AND Z. No one can handle that pressure:- exercise, and often diet may become an unhealthy obsession or alternatively, something that is unattainable, something ‘we’re not worthy of’ and we give up on it. 

It’s hard for us to accept that we are amazing; perfect just as we are. It doesn’t matter what we look like, how big or small we are, what we do or what we don’t do, who we are is absolutely perfect. Sure, we may need to learn how to make better choices- the bad choices we make are often the result of our own self-loathing. But we cannot move ahead when our self-love and acceptance is conditional to the choices we make. Healthy choices need to be made out of a place of unconditional love, to nurture reward and grow us ( not a condition of self-acceptance). What we do or achieve as a result is an extra bonus, the cherry on top, not the driving force. 

Self-love and acceptance is something we all grapple with to a greater or lesser extent, I know I do. I sometimes question whether my exercise and lifestyle choices are born out of love for myself or a fear of losing my own identity and self –worth. I guess it’s a bit of both. I don’t have the answers, but for me, learning to affirm myself by practicing daily; reminding myself to celebrate the small victories; to be aware of the times when I criticize myself harshly; making conscious choices to engage in activities I enjoy and to surround myself with people that love me and accept me, friends, family, is helping me grow. 

I think learning to love ourselves unconditionally is essential to overall sustainable health, well-being and continued growth. I think it’s a slow path that requires practice, searching for answers and is a different journey for everyone. May we all keep searching and find it!

Ashley Galliard January 2017

KEEP PRACTICING!

KEEP PRACTICING!

In the world of professional sport, there is a saying that goes something like this:- “Don’t practice until you get it right, practice until you can’t get it wrong.”

The same applies to any lifestyle change. Change requires daily practice over time. Practicing to ‘get it right’ can be something that is fleeting, a moment in time.  Your reasoning is something like this:- I’ve had a good week, or a good month or a successful transformation challenge, I GOT IT RIGHT, I can step off the gas and go back to ‘normal’. The problem is that if you haven’t practiced consistently for long enough, your ‘normal’ (default setting) hasn’t changed, and consists of all your old unhealthy lifestyle habits, which will ultimately take you back to square one.

Training or practicing until you CAN’T GET IT WRONG is an enduring concept, something of permanence. If you can’t get it wrong, you have created a new normal in which your default setting is one of healthy behaviour and positive choices. You may even be derailed from time to time, or deliberately eat the wrong things occasionally, confident in the knowledge that you will easily and naturally return to your healthy new normal. How long it takes to develop a new normal will vary from person to person, but one thing is for sure, it requires daily practice no matter who you are.

The good news is that to practice until you can’t get it wrong is not a long laborious slog. It simply requires a daily effort. It may start with as little as five minutes a day of committing to do something healthy-get some fresh air, eat some fruit or veg, do a few stretches. That five minute behaviour becomes a habit over time and you feel inspired and confident to do ten minutes. Soon a daily exercise routine and making healthier choices becomes a fluid, natural part of your daily routine. If you suffer a setback, reset-go back to basics, start again with your 5 minutes per day if necessary, just don’t stop practicing.

We’re in this for life, be patient, forgiving of yourself, do something healthy every day and remember to have fun. 

Ashley Galliard December 2016

STRIVE FOR OPTIMAL NOT NORMAL

So you’ve gone for a medical check-up and been told by your doctor after a thorough examination and blood work that everything is normal. So why, you ask yourself, am I struggling to lose this extra weight, or why am I always tired, why does my body ache or why can’t I sleep at night?

The thing is, ‘normal’ is just a statistical classification based on a cross section of a population. In other words you fit within a broad range of what is considered normal or average for a population group. This will range from people who fit the minimum criteria for health (according to a skewed perception of what it is to be healthy) to those that are healthy. The fact is, if you’re normal, you probably have a chronic illness for which you’re on chronic medication, because let’s face it, in our society that has become the accepted norm.

 The difference between normal and optimal may be all that is holding you back from being an energetic vibrant person or losing that stubborn 10 kg of fat. Consider this for example when looking at blood work:- Let’s assume glucose metabolism, thyroid hormones, and testosterone levels etc are normal, but not optimal, the general approach is to dismiss those things as contributing factors to your inability to lose weight. A closer analysis might reveal that, bringing those levels into the optimal range by nutrition, lifestyle, exercise or a specific supplement interventions may be the key to kick starting your transformation.

Whist I don’t want to call doctors, as I know some very good ones, I think it’s unfortunate that many within the medical fraternity seem to subscribe to a ‘minimum criteria’ approach towards health in which, as long as you’re not in imminent danger of death or disability, you’re normal, don’t worry about it. Forget that you may want to lose an extra 10kg of stubborn fat that just won’t go away, or run that marathon, or have the energy to play with the kids without pain or exhaustion-you’re surviving, what more do you want? I think this is sad because it reduces people to mere statistics, it tramples on the human spirit, it stifles ambition and is a disincentive to healthy living. We all need to guard against this.

Next time you go for a medical check-up, hold your doctor to account. Don’t accept that ‘everything is normal,’ ask him/her where you need to be in terms of your overall health and blood work to be considered optimal. Ask them for alternative explanations for why you are not feeling good or performing optimally; ask for alternatives to chronic medications if appropriate. If they can’t help, ask them to refer you to a specialist who can. I believe doctors have a responsibility whatever your health status to help you to be optimal, not just ‘normal.’ For some, this may be a long journey, and ’normal’ may be a great start, but always work for optimal and surround yourself with people that will help you to get there!

Ashley Galliard October 2016