From the Inside Out

The Surprising Link Between Physical and Emotional Fitness

“If I could just get rid of this belly, I would be happy.”

“I’d be happy if I could just lose 30 pounds.”

“I would be happy if could fit into my cute clothes again.”

“If I got healthy and off this medicine I would be happy.”

Maybe. Maybe not.

I’ll be the first to acknowledge that when our body fails to function correctly, it can make achieving life fulfillment appear impossible.

But it is still possible.

Just think of the late Stephen Hawking, who was paralyzed and bound to a wheelchair for most of his life.

He relied on his wife, friends and assistants to spoon-feed him like a child, but despite his physical limitations, he found fulfillment.

"I'm happy to report that I have no regrets. I think I've lived a full life." -Stephen Hawking

Despite his physical challenges, Stephen Hawking was content with his life and what he was able to achieve. He was fulfilled.

He believed that his disabilities gave him unique perspectives and opportunities,

and he encouraged others with disabilities to focus on their strengths and not let their limitations hold them back.

By the way, Stephen Hawking was married twice and divorced twice. He spent the last 12 years of his life unmarried but not alone. He had nurses, friends and colleagues around, always.

Although I never had the opportunity to meet him, he is definitely one of the people I would choose to spend a day with if I could bring him back from the dead.

Since bringing someone back from the dead is not only impossible but also selfish, I would guess that Stephen Hawking found fulfillment in his many contributions to the advancement of the human race, such as his works "A Brief History of Time" and "The Big Bang Theory," as well as his contributions to quantum physics research. He also had the joy of being a parent to three children.

He had a family.

He contributed.

"I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first.”

It’s all about perspective.

Perspective is a combination of the lenses through which we see the world, and the emotions and thoughts that are triggered by what we observe.

Our unique perspective of life and how we feel about it has significant impact on the choices we make. Our choices, our moment to moment decisions, create our life - they create our book of destiny. Once chapter at a time.

In the past chapters of my own book of life, I believed that if I had a great body and plenty of money in the bank that I would be happy. So I made my decisions accordingly. I lived by those value disciplines.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t work out too well.

Those chapters of my life are over, but the lessons remain.

Here's what I learned so far:

First off, I realized that getting six-pack abs and achieving financial freedom did not bring me lasting happiness. It didn’t exorcise my demons.

Secondly, I learned that happiness is temporary, and what I was really going for was fulfillment.

When anyone says: I just want to be happy

I believe that what they actually mean is:

I want to experience the peace of mind that only comes with authentic fulfillment.

Stephen Hawking achieved fulfillment.

Without the use of his body.

Without physical health.

But perhaps, Professor Hawking was an anomaly.

For me at least, finding fulfillment without a healthy body seems unlikely.

For most of my life, physical fitness was at the top of my list, like I shared in my last piece.

I leaned on being physically fit as a source of self-esteem and stability.

Growing up, I knew what I didn’t want to be-

I didn’t want to be fat and I didn’t want to be poor.

To be completely transparent, I've earned a living by helping individuals achieve something that has always come effortlessly to me: losing weight and building muscle.

However, I understand that the physical segment of finding fulfillment doesn't come naturally to everyone.

Physical Fitness has paid the bills and kept my self-esteem intact for most of my life. Despite this, it no longer holds the same level of importance in my pursuit of fulfillment.

In fact, it has fallen near the bottom. It used to be my top priority for fulfillment, but now it's number six on my list.

But for you, or someone you know, physical health may still be the number one priority, and that's cool and perhaps necessary.

Because if your body doesn’t work - neither can you.

We all have different strengths and challenges in life.

Some challenges are easier to control than others.

Unless you have a disease like Hawking, you can control you physical health.

You can control your weight.

This I know for sure.

Maybe being overweight has been a life-long challenge for you. If so, you’re not alone.

Unwanted weight is a significant challenge for many, and unfortunately, it's becoming more difficult every year.

In the US and many other parts of the world, obesity rates continue to rise.

We have an obesity epidemic in the US (and most other areas of the world), and it is getting worse every year.

It's likely that someone you know, perhaps even yourself, is struggling with obesity.

Overweight- the step that comes right before obesity- is more common and easily accepted.

Being overweight is quite common and even somewhat acceptable in today's society.

Take a moment to think about yourself and the four people you spend the most time with. That's a total of five people. Now, let's be radically honest here, are at least two of those five people overweight?

If the answer is yes, you're not alone.

Obesity in adults

• It’s estimated that a little over 42% of American adults have obesity, while about 30.7% are overweight. Overall, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults in the United States are overweight or have obesity.

• Adults between ages of 40 and 59 are more likely to have obesity. In fact, more than 44% of adults between these ages have obesity. Meanwhile, obesity affects 39.8% of adults ages 20 to 39 and 41.5% of adults above age 60

And the kids…

Obesity in children and adolescents

• Nearly 20% of children ages 2 to 19 in the United States also have obesity, which is more than 14.7 million children and adolescents. Additionally, 1 in 8 preschoolers have obesity.

• Children who are overweight or have obesity are five times more likely to have obesity or develop overweight as adults. This can increase their risk of many chronic diseases and health complications.

What constitutes obese vs overweight vs normal?

When it comes to determining whether someone is obese, overweight, or within the normal range, clinical classifications and percentages aren't the only factors to consider.

In my opinion, physical well-being goes beyond just numbers and statistics.

We don’t need stats and charts; we can just tell just by looking at whether or not someone is overweight.

What's even more crucial is that if we are overweight, we can easily tell by simply looking in the mirror.

Unless we avoid mirrors at all costs.

That’s when the Shower-Shot Test comes in.

Shower-Shot Test

The "shower-shot" test, is where someone takes a look at their fully unclothed body immediately after a shower as they pass by a mirror while toweling off.

This can reveal a lot about their body image and self-confidence. I used to refer to this as the "mirror shot," but I've come to learn that some people who struggle with weight and body image tend to avoid mirrors when naked.

Even when mirrors are deliberately avoided, the shower-shot happens organically.

Clothes-Fit Metric

The Clothes-Fit metric is another factor to consider.

It is measured by how well clothes fit and which outfits are currently off-limits due to weight gain and need to be set aside until some pounds are shed.

Fitness Functionality

While appearance is important, it's not the only thing to consider.

Functionality is equally crucial.

Can you run a mile or walk 10 flights of stairs without getting winded?

Can you move around your home without falling down?

In the end, staying alive and staying in the game matter the most.

Living a fulfilling life starts with staying alive, so it's wise to minimize the risk of premature death.

And being overweight is a big cause of early death:

1. Cardiovascular disease: Obese individuals are at a higher risk for developing heart disease, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and stroke.

2. Type 2 diabetes: Obesity is one of the primary risk factors for type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body cannot effectively use insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.

3. Certain cancers: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon, kidney, and liver cancer.

4. Sleep apnea: Obese individuals are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

5. Joint problems: The extra weight carried by obese individuals can place additional stress on the joints, leading to joint pain and an increased risk of osteoarthritis.

6. Emotional health: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, as well as mental health conditions.

7. Digestive problems: Obesity can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux, gallbladder disease, and liver disease.

8. Respiratory problems: Obese individuals are more likely to suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory problems.

9. Reduced lifespan: Obesity has been linked to a shorter lifespan, as it increases the risk of many chronic health conditions.

   

Even with concrete evidence and data, people still engage in behaviors that promote weight gain.

Why?

Why do we revert back to old habits before we get the results we desire?

And when we do get them why do we self-sabotage our hard-earned results?

What Can We Do To Break The Cycle?

In my experience, the reasons why an overweight person goes back to binge-eating after weeks of eating right and exercising are similar to why a person with drug-addiction traits (a drug addict) continues to use even when it's knowingly ruining their life.

The pounds come off, but then they come back on, more than before.

The addict gets clean, but then starts using again, worse than before.

So, what's the reason behind this vicious cycle?

Pounds come off, pounds come back on.

Here’s why…

Let me break it down for you...

Emotion

It's no surprise that health fears can cause emotional distress. However, the obesity epidemic is just as much emotional as it is physical.

Our emotional health and fitness can either diminish or enhance our physical health.

Ultimately, emotional contentment (aka emotional fitness) is where we find true fulfillment.

Even if our body is in tip-top shape-

If we don't feel good about it, we simply won't feel good overall.

We all know that person, or have been that person, who jacks up their cortisol levels and stresses if they don’t get their workout in or if they don’t have access to the right foods at the right time.

We've also seen that person who remains overweight despite eating healthy and exercising regularly.

It's crucial to understand that everything is interconnected, and using our physical fitness level as a temporary solution to soothe emotional pain is just a band-aid fix.

Eventually, the band-aid will come off on its own, or we'll have to pull it off for one reason or another.

It's common knowledge that negative emotions can lead to weight gain.

However, the opposite is also true.

Becoming overweight, or even less fit, can bring on negative emotions.

The bottom line is that physical fitness and emotional fitness are closely intertwined.

For many people, achieving physical fitness is the simpler of the two.

I know it was for me. So…

Listen up- if you're over 30 years old and have been struggling with weight issues for a significant portion of your life, your #1 focus needs to be getting your metabolic hormones back on track.

Here's the simple equation for success:

1. Consume foods that support your goals rather than hinder them.

2. Prioritize exercise, particularly strength training.

3. Most importantly, eat less often.

By following these three steps, anyone can successfully lose weight without expensive equipment, doctor visits, or medication. It all comes down to returning to our ancestral roots and going longer without eating.

In other words, postponing food is The Way.

And I’m not talking about the IF schedule you already tried.

While intermittent fasting (IF), as depicted by mainstream media, can help to some extent, a 16/8 schedule won't do much if you're already overweight. Even an 18/6 IF schedule won't make a significant difference.

I won’t get into the scientific details as I cover them extensively in my other blogs and eBook.

But to simplify, postponing food like a Warrior through Warrior GH Fasting will realign your metabolic hormones, which is a healing lifestyle change that works for everyone who is committed to it. It’s not complicated, but it can be uncomfortable at first.

It's based on scientific research, not some secret formula that only a few people know. Studies have shown that postponing meals like a Warrior and following a timed eating protocol (TEP) that suits your lifestyle can reduce insulin resistance, lower insulin levels, and increase growth hormone levels.

Here are some other tips for achieving physical fulfillment:

• Prioritize strength training over cardio

• Ensure sufficient quantity and quality of sleep

• Eat the right combination of macros for your body

• Maintain authentic accountability

• Connect with ongoing support

• Stay hydrated

• Develop daily habits of movement

But the most critical element is making good decisions in the moment. Small moment to moment decisions add up to significant outcomes.

Good decisions = shrinking waistlines

Bad decisions = Big bellies and expanding waistlines

So if people know what to do in order to get the physical fitness they desire, why do they struggle to put that knowledge into action?

To take it even further- why do those who manage to make positive lifestyle changes often regain the weight within a year?

The reason why people fall back into old habits and regain weight is due to their moment-to-moment decisions slipping back to the old.

No one does this on purpose. This is not an intentional behavior. Rather, it is driven by the automatic and unconscious programs that have been running for years.

In essence, our intentions, emotions, actions, thoughts, and words are all interrelated and influenced by our unconscious mind.

To achieve our goals, we need to align our actions, thoughts, and emotions with our intentions and avoid slipping back into old automatic behaviors that hold us back. When we give in to these automatic behaviors, we end up right back where we started.

What is the process for weakening the old unconscious programs and establishing new ones that serve us better?

It’s a matter of alignment. We’ve already addressed the importance of metabolic hormone alignment. Now, the next step is to delve deeper into our thinking, behaviors, and emotions to reprogram our unconscious programs to match our intentions.

This process is called CBE Alignment. And that, friends and true-believers, is the topic of our upcoming blog post.

Stay tuned!

With Love and Light,

Thomas Miller (Coach Tom)