Proactive vs. Reactive

I am oftentimes asked by patients what I do to stay healthy and avoid injury or setbacks from training. There are several things I do, all of which I enjoy sharing with patients of mine. I enjoy training hard. I know that if I did not do certain things for my body, it would begin to breakdown prematurely, compensate in many ways, and most likely I would end up injured. So now you are wondering what some of these "things" are that I do to optimize my function and overall health.

Body Awareness
First of all, I am aware of my body. If I feel something is "not right" I do not allow it to manifest any further. I address it immediately. I have always believed that we can either heal quickly or we can heal slowly. I know that "letting things work themselves out" does not always work. In fact, it hardly ever works. Either the dysfunction worsens or something else shows up further up or down the kinetic chain.

Nutrition
The next thing high on my priority list is my nutrition. Quality nutritional habits go a long, long way towards maintaining overall health and soft tissue quality as well as optimizing recovery from workouts. More and more research is proving that the type of fuel (nutrients) we put in our body affects not only its performance, but also its ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions, maintain normal levels, and continue to grow.

Customized Multi-Vitamin / Mineral Supplement
My nutrition begins with a customized multivitamin / mineral supplement based on my genetic coding; complimented by omega-3 fatty acids, and greens and l-glutamine to neutralize my body's ph and optimize recovery following training sessions. Oftentimes, I will also use whey protein following workouts to get the additional branched-chain and essential amino acids our bodies need for repair of tissue.

Diet
I eat in a way that has come to be better known as Paleolithic. My diet consists of fruits, vegetables, lean protein from animal sources, nuts, seeds, berries, and brown/wild rice blends. I add the rice to meet my additional carbohydrate needs from exercise. All of the foods I fuel myself with are very nutrient-dense (rich in vitamins, minerals and other trace elements), low on the glycemic index scale, and have a net alkaline-enhancing effect - all necessary for health, growth, and recovery. I take this very seriously because I know that every calorie eaten from a less than optimal food means a lost opportunity to take in much larger amounts of nutrients from vegetables, fruits, and lean protein. The more serious you are about your health and your athletic performance, the more important this is.

Mobility Drills
Another thing I do daily is do my own part in maintaining the quality of my muscles and other soft tissue structures. While I take every opportunity I can to get quality manual work done on me, I also know there are a couple of wonderfully effective things I can do for myself that go a long way. One is active mobility drills. I have a series of drills that I do before each and every workout I do, whether it be in the weightroom, on the track, or an easy run or ride. This mobility work of course includes use of the foam roller and other movements to mobilize my ankles, hips, and thoracic spine.

Tiger Tail
The other tool I use - mostly following my workouts - is the Tiger Tail. I have found this tool to be extremely effective following workouts, especially along the posterior chain (calves, hamstrings, glutes, traps and levator scapulae) of my body. If you would like more information on the foam roll or Tiger Tail, please call 386-7060 or email me at josh@therenkenscenter.com.

Your health and how well you perform in life is ultimately YOUR responsibility. Taking responsibility means taking action. It doesn't take a lot of time to do some of these things that can make a BIG difference in our lives. What it does take is moving certain things up on your priority list.

The Decision Is Yours

I believe we are here to realize and maximize our human potential. There are not many things, if any, that are more important to attaining this ideal than our health and the function of our body. If you take care of your body, not only can you prevent many diseases and illness and prolong your life, but you also vastly improve the quality of your life.

You can increase daily energy, creativity, mental focus and attention span, allowing you to achieve more in the pursuit of whatever it is that matters to you - such as family, career, athletics, and hobbies. Your self-esteem and outlook on life also end up where they belong - very positive.

Answer the following: Of the five listed below, which would you least want to have destroyed or eliminated?

1. Your car
2. Your television
3. Your house
4. Your job
5. Your body

Hopefully, you answered number 5, realizing that a central priority in your life should be dedicated to ensuring that your body isn't breaking down prematurely.