I watch TV.

I have some friends who have told me that they have quit. Cancelled their cable. their Hulu, their Netflix, their Prime. The whole schmageggin. They have sold their TV. They listen to music & their self improvement podcasts, they read, they meditate, whatever.

These people are way deeper than me.

I need my football, both American & world. I need my movies, both run of the mill flicks and the weird, sub-titled stuff that I crave from time to time. I wake up to Sportscenter, though I have to turn it off the moment that Stephen A or anyone else starts arguing (when did this become a thing?).

You get it, right?

But in my time planted in front of the tube, I am constantly bombarded by ads for drugs. Drugs to cure all sorts of ills and conditions. Drugs with outrageous names and long lists of possible side effects. Drugs that, I’m sure, cost a dollar or two. Or two hundred. Or more. And you know me, I started thinking about some of these conditions and the wonder drugs that are being advertised, and what else could possibly be used to help or regulate some of these scourges of our modern day living.

So, you know me. Or you should by now. I had to take a quick look and, ya know, blog about it.

So here goes.

Let’s just take this one drug. It’s advertised for heart health. I’m going to substitute the word “BLAH” for the name of this drug. Cause I’m chicken. But you’ll get the idea;

Do not take BLAH if you are allergic to BLAH or any of its ingredients. Oh FFS. Really? And while you’re at it, please don’t drop an anvil on your head if your head is sensitive to anvils being dropped on it.

BLAH can cause serious side effects, including:

Dehydration.
Severe hypotension (low blood pressure).
Diabetic ketoacidosis (high levels of ketones in your blood or urine). Symptoms can include:
nausea and vomiting
trouble breathing
belly pain
feeling more tired than usual
Kidney problems, such as sudden kidney injury.
confusion
fatigue
producing less urine or urinating less often than usual
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
dry mouth
fatigue
feeling lightheaded or dizzy
headache
hunger
difficulty concentrating
High cholesterol,
Severe urinary tract infection.
Severe infection in the perineum (the area between and around the anus and genitals). Umm, what? I didn’t even know what that particular area was called. That’s because I don’t spend a lot of time concerning myself with my perineum. And I don’t want to. But I know what I don’t want for my perineum. And at the top of that list is a severe infection….

…but I digress…

OK. This is just one drug, taken for heart health. There are countless other drugs advertised for everything from bulging eyes to high cholesterol to E.D. All with a laundry list of side effects. And don’t get me started on weight loss / weight management.

So here’s where I circle back to an old, boring, hackneyed concept…

Diet , activity, rest , supplementation.

I know. “blah, blah, blah, Bob. Here you go again with the lecture”

Yes. Yes I am going there again.

Why? Because it’s SO SIMPLE, SO INEXPENSIVE & SO EFFECTIVE!

Let’s break it down real quick, huh?

Diet- I’m not preaching abstinence, or complete denial of the good things of life. Trust me. I don’t deny myself food that makes me happy. I just don’t do it every single day. I am an 80/20 guy. 80 % of the time I am pretty good with my diet so I can enjoy myself 20% of the time. I work on enjoying a little of something really good as opposed to “all you can eat”. Grab a salad . Get used to the taste. Nothing crazy. No lemon juice / maple syrup fasting. No amphetamine diet pills. Just a little self control, a little change in habit, a little, dare I say “moderation”. I know. I don’t like the word either, but it works, man.

Activity– Notice I didn’t say exercise. It doesn’t have to be THE GYM. It doesn’t have to be RUNNING. Or Beach body or Pelaton or P90X or Insanity or any of those crazy, kamikaze workouts. Walk around the block. Buy a bike. Use the stairs instead of elevators. Simple, active substitutes for sedentary habits. Yes, it takes an effort to start down the path. Yes, when you start it seems like a pain. So start easy. One of the biggest missteps for beginners is going in full bore, then the next day waking up not able to get out of bed.

Good intention & positive action derailed.

Give yourself time, if you fall off the horse, forgive yourself and get back on. Small steps people. Small steps…

Rest– Overlooked but important. We try to cram too many things into too few hours, then go to bed already stressed out.We also tend to worry, stress and overwork ourselves into a state where we feel we “need” to overeat, over drink, etc. Again, it takes a conscious effort to create an environment conducive to rest, relaxation and restorative sleep. Whether it’s music or lighting to set the mood, or whatever works for you. I think yoga and meditation are great ways to de-stress and put yourself in position to get the rest your body AND your mind need.

Supplementation– Yeah, I know there are skeptics and there are “bad players” out there in the supplementation world. But I look at it very simply. I don’t have a perfect diet. There are nutrients that I don’t get in my day to day food consumption that help me to live a vital, active life. So I get them through supplements. To me that’s just good sense. I have a brand that I KNOW does it right. I don’t think I have to explain that to anyone who knows anything about me. So you find what works for you. You don’t have to pay a fortune, but I recommend you do a little homework.It’s your health, read up a little.

Please don’t engage in Diet, Activity, Rest & Supplementation if you are allergic to Diet, Activity, Rest or Supplementation.

Possible side effects to Diet, Activity, Rest & Supplementation include;

-Needing a new wardrobe. Either active wear or ordinary clothes in new sizes.

-Reduced appetite for 2nd & 3rd helpings

-Exposure to sunlight & fresh air.

-Positive attitude.

-Exposure to other people with positive attitudes.

-Waking up in the morning not feeling like death warmed over.

-Improved attitude & interactions with family, friends, co-workers, etc.

There. So ends the “look after yourself” lecture, at least until the next time I get a burr in my proverbial saddle after watching yet another “take this drug to live your best life” commercial.

Now get off the computer, go out & play.

Talk later,

Bob