Exercise for vital health and wellbeing

Exercise for vital health and wellbeing 
 

 International Conference Presentation Paper. 

Adelaide SA, Australia, April 2014


Article 1. Bringing self-worth to exercise and motivation

Article 2. Are we training too hard - A new marker of exercise intensity

BRINGING SELF-WORTH TO EXERCISE AND MOTIVATION


INTRODUCTION

Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries, responsible for an estimated 22-23% of chronic health disease, 16-17% of colon cancer, 15% of diabetes, 12-13% of strokes and 11% of breast cancer (1). The direct costs of physical inactivity on the health care system is also increasing (2, 3) and 12% of all deaths could potentially be related to physical inactivity (4).

Despite the clear evidence of the need for regular exercise, the percentage of adults who meet national physical activity guidelines in the UK, US and Australia are still very low, at 18.8%, 20.6%, and 40.3% respectively (5-7). Factors thought to be associated with physical inactivity include health status, demographic, psychological, behavioural, social, environmental and program related factors.

There are currently no set answers for what interventions best increase exercise participation rates (8,9). In our clinic we have observed that developing selfworth and self-commitment increases a person’s ability to make consistent healthy lifestyle choices, including increased motivation and adherence to a regular exercise routine.

This presentation discusses our observations.

Before and After Photos Universal Medicine

OBSERVATIONS

Above and below are some images and statements from a small sample of people, taken from a group of over 1000 who, from our observation have made dramatic changes in their life after working on developing their connection with themselves and their self-worth. As well as observed increases in self worth, we have seen significant and sustaining improvements in health, vitality and wellbeing, including a long-term commitment to regular exercise. These people have been participating in healing sessions and self-development course with Universal Medicine and it’s associated clinics, based in Australia, UK and Europe. The changes people have experienced in their life are:

  • Ceasing drug, medication and alcohol addictions of up to 10 to 20 years duration, to go onto being successful business professionals; 
  • Weight loss of over a quarter of body mass, including weight gained as a result of traumatic childhood abuse. 
  • Individuals coming out of long-term adrenal exhaustion to live an energised and vital life with full-time work.
  • Hundreds of people returning to and sustaining healthy weight ranges, and a small number of people healing bulimia or anorexia.
  • Hundreds of people coming out of long-term depression, suicide attempts or anxiety, who now live their lives full of loving relationships with themselves, friends and families.
  • People who have progressed from chronic functional impairment or medically diagnosed diseases such as depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and anxiety disorder to now being medically diagnosed as fully healthy with no conditions.
  • A greater commitment to taking care of the body, including maintaining a healthy diet and participating in regular exercise.

IMAGES – Before and after the development of self connection and self worth

 

Before and After Universal Medicine

 

STATEMENTS

The following question was also asked of the sample: “On a practical level, what have been the main changes you have made in your life to be where you are today, compared to where you were?” Here are some of the answers:

“Lost 50 kg, live in a way that means that I am connected to my body and also really care about myself. I have broken patterns of low self worth so I really care about my body without sabotage.” (Female, age 50)

“Listening to my body in the choices and the results of the choices I make through a day in – eating, sleeping, training, work, my relationships with the people I meet and family and friends.” (Male, age 56)

“Taking responsibility for my choices. Looking at the choices i make, the way I live, and what I eat and how it affects my body. Taking time, stopping and feeling what is needed rather than pushing through ignoring signs from my body.” (Female, age 41)

“Stopped drinking, stopped smoking, started eating healthily, started valuing and respecting myself and my body, started listening to my body, dealt with underlying hurts.” (Female, age 46)

“Through the support of Universal Medicine I started to look at myself. I always lived as though there was something wrong with me, feeling like I would never be accepted. I had major self loathing and self worth issues. It started with having sessions to deal with the issues I held in my body. I used to not let anyone get emotionally or physically close to me, I lived very isolated from the world. The sessions with Universal Medicine helped me to deal with these deep issues I held in my body; from here my wellbeing and sense of self started to improve and my weight started to shift.” (Female, age 34)

“I have a job I love. Great relationships with friends and family. I eat really well. I have lost stacks of weight. I now love my body and myself. I have an awesome life in general. Before I was miserable, had terrible relationships and hated myself and the way I was living.” (Female, age 55)

“Today I respect my body and what I put into it; therefore no drinking, drugs or sugar is part of my new way of living.” (Male, age 41)

“I changed my life because I reconnected to myself and from there I got to feel what was right for my body, so I gave up gluten, dairy, alcohol, started to deal with my sadness, took responsibility for my own choices in life and stopped blaming others and learned to trust in people and life again.

I went back to acute care nursing and realised that I needed to be fit to do the job properly, so I got help from an exercise physiologist and learned how to exercise in a way that supports my body and in a way that suited me. This was a huge support for me.” (Female, age 53)

“I have learned to be more kind and loving with myself. I listen to my body, and feel what it needs in terms of food, exercise and rest, and to the best of my ability, I live from this awareness. I have looked at my own hurts and how they affected the way I lived and have worked on addressing and healing them. I have given myself permission to develop a loving and joyful way of life, and to share it with other people.” (Female, age 51)

“Becoming loving towards my body and taking responsibility for what I eat, say and how I move. If I am being too hard on the body (or too soft) then I am not honouring it.” (Male, age 45).

DISCUSSION
The observations at our clinic suggest that an increased level of self-worth, self-care and self-responsibility results in an increase in one’s ability to make long-term healthy lifestyle choices that lead to the sustained improvements in health, wellbeing and quality of life as quoted above.
 

We have observed that individuals with low self-worth, low self-care or low self-responsibility may be more likely to:

  • not carry a regard for themselves and how they treat their body,
  • more easily make negative or unhealthy lifestyle choices,
  • more easily live with physical inactivity and poor diets,
  • have difficulty making ongoing positive or healthy lifestyle choices such as regular exercise.

 

We have observed that people beginning to truly value, take care of and take responsibility for themselves are more likely to:

  • hold themselves and their body in a higher regard and care,
  • act on a greater commitment to taking care of themselves,
  • find a new ease with consistently making positive and healthy choices such as regular exercise,
  • feel that they deserve health and wellbeing and to be taken care of, 
  • begin to stop self-abusive or self-destructive behaviours or patterns that may have been active for 10-20 years.

 

If a lack of self-worth, self-care or self-responsibility is in fact related to physical inactivity, should we not consider; is the physical inactivity epidemic actually a lack of self-worth epidemic?

CONCLUSION

  • Through the Universal Medicine and Esoteric Healing Clinics world wide we have observed over 1000 and up to 2000 people improve their self connection and self-worth and increase their ability to make consistent healthy lifestyle choices, including regular exercise participation and healthy eating.
  • Further research would help to scientifically characterise the self-worth or self-commitment that has resulted in the sustained improvements in health and wellbeing. Including an investigation of the methods used at our clinic to achieve these outcomes.
  • A greater scientific understanding about the methods used to improve self worth and selfconnection at the Universal Medicine and Esoteric Healing Clinics may help to better understand how to support humanity to increase healthy lifestyle choices.
 
By DP and Serge Benhayon

 

REFERENCES

  1. World Health Organisation (2002) The World Health Report 2002 – Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life
  2. Colditz GA. Economic costs of obesity and inactivity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;31(11):S663–S667.
  3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity fundamental to preventing disease. Washington, DC; 2002.
  4. McGinnis JM, Foege WH. Actual causes of death in the United States. JAMA. 1993;270:2207–2212.
  5. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2012. Health, United States: table 67.
  6. World Health Report 2002 – Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy life
  7. 2011-12 ABS National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS). Latest Issue 18/12/2013
  8. Teixeira PJ et al. Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: A systematic review.
  9. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2012, 9:78
  10. Goal setting, problem solving and feedback improve short-term adherence to physical activity in people with stable heart failure. Br J Sports Med 2014; 48:4 343-344

read article 2: Are we training too hard - A new marker of exercise intensity