Fit For Life: DES·TI·NY

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

DES·TI·NY

destinē/noun
1. the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future; "she was unable to control her own destiny"
2. the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate; "he believes in destiny"

This is the definition of DESTINY, as stated in the dictionary. The first definition states the truth, but I tend to disagree with the second one on many levels.

Are there things in life we can't control?

Absolutely. There are many chronic illnesses, and diseases that are beyond our control, and many times there is nothing we could have done to change an outcome, even if we knew it was going to happen. But when it comes to our health and wellness, I believe we can control 90% of all that ails us, and WE, not some hidden power, have control over this. Very few human beings have sickness and ill health as part of their destiny. If we take some time and apply some effort, we should be able to live a healthy vital life.

I am writing this while sitting bedside with a family member in the hospital, and I am surrounded by sickness and death. The person I am visiting is looking at a 50/50 chance of survival due to an episode that could have definitely been avoided. This is someone that knew he was sick, knew what to do to get better (because I always nag him), yet never made the effort or took the time to take care of himself, not realizing the consequences that go with an abusive lifestyle. The scary part is that this isn't uncommon, I see it and hear about it every day, and I can't understand why.

We see it daily. People eating poorly, not exercising, and doing abusive things to their body. And look what they have to show for it. Obesity, heart disease, arthritis, respiratory problems, medication dependency, poor self image, low energy…..and the list goes on and on and on.

The domino effect.

Not only does this effect the individual not taking care of themselves, it creates a domino effect. Families suffer watching it take place, and they will suffer even more when an untimely death occurs. It is torture when someone you care about is damaging themselves to the point you expect a disastrous outcome to their lives. It also causes a huge burden on the cost of medical care. Hospitals are expensive, and you can purchase many organic foods, and gym memberships with the cost of one stint in the hospital.

Do it for those you love.

So in conclusion, if your destiny is to be sick, feel lousy, and be unproductive in your life, all while upsetting those around you that care about you, then keep eating packaged processed junk, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and not exercising. Many of the people doing this don’t realize the repercussions, so if this describes you,(my younger brother) please take note and make some changes in your life. Many of you have families and children, so even if you don’t care about yourself, consider those around you. We care and want what’s best for you. If you are serious about making a change for the better, call me at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, and let’s make a change – together.

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"

Related Slideshow: The 7 Best Health and Fitness Apps

Here is a list of some of the most obsession worthy health apps.

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MapMyRun

MapMyRun is the number one selling running app for a reason: it is easy to use, offers community support if you want it, and tracks and stores your exact routes for you. If you are training for a race or a serious runner, users say that the extra perks in the upgraded paid version are well worth it.

Made for iPhone, Android and Blackberry

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MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal seems to be the clear favorite amongst everyone polled. It is helpful not only for the fitness tracking aspect, but everyone polled mentioned how much they loved the food/diet aspect as well. From carb counting for diabetics to recipe ideas to complement your fitness goals, users love this app.

Made for iPhone and Android

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JeFit

JeFit is another fitness app that has rave reviews. It not only tracks progress for you, but offers a huge database of workouts. While many apps offer community support, JeFit allows you to sync workouts with friends who use the app, offering a (real) virtual buddy system.

Made for iPhone and Android

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Strava

Strava gets the highest mark of all the cycling apps. While it is also great for runners, the cyclers seem particularly inclined towards the fierce competition that can be ignited by this app. You can track all of your rides via GPS, then you can compare your efforts to those logged by others in the community on the same stretch of road. You can also join ongoing challenges that can net you great prizes (in addition to bragging rights).

Made for iPhone and Android

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YogaStudio

YogaStudio gets the top vote for Yoga apps. It has a lengthy collection of full class-length videos available at your fingertips. Unlike many other apps, this one also allows you to customize your own video yoga class. All of the poses are done by qualified yoga instructors, and you can find classes suitable for all levels of yogis.

Made for iPhone only

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SimplyBeing

SimplyBeing meditation app offers the best of both worlds. You can choose to run this app as a background for your meditation with soothing music or natural sounds that run for a set amount of time. Conversely, for those of you who have trouble focusing during meditation, you can choose a soothing voice-guided meditation.

Made for iPhone and Android

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Fooducate

Fooducate is an app all about educating people so that they make healthier food choices. Although not perfect, this app is easy to use (you can even take pictures of bar codes to instantly find foods in their database). It gives food a letter grade, tells you the pluses and minuses, and gives you better ranked alternatives. You can also use it as a weight loss tool by tracking your daily calories.

Made for iPhone and Android