Introduction
Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, now in his 86th year, is the most famous living guru in the fitness field. He is the father of the movement of aerobics, which books, medical clinics, studies, and lectures probably turned a million or more couch potatoes into ordinary simulators. Cooper's first book, Aerobics, is reminiscent of Schopenhauer's wisdom, which noted that all reforms consist of three stages: they are ignored first, and then vigorously resisted, and finally taken for granted.
I know Dr. Cooper. He and his wife Millie widely agree. Only a crank could tease, find fault, nick or be angry at his work. In fact - who would dare to express a negative assessment about any recommendations of this legendary exercise guru? Good.
I accept exceptions from the widespread Twelve Steps to Good Health. 12 steps should not be confused with the more famous 12 steps of anonymous alcohol, 12 steps to improve your health for life by Joshua Rosenthal or Gabriel M.A. Twelve Steps to Psychological Health and Calmness book. Segal I am also not in love with these approaches on 12 steps, but this criticism concerns only individual recommendations from Dr. Cooper's 12th step.
Before I talk about my problems, take a look at Cooper's Twelve Steps to Good Health.
1. Stop using all tobacco and drugs.
2. Limit alcohol to no more than 10 drinks per week.
3. Start the exercise.
4. Use less salt, eat less fat, especially animal fat.
5. Eat more fresh vegetables.
6. Avoid obesity.
7. Take the right nutritional supplements, including calcium and antioxidant vitamins C, E and A.
8. Speed up your seat belt.
9. Avoid exposure to the sun.
10. Get vaccinations.
11. Get adequate prenatal care.
12. Get regular medical check-ups.
Stages are templates and obvious (avoid smoking and obesity), overly general (how much more good things are), controversial (taking supplements) and, in one case, not applicable to half of the population of prenatal care)
In short, they are not many. From such a vaunted fitness expert, I think we should expect 12 innovative, specific exercise tips that we don’t know yet, all quite specific.
Of course, there would be better 12 REAL tips on wellness therapy.
Cooper's revised steps
Here is a critique of every step.
1. Stop using tobacco and drugs? Are you kidding? This is not possible for most people, because they will not be dead or alive with tobacco. (As for drugs, it depends on drugs.) In any case, most people do not smoke or abuse drugs, although painkillers (opioid) drugs are a serious problem! An alternative step for those who do not practice this glaring aspect of self-destruction: Try to experience at least 23 good laughter every day, if possible, more.
2. Ten alcoholic drinks per week? It's too much! Alcohol is fattening, expensive and often contains sugar. Excessive drinking often leads to stupidity. Replacement step: Drink at least eight glasses of water daily.
3. Start training? Where have you been? On the moon? No one can be healthy without regular exercise and premature illness and death, if this is not guaranteed if you do not die first from an accident or something else. Don't enter middle age without it! Alternative step: Increase your exercise routine! Do more than the minimum daily need for disease prevention. Follow the advice of the late Dr. George Sheehan - be a good animal and often move with grace and strength.
4. Less salt, less fat? You can do much better. Think about how to become a vegan. Even a vegetarian with half an autumn, or a vegetarian with a partial vegan, a vegetarian AKA. This will contribute to lesser animal cruelty and, probably, weight loss if you need to lose weight.
5. More fresh vegetables? It depends. It depends on how much you eat now. Alternative step: Put less emphasis on food and more on adding meaning and excitement to life. Raise your passions.
6. Avoid obesity? Of course. A good idea. Do not forget to also avoid exposure to radiation, hungry reptiles, the Republican Party and the bubonic plague while you are on it. Alternative step: commit to achieve and maintain a healthy body throughout life and healthy eating habits.
7. Food supplements? Few need them. The Harvard Health Letter states that if supplements do work (which is doubtful for most), they will have side effects as well as benefits. No drug is absolutely safe, even if it is taken as directed.
8. Fasten the seat belt? Do you need Dr. Cooper to tell you about this? Go much more: make sure your car's cushions are not amenable to recall, do not make less trips and, when you drive, never, under any circumstances, talk into the phone or talk on the phone that you are holding. And move on the defensive, assuming that other drivers inside and around you are mentally challenged and are unlikely to behave intelligently.
9. Avoid sun exposure? What planet are you currently living on? If the Earth, this step will be difficult, to say the least. We all need a little starlight, but we get yours sooner or later the same day that it’s possible. Never sunbathe or use a tanning bed and cover as much as practical.
10. Immunization? Of course - annual flu shots, vaccinations for children and, if necessary, for trips to dangerous conditions. But, put a REAL wellness spin on it - immunize yourself with horror. That is, try to avoid communicating with negative people, develop your own environment to support growth and development and do what naturally makes you feel positive and cheerful.
11. Prenatal care? Good idea if you are pregnant. Dr. Cooper could be a more widely applicable step. How about finding a job that is complex and significant in an environment where you associate with positive employees. In addition, the job of becoming very, very good at what you like to do with the idea that ever someone or many people will want to compensate you. Example: Creating a regular blog for SeekWellness! (I'm still waiting, you must be patient).
12. Regular medical checkups? Oh, humanity, horror. There are too many medical tests in America. Replacement step: be more confident. Be familiar with medical self-help - find out when you need to see a doctor.
Summary
It seems that Dr. Cooper's steps absorb most Americans, while others have a terrible, self-destructive lifestyle and are unable or unwilling to think and act in ways that improve the best opportunities for a good life. Hmmm
Think about it, Dr. Cooper can say something. Most people can take advantage of some of their recommended 12 steps to minimize evil health. However, in order to avoid over-prophylaxis, a different set of steps or recommendations are required to function in excess.
The reformed steps outlined above underline the positive — the use of reason and the enjoyment of personal freedoms for an abundant approach to life. Warning signs, for example, described in the latest AWR, dedicated to groups of diseases and groups of organs (DOIG), never provide higher states of genuine life associated with optimal mental and physical well-being.
