We talk about the best programmes for fat loss, fitness, performance and everything else that are health related. We hear people arguing over which supplement is better, which super food is truly super and which exercises are the best fat burners. But none of this matters if the benefits produced don’t last for the long term. So let us understand if what you have been doing over the last many days, weeks and months are actually working.
Let’s take the last 1,000 days of your life and analyse it. Why 1,000? Because it is an acceptably large sample size of days that can tell us if we are headed in the right direction. What has changed over the last 1000 days or three years and what do they mean?
For each of the categories, pick a data point from about three years ago, and compare it to the most recent data point you have, the more recent the better.
Bodyweight
Has this increased on decreased? If it has increased, have you gotten stronger or have you just gained more fat? If it has decreased, have you lost fat and are feeling good or was this weight loss due to sickness or obsessive dieting? If the change in bodyweight was planned and a result of positive actions, that’s great. If not, it’s time to start taking control over your bodyweight.
Blood sugar
I’m sure you’ve tested this in the last three years. If not, well, it’s about time you did. What is the change? If your fasting blood sugar has decreased or is in the acceptable range (under 90mg/dL) and hasn’t increased since you last checked, you’re doing good. If not, now is a good time to go easy on the starch, sugar and processed foods.
Diseases
This is the obvious section. Are you suffering from any lifestyle disease now that you haven’t been three years ago? For example, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic fatigue? If yes, that’s not good. Or have you cured or controlled something that was bringing you down? If yes, that’s great!
Looks
Do you look better today than you did three years ago? Simply compare two photos from now and back then. What do you observe? Do you seem older or younger? Do you seem sadder or happier? Do you look worse or better? If it is the former, you’re on the right track. Else, your lifestyle is starting to show, quite literally. Take the hint and start making those lifestyle changes everyone keeps talking about.
But here is some good news — in all probability, making the right changes will help you fix all four of these. And the interesting bit here is that you already know what those changes are.
Always remember, health is not a goal but a continuous process of improvement. Results, however quick, mean nothing if we can’t sustain them. I hope the last 1,000 days have been kind to you. But if you can do things right for the next 1,000 days, we wouldn’t have to hope anymore.
Noted for his passionate, no-nonsense approach to health living, the writer is a fitness and nutrition expert and entrepreneur.
