Healthy Lifestyles
Your Body is A Temple
by Deirdre Larkin-Tingstrom, M.S., R.D
Last year, our soror, Dr. Regina Benjamin was sworn in as the Surgeon General of the United States. At first glance, she appears to represent one of many 50-something African American women: maintaining ideal body weight can be frustrating and elusive. Has she been criticized for her weight (especially considering that as Surgeon General she is charged with delivering a message of health)? Of course she has…but it is important to hear what she has to say. Dr. Benjamin is quoted as follows (May 2010, “Essence Magazine”):
I am like 67 percent of Americans who struggle with their weight. I understand what they’re going through. I know what it’s like to be overly stressed, working two or three jobs – in my case working 18-hour days….I bring a sense of empathy and understanding when we’re trying to implement health and exercise programs.
I do exercise. I always have. Three times a week or so, I work out, and I plan to keep it up.
I want people to be fit and healthy no matter what size they are. You can get in the best shape you can be at this moment, no matter what your weight is, and you can have fun exercising.
The media reminds us constantly to maintain a healthy lifestyle: plenty of physical activity; emphasize the intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; limit alcohol consumption and minimize fat intake. There have been suggestions regarding weight-loss, blood pressure regulation, ways to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. One thing that all of this information has had in common is the emphasis that physical activity and healthful food choices play critical roles in one’s overall health and well-being.
Now we see a person who looks like us and who struggles like us but has not given up or given in to the pressures surrounding her. How inspirational is that?!
With losses in her family history due to smoke-related cancer, HIV-related illnesses, diabetes, and hypertension, Dr. Benjamin is acutely aware that lifestyle plays a critical role in the health status of all Americans. In the “Essence Magazine”, she provided a timeless message that she chose to refer to as a “prescription for black women’s health.” As a registered dietitian, this writer wishes to note that the advice is valuable not just for women’s health but for everybody’s health – women and men, young and aged, from any ethnicity, whether weight is a challenge or not.
Dr. Benjamin’s “prescription” is summed up here:
- Don’t get hung up on the number on the scale. No matter what size you are, you can be healthy.
- Get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. It doesn’t have to be drudgery. Choosing the stairs over the elevator will make you more fit over time.
- Ask local restaurants and stores to offer healthy foods. They’re marketing to us, so we’ve got to tell them we want healthy choices.
- Don’t drink your calories. Replace sugar-sweetened beverages with water.
- Eat meals together as a family. Research shows this helps children eat less junk food and more fruits and vegetables.
These directives seem relatively simple, but if followed with faith, trust, and a positive attitude, they can make an enormous difference in your life as well as that of your family.
By the way, one of Dr. Benjamin’s goals is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, a fete for which she has been training for a while as an avid mountain climber. So don’t let her outward appearance fool you. This soror has good health in mind – and you don’t have to be a size zero to attain it.
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