Provision #526: Planetary Possibilities

by Bob Tschannen-Moran
 

LifeTrek Laser Provision

When it comes to fitness there is no conflict between what's good for us as individuals and what's good for us as a species. The better we take care of ourselves the better things will be for others. When we have the strength, capacity, and desire to use muscle power rather than fossil-fuels, for example, we are contributing to the welfare of one and all. That's why fitness represents such a planetary possibility. There's really no telling the good we can do once we find the energy and the nerve to start.

LifeTrek Provision

1. High Lean Protein Content (ideally from wild sources)
2. Low Intake of Carbohydrates with a High Glycemic Index
3. High Fiber Intake
4. Moderate Intake of Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fats with a balance of Omega 3 & 6 Fats
5. High Potassium and Low Sodium Intakes
6. High Intake of Fruits and Vegetables with Low-Moderate Glycemic Indices
7. High Intake of Plant Phytochemicals, Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants

After describing and incorporating these principles into our Optimal Wellness Prototype, with a few modifications, I went on to observe the paradox that the planet cannot support even its current population, let alone any increased population, on an evolutionarily correct diet. What's good for the individual is not good for the species, and vice-versa (unless you take a long-term perspective).

I called this a Planetary Predicament in a Provision that was filled with dire statistics Click. I concluded with the following paragraph:

"So what's a person to do? We can exercise the power of choice. Just as we can choose to eat healthy, organic, local foods without overeating, so can we choose to reproduce ourselves without overpopulation. Replacement-size families would enable the planet to gradually recalibrate without the pain and suffering associated with a mass extinction. That has already happened in many countries. It needs to happen everywhere in order for the planet to heal and to support a high quality of human life for one and all. As co-producers on the planet, it's not too late and it's not beyond us to make that happen."

Fortunately, there's no planetary predicament when it comes to evolutionary fitness. Whether you take a short-term or long-term perspective, the more we sleep, live, and exercise like our Paleolithic ancestors, the better off we will be both as individuals and as a species, both now and in the future. There is perfect complementarity when it comes to Stone Age and Space Age fitness requirements. The more we sleep, and the more we move our bodies with muscle power, the less fossil-fuel energy we consume. It's both good for us and for the planet.

That's the beautiful thing about optimal fitness: it's good for one and all. Let me give you a personal example. The nearest post office and bank to my home / office is about 10 miles or 16 kilometers round-trip. I have reason to make that trip at least twice a week. In the course of a year, that equals about a thousand miles or 1,600 kilometers which, if I drive my car, translates into 40 gallons or 150 liters of gasoline.

All that gasoline is spared, of course, if I make the trip by cycling or running. And if every car on the road today were to consume 40 gallons or 150 liters of gasoline less per year, the energy crisis as well as the threat of global warming would both abate. So that's what I do. As often as possible, I make the trip by cycling or running, rather than by automobile. It helps to keep both me and our planet fit.

In order for this to work, I obviously need to be in decent shape. You don't just cycle or run 10 miles / 16 kilometers without training. So there's a connection between my exercise regimen and my daily activities. The two support each other in mutually synergistic ways. By paying attention to aerobics, strength, flexibility, and balance in training, I open the door to new possibilities in life.

That's what I love about optimal fitness: it's good for so much and for so many. I'll never forget the transition I made back in 1998 from being obese and sedentary to being thin and fit. So much more became possible, both for me and for others. Even though I was still living in the same place, it was a place transformed. As I became fit, I started hanging out in new places, like trails and the Metro Park System, discovering all kinds of pursuits and people that I never realized were out there.

What makes this possible is an evolutionarily correct lifestyle. Perhaps I could follow Dr. Cordain lead by identifying seven universal principles on the fitness side of the equation:

1. High Sleep Patterns (ideally 8 or more hours per night plus naps)
2. Low Intake of Stress with a High Pressure Index
3. High Air Intake
4. Moderate Personal Hygiene Routines
5. High Exercise & Physical Activity Levels
6. High Intake of Fun & Recreation
7. High Intake of Engaging Work that contributes to the Well-Being of Others