There is no elevator to good health….

You’re going to have to take the stairs!

We all like a good shortcut, but when it comes to your well-being, quick fixes can do more harm than good.

What we think are instant cures could actually be making your health worse. Consider: 

• Anti-anxiety medication can make you agitated or restless  
• Sleeping pills can cause you to feel drowsy -- during the day 
• Prescription painkillers can cause the pain you feel to increase
• “Diet” foods can cause you to gain weight

If something doesn’t seem right here, it’s because it isn’t.

When we’re in pain, we seek the fastest route out. But pills are a dead end. Most don’t solve problems; they simply mask symptoms. And not only are their intended effects temporary, they can actually lead to worse--even permanent--health issues. Memory loss is a steep price to pay for something that’s supposed to improve your well-being.

Take Ambien, for example (or, better, don’t). There have been 38 million prescriptions written for Ambien over the last 10 years. That means about 1 in 10 Americans have come to rely on these pills to sleep. I was prescribed the drug post-9/11 because anxiety was disrupting my sleep. Five years later, I was still taking it. This is a medication that is only supposed to be prescribed for up to six weeks. It’s also one with side effects that include digestive problems, daytime drowsiness, dizziness and muscle pain.

The desire for a quick fix is a sign of the times.

We’d all like to believe that forgoing a plastic straw will save the planet, a stand-up desk replaces a trip to the gym (sitting, after all, is the new smoking) and a Facebook like counts as a meaningful human connection. We’re also a society used to instant gratification. The wonders of getting wifi signal at 35,000 feet are instantly lost to the frustrations of not being able to open an email in 0.2 seconds. 

But deep down we know the best things in life take a little effort and a little time. The good news is we also know they're worth it.

True change isn’t easy but it is simple.

And a healthier lifestyle will reward you in so many ways. You’ll feel better. Sleep better. Show up for others better. And the good news is you don't have to go on this journey alone. 

If you want to lose weight, develop a regular exercise regimen and reduce stress, the "Quieter Mind, Better Body Program" is designed for you and with you.

 Want to hear more? Reach out to me at [email protected] for a complimentary health-assessment call. It will be the first step on a simple path to feeling better.