Hey what’s good everybody?  I’m sorry for the long delay since the last edition of Shape Up, but my computer had a pretty devastating virus that put me out of commission for a while.
 

But have no fear; your AllHipHop Fitness Specialist is back to help you all keep pushing toward your goals!

Ironically, the advice that the computer tech gave as she performed “cyber-CPR” on my hard drive served as the inspiration for this first article back since my return from the matrix. 

Despite being composed of flesh and bones instead of circuits and motherboards, the four tips that she shared can also help prevent our bodies from crashing for months at a time as well. 

 

1.     Rest and reboot your system

 

Rest is extremely important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  If you’re a workaholic like I am, it’s not always easy to find time to squeeze in the recommended eight hours of sleep per night. Eventually however, those weeks of going to bed late and waking up early will begin to take its toll on your body. 

You’ll begin to feel sluggish and run down. Your memory and motor skills will not respond as efficiently.  How then will you be able to get the most out of your workouts at the gym? How well will that report turn out that you’re trying to write through droopy eyelids? What type of quality time can you truly spend with your family if you keep nodding off during your niece’s softball game?

Aside from feeling mentally and physically drained, sleep deprivation can cause emotional distress as well. Despite the analogy, we’re not robots who can function for 24 hours straight.  Our bodies need downtime to grow and recharge. This is why babies cry and adults get grumpy when they’re tired. This is also why we begin to develop “raccoon eyes” when we aren’t getting enough rest; it’s a basic requirement of being human.

Rest doesn’t only refer to the time spent on your bed and pillow either. If you’ve been constantly grinding for months, it may be time to cash in some of those vacation days. Escaping from your daily routine and hustle will allow you to return with a fresh perspective and restored energy.

Of course, with gas prices and money being tight, heading off to St. Thomas might not be in your budget right now, however there are probably places nearby that you haven’t taken the time to check out yet. You can also partake in the growing trend of the “backyard vacation.”  Take out the grill, throw on some music and chill at home. 

You don’t necessarily have to go somewhere physically; you just need to avoid the temptation of working.  Even if it’s just for a weekend, just try to find a time and place where you can let your mind go and completely relax for a while. 

 

2.     Be careful not to download corrupted data onto your Hard Drive

Sodium, cholesterol, sugars and non-essential fats – these are just a few of the potential threats that can corrupt your system. In moderation, the effects of these elements will remain minimal, however when consumed in large quantities, the effects of these items can literally be deadly. 

For this reason alone, it’s important that you begin to start reading the nutritional content listed on the packaging of most foods that you purchase.  Be careful to pay extra attention to the serving portion size however, because many slick companies will list the nutritional content for a portion much smaller than you’re likely to consume. While at first glance that can of soup may seem harmless, upon further inspection you may notice that the entire can really contains 2.5 times the amount of sodium listed in bold print! 

Also beware of creative packaging and marketing boasts. Just because a label says that the product is “healthy” doesn’t mean that it actually is. Typically it’s just “healthier” than the original version of the product, but still lacks nutritional value and often contains nearly the same amount of harmful additives and chemicals. This is especially true with “light cigarettes” and “light beer.” At the end of the day, it’s still nicotine and alcohol so you’re not much better off in the long run.

Fortunately, many restaurants are beginning to list their ingredients so that you can know what you’re eating on the go as well. If not, there are various websites and books that contain the nutritional value of popular meals at various restaurant chains. 

If you don’t want to take the time to research all of that however, than simply try to limit the amount of fried foods that you consume. Just try not to get in the habit of turning a healthy choice into junk food. For example, if you ad 40 slabs of bacon and 20 cold cuts to your salad then drown it in a gallon of heavy dressing, you might as well have just ordered a double cheeseburger since the effects will be just as harmful! 

Also remember that you can’t necessarily erase the effects of a junk food item by chasing it with a healthy item. So for all of you washing down those Twinkies and Doritos with a Diet Coke or a protein shake, while I applaud your effort… it’s not going to help much. 

In general, try to stick to foods that are naturally found on the Earth since they’re the easiest for your body to process. If you know that you love certain types of junk foods, seek out healthy alternatives. Try using other spices instead of immediately reaching for the saltshaker before you’ve even tasted your food.

 

As I stated in the Nutrition column, you can do almost anything in moderation so you can allow for the occasional cheat day, however for a healthier lifestyle you have to make informed choices to prevent potential complications to your system.

 

3.     Always use a quality virus protection program

While Norton, CA and McAfee may rule the world of “cyber-protection”, vitamins, minerals, fibers, grains and water should rule your Earthly existence. These elements will help keep your body functioning properly and will help ward off potential diseases. 

Aside from reading the nutritional content found on labels for negatives, be sure to also check out how many vitamins or minerals may be found in the foods that you eat. In general, by primarily sticking to foods that are naturally found on the Earth and not man-made, you’ll typically find an abundance of life sustaining nutrients. Once again however, just be careful how you doctor up these items. If you insist on deep-frying your broccoli and then smothering it in half a stick of butter, you may be missing the point. 

While it’s always best to get most of your nutrients from the foods that you eat, multivitamins are another great way to ensure that you’re getting the proper amount each day. This may be especially important to women who often have calcium or iron deficiencies. Multivitamins can help keep your system functioning smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

By protection however, I’m not just talking about multivitamins. We all sat through that awkward day in gym class sliding condoms on bananas and looking at charts of diseases that resembled the creatures in Predator, so if you’re sexually active, you should already know better than to be doing so unprotected. 

Don’t worry, I’m not getting preachy here, however with all of the children in foster homes and HIV patients in hospitals, I think we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to make informed and responsible decisions.

 

4.     Scan your system for errors and seek professional help if you can’t resolve the issue on your own.

Start taking the time to mentally ask yourself “How am I doing?”  If something has been bothering you for months, maybe it’s about time that you get that checked out. I know that many men in particular avoid the doctor like the black plague, however ignorance isn’t always bliss. Just because you don’t know what’s wrong with you doesn’t mean that it won’t get worse. 

The sooner you can get diagnosed, the sooner you can do something about it. The longer that you wait to get checked out, the harder it will to recover. With that said, try your best to check your ego then go and get a check-up. 

Sure we’ve all run into some bad doctors along life’s journey so ask a friend for a recommendation or do your research to find someone who you believe in. Self-medication and home remedies may not always be enough so there’s no shame in seeking out professional help mentally or physically.
 

Having your computer crash can be a traumatic and extremely frustrating experience, however there’s no reset button on the human body. Hopefully these four tips will help you to prolong your own lifespan and avoid a failure to your system as well.

As for my computer, I too have learned my lesson.  Momma told me not to go on those websites…

In the next edition of Shape Up we’re heading back to the gym with some workout tips and training routine ideas. As always, your feedback and comments are always welcome.  Questions will be answered in future editions of this column.

 

Until next time be good…or be good at it.

-Darrell

 

Here is the MP3 soundtrack to go along with this edition’s topic:

 

“Doowutchyalike" – Digital Underground

“Ayo Technology” – 50 Cent f/ Justin Timberlake

“Computer Games” – George Clinton