Dr. Kenney’s 5 Spot
I interact with hundreds of patients each week and get asked a lot of questions. On Fridays I like to share some of the answers I give and hope it has value for you.
Where do you get your energy from, is it coffee or what? Though it’s not something I play up, my energy level is something people notice and comment on regularly. I do drink a little bit of coffee but even without coffee my energy is the same – at work and at home. My energy comes from a combination of things. I am a very positive and grateful person, so I enjoy my family, my work and many of the simplest things in life. I get enough sleep each night, exercise daily, eat well and deal with stress so that it does not dictate my life. Years ago, when these things were not the case, my energy level was only a fraction of what it is now.
A common health misconception you encounter? Something I’ve noticed over the years is that people blame age for everything. In fact, I had a guy this morning who blamed his back pain on his age…he’s 24. Seriously? The reality is that as we age our bodies do become less efficient than they were in our youth. However, chronological age does not dictate health. I will often sit down with a new patient I would assume to be in their 50’s but is actually in their 30’s or vice versa. Things will change physiologically as we age but we can slow or accelerate that process through our health choices. In my experience those that eat well, exercise, manage their stress, complain less, etc. are the ones that look, act and feel less than their actual age. Those that don’t will age faster.
A book you love? “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds” by David Goggins. This book is written by a former Navy SEAL that had a horrible upbringing, became obese and was not progressing well in life. He has gone on to become an absolute, no BS guy that has accomplished a great deal while never forgetting what got him there. He is an intense dude and I really gravitate to how he sees things. I read this book last year and upon finishing it, signed up for the Leadville 100 to challenge myself. In August when I competed in Leadville I saw and briefly spoke to David Goggins who was also in the race. Knowing I was competing in a race that he was in and having a chance to briefly meet him was a great honor for me.
A recent observation? As I mentioned last week, my wife has an online fitness business. Her main focus is women and she helps many on a daily basis. She has a large community on Instagram and over the past couple weeks she received messages from a handful of women. All gave long stories about how they’ve struggled to get fit, lose weight, feel good, etc. All of them then asked Mary if she’d be willing to send them a week or two free so that they could try the program without paying the $20 per month. Mary was more than happy to help them and since the workouts are sent via email, asked for an email address. In every case, the women said they were unwilling to provide an email address (you could literally create one just for this). I found this interesting because it reinforced to me the adage that “if you’re serious you’ll find a way and if you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” I also found it significant because so many people do not realize that the ultimate impediment to their progress is their own habits and thinking.
A quote I love? “A setback is a setup for a comeback” ― T.D. Jakes
Want more?
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