Let's Have a HEALTHIER TENNESSEE!

This Friday (April 15th), there is an event at the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that I think you might be interested in.

"Healthier Tennessee" is an initiative from Governor Haslam's office with the goal of improving the health of all Tennesseeans.  The local program is led by Blount BEneFITs program and starts at 11 and ends at 2 offering a broad array of events, displays, and presentations.

There will be cooking demonstrations, a bicycle tour along the Greenbelt, and lots of information on things like weight management, diabetes control, and all kinds of healthy habit ideas.

Healthier Tennessee will have programs on how to stay healthier in the workplace.  Healthier workers are more productive and you make more working than you do sitting home sick or injured.  (Sounds like a win/win situation to me!)

There are a lot of resources available to Blount Countians that can help in the pursuit of good health.  Our own Health Department offers all kinds of programs and Parks & Rec provides us with tons of opportunities to be active.

Blount BEneFITs (get it...BE n FIT s)is a local program provided by my employer, Blount Memorial Hospital. 

Now think about that for a minute.  Here we have a hospital funding all sorts of initiatives to make people healthier and keep them out of the hospital.

Initiatives like smoking cessation, weight management, and emotional health.

It really isn't a contradiction.  Hospitals are (or should be) in the business of making people healthy.  

The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is so very true.

And I might add, so very less expensive.  When over 17% of the GNP is spent on health care, we all have an obligation to do everything we can to prevent illness, injury, disease, or disability.

For a modern health care system, it has rapidly moved up the priority list.

So what can we do?

You may recall my column from a couple of weeks ago in which I covered "The Best Exercise Program Ever."  And if you recall the content, you will know that I am a firm believer in the proposal that the BEST exercise program that you can do is THE ONE THAT YOU WILL DO!  

Not everyone runs marathons or hikes the Appalachian Trail.  For some people, a daily walk on the Greenbelt is perfect.  Do the little things.

And the little things do add up.  Maybe it's parking farther away in the parking lot at work than you usually do or maybe it's taking the stairs instead of the elevator. 

From an exercise standpoint, that's what Healthier Tennessee is all about--taking small steps.

Maybe the first week you just walk around the block.  And aim to walk twice around the block.  Pretty soon, you are likely to be looking for bigger challenges.  

And there's lots of other little things we can do.  

We should all eat better.  Lose weight.  Stop smoking.  Lead by example.  Raise active kids.  Find the joy in physical expression.

Don't know how to do all that?

Join us on April 15th, 11 AM to 2 PM, at the Chamber of Commerce and you can find out!