Janet co-manages a women's retail store and is at work by 9:50 a.m. She works until about 1:30, then walks to an Italian deli about 12 minutes away and has lunch: a mixed salad and a Swiss cheese sandwich on whole wheat. She reads the newspaper for another 15 minutes then walks back to the store.
Paula is a nurse, on staff in a professional office. She arrives at work at 9:45 and has coffee and a bagel. At 1:15, a secretary brings the morning order of lunches. Paula has a plain salad, dry toast and coffee. She eats at her desk, catching up on paperwork and some business phone calls.
Both women have similar job structures, but Janet has adopted a healthy attitude of taking a lunch break out of the work zone and relaxing. Paula's tradition of eating while working adds more stress to her already stressful day. Both women finish work by 4:30 and will stop at the same grocery store for some food items. Janet's cart rolls up to the cashier with the following items: a bag of romaine lettuce, a head of broccoli, 2 red peppers, a bag of carrots, eggs, butter, olive oil, a bunch of banana's, oatmeal, chicken parts and a carton of ice cream.
Paula empties her cart, which consists of frozen green beans, canned corn, a pound of margarine, two heads of iceberg lettuce, chicken parts, three large bottles of coke, a tub of crisco, some sweet rolls, a package of cookies and two boxes of sweet cereal.
Although Janet bought food for more meals, she pays less for it. She also spends less for more nutrients. This shopping spree is a good representation of their respective groceries for the week. Below is what, and how, they prepared dinner.
Janet gets home about 5:10 p.m. and begins preparing dinner: broiled chicken, a salad of romaine lettuce, red peppers and carrots with an oil and vinegar dressing, and steamed broccoli. Janet pours a glass of wine for herself and her husband. By 6:00 the whole family sits down for dinner.
Paula is home about the same time as Janet, and prepares dinner: fried chicken, green beans, and bread. Aware that no one but her will eat a salad, she avoids it altogether. She puts everything into a warm oven for later. The kids are ready to eat by 6:30, and grab some chicken and cokes and head back to their room where they're studying (and on the phone). Paula and her husband finally sit down to eat by 7:30.
Although both women are home about the same time and spend equal time preparing dinner, Janet makes a healthier meal. Also, Janet's family is together for dinner. Paula's meal is not only unbalanced but contains mostly fried food as the staple. Another important difference: Paula's meal is later in the evening, when digestion is less efficient.
After dinner, Janet and her husband clean up and take a short walk with the dog. Janet has a small dish of ice cream while going through the mail, and finishes the evening by catching up on her reading. She's asleep by 11:15.
Paula has her kids clean up the dinner items. She spends the rest of the evening watching T.V. Her snacks include two pieces of coffee cake, a coke and some cookies. She's asleep on the couch at about 9:30.
Janet gets a bit more relaxed exercise, while Paula remains inactive. Also, Paula's evening "binges" are one reason why she's about 20 or 25 pounds overweight, as are her husband with the kids following the same trend. Janet is not only maintaining her great health but her children are learning the same process. Even her dog is reaping the benefits.
The next day both women have appointments with the same applied kinesiologist. Janet first became a patient about five years ago due to a chronic back problem. This was corrected after just a few visits. She was so impressed by the education she received, as well as the treatment for her back, that she remained on a prevention program. She learned that the body was a whole system, with everything interconnected. And that seemingly unrelated factors, like the shoes she wore and the food she ate, were related to her back problems. All this led to the obvious need for a lifestyle change which she committed to maintaining. Now she visits the applied kinesiologist every couple of months, and says she has never felt better, or younger. Her entire family has also seen the same doctor following a similar scenario.
Paula first saw the applied kinesiologist four years ago because of a back problem too. And like Janet, the problem was corrected relatively quick. But the painful symptom returned a few months later. And after the doctor helped Paula with the problem again, it was a few more months before it returned once more. The difference was that Paula could not, or would not, follow too many of the recommendations which would help her stay balanced, such as dietary changes and exercise. She would see the doctor only when she felt pain, rather than prevent the problem from recurring. Paula's whole family has seen the applied kinesiologist, on and off. But their philosophy was the same: when there was a problem they would seek help. They would not, change their lifestyle to prevent ill health.
The number of years we are alive will not change much. But the quality of those years is something we control.
