Most Americans spend a great deal of time dwelling on appearances.  Who hasn't made a goal in their lifetime of registering less on the bathroom scale?  How often do you visualize yourself with a six-pack mid-drift before swim suit season?  Is there really an outfit that can make you look one dress size smaller? Why is there such an obsession with outward appearances?  We know a big factor is due to the commercialism of beauty on TV and in magazines.  The role models in those medias are usually the extreme example and sometimes not always a positive influence.  If those influences didn't exist, wouldn't we still want to feel good?  After all, having a goal to be in shape is not just about what happens to our bodies on the outside, but makes the most difference on what is happening inside.  A healthy person's internal organs work more optimally than someone who is less inclined to move off the couch.  Breathing, standing, walking, running is easier. A person who eats the right types of “good for you” foods is more likely to have more energy, be in a better mood and have the ability to manage stress.  All the internal changes are what  pays off in the long run to sustain a higher quality of existence.  Being healthy and active is summed up in one common phrase, “Move it or lose it”.

Until recently, one significantly overlooked body part in terms of health and fitness has been the brain. The reason is probably because TV executives and advertising agencies can't find a way to make it sexy.   When was the last time you saw a reality show for getting your brain fit?  At least one where the people were not just smart but also had social skills.  If you consider Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader your brain fitness work-out, your brain could benefit from a more balanced routine.  Think about what the obsession over physical appearances would mean if you didn't have your brain!  In this advanced technological world we live, organs are transplanted everyday.  Hearts are even being transplanted.  I have yet to hear about a successful brain transplant.  It is time to give the most vital organ on the planet its due attention.  November 17th is National Memory Screening Day.  It is time to advertise that memory loss is NOT a normal part of aging.  TV Executives and magazine publishers take note, whats good for the heart is good for the head.  The brain is sexy and you along with the rest of us should work to erase the stigma of focusing on early detection.  If there is a problem with memory, there may be reversible causes such a medication mismanagement.  There are also ways to act early enough in slowing down an irreversable problem and providing a longer more meaningful life.  None of this can be done without education and early detection.  Look for health care providers offering free screenings and start on a more complete fitness tract.  For more information on maintaining a healthy brain and what do to if you suspect a problem, visit www.alzprevention.org.  In a time when healthcare reform is the hot topic, I emphasis the better mantra, “Use It or Lose It.”