Posted on Mar 15, 2013

The Fit Factor

The original version of this was posted on Leadership Couples, written by my wife Lori.

Our North American life is not styled to be healthy – we eat too much, we work more than any other culture in the world, we don’t sleep well or enough and we’re constantly on the go. And our life-style is killing us: diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and of course, obesity. Have you ever heard these topics of conversation when you’re together with friends?

I’m so stiff and sore – must be getting old.
I’m constantly tired – just worn out.
I’ve got to lose some weight.
I’m stressed about everything.

If you live in the USA, look at America’s Health Ranking, with all the U.S. statistics state-by-state, and you can educate yourself on the rank of your state. Even Vermont, listed as the state with the most healthy population, has 23.9 percent of the population listed as obese, and a larger than average percentage of deaths from cancer.

I’m guessing in your circle of co-workers, friends and family there are those struggling in the areas of health and fitness. There’s a good chance one or more of those people live in your house. And you could be intimately involved with one of these people – so intimately involved, that the health-challenged person might even be you.

However, there are couples who are actively pursuing health.

They’re leading a focus on fitness.

The value of Fitness means: ability to perform a function; being suitable; healthy.

Brian and Karen Morgenweg are one of these health-focused couples.

Brian’s health challenges with an inherited arthritic disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis first drove him to pursue options other than weekly injections. A friend offered him some health juices. That started the couple’s journey toward health and fitness, to the point that last year Brian became a certified nutrition coach.

As a couple they run 5K weekly, cut up veggies and fruit for healthy eating every week, cook and eat with health in mind and they’ve embraced a business focused on health: MonaVie*.

MonaVie‘s foundation is their juice, what they call “products with a purpose”. By drinking just a few ounces a day of these health juices, they suggest you can ingest “a wide array of antioxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients, as well as other beneficial ingredients like Wellmune^®, plant-derived glucosamine, and plant sterols…” The purpose of every product offered by MonaVie is to promote health and fight aging. Brian and Karen sell this product, and also enjoy the interaction with other health-focused people.

This couple has built their personal and business life around a focus on fitness & health. Freedom is one of their values, and they feel that through their business with MonaVie, and improving their health, they can realize a sense of Freedom! If you’re interested in learning more about MonaVie, connect with Brian on Twitter or Facebook.

(*Robert and I have tasted the juice and it’s great – however we’re not affiliated nor have we purchased, sell or endorse MonaVie. Our only experience with the product is through Brian and Karen’s journey.)

The value of Fitness and your other values…

Running a marathon, being an athlete or bench-pressing 300lbs is not all there is to being fit.

Included in the definition of fitness is the phrase “…ability to perform a function…”

Being healthy and able to function is connected with many other values. Are any of your differentiating values jeopardized because of your fitness level?