The salients of Body are Movement, Food, and Sleep.

Disclaimer: You are not reading the work of a medical doctor, nutritionist, or registered dietitian. The opinions expressed in this book, including texts, images, and videos, are generalized and presented “as is” for informational purposes only. You are encouraged to confirm information obtained from or through this work with other sources. This is not a substitute for qualified medical advice. The supplements mentioned here may not include all the information pertinent to your use. Before starting a diet, taking new supplements, or beginning an exercise program, check with your doctor to clear any lifestyle changes. Only you and your doctor can determine what is right for you based on your medical history and prescriptions. This necessary text should give you an idea what we’re up against.

Health is one of those terms that draws strong opinions.  I like the fine fettle (state of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form) definition as a good base for all: Health is a freedom very few fully appreciate until they no longer have it, not just a state free from injury and illness but complete physical, mental and social well-being.  It is an ideal to work towards, a journey of improvement, and a routine of maintenance. Health rests on enduring pillars: the food that sustains us, the sleep that restores us, and the movement that keeps us supple and strong. These are the ancient rhythms of life and to care for them is to tend the roots from which all other flourishing grows.

Health is always a system, not isolated buckets. The health experts try to reduce the body to the math of calories, macros, steps, and hours slept. Though these can be useful starter crutches the further away you are from your ideal. Count calories if you need to start yourself on the straight and narrow. Log step counts, detailed workouts, or hours slept if needed to keep yourself consistent. But crutches aren’t meant to be used forever, in fact they should begin to feel inconvenient and even a hindrance the closer you are to your ideal.

My personal view is to supply my body with good food and quality sleep as often as reasonable so that I can selectively stress my movement enough to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want.  I want my body to be capable of lifting heavy things, running long distances, and move in uncommon ways ache-free. And to be able to do it even if I happen to be tired or hungry or worn-out. This is a lot to ask of a system and a complicated path to get there, but I’m not trying to be a pro-athlete or even attempt perfect optimization, it’s all in the effort of living a good life.

I also believe seeking “better” health through regular exercise, nutritious food, and quality sleep makes the rest of life easier giving you a leg up in any other activity.  I recognize my own view falls farther out on the spectrum than the average human, but also know that one persuasive view can make all the difference. Because the the farther I follow this path the more I physically feel the unchaining of potential, the rush of blood in my veins, the clarity of purpose in my mind, the trust that springs from a well of energy too deep to be quickly exhausted. Health, in its truest form, is the freedom to shape your life in accordance with your own will.

Put another way: “No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” ― Socrates

I will again return to the idea that we are products of our environment.  Here in the United States more than two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese.  There is an incredibly complex web of reasons why that is the case from quirks of our genetics to incentives in place to further the trend despite the health implications. Tasty high caloric food is cheap and available everywhere, sedentary jobs abound, and not everyone’s willpower works easily in the domain of health. 

However, I want to focus on resources and dimensions that create health and well-being not on the disease or ailment conditions.  Disease, stress, and ill-health are everywhere and a part of the human condition, but it is far more powerful to focus on the outcomes we want than to focus on trying to avoid the outcomes we don’t.

There’s a word for this way of thinking, salutogenesis, which asks not “How do I avoid breaking down?” but “How do I build the capacity to thrive?”. The idea suggests that while stressors, illness, and disease are common to human existence, the degree to which they affect us depends on how effectively we manage positive health factors—like regular activity, balanced eating, and quality rest. By directing our efforts toward improving what we can control, we increase our overall resilience and health.

Despite the complexity of the issue, the scale of the problem, and the infinite resources already available I will present the distillation of what I have learned in the most straightforward and accessible way I can.  Each section will start with the most basic and widely accepted possible improvements and increase in depth (and likely controversy) from there.

If you skim over everything else, remember this: what you eat shapes you more than what you burn. The state of your plate often mirrors the state of your mind. Begin in the kitchen, choose food as close to its natural form as you can. Move your body in some way each day. And guard your sleep as you would any great treasure.

The three pillars:

Movement - The body was made to move and we will explore the many forms that movement can take, how to weave it into daily life, and how to train with purpose for strength, longevity, and joy.

Food - The shared human heritage of food is in its warmth, culture, and role in sustaining life. We will then narrow into what truly nourishes and what quietly harms, before venturing into the finer points of eating for

Sleep - The body’s oldest healer, we will learn how to give it the best chance to work by setting rhythms and creating rest-friendly spaces. Then mastering the subtle levers that deepen and restore.