Tim Russert’s Passing Part II

Below is an excerpt from an email I received from a fellow fitness professional Scott Colby yesterday.  This will make you think.  Which, by the way, is the point.

“On Friday, one of the most influential
people in broadcast journalism, Tim
Russert, passed away.

He died of a heart attack at age 58.

I was just watching Larry King and he
was interviewing a couple of cardiovascular
experts asking them about Tim Russert’s
heart attack.

Tim had gone in for a stress test in
late April, but this didn’t reveal that
he had heart disease.

Larry King asked one of the doctor’s
how else could Tim have known he was at
risk for heart disease.

And the doctor said, his waist circumference.

The size of your waist is a very valid
predictor of your risk of heart disease.

I’m always talking about getting your abs
as lean and sexy as possible so you’ll
look good on the beach.

But the reality is a flat stomach can
help save your life!

Here is a quick calculation you can do
to see if you are at higher risk for
heart disease.

This came from one of the doctor’s on
Larry King.

Take your height in inches.

Measure your waist at the level of your
belly button (not the size pants you wear),
using a tape measure.

If your waist size is more than half of
your height, then you may be at risk
for heart disease.

So for example, my height is 73 inches.

Half of my height is 36 1/2 inches.

If my waist size is 37 inches or more,
I would be at a higher risk of heart disease.

Try the calculation and see what you
come up with.

If your waist is too big, you probably
know what you need to be doing. “

Now this approach might not seem very scientific but I bet you have already run the rough numbers in your head.  Heart disease is very preventable and yes you guessed it…exercise is one of the best ways to keep it from sneaking up on you or the people you love.

My dad was lucky.  He also had heart disease and didn’t know it.  He had a heart attack.  The response from people when they found out was “What?, HIM?.  He’s looked so healthy”.  God stepped in, I believe, and my dad is still with us.  He didn’t exercise.  Now he does and his heart is stronger than it was before the heart attack.

Exercise.  Live longer.  Win

Dave
www.homeofficeworkouts.com

Tim Russert Dies at 58

I was not going to write about this as it is so fresh, so unbelievable and so hard to take for many, many people.

But is it too important.

IF you don’t know who Tim Russert is and what he did…view this video.

No matter what side of the political aisle you may sit on there is no doubt you trusted and respected the journalism and professionalism Tim Russert brought to the table.  He was, in my opinion and in the opinion of millions of others…the best. 

Fitness sometimes gets a bad rap. It’s usually marketed as something superficial (you know, the
six pack abs, flat tummy, etc.). The fitness industry is filled with fads, gimmicks and infomercials
with absolute crap.

But fitness is MORE than that.

Preventing disease.

Having more energy.

Living a longer life.

Feeling good.

Quality of life

Unfortunately, PREVENTION doesn’t sell.

As I learned of the news today while listening to FM talk radio in Boston, I marveled at the show’s host as he could barely speak because he was so upset at the loss of a colleague and aquiantance as well as being reminded of his own mortality.

 Would Tim Russert have lived longer if he exercised regulary and ate well?  Who can really say?

I am willing to be his wife and son, who just graduated from college, wish they could find out.

I pray for Tim’s family and friends.

Dave
www.homeofficeworkouts.com