{"id":152172,"date":"2016-01-02T12:24:15","date_gmt":"2016-01-02T16:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=152172"},"modified":"2016-01-02T12:24:15","modified_gmt":"2016-01-02T16:24:15","slug":"stay-well-sparkle-urgent-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/columns\/stay-well-sparkle-urgent-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"STAY WELL & SPARKLE: Urgent Challenge\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"StrongMore patients come to my office seeking help to PUT ON weight than to reduce. I kid you not! As the fourth fattest country in the Caribbean, those striving to enhance and maintain their fitness stand out as shining lights. You may be one of them. Congratulations!<\/p>\n

Listen to me carefully. This is a medical fact: Anybody can lose any amount of weight once they seriously put their minds to it. What makes me say that? Click here<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to see how my patient lost 1000 pounds\u2013 without surgery! This world record still stands, as documented by Discovery Channel seen around the world. What weight would you like to achieve? Or is this even a conversation worth having?<\/p>\n

In my book, Mannafast Miracle, I describe how the epidemic of obesity leaves a tsunami of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Ma Pampo is proof that leaner people live longer. But in Dominica those who are large-and-in-charge poke fun at \u201cSa ki pa ni vian, soukway zo!\u201d (Those who don’t have meat\/size, shake your bones!). And they flippantly add, \u201cI doh want to get that old anyway\u201d\u2026until early sickness catches up with them.<\/p>\n

Wholesome motivation is such an elusive thing. At times, it works to take a somewhat different approach. For many readers who get excited about things that better the country, our national anthem offers some surprising clues.<\/p>\n

Anthems around the world contain lots of references to bombs bursting in air, long live the monarch, fighting and martyrdom. Not so with Dominica\u2019s. I believe a bolt of inspiration must have energized W.O.M. Pond when he wrote these powerful words<\/p>\n

And our people STRONG and HEALTHY,<\/p>\n

Full of Godly REVERENT FEAR,<\/p>\n

May we ever seek to PRAISE Thee,<\/p>\n

For these GIFTS so rich and rare.<\/p>\n

Let us delve into the key words – in reverse order. They will guide us in the 5 things we need to focus on in 2016.<\/p>\n

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  1. GIFTS<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Nature Isle is a gift. It does not belong to any one of us. It belongs to all of us. The fresh air, the whales, the trails, the fertile soil refreshed by gentle showers (which Tropical Storm Erika reminded us are not always gentle). Our loved ones are gifts to cherish – not to hurt. Our talents, are we burying them, or are we using them to do good for our families and fellowmen?<\/p>\n

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    1. PRAISE<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Things got so bad for Job, his wife prodded him to curse God and die. Don\u2019t you just love his response? Job declared, \u2018I know my Redeemer lives!\u2019 Psalm 27 puts it this way: \u2018I would have given up; unless I was confident in seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.\u2019<\/p>\n

      Hospitable and loving people? Think again. 2015 saw rudeness and crudeness escalate to appalling dimensions from the top down. And we are reaping a whirlwind of savagery in Dominica: horrific murders, suicides and accidents. Let us pray that God will heal our land.<\/p>\n

      The economy went down and unemployment went up. Notwithstanding this, there is much to be thankful for. When the glass is only half full, praise God instead of getting bitter and discouraged. Hope springs eternal. It is hard to change culture. However slowly and surely the church and schools will chip away at our hearts and minds, transforming us into truly nicer people.<\/p>\n

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      1. REVERENT<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        We are fun-loving people, but we are a religious people as well. When we truly revere God, we transcend man-made denominational barriers. Godly fear brings our littleness in sharp contrast to the awesomeness of His majesty. True worship constrains us to respect others, not condemn them to misery. It reminds us that we all must give an account. Reverence believes in a universe ruled by absolute karma and that it will strike when we least expect.<\/p>\n

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        1. HEALTHY<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Health is wealth. Know anyone who wishes they could take a really big loan to pay for good health once and for all? Why not just do this instead? Eat more fruits and vegetable and walk a mile a day. This, my friend, is the key to good health. Yet, there are many for whom this is not such an easy option. They have complex medical problems, which require wise professional management beyond just another detox or bunch of herbal supplements.<\/p>\n

          Let us pledge to regularly monitor our weight and blood pressure. Know any church, school, large department or business that has its own scale and blood pressure machine? If you do not have your own or don\u2019t have time to wait at the clinic, make use of the easily-accessible, experienced nurses across from All Saints University, near Whitchurh, Save A Lot at the Roseau Market and elsewhere. Have health professionals come in periodically for corporate health. Let us get our screening tests done before Easter: pap smear and mammogram, PSA and digital rectal exam, cholesterol and AIC (for assessing diabetic control or how close we are to becoming diabetic).<\/p>\n

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          1. STRONG<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            We either deserve prevailing conditions or we can pledge right now to change them. Strength is more than just lots of stamina or big muscles. It is also wisdom to know ones\u2019 limitations and seek help to achieve clearly defined goals.<\/p>\n

            \"Dr.<\/p>\n

            Who would have thought that Isle of Beauty had so much oomph in it?! Fired-up patriots strive to keep these powerful words visible. At the next Caribbean obesity survey, I decree Dominica will attain a much better score. And let it begin with me. Challenge yourself to do this:<\/p>\n