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GoT: Game of (Hard) Truths

By Sara Butler

Game of Thrones Season 8

Image Source: The Verge

So, it’s over.

Game of Thrones is done. Whether you loved it, hated it, or are firmly in the “meh” category, you have to admit it’s been quite a ride over the last eight years. Personally, I’m a little conflicted about how things ended, but I don’t want to spoil anything here.

In coming to terms with my feelings about the end of GoT (What do we do now? Will there be an Arya the West of Westeros pirate spin-off?), I started thinking about the show’s themes. You know, the conflicting demands of love and duty, the corrupt nature of politics, and the necessity of facing hard truths.

It’s that last one that really has me thinking. Tyrion Lannister says to Jon Snow at one point that people prefer to ignore hard truths, but when you embrace them, then they cannot be used against you. Word, Tyrion. Facing hard truths, in GoT and in real-life, is beneficial. And where do people always seem to avoid the hard truths? Health and wellness.

In homage to the ending of Game of Thrones, I’ve decided that we need to discuss the hard truths of health and wellness. So, buckle up buttercups, as we face a few hard health truths together to help you turn your weakness into an advantage.

Hard Truth No. 1: You Can’t Blame Your Genes (or Your Jeans)

The truth of the matter is that while your genes may predispose you to certain health woes, they don’t decide the fate of your health -- only you do. You are the one ultimately responsible for your health and fitness. Remember, your family tree bears fruit, not donuts. And those jeans didn’t shrink in the dryer.

Take charge of your own health and wellness. If you are out of shape, then do something to change it. If you grew up eating fast food all the time, then aim to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Like Daenerys Targaryen, break the wheel and work with your chiropractor to eat a healthier, more balanced diet, and get your body moving. Or maybe not like Daenerys, that didn’t seem to work very well for her. You just do you.

Truth No. 2: You Probably Know Less Than You Think About Health and Wellness

I remember once, as I was eating my lunch of a delicious turkey sandwich, that a rather annoying co-worker informed me that the carbohydrates in my sandwich were unhealthy for me. Raise your hand if you agree.

If you raised your hand, then you’re wrong. Carbohydrates are a part of a balanced diet for a reason -- your body needs them in order to be healthy. And that’s just one example of how people who don’t know a whole lot about health, eating well, or exercise, usually have pretty strong opinions about them.

It’s OK for people to have opinions, but the choices you must make for your health and wellness need to be grounded in reality. Do you know who is an excellent source of up-to-date information? The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic. If you have an annoying coworker who’s trying to get you to do some crazy diet, talk to the chiropractor if you want to know the real deal.

Hard Truth No. 3: You Can’t Undo the Damage of a Sedentary Lifestyle with One Workout

I know, sometimes when you work out you feel like you’re in the House of the Undying while having dark magic visions of your own demise. Exercise is tough and it’s never really going to get any easier, but that’s one reason to keep on pushing.

Working out is important for your health and continued wellness, but more and more research is pointing to the fact that exercising once per day isn’t enough to undo the impact of a mostly sedentary lifestyle. Yes, you can be an active couch potato.

Between work, commuting, and relaxing in the evening, all the inactivity in your day adds up and is dangerous for your health. The answer? Move more. Take a break each hour to get up, stretch, and walk around a little. Take the stairs. Get off the subway/train/bus a stop or two before you really should and force yourself to walk more. The non-workout activities of your day matter, even if they’re not full-blown workouts.

I’m sad that Game of Thrones has come to an end. I guess I’ll have to find something else to do with my Sunday nights now. A workout followed by a healthy meal seems like a good place to start.

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