don's report archive

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Frank Addleman
Friday April 8, 2005

Frank Addleman is the author of Get Your Act Together: Think Healthy, Be Healthy. Frank's creative approach to healthy lifestyles is designed to enable readers and clients to make and sustain a commitment to healthy lifestyles. In his popular book, Get Your Act Together: Think Healthy, Be Healthy, Frank writes, "Forget the myths, excuses, and procrastination--recognize the power of food and exercise for a happier life as well as for avoiding heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity.

Frank has a remarkable background. An All American wrestler in college, he was undefeated in duel matches for two years and narrowly missed qualifying for the 1960 Rome Olympics. A surfer dude, Frank rode the big waves throughout the 50's and 60's with legends Greg Noll, Dewey Weber and George Downing. In fact, he nearly got to play Sandra Dee in the movie "Gidget." Well, sort of - in those sexist times, male surfers in wigs did the action scenes for Sandra Dee. I suspect Mickey Menos got the job, not because he was a better actor or looked prettier in a wig than Frank, but rather because he was more believable as a ditsy Dee in a woman's bathing suit than Frank, a hulk then and still at age 68.

Today, Frank stays fit running, swimming, biking and lifting. He also snow skis and surfs. You can read more about his life and work at his website.

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DON: You and I find ourselves in the business of trying to change people, that is, influence them to understand and adopt healthier attitudes and lifestyle practices. Naturally, people have to be open to such changes, but even when they signal an interest, one has to wonder--to what extent CAN folks change? How much free will do we have? What do you think?

FRANK: It varies from one to the next. I find people receptive--in theory! Alas, when it comes time to actually change, well, things get interesting. When I was teaching, I found some students enthused about wellness lifestyle changes. Some would describe cleaning out medicine cabinets, restocking refrigerators and other plans to make big changes. Others agreed with the merits of wellness but were less enthusiastic about making changes. For instance, I had smokers talk of making diet changes--but keeping the weeds. On the latter, they'd say, "Not yet."

DON: What was that about?

FRANK: I'd guess subconsciously they thought a healthier diet would protect them from the hazards of smoking. I didn't say all my students were smart--or grounded in reality.

DON: Well, everyone knows it's hard to quit smoking. Even those of us who never smoked accept that. Have you seen examples of this--I always just accepted it as self-evident. Otherwise, it seemed to me, most smokers would be ex-smokers, since nearly all are said to WANT to quit but can't.

FRANK: About twenty years ago I was at a hospital talking to a cardiologist about health and wellness. I suggested to him that at least when his patents got out of surgery after a heart bypass, they would be more receptive to making positive lifestyle changes. His experience suggested otherwise, but rather than argue the point, he led me down a hall to one of his patients, who was sitting in bed, smoking. The doctor said, "I did a triple bypass on him yesterday."

DON: I recently wrote an essay about the limits of free will, based on research that suggests we are largely shaped by environmental and biological influences we hardly recognize. What's the bottom line here: Can someone make much progress toward wellness by reading your book, or any book on fitness and health?

FRANK: This question has been driving me crazy my whole life! That is exactly what motivated me to write this book. I think people have to think healthy first before they will ever start to make changes in their lifestyle. Let's face it, with few exceptions most of the popular books out there tell people what they want to hear. Which is, "Give me a diet, exercise routine, etc. that will give quick results with little or no change in my lifestyle." In Get Your Act Together, I show people how a healthier lifestyle will increase their quality of life. Exercise and healthy eating are not ends but paths. Sustaining a high level of fitness will enhance all your interests and desires and make possible enjoyment of life to the fullest.

DON: Have you had a good response to your book? Has it helped people succeed?

FRANK: I think so, though I have not conducted double-blind crossover trials of a longitudinal basis on everyone--that would cost a lot more than I'll ever earn on the book. Get Your Act Together offers a common sense approach to health anyone can relate to. It motivates people to start thinking about their lifestyle and begin a journey to optimum health.

DON: You have had a chance to read about wellness as described at this website, including the three-dimensional model with sixteen skills areas. Is this model similar to the concepts you promote? What differences do you see in our respective approaches?

FRANK: Our approaches are similar. When I was teaching in the early 70's, I used John Travis' "Illness/Wellness Continuum" in my first lecture. Prior to encountering the works of Dr. Travis, my focus was fitness/nutrition. Travis helped me develop an awareness of wellness as the goal, not just fitness and nutrition. You and I both emphasize self-responsibility as the foundation element of a healthy life. Without that, nothing happens. On the other hand, I would say you have expanded the field considerably with the domain of meaning and purpose, as well as skill areas within the mental domain of wellness.

DON: Well, speaking of that, what is your take on the meaning of life?

FRANK: I'm not sure I want to tackle that one! I think about it more than I should and I unfortunately come up with answers that seem simplistic.

One thought is that God may just be playing a game with us--we're here for God's entertainment. God (or some power greater than us) made us stewards of this beautiful environment called earth. He wants to see what we will do with it. How many times have you heard someone say, "I thought I died and went to heaven?" I say it a lot. If I'm jogging on a beach and see a gorgeous sunset, I say it. If I'm sitting at my favorite Inn, gazing down on the fabulous Big Sur coast sipping a glass of wine, my wife beside me, I say it.

DON: What if this is it? What if the images you just described mean, at the best of times, heaven is what you make it, and you have to create it, here on earth? Do you think we would act differently if people thought that way?

FRANK: I think there would be a lot more love and respect manifested among people of the world. We would be better stewards of the environment. Likewise, to maximize our enjoyment of what heaven on earth we can find, we would more likely than not live healthier lifestyles. Of course, if it turns out there is a better, longer-lasting "life in the hereafter," then that would just be icing on the cake, so to speak.

DON: Any tips for those readers that might lead to advances of a positive nature?

FRANK: I'd first offer a few that are health-focused, then go on to suggest others a bit more far-reaching. Here's a short list for you.

Learn to think like a healthy person thinks.
Make gradual changes, turning unhealthy habits into healthy habits.
Understand that everything you do is a learned behavior. If you have learned to eat unhealthy, you can learn to eat healthy.
Rather than thinking about how long you will live, try to die as young as you can at the oldest age possible.
Remember, no one ever lay on his or her deathbed and said, "Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office."
Do something unexpected of a kindly nature, every once in a while, for a complete stranger. For example, when you go through a toll station, pay for the car behind you. Maybe you will both have a slightly happier day.

Kimo Krogfoss, a friend of mine who is a philosophy professor living in Hawaii, came up with a few rules I rather like. (If you like them, know that Kimo has them on T-shirts that he sells!)

Never judge a day by the weather.
The best things in life aren't things.
Tell the truth -- there's less to remember.
Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.
Goals are deceptive- the unaimed arrow never misses.
He who dies with the most toys - still dies.
Age is relative- - when you are over-the-hill, you pick up speed.
There are two ways to be rich -- make more or desire less.
Beauty is internal- looks mean nothing.
No rain - no rainbows.

DON: Thanks, Frank. Take care, be well and always look on the bright side of life. I'm sure you will.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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