CRACK THE CODE: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men Over 50 by Louis Bezich

Category: Adult Non-fiction 18 yrs +, 302 pages

Genre: Men’s Health / geared towards Men Over 50

Publisher: Somo Press, LLC

Release date: November 2018

Synopsis

“Crack The Code” presents an unconventional, motivation-based approach to health for men 50 and over. Ten strategies for creating and maintaining inspiration for a healthy lifestyle are advanced from a platform of survey research, interviews and the author’s personal experiences. Primary audiences for the book are men over 50 and the people that love them; their wives, partners, children and grandchildren. Additional audiences include health care providers, insurers, policy makers, men of all ages who want to find motivation for healthy behavior and anyone who has struggled with their health.

Asserting that without motivation no diet, exercise program, technology or other strategy will produce sustained results, “Crack The Code” describes how healthy-living men, one of the most health-challenged segments of the American population, exhibit a strong cognitive association between their life’s priorities and their behaviors; a catalytic awareness in which men often integrate their valued relationships into their health behaviors (they take walks with their wife). What the author terms Male Cognitive Behavioral Alignment. The secret sauce of male motivation outlined in the book is derived from a nationwide survey of 1,000 healthy-living men. “Crack The Code” translates the findings into strategies and tactics with actionable exercises.

Personal stories from interviews and focus groups add practical insights and emotion that engages readers. A discussion of relevant theories from psychology, management science and the fields of decision making and behavior change anchor the model in a context of well-established thinking. “Crack The Code” concludes with a call to action for a new culture of men’s health, outlining a confluence of social, economic and political factors in the US and beyond that represent a tipping point where healthy behavior among 50 plus men will become the new norm. Crack The Code’s focus on motivation and the psycho-social underpinnings of behavior fills a gap in a market dominated by publications on traditional diet and exercise. By digging deeper and using everyday men as a source, “Crack The Code” breaks new ground for a burgeoning segment of the baby-boomer population that is in desperate need of help. The potential to influence men of other ages as well as health care providers, insurers and policy makers, creates a tremendously valuable read.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound

Guest Post

Behavioral Activities That Help You Reach Your Goal

I love my morning routine. It’s my personal time to reflect on the day ahead and get my exercise. It makes me feel great and gets me ready for what lies ahead every day. During the week, I typically awake at 4 a.m., enjoy a cup of coffee, and shave. While I’m shaving, I’ll contemplate the day ahead, what I need to accomplish, and what’s outstanding, or particularly challenging. I’ll quickly check my overnight email and perhaps add some items to my daily to-do list (another habit that keeps my life in order).

As you might guess, I’m the only one up at this hour. The stillness of the house is peaceful and provides me with a clarity of thought that helps me prepare for the day ahead.

By about 10 minutes to five, I’m on my way to the gym, which is only five minutes away (an important factor). My rhythm stems from a schedule of weight training on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and cardio workouts on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I particularly like the cardio days for the good sweat. While running, I’ll usually think about the day ahead and use the challenges of the upcoming day to power my run on the treadmill. By 6:00 a.m., I’m on my drive home, stopping to pick up some oatmeal, which I eat while I’m reading my three newspapers (two local and the Wall Street Journal). After a shower, it’s off to the office. My day is officially underway.

As you can see, there’s nothing terribly glamorous here. That’s the point of rituals, and what I heard from the men I interviewed reinforced it. While we all have the “big ticket” milestone activities (i.e., the trips to Europe I took with family in 2000 and 2013) that motivate us to maintain our health, but in large measure I find that it’s those small day-to-day actions that have the most impact on sustaining behavior and providing inspiration and accomplishment. In my case, six days a week, I have an opportunity to check off a box on my list of personal objectives. Being able to check that box, even mentally, is one small way that I contribute to the larger goal and physically feeling good in the process. You get it.

Do I sometimes miss my morning routine? Absolutely, if I’m not in bed by 9:30 p.m. (preferably nine o’clock) then 4 a.m. doesn’t work. So, a late meeting or other commitment can get me out of rhythm and feeling just a little “off” that day. Nevertheless, having institutionalized the practice, my body wants to get back in rhythm the next day, which I’m typically able to do. As much as humanly possible, the morning routine carries on during vacations and business trips. I may waive the 4 a.m. wake-up call for a later hour, but I generally maintain the basic exercise and diet regimen when I’m on the road.

An excerpt from CRACK THE CODE: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men Over 50 by Louis Bezich

Trailer

About the Author

An executive for over 40 years in the public and private sectors, Louis Bezich currently serves as a Senior Vice-President with a major health care system. He is an adjunct professor in the Graduate Department of Public Policy and Administration at the Camden Campus of Rutgers University and sits on various public, non-profit and corporate boards. Bezich has published numerous articles in the field of public administration and health and is a contributing author to Corporate Lawbreaking and Interactive Compliance, edited by Jay A. Sigler and Joseph E. Murphy. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Rutgers University, a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Website  ~  Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Giveaway

Prizes: ​ One of Four $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Louis Bezich, author of CRACK THE CODE (ends May 1)

a Rafflecopter giveaway