Urban Thought Collective

Trainer and nutritionist Sam Bell talks turkey.
Presented by Electronic Urban Report.

Fitness trainer and nutritionist Sam Bell is urging people to step up to the plate this Thanksgiving – and he’s not referring to stepping up to plate after plate of turkey and dressing.

The workout wonder told EUR’s Lee Bailey that people must “step up” and look out for themselves and their bodies when making decisions about how to eat this holiday.

He said that “Discipline” is the word when it comes to halting holiday gorging holidays. It’s a word that Bell uses to motivate clients and to stay on task himself, and also a word he uses to describe President-elect Barack Obama.

“Just like Obama, you have to stand your ground. He had to stand his ground for two years. He had to believe in what he was doing; that he could be president. Look where his is now by being disciplined,” Bell reminded. “Looking at Obama and his wife Michelle, you can tell that they are in quality shape. What really inspired me about Obama is I heard that the day after he was elected, he was in the gym and had a good breakfast that morning. That tells me that he makes time for himself first.”

Bell continued that making that time is also an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Making health a priority is a way to being and staying healthy.

“In America, as a fitness trainer I train a lot of business people and entrepreneurs, [there's] always the excuse that they don’t have time. But if something is important to you, you’re going to make time,” he said.

“I disagree with people saying, ‘I can’t do this, I don’t have time for this, I can’t eat this way,’ but then they go to the doctor, find out they have some risk factors, and then they want to take these precautions. But that’s kind of too late … ’cause tomorrow you can prevent all that by taking the proper steps today. Tomorrow is just not promised.”

Bell knows that all too well because he lost both of his parents to preventable health issues. He often uses his personal story when motivating others about the importance of watching what you eat and exercising, if not for yourself, for your family.

“We have to do something now before something goes down. I use my parents as an example – to not have your two parents around you, that’s not a good feeling,” he said. “I’ve seen my mother say, ‘Son, I should’ve listened to you. I don’t know why I’m going through this.’ And I couldn’t help her. I looked at my mother and I couldn’t help her get out the bed; I couldn’t help her with her blood pressure going up and down.”

Bell’s story of losing his parents and facing his own health risks led to his passion… about being healthy.

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