Men’s Health: Fitness key to fighting dangers of stress

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Paul Hanft's wife, Lynn, encouraged him to follow his passion because she recognized the positive changes in his life as a direct result of his athletic training, prompting an ultimate career change to reduce stress in his life. | Submitted

Updated: January 1, 2012 8:00AM

Paul Hanft was 45 pounds overweight, generally unhappy, drinking excessively, taking mild anti-depressants, and on medications to lower his cholesterol. Like many others, he struggled with finding the time and energy to change his inactive lifestyle.

His primary source of stress was job-related, having always been in sales where there was a constant stress to hit sales goals or exceed them year after year.

“My sales goals were assigned by someone else, and the target I needed to hit to keep my job was always out of my control,” Hanft says. “It was that lack of control that caused stress.”

Although he always enjoyed athletics, his professional career and career goals took so much of his time, he was left with little energy.

“I started running with my wife, Lynn, as a way to re-connect after she returned from her business travels,” Hanft said. “Then competing in small distance triathlons became a hobby, and the process of setting small goals and defining timelines to achieve them, continued to motivate me and drove me to Olympic distance triathlons.”

His wife, Lynn, encouraged him to follow his passion because she recognized the positive changes in his life as a direct result of his athletic training.

“High amounts of stress on a daily basis affect almost all internal systems in man’s body, and therefore, will ultimately have a significant impact on his overall health and function,” says bioidentical hormones specialist Dr. Arius Patolot, of BodyLogicMD in Naperville. “A good exercise program provides a host of beneficial effects, including improved breathing, circulation and immune function, improved blood pressure, enhanced muscle tone and strength, elevation of circulating endorphins, overall improved sense of well-being and much more.”

Inspired by the triathlon community, Hanft witnessed firsthand how a properly developed and maintained fitness program can change a person’s life. Hanft says he was motivated to change careers, and in December 2010, opened Results Fitness and Training in Naperville.

“I know how hard it is to focus on fitness with the stresses of work and family obligations,” Hanft says. “My fitness goals started small with my need to improve my work-life balance. My passion to help others reach their fitness goals motivated me to change my career.”

As he experienced the byproducts of improved health and fitness, all aspects of his life began to improve.

“My energy for this profession, my relationships with friends and family; simply everything got better,” Hanft says. “Training relieved stress and the improved energy level continued.”

According to Patolot, common signs and symptoms of the impact of stress on a person include headaches, insomnia, fatigue or lack of energy, anxiety and depression, chest pains, loss of libido and impotence, difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite or even food and alcohol bingeing, digestive problems, elevation of blood pressure and blood sugar, frequent infections and many more.

“Aside from the obvious effect on psychological and behavioral function, stress affects the cardiovascular, endocrine (hormonal), neurological, digestive and immune systems,” Patolot says.

“We all know about the consequences of stress on the heart, but I also want to point out its influence on hormone balance, including thyroid, cortisol (adrenals), insulin and even testosterone. Similarly, it has profound effects on metabolism, digestion, immune function as well as brain function related to imbalances in neurotransmitters (brain chemicals/hormones).”

Hanft says it was not until he saw himself as being an athlete that he started making healthier choices.

“I found joy and passion in being an athlete, setting fitness goals and crossing finish lines,” Hanft says. “It’s about people saying they can instead of they can’t and that speaks to who these people are; they are positive and goal driven.”

If you have a personal health journey and would like to contribute to the series on Men’s Health, please email Kristen Kucharski at knkucharski@hotmail.com.