Good, "Heavy" Thoughts

(I know this is a long post without pictures, but it’s a good one)

I couldn’t sleep last night. Or the night before. Or the night before. That.

Not that I couldn’t sleep, but I would wake up after 3 or 4 hours and unable to go back to sleep even though I was feeling tired. And the sleep I did get, didn’t feel like sleep at all.

So instead of stirring in bed for 3 more hours (totally painful) I decided, if I’m up…well then I’m up! On went the coffee pot; on went the gym shoes; on went the stretchy outfit.

I’m having trouble sleeping because I’m considering my next career move. While walk/jogging around the park from 6:04am to 7:46am I started thinking about goods & services & money. It’s funny, humans are inclined to pay money for services that show immediate changes or tangible goods they desires at that moment. 

Service Ex: Getting my hair done by the hair dresser with all the fancy accouterments (Dye, cut, Style)

Goods Ex: Buying a stretchy outfit so you can look like me when you walk around the park at 6am!!

Now when money is involved and it doesn’t show an immediate change or a caused change it’s harder to spend the money.

Service Ex: Paying for nutrition counseling

So what happens to people who want the desired outcome of nutrition counseling but are unwilling to pay for the lengthy and possibly subjective process depending on their ability or their body's ability to change?

Goods Ex: Buying diet pills and shake weights, as seen on TV

And what service wins after those ‘goods’ are purchased?

...Doctors and massage therapists.

Now there are exceptions. Exception one being; someone with a medical disease that requires nutrition education so they stop having diarrhea is a good example…but not a “goods Ex.”

Dietitians would have a better chance selling their ‘services’ if they provided ‘goods.’ Like educating people while they taste test or while giving a cooking demonstration using a particular product line for sale.

Or … figure out how your product can save employers money.

Because if people are unwilling to pay for nutrition counseling, they may be willing to use their employers insurance benefits to pay their doctors for the result of their nutrition knowledge defecit.

But I mean, I get it. I’m the same way. The only reason I’m valuing my service is because I’m personally interested in food, health, and exercise.  A patient of mine yesterday was a social worker and we started talking about behavior change to which he stated “you have to meet the client where they are.” I agree completely.
The readiness of change/stages of change.
But it is easier to be at a higher state of change when you don’t have to fork over your own change for that change.

Ex: If I had dental insurance, I would have gone to the dentist 2 years ago.  Does that mean I neglect my teeth altogether? No, I buy ‘goods’ like toothpaste and toothbrushes. But the ‘service’ end doesn’t get paid.

If dietitians were reimbursed for their services, would we see more clients/patients? Probably. Would it lead to less health care costs: less medications, less hospital visits, less medical devices or other devices to cater to a larger size? Probably.

But either because insurance companies are neglecting to see the financial benefit of prevention due to lack of evidence (due to prevention!) or are unsure that the client/patient will comply with recommendations even if they were given the reimbursed service (the cost of insurance money that wasn’t used efficiently), dietitians are not reimbursed.

It’s a double edge sword. And I kind of get it. But who gets the piece of the sword? The physical therapist who are reimbursed to deal with arthritic pain related to additional weight on joints, doctors who assess and treat problems related to obesity, or pharmacist who supply the drugs for those conditions. And the ‘goods’ market thrives. Like the drug companies.

I bet the government will come down on the fast food business ‘goods’ before aiding nutritional professionals’ ‘services.’

And that would be good. I just think it would be good to aid in the service department as well. But considering my desire for a sleeping pill, due to this chronic 3-4 hour night sleep regimen that I have going, I get it. Maybe if I get rid of these “heavy” thoughts I’d sleep better and wouldn’t need ‘goods’ to help me do so.
That would be good.