The leading cause of death in America is not heart disease, cancer, stroke or diabetes. It is the unhealthy lifestyle that most Americans are addicted to which is the true cause. A study by Mathew Reeves, a Michigan State University epidemiologist finds that only 3% of Americans maintain a healthy lifestyle. "It is a situation that is causing dire consequences for millions of Americans. I was really quite surprised at how low that number was," said Reeves, an assistant professor of epidemiology.

The research published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, found that only 3 percent undertook four basic steps that define a healthy lifestyle:

not smoking, healthy weight, eating right-including a minimum of 5 fruits/vegetables a day, exercising at least 5 times a week for 30 minutes.

Those are not exactly Olympic caliber qualifications. That is the good news. These 4 criteria is something you can easily choose to do. You can become a 3%'er. All you need to do is put on the hat of responsibility and own this choice. In all likelihood if you are fat or your kids are fat, it is your responsibility. You need to step up now and make some new choices, maybe extremely different choices right now!

Recent research from the National Cancer Institute wants men to increase their consumption to nine servings a day and women increase to seven. A serving is considered a medium orange, eight carrot sticks or cup of raisins, french fries do not count!

Is that possible? Of course it is if you make the decision to do so. You have to choose to do that. A couple simple ways is to have one meal a day that is entirely fruits and vegetables. When you are snacking, instead of a candy bar or chips, grab and apple, banana, orange, carrot sticks, celery with peanut butter, cherry tomatoes, dried fruit, etc. Remember it is an apple a day that keeps the doctor away not a Krispy Kreme!

My favorite way is to make sure I regularly eat a BIG salad and a small entree. That is of course the opposite choice that most Americans make. Only use dark green lettuce and spinach - never Iceberg lettuce, add a variety of vegetables, fresh berries, raisins, sunflower seeds or nuts, a little chicken or lean meat or fish. The trick is to consistently make it interesting. The same salad will get boring. There are also plenty of low calorie natural dressings you can make too.

"It's important to note that the effect of following these lifestyles is greater than anything else medicine has to offer," Reeves said. "I don't know anything a doctor's office can do that would reduce your risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease by 80 to 90 percent, which is what other studies have now shown. We need a societal change so that leading a healthy lifestyle is seen as a necessary expectation, and not something that is only followed by some tiny minority."

"We know from epidemiologic studies that if you do this there are huge benefits in terms of increased life expectancy, reduced disease risk, reduced medical costs and improved quality of life." Why do so few Americans lead a healthy lifestyle? I believe at the heart of the issue is choice. You need a compelling reason to make the choice. How about this question: How long do you want to live? What quality of life do you want to have when your 80? Do you see yourself even being alive at 80?

My guess is you may need to make some extreme changes in the choices you are making right now. They could include cutting out all soda, sweet drinks and energy drinks, getting up 3 mornings a week for a solid cardio session, one meal a day of just veggies and fruit, quit smoking, cut fast food down drastically, put a cooler in your car with easy access to healthy food or hire a personal trainer for the next 3 months to get you jump started.

I just created a new web site for you to step up and choose to be a 3%'er - http//www.3PercentChoice.com. It is an online community of like minded people who are committed to being the best they can be. Put on the hat of responsibility today and make the choice to be a 3%'er.