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As we awake each morning
and have the great opportunity to eat, breathe and share laughter with
friends, family and coworkers, we are also faced with making choices. Those
choices either lead us to a healthy or an unhealthy lifestyle. Sometimes
those choices may not seem relevant at the time, so we tend to put off those
healthier choices until another day, which never seems to arrive. Then one
day we look at ourselves, and it’s like we changed over night and are
surprised. However, the reality is: It has been changing over a long period
of time, and we have just been too busy to realize it. So, out of
desperation we look for “quick fixes” to cure the problem. The thought
process usually is: What is the fastest way that I can get this corrected?
However, one should realize that this problem did not appear over night and,
therefore, should not be expected to be corrected over night.
Taking measures to
reverse this unhealthy lifestyle is going to take a little extra effort and
time, if done properly. “Quick fixes” are short term, and in the majority of
cases are unhealthy and can lead to severe health risks, not to mention one
does not learn a healthy LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION and will revert back to old
habits.
Now, before we go any
further, let me ask you some questions: Who is in charge of YOU? Your
family? Your doctor? Your nurse? Your spouse? The answer to these questions
is: YOU are in charge of YOU and your well-being. Now these other people can
provide support for your goal or goals, but YOU are in the driver’s seat and
are steering your life in either a healthy or a not so healthy direction of
mental and physical well-being.
Therefore, you need to
take control and make the necessary steps to improve your health factors and
to quit making unnecessary excuses before it is too late. Steps, you take
every minute, hour, day and year, need to insure that you are staying
healthy both inside and outside. Feeling great is one of the best rewards
and should be a daily GOAL. So, whether you are experiencing a milestone in
your life, such as a birthday, illness, lack of energy, or loss of a loved
one, your time is “NOW.” You need to get and stay moving to insure a
sedentary lifestyle does not become a way of life for you. If it has
already, it’s “TIME FOR CHANGE.”
Becoming a healthier
person requires more than just physical exercise. Preventive measures should
be composed of but not limited to the following: proper nutrition, daily
exercise, safety, avoiding tobacco use, stress reduction and regular
physical check-ups.
How do you change, if
changes are needed? Being in the health and fitness profession for more than
16 years, you only can imagine what kind of stories I’ve heard from others,
procrastinating the proper steps needed to become a healthier, more physical
person. I don’t have time. My friend or spouse won’t exercise with me. I’m
too shy. I’ll start Monday. These are only a few samples of excuses. It’s
time to get over such pitiful excuses and get involved before it’s too late.
However, before just blindly
starting a new lifestyle change, you should:
What this all boils down to
is to just keep or get MOVING and to find ways to fit preventive measures
and daily ACTIVITY into your routine, because procrastination will get you
nowhere. After all, others around you are counting on you to be around to
share good times with them. And they would prefer you to stay healthy and
not become sedentary, because of poor lifestyle choices. Just as we require
communication and affection from others mentally, the body also requires
good nutrition and exercise to keep healthy and strong. Our motto at
Absolute FIT is “Don’t Cheat Your Body,” and this should become a key phrase
in your life as well. As Mr. Spock said so many times on Star Trek, “Live
long, and prosper.” This can only happen if you take care of yourself today,
tomorrow, next week and so forth for the rest of your life. Remember, your
actions today affect you in the future, so please, make good choices.
by Jack Bell, 2004
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