Thoughts on change, and making my health a priority...

I came across a quote the other day, “ What if I told you that 10 years from now, your life would be exactly the same. I doubt you’d be happy. So, why are you so afraid of change?” I thought about this really hard. I thought about the goals I want to achieve, for  my family and marriage, for my career, where I want to live, for my body.  I thought about how it would be really sad if 10 years from now I was exactly the same as I am today. Now, it would be really easy to get down and say it is impossible to achieve all of the things I want, and think it will be hard to change, and let fear prevent me from moving forward. Or, I can make a plan, and take one step toward that goal, and then the next. 

This is easy in some areas, and really difficult in others. Notice in the list above that my body was the last thing I thought about having goals to change. I have struggled with my weight since college, and frankly made excuses for why it was higher than it should be. I was fit in high school, an athlete. But my priorities changed. I needed to study, I needed to work, I needed to put my husbands needs above my own, I needed to put my kids needs above my own. Sure, I made some strides after I had my kids to work-out and try to be healthier. I made new years resolutions. I failed. I gave up. I started having back pain, neck pain, migraines. I continued to ignore my body and its cries for help! I made a commitment last year to change, move forward, reduce stress, eat better, and exercise. Sometimes, I still fail at making great choices for my health, but I don't let it stop me. Each day is a new day, and each day I can make a better choice than the day before.  

So, this morning I woke up at 4:30am to go to my exercise class at 5:15. Bleary-eyed, I got dressed, ate a small snack, packed up my water bottle and towel, and headed out the door only to find there was a blizzard outside. I thought to myself, ”Why am I putting myself through this?” Then I remembered, I made a commitment to myself to live a healthy life. That means exercise, whether or not I “feel” like it, even if there is a blizzard outside. It is what I could do today to keep the commitment to myself to live healthier. 

I would like to encourage everyone to take a hard look at making your health a priority. After all, you only get one body. We take care of our car, get regular oil changes, new tires, maybe even trade it in for new one every couple of years. Things can be replaced. The cost of not maintaining your body is higher than cost of not maintaining your things. Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, joint pain and arthritis can all be prevented or at least the risk and symptoms lessened, through proper and regular body maintenance. 

Now you don’t have to get up at 4:30am. I choose to, because I know myself and if I don’t get up and do it, first thing, I won’t do it at all. But there are small things you can do throughout the day to make better choices than doing nothing for your body’s maintenance.  If you don’t know where to start, just make a small change. Choose to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Choose one cup of coffee instead of two. March in place during commercials. Ask a friend to help you and keep you accountable. 

If you are ready to make a commitment to your health, I can help. Make an appointment for a wellness assessment with me today! Don’t wait until tomorrow. You’ll keep waiting and putting it off. Don’t be the same 10 years from now. Don’t be same 1 year from now. Don’t be the same next week, or even tomorrow. Commit to yourself today to make the changes you need to reach your goals and live your dreams.