Whether coming from a close friend,
nightly news or from a letter in mail, it’s hard to face truth at times. Hearing it can really cut to core of our beings. Today, fitness books are mostly filled with advertisements, pill pushers and unrealistic programs that give people false hope. My intention is to give you real hope and with that you’ll get straight talk.It is not my intention to force anything on you or to come across in a harsh way. While words may be tough to hear, understand I don’t know how else to say what I have observed for all these years. We Americans have been HAD because we have not received truth about what it really takes to be fit and to stay healthy. Quick fixes abound, but truth is there are no quick fixes that really work…or that last. It is my responsibility as a fitness professional to provide you with facts. It is my hope that you read this with an open mind and that you understand if you don’t do anything about your health today, tomorrow you may say, “If only I had known.”
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?
With life comes responsibility and with decisions comes consequences. It’s your choice today to do something positive. Tomorrow it may be out of your hands. There are three underlying emotions that keep us from taking better care of ourselves: denial, pride, and laziness. Consciously or subconsciously, this threesome is root of why most Americans have allowed themselves to get in shape they are in. Are you one of them?
Chances are sooner or later one or all three will be riding with you in car to hospital. Have you found yourself saying these things?
“My diet is not that bad.” “A few trips to fast food joint once in awhile won’t hurt.” “My blood pressure is fine today. It wouldn’t hurt if I skipped a day of taking my medication.” “My New Year’s resolution next month is to get in better shape.” “Why have I let myself get this out of shape?
DENIAL
“It won’t happen to me…no way, no how!”
Unfortunately, it is what we cannot see that is killing us. Our insides are getting eaten away because of our lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Society is so concerned with extreme makeover television shows that we have been caught off guard with silent killers: heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Even if outside looks good, damage is still done inside our bodies. Over time we have made ourselves feel comfortable with certain lifestyle habits. We overlook long-term consequences of our behaviors. We see things going on around us, but we continue to put off exercise and eating better for another day. Out of three, Denial is sneakiest beast of them all.
