The Time For Change Is NOW !!!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 8:54AM
Barry M. Stein, President
Get Fit For Life, LLC.
When you first begin a program of lifestyle improvement, it’s almost as if you’re sitting on a fence. Fall one-way and you get healthy. Fall the other way and you don’t. The first four to six weeks are the most difficult. Your body is changing, improvements are being made, but you can’t see them, because all the good stuff is taking place at the cellular level and would require an electron microscope to observe. It's during this fragile 4-6 week period that most people give up.
Time and time again, patients and friends have shared their concern about social functions where they tend to over indulge. Often they tell me that they have no willpower to control themselves. As soon as I hear this, I think about the16 year old who may be pressured to illegally smoke or drink by their peers. At that age the pressure is pretty intense. All I can say is, “we’re not sixteen anymore.” You don’t have to give in to social pressures to do things that you know are not good for you. You’ve reached a stage in life where you can just say no! - in a polite way.
Over the years, I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that, while most of us know that we have to eat right and exercise in order to stay healthy, so many of us end up in poor shape as we get older. Perhaps the reason for this has something to do with the Concept of Responsibility.
You know, Responsibility for:
Developing a career
Managing a household
Raising children
Paying bills
Providing food and shelter for our family
Dealing with aged parents
As we get older, get married, have children and take on more responsibilities in our lives, we make sacrifices. While these sacrifices may be helpful for our families, they may not always be good for our health. Most of us would agree that it’s not uncommon for parents to overwork or deny themselves - for the sake of their children. However, parents must understand that parenting is a lifelong responsibility. By denying themselves the BASICS for maintaining good health, they may ultimately shorten their lives.
It’s interesting to note that many of you have spent your entire adult life in the pursuit of money, so that you will be able to provide for your family and enjoy your retirement years. Unfortunately, many successful people don’t live long enough to retire. They worked hard to Build Wealth - Not Health.
I have nothing against success. However, in your pursuit of wealth, you must remember that the number one priority in life must be good health.
Consider this interesting Paradox
We strive for Wealth
at the expense of our HEALTH.
Then, use our Wealth
attempting to regain our HEALTH.
If you think of life in these terms, it’s almost like a dog chasing its own tail. We all have choices in life, decisions to make, which will affect the outcome of how we feel and possibly how long we live. The road you are about to begin will not always be easy to navigate. There will be many external social pressures and ‘nay sayers’ along the way who, for whatever reason, may not want you to achieve your goal. Just remember, in spite of the social pressures you can succeed !
You’ve reached a crucial stage in life. Right now you’re sitting on a fence. Fall forward to the future and you become healthier. Fall backwards to the past and your unhealthy habits may soon catch up with you and bite you on your behind.
The Time For Change Is NOW !!!

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