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Get Up and Start Moving |
It’s not going to be a surprise to anyone when I say that people, especially in the United States, are terribly out of shape. The obesity problem in the States has reached a critical level and is costing billions of dollars in added health-care costs. We are among the unhealthiest people in the world, raking thirty-third on the list of the world’s healthiest countries (United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization, 2012). We consume more food and have higher health-care costs than any other country. The problem has even moved into the adolescent population, creating a situation that could, if not addressed and rectified, bankrupt our health-care system.
One suggestion, made to me by the owner of my local health club, is to simply get up and start moving. We have become such a sedentary society, with all our modern conveniences. With so many people using computers while sitting at their desks, it’s no wonder we’re out of shape. A few generations ago there were no health clubs or fitness centers. People worked at jobs that required physical activity beyond clicking a mouse. Today, unless you live in a big city, where people walk places, you most likely drive to a job that requires little or no physical activity.
It’s very easy to slip into a lifestyle with little physical activity. I know, I have a tendency to do so too. For me, it takes making and keeping a commitment to ensure I am taking care of my health.
What about you? Are you physically active, ensuring you get enough exercise to keep in shape, or are you part of the couch potato crowd? If you want to lead a full, active, and productive life, you need to take care of your body. Achieving any level of success requires physical energy. Too many people climbing the ladder of success run out of steam halfway there due to their poor health.
Regardless of your current physical condition there are steps you can take to start regaining your health and fitness.
Some simple steps to get started include things like parking farther away from your building so you have a little longer walk to and from your workplace, using stairs instead of elevators, walking across your office to speak with a colleague rather than texting or calling, and taking a walk during your lunch hour. You may even want to create a small walking group with some coworkers to make it easier to stay motivated. If you want to try something really different, holding meetings with another person while walking can be highly productive, especially if you do it somewhere serene. I’ve held many one-on-one meetings walking along the Delaware Canal. The peaceful backdrop and natural setting spark new ideas.
One of our problems as a society is our addiction to instant gratification. We are accustomed to having whatever we want as soon as we want it.
While this rarely works in most instances, it never works when it comes to physical health. Losing weight and becoming physically fit takes time. If you’re overweight and out of shape and want to do something about it, create a long-range plan, complete with goals and an action plan. As you would with any change in diet or physical activity, talk with your health-care practitioner before you begin.
Several years ago I was at an unhealthy weight. I felt lousy and didn’t like the way I looked. I made a commitment to myself to do something about it. Wanting to model success, I joined Weight Watchers, since they have a long track record of helping people lose weight and keep it off. When I first joined I calculated how much weight I wanted to lose. Estimating a weight loss of about a pound a week, an amount that the body can handle without going into famine mode, I paid in advance for the number of weeks I’d need to reach my goal.
This gave me a financial commitment as well as a mental one. It never hurts to invest some money to gain extra motivation. I had my commitment, my goal, and the date I expected to reach it. I was ready. All I needed to do was follow a simple program that had worked for millions of people before me. I started following the dietary changes suggested by the program and began a regular exercise program. I reached my goal two weeks before my date and felt great. That was more than a decade ago and, while my weight has varied somewhat over the years, I have never approached the weight I started from.
If you’re ready to change your habits and become healthier, commit now to begin making better food choices and to start exercising.
As any health coach will tell you, you don’t have to try to run a marathon; you just need to start moving.