Over the past two months I’ve been working on my psychological and spiritual health. It is an important aspect to living a good life and being resilient to maintain happiness despite troubling times. However, it’s time to shift my primary focus to my physical health. It will contribute to the gains I have made in my psychological and spiritual health.
Much of my energy will be going towards attaining a healthy body. Yes, I ran the Chicago Marathon last year. I was overweight and did not achieve the best time my body is capable of doing. It will be a long and steady process to develop the good habits to achieve and maintain a healthy body.
I had a physical last week. So far so good. My blood pressure is normal. My resting heart rate is within reason. However, I am still waiting for the lab results. My family has a history of heart problems, bad cholesterol, and cancer. I hope I get good news. If not, I will address the issues I have.
Getting healthy is preventative medicine. Excess weight, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits can lead to many diseases. By changing my habits, I can reduce my chances of acquiring many ‘lifestyle’ diseases.
Here are some facts to chew on:
- Physically active people reduce their risk of diabetes by 46%. Those living a low risk lifestyle reduced their risk by 89%. (link)
- A low calorie and nutrient rich diet can extend a life by four years. (link)
- Exercise may be as effective (possibly better) than prescription anti-depressants. (link)
- A good diet and exercise can lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. (lots of links. Yahoo! it!)
- Preventative medicine saves time and money in the long run. You don’t have to buy drugs, see doctors often, or go in for treatment.
It’s going to be a long and steady process. I did not become overweight overnight. My current body is a result of years of over eating, low activity, and neglect. I have to start slow and build momentum. The worse thing to happen would be an injury that would sideline my efforts.
I rushed into running when the weather got better. Many of my muscles tightened up and different areas hurt. I lost the flexibilty I gained from yoga. I need to slow down and ease back into it. I must channel the tortoise in Aesop’s fable. My main exercise will be walking. Later I will job. When I heal, I will run again. Slow and steady wins the race.
I lost only five pounds while training for the marathon. I was a really big guy for my height. I simply was eating too much of the wrong stuff. I need to develop better eating habits that is congruent with my goals. The empty calories will be eliminated. Calories need to be reduced. My meals need to be healthier and frequent to keep my metabolism going.
Getting healthy will require some concentrated energy. It will take time and energy to develop good healthy habits get me to place I want to be at. Starting today, I live a healthier life.
