Be the Best at What You are... Exercise will Help That

So how many people got over themselves this past week? Boy, did last weeks topic hit home with many of my readers. Thank you for letting me know that Im not the only one out there that gets affected by body image issues. In fact one of my friends emailed me and put it all in perspective, after stating that she too has gone through the comparing and self criticism, that now that she is older and wiser she is thankful for being able to sit on her deck with a good friend and a good glass of wine! As we all should be!

Youve got to make the best out of what you got! Bottom line! If you are fat, you know you are fat! Dont let that fatness take you down in other aspects of your life. If you smoke, you know you smoke. Dont let those cigarettes take you down in other aspects of your life. If your life is under a lot of stress, you know that you are under a lot of stress. Dont let that stress take you down in other aspects of your life. You can be fat, or smoke, or be under a lot of stress and still be the best that you can be. Dont you think that a person who smokes and exercises is better off than a person who smokes and doesnt exercise? (Add any body/health issue into that statement) Food for thought!

I was working out this morning and I was watching an older gentleman using a walker be assisted to one of our recumbent bicycles at the far end of our facility. I thought to myself how wonderful it was to see him walk the distance of our facility, even while using his walker! Using that walker, to many, would be too embarrassing and not even considered as an option to use in order to get into or through an exercise facility. I thought to myself that it was exercise enough for him just to get to our facility, but he is here (Im assuming) to get rid of that walker and how awesome is that.

It brings up a problem that we have in our exercise facility. Members constantly leave their assisted walking tools behind. This happens quite often, believe it or not. That a person will come into our facility using a walking cane or a walker of some sort and leave the building after their workout leaving their cane/walker inside our facility. Sounds crazy doesnt it? But its not!

Think about how a healthy environment and an environment that focus on making you the best that you can be affects someone who is not the best that they have been. You take those muscles and get that body moving and you remind those muscles that yes, they still have balance and they still are able to move the body across the floor. You take away the assisting devices in a safe environment and theres no telling what improvements can happen. No matter how bad off you think you are, no matter how many assisted living devices you use, you can make improvements and become physically better if you decide to work on it and start exercising. It doesnt mean that youll be device free, but you will definitely be less dependent on them.

Its not all about aging and falling apart either. Ive got multiple examples and hands on experience with regards to pre and post surgery issue and recovery after accidents/injuries. In fact, just today a friend told me that she is scheduled for a knee replacement at the end of November and she was going to start some pre-surgery strengthening and conditioning, her doctors orders! How smart is that? If she chooses to go into surgery stronger, more flexible and healthier then she will come out of it the same way with the additional benefits of faster recovery and quicker return to her normal life activities. So old age issues and laziness have nothing to do with it, you go into a life situation healthier and stronger, youll sure come out of it a lot healthier and stronger.

So, its really about making the best of what you got! You have a bum knee, then make the rest of your body better to protect that knee and to be able to still live the lifestyle you want. You have balance issues and need to use a walker, and then improve your balance and strength that require the use of assistance. Youre fat. Youre bald. Youre stressed. Youre too busy. Youre you! Be the best at what you are and exercise will help that!!

 

Deborah Holmes

October 7, 2008