Why Be Healthy?

Why do we want to be healthy?

I don’t think most of us really want to.  I mean we all want to look better and lose a few pounds, some of us want a six pack, or to look better in that two piece on the beach this summer.  But, most of us don’t have “being healthy” as a primary goal.  We need to look at our health as something more than being able to say we aren’t on some sort of medication. 

We need to look at our health as a vehicle that enables us to support the lifestyle that we want to lead.  The healthier we are, the more energy we have to do the things we want to do with our lives, instead of just watching the years fly by and wondering how we got so old and tired.

Back in January a lot of people set getting in shape, or being healthy as a goal fir the new year.  People joined gyms, began training for 5k’s and marathons and started all sorts of diets in an effort to be healthier.  For a lot of those people, 60 plus days made a difference in their lives and for many, those initial plans made on New Years Eve have crashed and burned.  I think that one of the main reasons most people fail at this yearly quest to get in shape is because they just want to lose 10-20-30 pounds as fast and easy as they can.  They don’t really want to work at it and they aren’t going into it with being healthy as a primary goal. 

It’s all about the quick fix and guess what?  That dog don’t hunt.

We all want results but, maybe were looking for the wrong results.  Instead of looking for the six pack 30 days into your new life of fitness, you may want to look at the fact you can climb the stairs at work without being out of breath.  Or how about that you have the energy to actually play with your kids instead of just watching them play.  Now that you exercise daily, your blood pressure is going to be lower and your clothes will start to fit better.  You may even have a more positive attitude in general because of all the exercise-induced endorphins that you have in your body.  These are all results.  They are all results that will help you be a healthier, happier human being.  These results are not usually the ones we are looking for, but all come before that six pack or the 10K PR that you are shooting for.  Take some time and look for these results.  Doing so will let you know you are heading in the right direction. 

Being healthy is a process that takes a lifetime commitment.  You can lose 20 pounds in 30 days on a diet, but your life is long, long time.  What are going to do to support that weight loss over the next 30, 40, or 50 years?  If you don’t have a plan that takes being healthy for the rest of your life into account, you are going to gain those 20 pounds back and then some before you know it.  Get some support, make small changes that support a healthier lifestyle.  Stop thinking about the quick fixes and the magic bullets that don’t exist.  Do little things every day to improve your health.  Do the things that you know you should do, like stopping smoking, drinking more water, eating more salads.   

Start off by crowding out bad foods with nutrient rich whole foods.  Find some form of fitness that works for you and do it everyday, not just 3 days a week.  Trust yourself, you really do know more than you think. 

Be healthy, be happy, be well.

Click here for 5 tips to upgrade your health right now.