We all know that there’s a world of difference between knowing and doing. Knowing the right things to eat to nourish our bodies for a long, healthy life was taught to us in elementary school and by our parents. We were instructed on the food pyramid, portion control, and other good habits we need to make part of our daily routine. In addition, we played in the school yard during recess and physical education mandated we get exercise to keep our muscles and cardiovascular system toned. So, having had the information given to us over lots of years should be enough, right? Not so.
As we got older and took on high school and responsibilities for life and work, we cast away those old habits and adopted newer ones. Newer ones that were not necessarily better ones. Then the weight started piling on, blood pressure started going up, cholesterol values increased, stressed doubled and soon we found ourselves in an unhealthy place. We knew what to do to fix it, but who had the time? We found one excuse after another as to why we couldn’t eat right, or exercise right, or whatever it was that is necessary to take care of ourselves the way we were supposed to.
One day, we went to the doctor for a physical and found out that we have (__________ fill in the blank). Then we were prescribed a drug to treat whatever condition it is and we are told to take it in a specific dosing frequency. We tried to be compliant with the dosing regimen, but we missed doses. Our habits didn’t change to adjust to treating our medical condition, and we didn’t get to treatment goal…or even knew what treatment goal was. We soon became an insurance statistic of treatment failure, our medical condition worsened and we added more medications to our treatment regimen or worse, got hospitalized.
The pattern is tried and true for so many people. Yet we know what must be done to get healthy and stay healthy. The formula for healthy living hasn’t changed. Yet so many of us choose not to do what is necessary. Therein is the key, choosing an action. It can be choosing inactivity and an unhealthy lifestyle or choosing activity and a healthy lifestyle. There is a time “crunch” in life. There just isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. So what do we do? We find a way to make time by choosing to put ourselves (our health) first in our list of priorities.
If you don’t know how to get started, seek out a life coach. These professionals can help put things in perspective and hold you accountable for progressing towards your life’s goals. Only you can determine if and when you have had enough of this treadmill (of sorts), and only you can make the choice to step off this unhealthy treadmill and take action in doing what’s right for a healthy lifestyle. It truly is a world apart.. in health.
Until next month, be well.
Dion