Doing What's Best For Us?

Yes, I've been MIA - but I have been in A (action).  Holidays are difficult when you work, have a house, have an adult kid (student) still living at home and making messes like a kid does, have a 90 year old mom who needs help with many things, is a rotten housekeeper (me, not mom), and tries to walk every day.  Who has time for holidays, I ask you??

Well, we have time for what's important to us!  And, since walking is important to me, I do it.

This brings me to a recent article I read on this very subject.  If we KNOW something is good for us, that it will bring only good things - healthy things - why do we NOT do it?  The subject of the article was exercise.  Years of data has clearly demonstrated that regular exercise - defined by those experts as 150 minutes of exercise each week - yet less than 15 % of the population below age 60 and only 2 % of those above age 60 do this simple activity that gives them only positive benefits.

So, why do we NOT walk?  Too busy?  Don't enjoy it?  It hurts?  It messes up my hair?  It costs too much money?  It's just not for me?

Question marks after each of those is for a reason.  Not one of those reasons is a GOOD reason for not doing something for only about 20 minutes a day when we know it will benefit us.  Heck, it takes me that long to brush my teeth and take a shower every day.  Would I find a 'good' reason not to do that?

If you are a slacker - and yes, that means YOU if you're not doing your 20 minutes a day - then you really need to come up with better reasons.  Like, I broke my leg.  I have a terminal illness that is gonna get me next week.  My husband/wife/kids won't let me.  I hate exercise.  I hate myself.

Yep!  You'd have to hate yourself...... well, not really.  You just have to not place yourself high enough in your list of important people and things.  And, I'm totally not buying the messy hair excuse.  The only expense is some good shoes - that means comfortable, not necessarily $150 high tech gear.  Don't enjoy it?  Tough!  Do it for a few weeks and you'll begin to enjoy it.

And, what about it hurts?  This is the main reason (other than the lame I don't have time) for people, especially those over 40 years of age.  What have I told you about this?  Go back and read some of my previous articles darnit.  It hurts ANYWAY!!  Yes, it hurts if you walk or if you don't walk.

So, take some Tylenol (or your painkiller of choice) 30-60 minutes before your walk.  It will hurt less and you'll get a better walk - longer and likely a bit faster. 

The real question here (or maybe just for me since I'm a bit competitive) is - which percentage do you want to be a part of - the 85% who don't take care of themselves with exercise (if you're a youngster) or the 98% - NINETY EIGHT PERCENT - of those over age 60 who refuse to take care of themselves??  I'm a part of the 2% and I intend to stay there for as long as I have two legs and remain upright.

What about you.  Post your reasons here for NOT walking if you dare.  I double dog dare you!! 



*************************** Remember my 100% GUARANTEE. Should you decide to stop walking and resume your old habits, I personally guarantee that you'll get back 100% of your former life - your pain, your lifestyle, your attitude. You can trust the information you find here. It's from a dedicated walker. Trust me and your life will get better! I promise.