Fitness Is a Choice You Can Make!

I got a nice compliment today.  And it got me thinking.  I was out and about, and a lady about my age stopped me.  “Wow, you have a really flat stomach”, she said.  “You look great”.  “How did you do that”? 

“Well”, I said, “I do about 400-500 various kinds of crunches when I work out”.  Her mouth dropped open.  “Whoa”, she said.  I told her that I didn’t start out with that many.  I added a little at a time and now it’s not difficult.  And, it’s something she could do if she wanted to.  It only takes about 15 minutes three times a week.  A small investment for a flat stomach.  Besides the ab work,  I run 3 miles three times per week, do some strength and flexibility work, and choose carefully what I eat.  Stuff anyone can do, really.

You don’t get something for nothing ( my Mom taught me that).  And, nothing gets done only wishing and thinking about it.  Anything worthwhile takes some work.  We all know that.  I have heard comments like: “You are really lucky”, or ”I wish I could eat what you eat and be that thin” (usually a comment heard when I occasionally eat a dessert).  Well, I’m NOT lucky, and if anyone ate what I eat, they would probably be about the same weight.  The fact is that fitness doesn’t happen by accident.  It’s a conscientious choice every day.  And, everyone can attain a measure of it depending on what they’re willing to do.  And, it is a lifelong choice.  I weigh less now than I did in college, and am in better shape too.  But, it is because I have changed my daily habits one at a time over lots of years.  The cumulative effect of all those choices has been great. 

You can do it!  And don’t think it is beyond your grasp.  There’s nothing magical about it.  Search out good health habits.  Take your very worst habit and change that first – it could be finding a healthy alternative to chips or soda.  Or, it could be getting up off the couch and taking a 20 – 30 minute walk every day.  There’s plenty of information out there on what to do, but it won’t help unless you do it.  Start today!  You CAN do it!  And, somewhere down the road you’ll hear someone say, “boy, you sure are lucky”!  And you’ll say to yourself “lady, this is no accident”……