an all-day garage sale. The
weekend before, I cleaned out
put down a pallet of sod in my yard.
All of these physical labor-intensive
activities had me thinking about the
lifestyle of our forefathers. Their
got balanced nutrients by eating
fresh food raised naturally without
growth-enhancing chemicals or
toxic pesticides. They were pretty
healthy. By being healthy and fit,
they weren't as greatly afflicted with
the conditions that plague today's
society, such as high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, diabetes, and
heart disease.
weight as if it were an aesthetic
issue rather than an indicator of
our overall health status. In fact,
the issue of body size and its
relationship to health seems to have
taken a back seat to vanity. While
excess weight is widely recognized
as a health hazard, unfortunately,
being thin does not automatically
mean that you're healthy. The
point here is that focusing solely on
being thin is a very limited measure
of your overall health. A singular
focus on getting and staying thin
can provide a false sense of good
health. You can be the picture of
good health on the outside but be
of vegetables, fruits,
and lean meats,
screenings to make sure your blood
pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol,
etc., are within a healthy range.
"fit" are often used interchangeably,
they have very different meanings.
By "healthy," we generally mean
that people get the required amount
of nutrients and acquire and
maintain a strong immune system
so that they don't fall ill when
attacked by bacteria or viruses,
while "fit" relates to being within
acceptable weight guidelines that
indicate reduced risk of chronic
disease such as heart conditions,
high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.,
and having enough muscle mass
and physical endurance to be able
to do their daily tasks and more
without getting breathless or tired.
many sizes, and while the media
may promote the notion that "thin is
in," it's important to keep body size
in its proper perspective. No matter
what size, fitness level, or age you
are, you can be healthy and fit.
affect your health tomorrow. You
can be healthy and fit if you really
want to be. My hope is that you
will be empowered to choose good
health and fitness. There is only one
you and you can do great things
during your lifetime. Therefore,
you are valuable and your health
is valuable.
to take care of your health and
fitness for you. You have to take
responsibility by choosing to make
healthy lifestyle choices every day.
Remember, your mind is your most
powerful tool.