Strive to adopt a health and fitness plan with a heart. Don’t be intimidated by challenging physical goals. A weak mind creates a weak body. Turn the pursuit of health into a lifelong adventure. If a goal doesn’t scare you a little, it probably isn’t worth pursuing. Would you like to run a marathon or triathlon? Do you think mountain climbing could be a fun experience? Does earning a black belt in martial arts appeal to you? Take a break from the monotonous treadmill and do something physical that inspires you. Live the way you think a healthy and vital human being should.
Take the initiative to prevent health problems. Use diet and exercise to stave off disease and keep your body strong and energetic. Don’t wait for a crisis to strike before taking action to improve your health. Receiving traditional medical treatment should be considered a last resort when preventive measures fail. It makes little sense for your primary health care to be provided by those who profit from your prolonged illness.
Keep your fitness routine simple and direct. Don’t overcomplicate your life with fancy or expensive exercise equipment; and don’t mistake manufactured supplements, powders, and shakes for a healthy, natural diet. Here’s a simple rule of thumb that will save you a lot of money: if it comes in a can, bottle, or canister, you don’t need it.
For many years, my (Steve Pavlina) sole exercise routine was to get up before dawn and go running outside for 25 to 45 minutes. I did that nearly every morning and enjoyed abundant physical energy and alertness throughout the day. On January 1, 1997, I made a New Year’s resolution to exercise for at least 25 minutes every single day for the entire year. When it rained, I ran in the rain. When I was too tired, too sick, or didn’t get home until after midnight, I still went out and exercised. I successfully completed that challenge without skipping a single day, soundly shredding all my previous excuses for not exercising. If you’re worried about getting sick, take heart that regular exercise will strengthen your immune system considerably.
A little water falling from the sky is hardly an excuse to avoid exercising. In fact, it can be quite exhilarating. I once did a 12-mile training run with the L.A. Roadrunners under conditions of heavy rain and fierce wind. People driving past us honked their horns and waved encouraging gestures, probably impressed and amused by all the fitness freaks sloshing down Ocean Avenue. I don’t recall the details of most of those old training runs, but I remember that particular one very vividly, even though it happened nine years ago. Two hours in the rain was a worthwhile trade for such a salient, fun memory. Incidentally, when I finally ran the L.A. Marathon, it rained continuously for the first two hours of the race.
It’s better to apply your courage to the prevention of disease and the enjoyment of good health as opposed to being forced to face a major illness. But if you find yourself going the later route, realize that the best health habits for reversing disease are the same ones that prolong it. It may take a lot of heart to break your most ingrained negative habits and recover from a serious illness, and there’s no guarantee of success; but if you value your life, it’s worth the effort to do what you can to restore your health and enjoy a few more days here.
* Source: Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina