Knowledge = Action? Not without a spark....

While watching a particular show which involves people getting their butts handed to them in order to "Lose the Biggest" amount of weight, I came to a sad realization.  People would rather ignore their weight problem and the diseases created by it then do something about it.  I do not think I am wrong in assuming that most human beings KNOW that being even slightly overweight can, and most times will, lead to a number of health issues down the road.  Diabetes, heart disease, joint and muscle problems, the list goes on and on.

I have always liked the quote "Knowledge is Power", but I think a better quote would be "Knowledge is important, but action is the true power".

Denial is a scary behavior.  One of the "contestants" knew he had health issues, but would never go to the doctor to find out for sure.  His family begged him to go, but he didn't want to face the facts.  It was easier for him to live in denial.  Turns out, he is the most unhealthiest of the participants and he is under 30 years old. 

My initial emotional response to him and his situation was pure anger.  I thought to myself,

"What kind of person has the knowledge and understanding that what he is doing to his body is slowly killing him and still doesn't do anything about it?"

After my anger wore off, I watched as he broke down in tears and  I began to realize that the emotional toll he was dealing with was far greater then the physical toll his weight had on his body.  He knew his behavior, his habits, and his lifestyle had to change. 

And then something happened.

He wanted to take ACTION!

All of a sudden you could see the fight in him begin to grow, to take form.  The motivation that is in all of us started to take over his entire being.  He wasn't going to live in denial any more.  It was awesome to watch.

Some people are happy with themselves regardless of their weight, their level of fitness, or their health.  Unfortunately, a vast majority of people are extremely unhappy with themselves.  This doesn't have to be the case.  It all comes down to making small decisions on a consistent basis to create big change.  Willpower, or more importantly, when your desire to get healthy becomes strong enough to overcome your past failures, is the true key to lasting change; a turning point in life so to speak.

SO START RIGHT NOW! 

Park your car in the outskirts of every single parking lot, take the stairs, walk your dog(s), take your kids to the park and actually play with them, ride a bike, eat fruits and vegetables instead of chips and doughnuts.  Substitute water for soda.  Work out.  Don't finish your plate; save half for later. 

We have all heard these things and KNOW that they will help, but now is the time to start DOING them!

Subscribe to a fitness magazine, join an online workout group to stay accountable and motivated.  DO SOMETHING!  Go extreme and start one of those insane fitness programs you see on TV.  Being overweight and unhealthy is not a CONDITION, it is a choice.

I love watching the transformation stories people continue to post.  It motivates me to work harder and I get a true sense of pride in the human condition.  People are truly amazing when they finally make a decision and take action. 

How to eat an elephant?

A strange title, I know, but very appropriate for a couple of different reasons.  The first of which pertains to this blog and my limited knowledge and experience in communicating in this social environment.  The thought of creating a blog had never occurred to me until about a week ago. 


I didn't have any desire what-so-ever to put the thoughts that take up space in my head on a web page for the world (probably more like a few close friends and family) to see, but here I am and wow am I overwhelmed.  The amount of information I have learned is almost too much to handle, which is where the elephant comes in.  I decided to attack this adventure the same as I would if I was to eat an elephant; one bite at a time.


So this is where you find me now, about halfway up the leg of an elephant with my fork and knife still working like crazy.


The second reference with which I am applying the elephant question deals with our country's new found infatuation of eating way too much and moving far too little.  How do you change the collective social culture of an entire nation of overweight people?  The same answer applies; one bite at a time or in this case, one person at a time.


  Being, as some would call lucky, I have always been a relatively fit and healthy person.  I enjoy sports, I like vegetables, and I don't really eat candy.  Not a whole lot of luck involved if you ask me. 
None the less, I was and still am very curious as to why people end up in the predicament of being overweight and full of disease.  I understand the how; Too many calories in and not enough calories out.  I just can't figure out the why.


I have heard excuses, some of which are legit, but many of which are self esteem issues that seem to almost force a person into self destruction.  The one statement that always confuses me is this,


"I don't know how I got here.  When I look in the mirror I see some fat person, not me".


But as I really look at this statement I can begin to see both sides.  Weight loss or weight gain is a very slow, very gradual process, but the habits that contribute to both events are easily recognizable.  If I ate two pizzas a day, I wouldn't be overweight tomorrow, but if I continued to do this and made it a habit, I most certainly would be overweight at some point. 


I now begin to understand the slippery slope of becoming overweight.  Life gets in the way and habits have a way of hiding in the shadows of everything else; still there, but no longer a conscious concern.  Ultimately, this leads to the inevitable day when a person says,


"What the hell have I done to myself?"


A shocking revelation I am sure.  OK, so now a person has gotten him or herself into this predicament, what to do now?  Here is the root of why I am writing this blog.  I want to help people, be it you who is reading this or someone else you know, understand that your habits are controlling the outcome.  I want to show you how changing habits will change the way you live.   


If you can make the decisions that allowed yourself to get where you are today, then you can make different decisions and form new habits that can lead you to the person you want to be tomorrow; to a long and healthy life.  A life you can enjoy and a body you can be proud of.


I hope that you will take this journey with me and see where it takes us.


It begins with a decision....