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Fitness Road: living a healthy life

It takes time, a lifetime to be exact, it takes thought so you can visualize the process, it takes planning to stay one step ahead of the gremlins and it takes courage along with determination.

By MICK SEVERIN
The Trucker News Services

11/5/2008

We all know the drill to be healthy, eat the right foods, exercise, get enough rest and be sure to get regular medical check-ups.

The usual medical exams such as blood pressure, blood chemistry, height and weight are all areas the doctor can use to tell you whether you’re on the road to being healthy or not.

Here is something you might want to think about, being healthy is not a weight, a rate or a moment … getting healthy is a process.

Having the mind, body and spirit to conquer all that life throws at you does take some doing.

It takes time, a lifetime to be exact, it takes thought so you can visualize the process, it takes planning to stay one step ahead of the gremlins and it takes courage along with determination.

Unfortunately a lot of us lack the determination and courage part.

We, as a country, are getting sicker, fatter and lazier. I say this because stats show that a lot of us would rather take a pill than take time to get well.

There were almost 4 billion, yes billion, prescriptions written last year.

Well, if you haven’t learned by now one pill leads to another pill that leads to another pill and the cycle never ends.

OK, you’re full of medication, you’re not always making the right choices when it comes to the food you consume, you don’t exercise because you think you can’t and the Lord only knows what will happen to you if you exert yourself with all the medical conditions you have. It’s at this point that your “real” body has lost all contact with real life.

The sad thing is that a lot of us in this condition feel that this is just the way things are and we give in to it.

We have diabetes, we have high blood pressure, we have bad backs, we have ulcers, we are constipated, our knees bother us, were overweight, were behind schedule and we have a glove box full of pills to help us cope with it all.

I know it seems I lecture you, pick on you and maybe you feel some of the things I write intimidate you but I do it all because I care.

I want you to change the way you look at life. I want you to be proud, strong and happy.

I don’t want you to be full of fat, pills and promises that you read or heard about. I want you to be real. I want you to exercise, eat the right foods, love the people around you and challenge life, not let life challenge you.

I know with all the information out there it can be overwhelming to know which is the right way but the trick is to believe in yourself and start with just one little change at a time.

First, find the time to walk. Walking is a great way to start to exercise but walking also allows you time to think. I solve a lot of my daily dilemmas and schedule problems when I’m walking or running in the morning.

Next, think about cleansing the inside of your body. I tell you this because Rebecca and I do it a couple times a year and we use it as a starting point to rejuvenate our bodies and to re-examine our nutritional habits. Rebecca and I use cleansers and detoxifiers that seem to work real well for us when we feel its time to go through a cleansing process. Don’t make the mistake and think that cleansing is for health “nuts” it really does change your body.

Step three is to do some sort of resistance training. Of course by now you are familiar with the Fitness Road, Road Gym that you take on the road with you. Remember muscle burns fat, the more muscle you gain, the more fat you’re going to lose. Look at it this way your muscles not only give you strength and mobility they also provide you with more “fat-burning” area.

Rebecca and I are here to help you be your best so don’t hesitate to call (888) FIT-ROAD, check out the Web site, fitnessroad.com, for ideas, nutritionals and exercise products and tips.

God bless and be safe,

Mick