The Waist Is a Terrible Thing To Mind

By Gerry Tucker

Does maintaining a healthy lifestyle mean we have to eat right and exercise?  With all of the advances in science, many of us had hoped that researchers would have developed a cure-all pill that could do it for us.  As the discussion about health care reform wages on in Washington and throughout the country, most of the emphasis is on the cost and availability of healthcare insurance.

Unfortunately as a nation we are becoming heavier, less healthy and will require even more medical intervention as we age.  Obesity is pushing its way into our hope of a long and healthy way of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2000, obesity-related health care costs totaled an estimated $117 billion.” The CDC explains the health consequences of obesity include:

• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancer (endometrial, breast and colon)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Stroke
• Liver and gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone within a joint)
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)
  

The good news is there are things we can do for ourselves to prevent disease and decrease the need for medical attention and the associated costs. In short, the keys are exercise and eating right. We can’t continue to lose a few pounds on fad diets only to gain back what we lost faster than it took to lose it in the first place. We also can’t wait for some company to devise a magic pill or procedure that will get us in shape as we sit and watch The Biggest Loser.

Living a healthy lifestyle takes hard work and commitment, but the rewards are more than worth the effort. If only you could get started.  If only you had the time.  There is no shortage of self- help books, websites and television shows coming at us from every direction.  How do you know which one is right or if it even works?  Here’s a clue, if it sounds way too easy, the only thing you’ll end up losing is your money.  Talk to your doctor and seek help from friends and family members that have made the switch to healthy. You might even be more motivated to get yourself in shape if you become the catalyst for others.

In a nut shell, we have to do a better job choosing what we eat and how much of it, and we have to be more active. Ordering a diet soda because you are getting the large fries isn’t going to solve the problem. Neither will exercise “sometime in the future” or “when you get around to it”. You have to take action now and be patient as change may come slowly at first.  Success is fun and contagious, so share the triumphs. Setbacks will surely occur along the way. Don’t worry. Stay focused on the big picture and you will have a better chance of staying on course.

Getting started is the hardest part, but keep in mind that your new lifestyle will make you healthier, sharper mentally, energized, and less likely to succumb to disease. Not only that, you will have a higher quality of life for you and your family as you get older.  Every one of us is going to get older; the only question is what will life be like for us in the future?  Will your future be filled with regret over the things you should have done differently?  Are you prepared to make the right choices now in order to live a healthy, vibrant future?

Gerry Tucker: A passion for life, especially the people that go with it, along with a sense of humor that helps grab the attention of those he meets. An unfulfilled curiosity and the tendency to look at things from a different point of view keep those around him guessing what’s coming up next. A lifelong Harley rider who is also at home cruising down a river or across a lake in his kayak.

Gerry grew up in a large family. Having eight brothers and three sisters has taught him how to survive in a crowd, get along with others and take really fast showers. The experience also helped him understand the need for compromise, patience and adaptability.

It’s all about family, friends, music, coffee, an understanding wife and being aware of the experiences life has to offer.

As president of TryAngles, a sales and customer service training company, he strives to help others enhance the experience to build long-term relationships and restore good old fashion customer service.