The gym at work shut down for renovation. I have to come up with a new plan to keep the commitment I made to myself 2 years ago – regular, steady exercise at least six times a week. The convenience of an on-site gym and a flexible work schedule gave me the edge to get started. Discovering my love for dance and the camaraderie I found in group classes keeps me engaged and motivated.
My habit of listening to audiobooks on my way to work introduced me to Younger Next Year for Women, by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge, M.D. I got the message; even bought the original Younger Next Year, Live Strong, Fit and Sexy-Until You’re 80 and Beyond.
“Aging is inevitable, but it’s biologically programmed to be a slow process. Most of what we call aging, and most of what we dread about getting older, is actually decay. That’s critically important because we are stuck with real aging, but decay is optional.”
Decay is optional! People from my demographic (Generation Jones) were brought up to believe that getting older means becoming creaky, chubby and experiencing a gradual, continual physical decline. What a bill of goods! Two years ago I heard a different message; what we are told about aging is not the whole truth. The truth is we have a choice. Yes; we can allow what we were told to come true and wither and creak into the sunset. Or we can take control; adapt our behavior and live healthier and actively.
I’m lucky. I had a healthy, non-decrepit platform when I decided to choose differently. Some people have a harder row to hoe. Crowley and Lodge walked me through the importance of exercise:
“The point is that steady exercise is a coded message to your body—and your mind—telling you not to turn into a dribbling old fool. Serious exercise, six days a week is not extreme; it’s the middle of the road.”
Aerobic exercise four times a week, strength training twice; easy peas-y Right!? The message doesn’t stop here. Beware the importance of good nutrition (“quit eating crap”), being committed to something, anything—care and connect; and spend less than you make. Choice; it’s all about choice. They didn’t say it would be easy.
Here I am, years into a GREAT health habit (yes, it was hard won). Work continues on the food front. My cornerstone commitment is exercise. And now I gotta to change it up. Hysterical! The quality of my problems these days are pretty darn fine.
I will muscle through – carry on and do it. Who knows, I might find a routine that’s better than the one I had. I learned during a Covey Training Course that living with integrity means keeping commitments to myself. Living with integrity – that is an objective and an Intent worth pursuing.
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“act as if”
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