Exploring Wellness for Body, Mind and Self: Fitness for Real Life - Big Excuses, Small Commitments
From Anne Meneghetti, MD, 7/13/2009 1:32:14 PM
Out of habit, I do not get as much exercise as I’d like. I have many intricate rationales to explain why I am not regularly visiting the gym that is literally next door to my workplace, to which I have a free membership. I have my reasons for not stopping to walk around the beautiful lake that is unavoidably situated along my daily commute. I even manage to create excuses to avoid outdoor exercise despite the typically pleasant California weather.
I recently took the Personal Health Assessment for people over age 45, and was reminded that my lifestyle could benefit from improved activity (in other words, I flunked the exercise section). My gift for manufacturing excuses kicked into gear. At the root of these excuses was a desire to avoid repeating past failures - New Year’s resolutions abandoned by January 3rd and disappointments in my recent past ability to consistently stick to a fitness plan. I felt the injustice of it all – why must I work so hard to get in shape, when others are effortlessly fit? Exercise seemed like yet another form of work in an overburdened schedule.
And then I remembered how I began to meditate – one minute a day. Not even my gift for making excuses could claim that I did not have a single minute to spare for meditation. One minute became five, and five became a habit. So I have begun walking for a minute a day outside. My advice to anyone with big excuses: make a very small commitment. If you cannot keep that commitment, make it even smaller. You may wonder – what good does it do to eat one less French fry, walk one time around the block, or wait one minute before diving into second helpings of dessert? How will that change anything? In fact, by taking that step, you’ve managed to change the most important thing of all: your own mind. And once your mind is changed, the change may begin to take on a life of its own.
Best wishes,
Dr. Anne
This information is purely educational and does not replace a physician's advice that may be unique to each individual. For all medical concerns, please see a physician to establish a diagnosis and explore proven treatments. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company or REAL Powered by Humana program.
