Sometimes we just get caught up in our daily lives, spending so much time thinking about everyone else while neglecting the person and body that matters most—you.
If you are not healthy, doing what makes you feel good and right, you can’t take care of the ones you love. They learn from your actions about how to take care of themselves.
When I graduated from college, I left home to drive across country and eventually ended up living in Hermosa Beach, California. It was so nice there, right on the Pacific Ocean, and so conducive to fitness, exercise, running. I ran my first few marathons in Los Angeles and was pretty much as healthy as I ever was (my diet is better now though!).
I got a job as a baker and eventually managing restaurants (my 23 year old brain thought, “I would like to work where I can eat for free and meet women…”). Eventually I met Allison (now my ex), and we got married and decided to move back to Massachusetts, to Springfield, to raise a family, and I was going to join my brothers in the family bakery and deli business.
I remember thinking, I want to keep fit, I can do it…well ten years, four kids, two businesses later, I was 50 lbs heavier, not eating healthy, not exercising, not feeling too good about myself. That California guy was buried, hidden behind my new double chin.
I was almost 44 years old and I was truly as unhealthy as I had ever been. Finally this thought came into my head: When I have my first heart attack, then I will finally start to exercise. Whoa! What The F…Did I actually just think that! This is crazy…
I started to really watch what I ate, especially cutting out sugar (this was way before my vegan days). I started walking, then walking/running/walking again, until I could just run without stopping. I lost the weight, felt great, and ran the 2006 Boston Marathon ten months later.
I found myself again, and that guy, the one who lives, breaths, and eats as healthy as he can is who I am still today. The thought of starting and living a life with an emphasis on health can be daunting. When you don’t feel physically good, the challenge of changing seems insurmountable. But if I can do it, so can you! Just do your best, set your goal, and work at it one day at a time. Most importantly if you have a setback, no worries, just start again. One of the beautiful things about life is that we can start over every day, every moment is an opportunity to be your best self!
How Did I Do It?
I guess I was motivated first to not die! Then I researched some ways I could get healthier.
Jeff Galloway’s Book on Running was and is a great resource. He is a former Olympian and a great advocate of the run/walk/run method (http://www.jeffgalloway.com/). I have included the 10 steps to start running at the bottom of this post.
Just be careful and if you feel pain, do not push it (I have learned that lesson).
Start slow. Walk, make it a habit…truthfully just keep movin’. Think of your motivation and always keep it close to your heart. Mine, I want to be hiking up mountains or maybe hills with my grandkids (I don’t have any yet!).
Eating healthy takes discipline, preparedness, research, and once again a desire to feel better. If you can plan out your meals, have good food available at home, bring your lunch to work, drink lots of water, and eat, you don’t have to starve yourself.
Food is fuel to keep you going. Another web site/app that helped me a lot was My Fitness Pal (https://www.myfitnesspal.com/). It helps you keep track of what you eat, as well as fills you in on the calories and nutrients.
You have made a commitment to living a healthy lifestyle. Just do your best! The fact that your are trying is enough. Do not be discouraged—just keep working at it one walk, one run, one meal at a time. If you need advice or some encouragement, give me a shout.
Eat Green…..Keep Moving…..Repeat….Every Day
https://www.active.com/running/articles/10-steps-to-start-running
The Vegan Dad MOVEment 