I am thrilled to have on the blog a close family friend, Sarah. She is a health and fitness enthusiast, who likes to share her personal health journey. Welcome Sarah …
As someone who works in the healthcare industry, I get a healthy dose of statistics of various diseases, the comorbidities associated with many of them and the quality of life people lead after being diagnosed. This makes me highly sensitized to the lifestyle choices we make and the short and long term impact of those choices on our bodies and also on those around us.
Fitness and healthy lifestyles are consistent refrains I hear whenever I listen to experts discussing a disease. For example, I recently read an article that breast cancer risks increase with obesity and alcoholism. Similarly we all know that stress brings about a plethora of issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems. I have personally seen the complications of these diseases in family members and the tangible and often negative impact not only on those who are suffering but on those around them too. I’ve also seen the positive effect of a simple walk or a bike ride in the neighbourhood on relieving stress levels and the desire to make healthier choices.
Making fitness a priority isn’t just about fitting in a workout in a day, it’s really about making the conscious decision to manage our lives better and to make overall better choices in other areas of our lives. I’ve noticed when I make fitness a priority (and I don’t always do, despite knowing better), I’m happier, I feel in control of my life, I feel ready to take on the challenges of work and fulfil the commitments to my family, and mostly, I feel empowered that I can really do anything I want.
Our bodies are brilliant, unbelievably resilient machines with the capability of fighting relentlessly for us, but like any machine, it needs to be well-oiled and carefully maintained so it continues to function and serve us well. I owe it to those who care for me, those who depend on me, and lastly to myself, to be the absolute best that I can be.
“These opinions reflect the author’s personal views and do not reflect those of any organization.”
Have you heard? I have a great challenge coming up!
Sign up now here!