The Prize vs. The Price

Really, this is what it all comes down to: The Prize vs. The Price. There it is, the secret of the universe. I could stop now and never write another thing (and some might be thankful for that) and you'd have all you need to make the lifestyle changes you know you need to make. The Prize vs. The Price. So simple. Who knew?

If we're not moving forward in our desire to be more healthy, then we're focused on the price. Sometimes the price can seem so overwhelming. I know, I have those moments, days, weeks or seasons. It seems the mountain is so high, and with my little steps it will take me so long to get to the top. What's the point? Gosh, I took 10 steps yesterday, and then I slid down the mountain on some loose shale, and ended up 15 steps back. And I skinned my knees and hands in the process and bruised up my backside. Now I feel achy, stiff, frustrated and don't know if it's worth it anymore.

Sound familiar? It probably should for most of us. It's those times where the price seems so huge, so monumental, so unconquerable, that it feels better to just give in, ie turn over and go back to bed instead of getting up to exercise, go to Wendys for a single combo with cheese instead of going to the store and making something fresh and healthy, ignore the need to de-stress and just keep plodding along, not take the time to truly rest, but rather stay out late partying regularly. It just seems so much easier to turn around, and walk DOWN the hill instead. Besides, that's what most people are doing, why not just go along with the crowd?

Here's why. Step back and look, REALLY look at the crowd. Do they have the life you really want? Most are over worked, over stressed, over weight, and over eating. Do you REALLY only want what the rest of the world has? Or do you want to be better than average?

Those who enjoy their lives, and live very balanced in their eating, moving, thinking and resting don't look at the price as much. They keep their eyes on the prize, even in the midst of the days where they're slipping down the slope and banging up their knees, elbows and backsides. And if they do start thinking about a price, it's the price they'll have to pay if they DON'T eat, move, think and rest well. They keep that in mind along with the prize of the life they want to live, the legacy they want to leave behind, and the memories they'll make of overcoming the challenges they've had to overcome.

I saw this on the face of many of the 1st time 5k runners at the recent 1st annual Lake Houston Area 10k/5k and Wellness Fest in our area. My wife was one of them. I was standing at the area where the 5k-ers turned in toward the finish line, and the look on her face as she could see the mountain top was priceless (get that? PRICE-less....think on that one). I remember high 5-ing some of the other 1st time runners as they finished up and seeing their proud looks. That was a perfect example to me of people focused on the prize.

That's what keeps me going personally. We all need to focus on the results, and overcoming challenges so that we can become the person we want to be. Get your reason, your prize, clearly in your mind and stay focused on it. And when you slip (and you will), don't look down, keep focused upward and get right back off your rusty dusty backsides and take that next step. Remember the prize, not the price!

Ok, cue the Rocky Theme Music now :-)

Getting Started

One reader of this blog was asking "How do you get committed to starting your day off with exercise?". It's not easy, especially the older we are because habits are more ingrained as we age. That means two things: 1. The older I am, the more commitment it will take to change and 2. It's easier to change NOW rather than later when I have more years of bad habit behind me!

But, as I've said before in this blog, nothing happens without a "why". The "why" has to be big enough to make someone change and to keep the new change in effect long enough for it to become a habit, because it is one of nature's laws that only a habit can subdue another habit.

So, what are your reasons? If they're big enough, nothing will stop you. If I tell you to run into a burning house to see if someone is in there, you might question my reasoning. If however, I told you your most cherished loved one was in there, the "why" just got big enough in most cases to create action.

In our office we teach an exercise on how to create the why, and how to use it to force change, and to make the new change become the new habit. Call us to schedule a time to learn how to create and use your own "why"!

So Let's Get A Bit More Specific

Ok, this topic of starting the day off right has been on my mind a lot lately (obviously). Someone in a previous post on this even asked "how does one start the habit of getting the day going right".

So......I am doing some researching and will post some ideas for starting your day off in the best way possible, stay tuned.

Speaking Of Starting Up.........

How well do you start your day up with regards to re-fueling? By the time you wake, it's most likely been well over 7-8 hours since you last had the chance to re-fuel. Your body at this point is now almost slipping into the "starvation" mode, meaning it is close to beginning to feel as though more fuel is not coming soon. This is one of the reasons that breakfast is SO important. Your blood sugar levels have dropped, and the next thing you put in your body may be the most important.

Too much in the way of bad carbs, sugar, refined foods will send your blood sugar levels skyrocketing, setting the foundation for ill health in the form of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and other degenerative diseases. We often complicate matters more by SKIPPING breakfast entirely (and I hear a lot of excuses as to why people skip) and not eating til lunchtime, when we again often give in to our cravings because we are "starving".

Needless to say, Mom was always right when she said "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"!

If You Start Me Up...

I was thinking of that line from an old Rolling Stones song this morning as I was in a cycle class at 5:15 this morning. It seems like even though getting rolling that early in the a.m. is tough sometimes, once I complete the class, I am energized and ready to take on the day. I come out of that class wired up and fired up and feeling good about myself. What a great way to start my day, and bring an end to the week!

So my question to myself and to everyone is, what are we doing to get started up right daily? Do you have to be insane and burn 800 calories at 5 in the morning to start up right? Thankfully the answer to that is no for most people.

However, it IS important to find some way to get your day started off right..some way to set the tone for the day. I don't know what that will look like for you, it may look like a brisk walk, it may just be a healthy breakfast habit, maybe you need to have some focus time, or maybe some time connecting with God.

If your day seems to start with a countdown to 5 o'clock, or the next day off, then maybe it's time to start a new morning habit. Try a few different things to see what works best for you. In an ideal world, you might have some exercise time on some mornings, some quiet time others, or maybe some good quality time with your spouse or kids over breakfast.

I really don't know what it will be for you, I just know that you need to find what it is so that you do start your days off in the best way possible.

Until next time, Be Well!

Dr. Bruce.