It is a Choice

For any of us to enter the next year in the same physical and nutritional condition that we are in right now could most likely mean that we made that choice. Similarly, we choose whether to buy the right foods, eat the right foods, exercise, be sedentary, or go out to the movies. They are choices.

We choose our political figures just like we choose our nutrition and exercise plans. Oh, there is a voting process in both categories followed by consequences. However, our nutrition and exercise consequences affect our health immediately (I wonder if Papa Johns and Denny's have been thinking about these consequences before November 6th arrived?) From the health professional point of view, I wish everyone who needs to make a healthier choice makes it. Definitely not the current case.

Many individuals have made great strides, but there are still many others who need assistance. The topics in this e-newsletter and the next (for anyone seeing this via Blogger, Facebook, or Twitter, there is an email list to receive the formal letter) are heated due to the time of year. November and December are vital choice making times. Change times. Motivational times.

It is a choice if we say we do not have enough time to eat or shop well (besides money). It is a choice if we do not search for knowledge if we have a lack of fitness knowledge and experience. It is choice if we have a lack of motivation in starting or continuing an exercise routine. Why have all of these become choices? I do not know. But, picture this...someone who mentioned that he does not have time to exercise and actually did not exercise was upstaged by the individual who said the same thing and actually exercised. The unmotivated person was also upstaged by the other unmotivated person who finally broke through.

Yes, no one is in a completely different situation than what has not already been completed. It is a process though to begin an exercise program, having your plus/minus ratio (it's my favorite ice hockey statistic, but is used here to represent positive choices versus negative choices) start on the minus side - to even your stat you have to put forth three times the effort to reach the same positive number. For example, a p/m ratio of -3, which means 3 negative choices - lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of support, warrants thrice the change to reach +3. Once these lack-ofs are out of the way, you are placed at 0. To reach +3, showing a control of time, a control of motivation, and better support is needed.

Make a choice to avoid wandering.

(Get the NHL started. Just through that in there.)

Progressing,
Derek Arledge