Are You a Health Gambler?
by Tammy Darling in Health on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 6:00 AM
Intrinsically we know that a lack of exercise and proper nutrition is detrimental to our health, and yet we tend to take the gamble anyway. When we give little thought to our health — what we eat and how much, whether or not we exercise — we are essentially gambling with the life God gave us.
A haphazard approach to our health now will cause us to miss our preferred future—one full of strength and energy and long life.
If, like me, you have been gambling with your health, it’s not too late to make some changes. Don’t get discouraged. You didn’t become unhealthy overnight, so it stands to reason that you won’t become the epitome of health in a single day.
We will reap what we sow. If I want to be disease-free and have a long, productive life, I have to sow toward that end now. The time for planting is now; the harvest will come later.
Determine what things you need to overcome in order to quit gambling with your health ... A negative self-image? A lack of time? No encouragement? Sometimes obstacles need to be removed; other times they can be used as stepping-stones.
For instance, I grew up with a very poor self-image but by learning what God says about me has enabled me to overcome that. Now I don’t exercise because I hate the way I look but because I want to please God in every area of my life.
Make time. Time has always been a big factor in why I didn’t exercise much. Because I homeschool, my four daughters are with me pretty much 24/7. I decided instead to use the time issue as a stepping stone — the kids and I now take at least 30 minutes in our day to exercise together.
Ask why. Give serious thought as to why becoming a health investor is important to you. The “why” will incite you to press on when circumstances arise that could be a temptation for you to gamble instead. Our motivation for becoming a health investor is crucial. Misguided or lackluster motivation will lead to disappointment and may drive us back to a gambler lifestyle.
Follow through. Someone has said that desire without discipline breeds disappointment, but discipline without desire breeds drudgery. I can relate. So often, I have had the desire to exercise and eat right but I lacked the discipline to follow through. Desire alone will accomplish nothing if not coupled with action.
Don’t forget desire. On the other hand, during those times I disciplined (forced!) myself to exercise and eat healthy food, it didn’t last because desire wasn’t backing up the discipline. For health resolutions to last, they must be coupled with desire and discipline. One without the other is like leaving an important ingredient out of a recipe — the result will be disappointing at the very least.
Set boundaries. Having set boundaries enables us to focus and stay on course. Boundaries allow us to carefully choose how we will invest in our health on a daily basis instead of gambling it away. For example, I have set a boundary at breakfast — one small bowl of cereal, no adding more to the milk when I’m finished. To make sure I stay within the boundary I have set for myself, after pouring my cereal I deliberately close the box and put it in the pantry before I begin to eat. This prevents me from wanting more when I’m done.
Start small. A measure of exercise can easily be incorporated into our everyday lifestyle. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park at the farthest end of the parking lot. Walk or bicycle short distances instead of driving. Ride a stationary bike while watching your favorite TV program.
Moderate. To eat well, you don’t have to completely avoid your favorite foods — just eat them infrequently and in moderation. Try some new, healthy foods — you might be surprised how well you like the different tastes and textures. I had forgotten how well celery with a bit of peanut butter (a staple when I was in school) tasted until I tried it in place of my usual chips for a snack.
Pay it forward. If you decide to cut drinking soda everyday or buying a candy bar to beat the afternoon slump, go a step further. Take the money you would have spent on those items and invest it in the lives of others by helping the poor or those suffering from a natural disaster.
Every day we can make choices that will pay off in the long run. Consider your own health. What specifically will it take to get you from being a gambler to being an investor? Remember: the more you invest, the greater the future dividends will be.
—Tammy Darling writes from her home in Three Springs, Pensylvania, where she also homeschools her four daughters.
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