H.O.P.E. defined.
Monday: H — Humor.
Tuesday: O — Opportunity to serve.
Today: P — Physical well-being
The sun peeked over the horizon, kissing the clouds and creating a red/orange blanket the covered that football field. But I didn’t notice. I was pushing a board to the 20-yard line and back. Sweat poured down my face and my heart raced. From 5 a.m. until 6 p.m., I left my fat and sweat out on the football fat during my bootcamp.
If this were a book, this chapter would be the longest. I can’t stress enough how important physical well-being is to your success in life. Virgil was right when he said, “The greatest wealth is health.” I realized that when my own skin tried to kill me.
Just remember this: If you don’t take care of your body, your body can’t take care of you.
That involves diet, exercise and stress-reduction. You can’t eat junk food and sit on the couch and expect long-term health. Eating a bowl full of pills isn’t a good solution, either. It’s expensive. And you generally feel like crap. And if you feel like crap, you don’t have the energy to achieve great things.
Personally, I do an hour of aerobic/strength training four days a week and aerobic exercise two more days. I rest on Sundays. I also try to eat healthy. At this point, if I eat junk food or fast food (the same), I feel sluggish and rundown — like I put sugar in my gas tank. Oh yes, then there is sugar. I’m addicted to it and have made a real effort to cut it out of my diet. That’s tough to do. Processed food is loaded with it. It’s in those delicious, fizzy drinks. I’ve tried to find natural substitutes. I keep apples or bananas in my bag and eat a little snack every two hours to keep my blood sugar even. Since I’m active, I seek out complex carbohydrates. They give you a more even form of energy because of the fiber involved slows your body’s release of insulin. I have self-medicated with sugar before when I was down. That is a huge mistake because the crash afterwards leaves you craving more sugar.
It’s a vicious cycle. One that once left me at 250 lbs. Today, I’m 210lbs. and eight inches smaller in the waist just from moderately monitoring my diet and exercising regularly.
Right after one of the most stressful times of my life, I got shingles. Then I got a melanoma. My body was telling me something! Stress kills your immune system and causes all kinds of problems from inflammation to heart and vascular damage. Our bodies can’t handle being in the fight or flight mode 24/7. We have to learn how to unplug and unwind — and I know that’s hard — I have three kids and eight careers! But exercise helps me some — and acts as a natural antidepressant. I’m also trying breathing exercises and meditation. Trust me, it’s not easy to focus in this chaotic world we live in. But just know your life depends on it.
None of this is rocket science. We know what we have to do. But sometimes, it feels awesome to sit on the couch and each ice cream. I think about the advice former football player turned actor Rosie Greer once gave about weight loss, “Instead of eating the whole cake, I eat one piece.”
Take care of your body so it can take care of you.