Pick up just about any magazine or newspaper and you're likely to find an article telling about yet another way to stay healthy. Cut back on fats and cholesterol. Eat more fruits and vegetables to slash the risk of cancer and heart disease. Exercise more to prevent depression and relieve stress. Lots of risk factors and ways of dealing with them.
But the worst risk factor of all is lack of motivation to make the lifestyle changes needed for both quantity and quality of life. Case in point: The man who has had a heart attack and perhaps angioplasty or bypass surgery who refuses to quit smoking, maintains his excessive weight, eats greasy foods and says he hates vegetables, and does virtually no exercise. I encountered just such an individual recently and he said that he wished he had my motivation. What?!?
This guy should have exactly the same motivation that I do. We both came close - far too close - to death from heart disease. We both love living in California where the sun shines most of the time. We both love our wives and our kids. I suggested that as he bites into his next greasy cheeseburger he think to himself, "To hell with everything and everyone I love, this burger is far more important." Of course, this just went right over his head.
I've given lectures and presentations to such groups as Mended Hearts, those who have had heart surgery, and I can literally see the eyes of many in the audience glaze over. They just don't want to listen.
So what is it, a death wish? More than half of those having a bypass operation continue to smoke. Less than 10 percent of everyone experiencing some sort of coronary event make adequate lifestyle changes. Many refuse to take prescribed medications even when insurance pays the tab. I just don't get it. More than 15 years have passed since my own heart surgery, and my own level of motivation remains high. That's not bragging, just a fact.
How could I do otherwise when my kids still need their Daddy, my wife still needs and loves her husband, and the sun is so beautiful when it sets and rises? And yes, the man who introduced oat bran to the world's breakfast tables still begins most days with that heart-healthy grain in his bowl with a sliced banana and skim milk. That's after at least an hour of exercise.
I could make millions of dollars if I could somehow "bottle" that motivation. Take a few drops and you'd want to quit smoking, start exercising, and lose those exta pounds by cutting back on fat and calories. Of course that magic elixer doesn't exist. But you can "manufacture" your own motivation.
Start by making a list of all the people, places, and things you passionately love. Don't just think about it, write that list down and look at how long it is. Close your eyes and picture that last perfect golf swing, magnificent sunset, or your child's or grandchild's hug. Ask yourself if you'd trade such experiences for a fatty meal.
People tend to make "deals" with their Maker when they get in trouble. Why not ask His help for the strength you need to do the exercise and other lfiestyle changes to keep you out of trouble. Place your fate in the hands of a Higher Power. And remember that the Lord helps those who help themselves.
An old cigarette ad proclaimed that, "I'd walk a mile for a Camel." Well, how about walking a mile to help stay in heart health? Just as advertising can talk people into doing things and buying products, you can talk yourself into healthy living.
Start with baby steps. If you drink whole milk, step down to 2%, not all the way to skim. Instead of a candy bar for that next snack, make it an apple. Before dinner, take a nice walk, perhaps just around the block. It all adds up.
What's the best motivation of all? Do it for yourself. Many people love you. That's because you're lovable. Think about that. Why not love yourself? Go ahead. Start living a healthy lifestyle. You deserve it!
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