Physical activity is a fundamental part of establishing better health. My last meeting with Bob was to teach him how to ease into things responsibly.
I wanted to meet Bob at my studio so we could discuss a plan for his physical activity.
When he arrived we sat and had a look at his daily routine. Bob worked for a marketing firm and held long hours. He was also expected to travel often. This was already difficult on his family life, as he is married with two young children. There were some obstacles to get around, but there are always solutions. Going to a gym could eventually work into Bob's plan. He could try to stay in hotels that have small gyms when he travels or pay a daily pass to a local health club in the region he is in. For now I thought it best to stay in the spirit of getting started, and slowly work good habits into his daily routine.
Sometimes people find changing their nutrition easier than finding the time for exercise. After all, eating is something you do throughout your day. You don't necessarily have to find extra time in the day to do it. Bob was in agreement. He told me that his new way of eating wasn't really all that difficult, and his wife was joining in the project. His wife is a stay home mom, with a busy daily schedule of her own. She was happy to think there were things she could do to manage her health needs. They found that preparing a weekly menu took a lot of the guess work out of meal time and helped them to organize their groceries. Bob was pleasantly surprised at the money he was saving by bringing his own food to work. He said that they prepare extra food for supper and he brings the leftovers for his lunch the next day.
I was so happy to see how Bob was thinking now! I never mentioned the idea of preparing extra food for supper and bringing it for the next days lunch. He really was changing his thinking. Instead of seeing problems in something that is meant to help him, he is looking for solutions.
Just as your eating is part of your everyday activities, I propose you look at your physical activity in the same light. Healthy living is about the total content of your day. Imagine if going to the gym was the only really healthy choice you make for yourself during the day. Then, for some reason or another, you can't make it. That equates to a day of zero healthy choices.
Now, imagine you walk to work, take the stairs to get to your office, bring your healthy snacks and lunch, walk home at the end of the day, and go for a light run after supper. If you're married or have a partner, they could go with you for the run or a walk and you could share your days experiences with one another. That's what I call a day of healthy flow. Your care for yourself was not dependant on one feature of the day. Your health is your total self, not just one aspect of your life. It's about using your body, sharing quality time with the people you love, eating well, and seeing the process as a betterment of self. It shouldn't be a war, nor determined by what magazines and movie stars do.
Remember you have your own unique life with your time restraints, family responsibilities, and budget. Under no circumstances should you set your standard by what other people do. Don't forget, what they do works for them. They have their own unique lives just as you do, and their choices are harmonious in the life they have.
Once you've integrated the healthy flow to your days, you may find you have time or develop a liking to other forms of physical activity. At this point you can try going to a gym, or building a home gym. You may develop an interest in running, cycling, yoga, or what ever else works for you. That's the whole point, what ever works for you. Your chosen activity has to work into your flow. But until you establish what your flow is the activity will upset your daily routine more than it will help.
My next client was just arriving and Bob had to get back to the office. Before he left I just wanted to go over the take home points of the meeting.
#1 Your daily health is not dependent on one activity. It is the outcome of cumulative decision making. It's about all your choices. Exercise is not the only health priority.
#2 Discuss the benefits with your partner. It always helps when two people encourage one another. But don't force the issue. Everyone is ready on their own time. Just don't wait for them, you have your own goals.
#3 Prepare extra food for supper and take the leftovers for the next days lunch. You'll appreciate what it does for your body and your wallet!
#4 Slowly introduce new activities into your routine. Make sure they fit into your health flow. You don't want activities to be stressful and impossible to maintain.
#5 This is about a better me. Don't see obstacles, look for solutions.
Bob and I warmly shook hands and parted ways. I told him to stay in touch and if he needed any other advise, to call me.
He was putting a lot more thought into his choices now and because of that, I knew he would continue in a positive direction; but he's just getting started.
I wanted to meet Bob at my studio so we could discuss a plan for his physical activity.
When he arrived we sat and had a look at his daily routine. Bob worked for a marketing firm and held long hours. He was also expected to travel often. This was already difficult on his family life, as he is married with two young children. There were some obstacles to get around, but there are always solutions. Going to a gym could eventually work into Bob's plan. He could try to stay in hotels that have small gyms when he travels or pay a daily pass to a local health club in the region he is in. For now I thought it best to stay in the spirit of getting started, and slowly work good habits into his daily routine.
Sometimes people find changing their nutrition easier than finding the time for exercise. After all, eating is something you do throughout your day. You don't necessarily have to find extra time in the day to do it. Bob was in agreement. He told me that his new way of eating wasn't really all that difficult, and his wife was joining in the project. His wife is a stay home mom, with a busy daily schedule of her own. She was happy to think there were things she could do to manage her health needs. They found that preparing a weekly menu took a lot of the guess work out of meal time and helped them to organize their groceries. Bob was pleasantly surprised at the money he was saving by bringing his own food to work. He said that they prepare extra food for supper and he brings the leftovers for his lunch the next day.
I was so happy to see how Bob was thinking now! I never mentioned the idea of preparing extra food for supper and bringing it for the next days lunch. He really was changing his thinking. Instead of seeing problems in something that is meant to help him, he is looking for solutions.
Just as your eating is part of your everyday activities, I propose you look at your physical activity in the same light. Healthy living is about the total content of your day. Imagine if going to the gym was the only really healthy choice you make for yourself during the day. Then, for some reason or another, you can't make it. That equates to a day of zero healthy choices.
Now, imagine you walk to work, take the stairs to get to your office, bring your healthy snacks and lunch, walk home at the end of the day, and go for a light run after supper. If you're married or have a partner, they could go with you for the run or a walk and you could share your days experiences with one another. That's what I call a day of healthy flow. Your care for yourself was not dependant on one feature of the day. Your health is your total self, not just one aspect of your life. It's about using your body, sharing quality time with the people you love, eating well, and seeing the process as a betterment of self. It shouldn't be a war, nor determined by what magazines and movie stars do.
Remember you have your own unique life with your time restraints, family responsibilities, and budget. Under no circumstances should you set your standard by what other people do. Don't forget, what they do works for them. They have their own unique lives just as you do, and their choices are harmonious in the life they have.
Once you've integrated the healthy flow to your days, you may find you have time or develop a liking to other forms of physical activity. At this point you can try going to a gym, or building a home gym. You may develop an interest in running, cycling, yoga, or what ever else works for you. That's the whole point, what ever works for you. Your chosen activity has to work into your flow. But until you establish what your flow is the activity will upset your daily routine more than it will help.
My next client was just arriving and Bob had to get back to the office. Before he left I just wanted to go over the take home points of the meeting.
#1 Your daily health is not dependent on one activity. It is the outcome of cumulative decision making. It's about all your choices. Exercise is not the only health priority.
#2 Discuss the benefits with your partner. It always helps when two people encourage one another. But don't force the issue. Everyone is ready on their own time. Just don't wait for them, you have your own goals.
#3 Prepare extra food for supper and take the leftovers for the next days lunch. You'll appreciate what it does for your body and your wallet!
#4 Slowly introduce new activities into your routine. Make sure they fit into your health flow. You don't want activities to be stressful and impossible to maintain.
#5 This is about a better me. Don't see obstacles, look for solutions.
Bob and I warmly shook hands and parted ways. I told him to stay in touch and if he needed any other advise, to call me.
He was putting a lot more thought into his choices now and because of that, I knew he would continue in a positive direction; but he's just getting started.
