When Fitness is a Lifestyle

With the temperatures reaching into the upper 90’s, it is hard to believe that before you know it, the kids will be back in school, and the Broncos will be starting another season of football. Time comes and goes whether or not you are keeping fit or sitting on your butt. I see quite a few people everyday. What strikes me the most is how many people have very low self-esteem. Not just women, but men and children. In this newsletter, I want to talk about negative self talk.

Imagine if you had a friend, that every time you were around this person, said you were not good enough, fat, lazy, stupid, and unable to do anything. Now, imagine that this friend is with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Wouldn’t you want to kill that person?

I truly believe that we become, what we say we are going to become. I play on a coed softball team with some friends. One night, I just had a feeling that I was going to hit a homerun. I was next up to bat, and I told a teammate that I was going to hit a homerun. Her reply was, “Just don't strike out!”

Funny how that can be our own thought, but this was a friend and teammate. Luckily, I didn't listen to her, and did in fact hit a homerun. Had I gone up to bat, and had thoughts of "don’t strike out, don’t strike out", chances are that I would have stuck out.

Now, on the flip side, I enjoy watching the first few episodes of American Idol. Most of the contestants in the beginning have been told by friends and family that they are good singers. When, in fact, they need to limit singing to showers only. This is when being a contestant on American Idol can be a real emotional experience, because for the first time someone is honest about their talent. I think that you need to have talent, and skill to be good at something. It is not enough to just think that you are good. I play basketball with some friends. One guy thinks he is Michael Jordan, but in fact he plays like crap. He just thinks he is good, but doesn't have the skills to back it up.

The first thing to do for negative self talk is to take a good objective look at your self. Do you compare the way you look to celebrities? Do you compare the way you play golf to Tiger Woods? Do you compare yourself to another family member or friend? Do you get angry that someone else can eat and drink whatever they want and not gain an ounce? We are given adversity to make us stronger. My wife on the outside makes me very envious. She eats whatever she wants and never gains any weight. She is 5’9” and weighs 130 pounds. When we go out to dinner, she orders the steak and ribs and I get the salad. When the waiter brings our food out, they try to give me the “man” food. Only for me to point out that I am the one eating the salad!!! But, what people may not know is that my wife has multiple sclerosis, and has dealt with it for a number of years. She has to inject herself with Avonex every week to help with managing her disease. So, when I am jealous of her ability to eat whatever she wants without gaining weight, I imagine she is jealous of me that I can do more physical activities.

One of the things that people say, that drives me crazy, is they have been bad with their exercises or they are bad because of something they ate. People are not good or bad. Choices can be either good or bad. Just because you ate more ice cream than you should have, does not make you Charles Manson.

Let’s say I gave you a million dollar race horse. Would you feed it McDonalds? Would you give your horse plenty of exercise? Would you groom it? Or would you feed it the best food, exercise it everyday, and take great care of the horse? I would hope that you would take care of yourself, the same way you would care for a million dollar race horse.

The bottom line of this newsletter is to be kind to yourself. The body you have is yours for as long as you are here on Earth. It’s the only one you will get! Nobody knows you better than yourself. If you think you are a fat slob, then you will eat and act like one. If you think you are a healthy person of value, then chances are you will take good care of yourself.

Clients of the Month

Scott and Az (Alexandra) are two of my favorite people to work with! Az is only 13, and is already 5’7”. It is nice to see a dad spend quality time with his daughter, doing something that is equally beneficial. Az is a great basketball player, and has gotten much better with her leg strength, balance and coordination. Scott has been coming in for over a year now. He has improved the range of motion in his back, and has made good progress. Az could be a personal trainer in the future: she always is pushing herself and her dad. She does regular push-ups, plenty of squats and lunges, and never complains. I know that whatever she decides to do in life, she will be successful. Scott has a busy schedule, and still makes time for his appointments. I look forward to many more years with the Zinn family……