Reading...

I was digging through some old cookbooks and found one that I MAYBE opened twice. The pages are still crisp and clean...no drip marks...no notes. The only reason that I can think that I stuck this away, is that it is very basic. The title is "Quick & Healthy; Low-fat - Carb Concious Cooking". The book is full of just that, low-fat & low carb. The first several pages are loaded with tips on how to take on a healthy lifestyle. I'm going to share what page 34 says:

The benefits of exercise:
lowers risk of heart disease
increases good cholesterol
improves blood pressure
lowers risk of osteoporosis
imporves blood sugar control
increases basal metabolic rate
helps with weight loss
lowers body fat
improves quality of life
improves mental health and reduces depression

I read this and thought, "Duh...this is probably why I never got into this book. Who doesn't know this stuff already?"

Um...well, there are lots of folks out there that are looking for the solution to many of the issues listed above, but refuse to put any effort into a REGULAR exercise program. REGULAR being the key word here. You can't expect results if you don't put your all into whatever it is that you're doing. This doesn't just apply to exercise. Life baby. If you do something half assed, then you're going to get half assed results. Do something with passion and you're gonna see quality results.

I'm going to borrow the words of a wise 60 year old woman that I know through the Internet. Her name is Judy and in my opinion, she is brilliant. She wrote this in response to a post in a forum:

You want to get the scale moving? Then YOU are going to have to move. You can start with a walk, but don't just stroll. Put on some music and MOVE to it. Apply your mind to your body. For 30 minutes out of your day, instead of watching tv or sitting on the computer researching how to break a plateau, DO SOMETHING to break it.

These words are not addressed to any single person. So many here and elsewhere avoid EXERCISE; they say "It's not for me, I don't have the time, I don't like it, I can't do it." What they are really saying is "I WON'T follow this rule, I'll look for a way around it." And then they decide they don't eat enough calories, or they don't eat the right combination of foods, or whatever way they want to justify the stall. Anything but the obvious!

Not everybody LOVES exercise, but many find, to their great joy (as I did) that it's fun and addictive. Even those who don't LOVE it, but DO IT consistantly agree that it WORKS! And because they love the results, they wouldn't trade it for anything.

I'm living proof that it works. There are others here who are living proof that it works. And those of you who are still afraid of it can become living proof too, if you dare. It's just a matter of breaking out of your comfort zone. I know you have the courage to overcome your fear of EXERCISE.

See? She is one smart cookie.