Mind & Spirit
| Starting a Wellness Program |
by Randy Coleman
You’ve made the decision to start a wellness program. That’s an important first step. But now that you’ve made the commitment, what do you do next?
Do you join a gym? Buy supplements? See your doctor? Visit with a dietitian? Talk with your neighbor who runs every morning? Obviously, the list can go on and on and on…
While all of these options are valid, I believe the next step on your journey to better health is defining wellness. Now, some people see wellness as being disease free, but I think it is much more than that.
The world is full of people who are free from disease, but they are not necessarily well. Although these people are committed to exercising and their bodies are functioning optimally, they are not enjoying their healthy lifestyle. They approach health and fitness as an obligation, not as an opportunity for joy and personal growth. Fitness routines and good nutrition are useless if they’re done just so they can be crossed off of our personal “to-do” lists.
Ultimately, our bodies serve as sensory-collecting, transport mechanism for our brains. Our bodies, when they’re in peak condition, not only protect the brain, but allow it to collect, analyze and respond to the stimuli that bombards us. Simply put, healthy bodies allow us to experience life to the fullest.
Total wellness inspires a sense of well-being, satisfaction and ______, so an effective wellness program should be designed around your innate desire to enjoy life’s activities. We’re all different and our personal wellness programs should reflect that. To implement lifestyle changes, we all have to decide what we want to experience in life and then train our bodies for those experiences.
Some people enjoy playing golf or tennis. If you’re one of them train your body and mind for those activities. Other people want the energy to play with children or grandchildren. If you’re one of them train your body so you can participate without fatigue or discomfort. Still others want to go out and travel the world without limitation.
A 25-year-old friend of mine falls into the latter category. Recently, she shared the story of a life-changing experience that occurred during a trip to Boston and New York City over the Christmas holidays. She and two friends, who are the same age and maintain healthy weights, traveled to the Northeast. At the time, she weighed 282 pounds, but was in good health otherwise. During the trip, she discovered that she could not keep up with her friends. She was frustrated at her lack of stamina and her friends were frustrated at the boundaries imposed on their adventures by her limitations.
Instead of allowing the experience to isolate her, my friend returned to San Angelo determined to change her life by losing weight and increasing her fitness level, so that she can move more without being fatigued. She embarked on her wellness program two and one-half months ago. In that time, she has already lost 27 pounds and has improved her stamina to the point that she has run two 5K races sponsored by the San Angelo Road Lizards, one of our local running clubs.
She is so committed to her new lifestyle that she is sharing her story – and tracking her progress – at www.VitaSport.com. Check it out. Let her help motivate you as you jump start your own wellness.
Remember, decide what you want in life. Then train your body, so your brain can have what it really craves – life experiences that make memories.
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