Choice

Did you know that you have a lot of power? Well, maybe not in terms of wealth or influence or political power, but you do have power. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the power of choice. And that power goes a long way toward giving you the ability to lead a healthy life.

There’s a good reason why choice is the first principle in the Creation Health model, because the choices we make day by day and moment by moment determine how we live and how healthy we are. And the first step in becoming healthy is simply to decide to do it.

A story in the book Creation Health Discovery tells about a young doctor who was overweight and beginning to experience health problems. Aware that heart problems ran in his family, one day he looked at his newborn daughter and thought, “I’d really like to see her grow up.” But he also realized that unless he made some lifestyle changes, he might not be around to see that happen. So right then and there, he made a choice. He decided to begin an exercise program. He stuck with it and lost 40 pounds. He had chosen to take charge of his health.

For that young doctor, living long enough to interact with his children and even grandchildren as they grow up was the motivating factor. I don’t know what or who is important to you, but I challenge you today to think about why you want to be healthy and then choose to work toward that goal. You can do it. Remember, it’s all about choice.

Pat

The Wellness Lady

The Golden Key

Imagine that you have found a golden key that unlocks a certain door. When you unlock the door and step through the threshold, you immediately begin to feel your aches and pains melt away as a refreshing feeling sweeps over your body. Sinus problems and headaches become a thing of the past and sleepless nights turn into sound, revitalizing sleep. You wake up bounding with energy that lasts throughout the day. Your blood pressure normalizes, your mind becomes clear and you are more alert, and those extra pounds begin to fall off. You’ve never felt better in your life. You wonder what took you so long to find the key that allowed you to walk through that door.

If you could purchase or obtain that golden key, how much would it be worth to you? And what wouldn’t you do to somehow get possession of it? Would you like to have that key? I have good news! You can have it. And the only cost is a change of thinking and some adjustments in your daily routine, along with a little bit of consistent effort and determination. You’ve probably guessed by now that I’m talking about making some lifestyle changes. And I have the perfect plan for you.

Remember the C.R.E.A.T.I.O.N. Health acronym that I mentioned yesterday? For the next week or so, I want to take you through what I think is an ingenious plan for restoring or maintaining good health. It’s based on the concept that each of us “has the ability to create good health and healing in our lives and the lives of those around us” (Des Cummings, Creation Health Discovery, p. 7).

So what does C.R.E.A.T.I.O.N. stand for? Here it is:

C—Choice

R—Rest

E—Environment

A—Activity

T—Trust in Divine Power

I—Interpersonal Relationships

O—Outlook

N—Nutrition

There you have it. A formula for a better life, the golden key—the key to optimal health. Stay tuned. There’s more to come.

Pat

The Wellness Lady

Today's the Day!

This is it! The weight is starting to creep up again and it's time to get back on track. Today I will join my local fitness center and return to faithfully living the Weight Watchers lifestyle. After all, I'm a lifetime member! There's just no excuse!

Experts say that accountability is an important factor in sticking to your weight loss goals (or any goals, for that matter). So there you have it. I've verbalized my commitment and you are going to hold me accountable for sticking with it. Right? I hope so.

Do you have a goal you want to reach? Have you somehow gotten off track or fallen off the wagon? It's not too late. If you're like me, at some point you've probably found yourself trying to lose weight or attempting to make a lifestyle change, and then you somehow got off track. Maybe you said something like, "Well, I've blown it now. Might as well just go ahead and splurge." Or perhaps you told yourself, "There's no point in even trying. I give up. It's just too hard."

If that's ever happened to you (and even if it hasn't), here are some tips for making a healthy lifestyle change and sticking with it:

1. Make a commitment and tell somebody else. Ask the person to hold you accountable.

2. Write down your goals and keep them in place where you will see them every day.

3. Establish a support system. Research shows that people who have a strong support system are more successful at reaching their goals. Joining a group such as Weight Watchers or TOPS is one way to do this.

4. Keep a log. Track your food and beverage intake and your exercise on a daily basis. It's been proven that people who do this lose more weight than those who don't.

Remember, today's the day. Don't worry about the past. Resolve to make a fresh start; set some goals and stick with them!

The Wellness Lady