Held Prisoner by your Body

A dedication to Mr. Lemacker

  As the year comes to an end, I reflect back on the articles that I write every month trying to reach one or two people to be healthier and fit.  There are still so many unhealthy people out there, most who don’t read this or any other column that has to do with health and fitness.  For those of you that forge on relentlessly to be your healthiest self…Bravo, please keep it up, for not only you, but for all the people who love you.  Which bring me to…how healthy are the ones you love?     As you strive to reach optimal health, please throw out a lifeline to the ones you love who are not even close to optimal health, before it is too late.  Let’s talk about your children first. Their bodies need essential vitamins and minerals from good nature sources, which is something most of us realize, but not all of us apply. Believe me, I know since I raised three children, how hard it is to find time to fix healthy meals, but if you don’t teach them about eating healthy foods and keeping active, who will?  It is essential to be a good example foremost, and then to explain to them why it is so unhealthy to eat junk food and fast food. Teach your children to love the outdoors by planning outdoor adventures, so they will grow up and teach it to their children. Let’s break the chain of unhealthy living starting with this generation. A good way to teach children about healthy foods is to plant a family garden. Plant a few big pots and put them on the porch starting with all the vegetables that go in a salad…tomatoes, lettuce, etc. Hey, why not make it a multi-family project having a mini farmers market and a market day festival like farmers use to do after harvest. Always remember your children are learning from you, so are you and your spouse good examples? Are you only working out and“die-ting” with one size in mind? Moms, what message are you giving your daughters if you are only size driven? Change your way of thinking to: I want to keep all my muscles strong, balanced and flexible.  Additionally, it is important to me that most every thing that goes into my mouth is as healthy and close to nature as possible.  So that, you can confidently race your teen down the street, (without hurting yourself), do 10 chin-ups or play a good game of basketball or tennis…with the ones you love.  Don’t wait until you are crippled from knee/back problems before you decide to start getting fit.  Or treat your body badly all your life and then expect it to perform like it did when you were young.  Don’t wait until you are 70+ years old and your mind is still as young as it was when you were 20, but your body gives out on you.  One of my dear former clients had severe vascular disease resulting from years of abuse to his body.   I started a walking program with him at his doctor’s and his family’s request.  Each step was excruciating, since he had nerve damage in each foot.  He tried very hard to have a great attitude and was such a trooper, and he said to me many times, if he could only turn back the hands of time.  If he could go back, he would have taken much better care of his body, so that when he was in his 70’s his body wasn’t holding him prisoner.   I couldn’t do much to help him then, besides walk with him and try to brighten his day.  Finally the pain was too much for him, and I stopped working with him. I just found out this week he passed away.  Dear Mr. Lemacker, hopefully people will listen, grab the hands of the ones they love and make a commitment to their health, to the health of all they love, and for all the right reasons…  so that they will never have to be prisoners in their bodies… Happy Holidays and Thanks to all of you who read my column and send such great emails!