Back in our “poverty days,” which seemed to last for years, we had no dental insurance for a period of time while my husband changed jobs. As soon as we had coverage again, I got the kids to the dentist, but didn’t go myself. My internal dialogue ran like this: “I’ve gone this long without visiting. I hate the dentist. What would happen if I didn’t go? I’ll take good care of my teeth. The whole ‘go to the dentist twice a year’ thing is probably a scam.”
Then. a tooth broke and after pulling the root out, the dentist checked my mouth. Eight cavities and many visits later, I realized the experiment failed. I still white-knuckle the chair when I go, but I’m a star patient now.
Whenever we don’t look after ourselves in any area, there are repercussions.
What do you do every day without fail?
Shower? Dress? Brush your teeth? Eat? (of course!) Talk? Check your phone?
Exercise?
Maybe not exercise.
What happens if you don’t move?
stiffness and pain in muscles and joints and risk of damage
risk of heart disease
adverse effect on emotions
long term risk of diabetes, stroke, other diseases
decreased circulation
weight gain
muscle atrophy
shortening of tendons
lethargy, exhaustion for no reason
Moving forward at -27 C
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But by all means keep moving.” 1. Although he wasn’t specifically talking about exercise here, he addressed overcoming obstacles. The principle applies. Do what you can do to keep moving forward.
What do you need to make that happen?
Motivation
Something which says, when the stars don’t align, when it’s hot or cold or snowing or my joints ache or I have a headache or whatever excuse I can come up with–I exercise anyway. Maybe it’s an accountability partner, a community group where you’ll be missed, or a non-refundable membership at a gym. Whatever it takes, find something that keeps you moving. Every. Single. Day.
Change it up, keep it fun (more about that next week) boast a little, but stay motivated.
Here is my secret weapon which has been a game changer for me. *Disclaimer: I have no kickbacks from Apple. They barely know I exist.
My watch looking like a watch. (I change the picture regularly).
My stats, partway through the day.
When I retired, I bought insurance which would cover the benefits I no longer received at work. I discovered a company with a program that rewarded positive health decisions as well as providing coverage for health care. Through them, I got my first Apple Watch. There are other brands, such as Fitbit, Garmin and others. I’m sharing what works for me.
Each day, I need to close three rings: Stand (12 times, once an hour) Move (my goal is 300 movements to complete a ring) and exercise (30 minutes.) Closing those rings every day is a huge motivator for me. I try to get my move goal to at least 200% (600 movements) and occasionally I get to 300%. I aim to reach 60 minutes of exercise most days.
My phone keeps track how close I’m getting to my goal each day.
I also have a step goal, although it’s a bit more fluid. If it’s icy, I won’t walk outside, so my steps are less but I use the stationary bike which sits in the middle of my living room. I set my step goal high for me, and I admit I only reach it a few times a week, especially in winter. I try to get within 1,000 steps of the goal if I’m not able to reach it.
My watch nags me. If it’s 11:10 in the morning and I haven’t done any exercise, it points that out. It reminds me to stand every hour. And each time I close a ring, it congratulates me. (Yes, I know that’s lame. And yes, it works.)
The point is, even with severe arthritis and chronic pain, I walk between 2-4 km. a day, exercise every day and stay on this side of healthy.
Back in our “poverty days,” which seemed to last for years, we had no dental insurance for a period of time while my husband changed jobs. As soon as we had coverage again, I got the kids to the dentist, but didn’t go myself. My internal dialogue ran like this: “I’ve gone this long without visiting. I hate the dentist. What would happen if I didn’t go? I’ll take good care of my teeth. The whole ‘go to the dentist twice a year’ thing is probably a scam.”
