Recently I came across a post on Getting Personal: A Weighty Matter that quoted Farai Chideya’s June 8 blog:
“I’m not deluded about what I am probably doing to my joints and arteries. I am also not deluded about the many reasons why I haven’t transformed myself. I am a workaholic, internet-a-holic, and a cheeseaholic. I never met a salty snack I didn’t like. But more than that, on some level I still feel that fitness is a luxury… that I should be nose-to-the grindstone (or to the computer screen) rather than brisk-walking though the lovely SoCal weather.”
I had a lot reactions to this quote – sadness that someone would feel that “fitness is luxury”, a bit put off since she obviously has plenty of cash to afford luxury, and a bit of recognition too – I could see myself in that quote.
NOT in the fitness is a luxury part – that is just an excuse, you can be fit without a gym or trainer, just go walk every day! No time is not a reason, it’s avoidance – I know, I’m an expert at it and battle my own demons in this area.
What I did recognize in myself with this quote is that I can also be totally honest, even brutally honest with myself, about what fat is doing to my body – yet still have a similar inner reluctance to do what is necessary and have a ton of really good excuses to not do anything to change.
But one thing that is different for me now is I take the honesty a step further — I recognize that I will resist and fight my own efforts to get healthy, that all those negative behaviors, over eating, lack of exercise are really ways to avoid dealing with more difficult issues, added to that getting heatlhy (once you have gotten unhealthy) is hard work! It’s not always pleasant, and it will always be a temptation to take the easy way out and give in to the salty snacks, cheese, chocolates, and the vast unhealthy choices that face each of us every day.
I’m by no means perfect, I don’t exercise like I should. What am doing right is exercise more then I did, making healthier food choices, decreasing my diet soda intake and increasing my water and tea intake – and the BIG change is I am dealing with all the underlying reasons for getting unhealthy (overweight) in the first place! And top of that list is putting my HEALTH FIRST, above work, above nose to the grind stone — at the very top – fitness and health are NOT luxury – they are the number one priority – without them everything else is compromised, the quality of your life goes down – less energy, more pain in the joints, etc.
I have lots to improve, I have more battles to fight. I am not judging Farai Chideya’s, but I hope that she realizes soon that her health is more important that anything else she is doing.
Other Posts on Hot Topics:
Could restaurants ban obese customers.
Fat Hate.
Sexy Ads – nice photos, taglines are a disgrace!
Church of Thin – scariest idea I’ve ever seen
Nude Magazine Cover – empowering or not? – you decide.
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STUMBLE!
February 7th, 2008 at 11:57 am
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LIVLYFE wrote…
I loved this blog. I am a Holistic Fitness Practitioner. I specialize in weightloss and fitness lifestyle strategies. I often surf blogs related to health and fitness because I do what I do because I care and because I realize there are alot of people out there that deserve to have assistance reaching their personal fitness and health. I know that there is a lot of information out there and there are many who encourage and inspire but inspiration is not what levetates one to get moving and often moving and changing eating habits is not enough. I saw several key phrases in your story that compelled me to reply. I would love to chat. I am not here to advertize for clients, I am here because I care. If your interested let me know.