Are You Living A Defeated Lifestyle?

I was at the gym just a couple of days ago, and noticed one overweight individual - the look of discomfort in her expression, in fact, it was very obvious she was uneasy just being there.. but you know what? She was there anyway - exercising and finding her way through in what many still assume to be a male-dominated activity - exercising at the gym. Whoever she is.. I admire her for her determination.

Sadly, most obese individuals or those with health issues or insecurities do not deal with it this way, and it is rare that you see someone struggling with obesity showing signs of cheerfulness at the gym.

You know.. so often, we take our physiques, and what we have achieved with it, for granted.

We take for granted how easy it is to get out of our cars and walk up to the gym.
We take for granted how fast and for how long we are able to run on the treadmill.
We take for granted that we can eat anything we want and not gain any weight.
We take for granted that we can fit into our favourite clothes.
We take for granted that our favourite watch fits perfectly around the wrist.

These are experiences that are very real, and many of us may never have to go through them - so I ask that you imagine what it must feel like.

Allow me to share, that I myself, am a very self conscious individual, and I will honestly tell you that if only my first experience with exercise was at a crowded health club filled with people from the opposite sex, both guys and girls with fabulous physiques - I would have never been able to do it. I would have quit the very next day.

No way would I have dragged my flabby self to a crowded health club looking the way I did. I thank God for the run down gym near home back then. Though I didn’t really enjoy my experience there, it was filled with people just like me, struggling with their weight and all of them didn’t care or pay attention to what I looked like.

With that, I was able to shed most of my excessive weight, and gain some self-confidence in the process - and only then, did I have the courage to join a health club and be where I am today.

It was an eye-opener for me watching that obese woman at the gym, because it hit me hard and made me realise how difficult it can be for someone JUST TO GET TO THE GYM. I truly sympathize for those who feel that way.

Let me ask you this - have you ever wondered what it must be like, having to struggle with obesity and working out at the gym? Would you have been able to put aside your feelings and gather up the courage to put on clothes that don’t fit so well, being seen at the gym?

When you see an obese individual - most people choose to immediately label them as ‘fat’, ‘lack of self control’, ‘ugly’, ‘clumsy’, and so on - but I thank God that He has given me a heart of compassion for them, that it sometimes breaks my heart seeing people having to face such a struggle. Perhaps it is because that I too, though I was not obese, but overweight - had a similar experience and can relate to what they feel.

The above are my thoughts on just one of the many health issues that plague society today - Obesity. The reality is that people today are spending more money than ever on healthy food, diet books, health club memberships, silly slimming centres, supplements, and home gym equipment - but at the same time, not only becoming more obese, but less healthy.

This trend will only continue to happen until people realize that taking charge of one’s health involves a Lifestyle change, and sadly, most of us are living ‘defeated lifestyles’ today.

To you out there reading this - the sedentary, the overweight, the obese, the underweight, the senior citizen, the youth, the child, the pregnant mother - if you are tired of living a less-than-optimal quality of life all these years.. then this coming 2009, I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and take charge of your health.

One of the simplest way of getting started with exercise is as easy as going for a 15 minute walk, or even household chores - and that is no rocket science to do. Malaysia’s very own FitnessIdeas.org has some content, trainers who can help, and an exercise directory that can help point you to the right direction as well.

If you are new to exercise, speak to your physician to first determine whether or not it is safe for you to do so. If you are someone whom has already been advised to exercise, but you are being reluctant - then once again I say - step out, and do it.

Fitness is NOT a diet, a book, a BLOG, a health club, or an exercise machine - it is a Lifestyle

It will be the single best thing you can do for your health this 2009 - I promise you, it will impact your career, your family, your relationships.. your world.

If it could turn mine upside down… imagine what it could do for yours…

Blessed New Year everyone…
Much Love,
DM

Read also:

1. Body Scans of Two Women - 250lbs vs 120lbs
2. A Healthy Lifestyle - Is Malaysia Really in Better Shape Today Than We Were Before?
3. 7 Virtues for Successful Weight Loss – A Guide for Daily Living