Are you 'Fit' for Duty?

In today’s even faster paced work environments, especially as many of us are working from home, keeping fit has become less of a priority.??While I am sure that many of us had ‘getting fit’ as goal during COVID it has become apparent that many have not achieved this goal.??Why not?

?????I found that while working at home has many benefits and with that many downfalls.??One of the many benefits is that you can time for fitness.??You don’t need an hour or more at the gym.??You can take ten, fifteen, or even just five minutes to take care of this most important thing- YOU!??By finding time to manage your personal fitness, you will find that you now have more energy for the other really important things like your family.??I am sure that many people reading post this will say “oh sure- it’s easy for you to say you run every day.”??Yes, that true. It’s true because just over a year ago and to be honest for my entire adult life, I have struggled with a weight problem caused by acute laziness.??More accurately, I didn’t prioritize my health.??

?????At age 43 while having a routine physical, the doctor showed me my cholesterol.??It was off the charts.??He said to me in a very stern tone, “if you don’t lose some weight and lower your cholesterol, please don’t come back to my office.”??He then prescribed Lipitor??and gave me a book called?The Healthy Heart Miracle: Your Roadmap to Lifelong Health.??In the book there are many diet recommendations, but to me, the take home message was that you must incorporate exercise into your daily routine (Mirkin, 2006).??They don’t say it must be running, it just must be something.??So, I began to walk and walking led to running. Then the weight started to come off.??I was then introduced to Morgan Spurlock’s?Supersize Me.??If you haven’t watched this, please do, it will change your life.??Through diet and exercise, I was off Lipitor? and healthy…for a while.

???I would love to say that this end of my weight issues; sadly, it’s not. For all of us serial dieters, we find a path and it works for a while and then it all comes back.???Over the years my weight has been up and down; however, one thing stayed constant, my addition to sugar.??Many researchers believe that sugar is more addictive than cocaine and is responsible for deaths then illicit drugs (Rose, 2019).??As a part time baker, I love nothing more than baking a batch of cookies and of course, eating them.??

?????To ween off sugar, in 2020 I adopted a ketogenic lifestyle.??I have found that as a baker and amateur chef, finding ways to make food just as delicious by reducing sugar, replacing it or, eliminating it all together was a great challenge.??I can proudly report that after fifteen months in the ketogenic lifestyle, I have lost almost fifty pound and have kept it off for over six months.??I have found this type of eating to be fulfilling and exciting.??But this isn’t about me...it’s about you!

???What does all this have to do with being ‘fit for duty’???Everything!??In order to give your best to your family, your work and your community, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, we all must be healthy.??We must take care of ourselves so we can take care of others.??So, lace up those shoes and just go for a walk.??Make taking care of yourself your number one priority.??Set a goal to exercise for fifteen to thirty minutes a day and then celebrate when you do.??Make it fun, make it a habit, make like your life depends on it as it does. Invite your friends and coworkers to join you. Exercise is alway more fun when you have others to support you. If you can't find anyone, let me know I will be there at the finish line to celebrate with you for a job well done!

References:

Mirkin, G. and Mirkin, D. (2006), ?The Healthy Heart Miracle: Your Roadmap to Lifelong Health. New York, Harpertorch

Rose, Sahara. (2019) “Sugar Addiction Kills More People than Illegal Drugs.”?DailyHealthPost, 25 July 2019, dailyhealthpost.com/sugar-addiction-kills-more-people-than-illegal-drugs/.

Spurlock, Morgan. (2001) “Morgan Spurlock ? Super Size Me.”?Morgan Spurlock, www.morganspurlock.com/work/super-size-me/.