Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Show Your Body a Little More Gratitude

It's that time of year again. We're all taking stock of 2011 and making big plans for 2012. The resolutions are piling up and, as to be expected, many of those resolutions revolve around making some change regarding health and image. But how long does the typical New Years Eve implemented resolution last? I don't think I need to conduct a study or acquire any research to know that most of us will not do a very good job of sticking to our plans and it is because of this lack of discipline and commitment that I dislike resolutions all together. 

What could be started today and, in all honesty, what could have been done six months ago, is often delayed for the ceremonious designation of being a short lived resolution. I've done it, you've done it. We're all guilty. But regarding our health and self image, why wait?

What if your body could literally speak to you. What do you think it would say? I think the answer is quite simple. 

"Take care of me." That's it. 

Think of yourself for a moment as two separate entities that just happen to be very dependent upon one another. There is your mind and then there is your body. The mind will naturally be consumed with what it is able to envision; what it sees. These visions often distract from more important, unseen matters. The body is a machine with thousands of different components. Like an automobile, it requires maintenance to function properly over the course of a lifetime. 

Unfortunately, there are no indicator lights on our foreheads to let us know when something within our bodies requires maintenance. Therefore, it is better to get in the habit of doing little things now, in the immediate, to ensure that our bodies function at an optimum level. Your cells are fighting hundreds if not thousands of pathogens and toxic materials every day and if you are under the impression that a short lived resolution will keep you going unscathed for the remainder of your life, you are grossly mistaken. 

To maintain my health I do three things that have become a habit. Dieticians and trainers will likely encourage you to do more, but I do these three things because I am able to be relatively consistent. 

First, I take a multivitamin. Second, I exercise in 30 - 45 minute sessions at least 3 times a week. And third, I buy a fresh vegetable juice smoothie at least twice a week. Do I sometimes forget my vitamin? Yes. Do I sometimes skip the gym? Yes. I actually like my smoothie but it certainly isn't the doctors daily recommendation of fruits and vegetables. Nevertheless, I do what I can to show my body a little gratitude. 

If you have a juicer, great! But if you don't, here in Los Angeles there are great establishments such as Cafe Gratitude in Larchmont and Urth Caffe in West Hollywood and Santa Monica that offer a wide variety of healthy fare. Whole Foods also offers a broad assortment of healthy beverages.




For those in need of a little more guidance in terms of simple things you can do to enhance the quality of your diet to show your body a little more gratitude, I encourage you to check out a blog run by Chef Marcus Guiliano of Aroma Tyme Bistro in Hudson Valley, New York at www.chefonamission.com. He's a cool guy that is simply passionate about living an enjoyable, healthy life.

If you're determined to wait for 2012 to show your body some love, so be it, but this time, make a solid commitment to yourself and your body. I promise, YOU will be grateful you did.  

1 comment: