Making a Commitment

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”   Ken Blanchard

Week 26

I’ve decided to spend 2012 with a focus on my precious resource of time.  I have organized it into 5 categories, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, beginning with spending more time doing what is good for me.

On my 'Week 12' blog I wrote a post called ‘Stepping it up’.  I was determined to take more steps in my life.  I wanted to be more intentional about getting exercise and moving more every day. Since I selected that goal, I have been reading more about the benefits of walking as a form of exercise, and I thought we might spend some time discussing it.

After researching a number of health websites, I compiled a list of 30 reasons why the experts think we should make a commitment to spend more of our time walking.

1. Walking prevents type 2 diabetes
2. Walking lessens the chance of a stroke
3. Walking strengthens your heart
4. Walking strengthens your lungs
5. Walking is good for your brain- researchers found 27% lower risk of developing dementia.
6. Walking is good for your bones.
7. Walking helps alleviate symptoms of depression.
8. Walking reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer
9. Walking improves fitness
10. Walking improves physical function
11. It soups up your sex life
12. It can get you off meds
13. It can be socially stimulating if you walk with a friend
14. It’s a great avenue for prayer and meditation
15. It’s a great avenue for creative thinking
16. It lowers your stress level
17. It helps you to make important decisions
18. It helps you to lose inches
19. It’s cheap
20. You don’t have to plan ahead…just walk out the door
21. It encourages your friends and loved ones to exercise
22. It helps your dog get exercise 
23. It helps your complexion
24. It raises your self-esteem
25. It helps you to get your regular intake of Vitamin D
26. You get to enjoy God’s awesome creation
27. You get to enjoy fresh air (unless you live in LA)
28. It renews your spirit
29. You just generally look and feel better, and it makes you a nicer person.
30. And if all the others, don't convince you...how about this one...It reduces the risk of dying from any given cause. (This research comes from Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas). 

As you can read, and probably already knew ....walking is very good for us!

But, statistics also tell us that only 3 in 10 people in the United States choose to make walking a part of their reqular routine. I would venture to say that if you are among the 2/3 that don’t exercise regularly, it's not because you don't know about the benefits. And I believe that even though you're not stepping it up each day, you are none the less interested in becoming healthier. Am it right...well then what's your excuse?….

Might I put forward some of your reasons for not walking or exercising (I know of these excuses because I’ve used them myself): “I’m too busy,  I can’t get motivated, I have no energy, I have no one to walk with, it’s too cold, it’s too hot, it’s too dark, it’s too light, I don’t feel good, my walking partner doesn’t feel good, I have meetings at school, at work, at church, I have kids to take care of, I have stuff I need to do for others, I'm not in the mood, I’m feeling lazy ............Well that’s Enough! Stop it!  Stop it right now.  No more with your excuses... It's time to take responsibility for your health and your well-being! 

Our life is precious, our time is precious and we should all be making a commitment to spend more time doing what is good for us.  Besides, when we take care of ourselves, we are giving a gift to others. So let’s have a funeral and cremate our list of excuses! It's time to take action.

We will accept no more excuses. …only results! 

Small step:   Walk a minimum of 30 minutes- four times a week.

Email me your thoughts at smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com