Tony always hits the nail right on the head. Here's an article from the AskMen.com site where he has a semi-weekly column about fitness and nutrition. He doesn't pull any punches, except for when he hits you upside the head with the realization that you ought to be taking care of yourself and living life to its fullest rather than shoveling McDonald's down your gullet in a hopeless malaise. It's worth the read, I promise.
*********
A Healthy Life
Tony Horton: The Secret To Happiness Is Actually Very Simple
With the arrival of spring, it's typical for people to establish new disciplines (at least temporarily), but the new season is also a reminder that time is passing relentlessly. With every nanosecond, we all get a little closer to death. Yes, I said it. And don’t say I’m being a downer -- this is reality speaking. Most people meander through life as if death isn't coming. We wait, hesitate, procrastinate and blow off life-altering opportunities all the time. Our goals, ideas and aspirations are put on hold for some ideal moment in the distant future. Why and for what? Most often it's because we're scared to live at our full potential.
How can you make the present day worthwhile?
I'm here to tell you that your life on this earth is precious and shorter than you think. Turning 50 a few years back proved that to me. I swear it feels like I was in high school 10 minutes ago. As we get older, change can become more daunting with every passing day. You don't have to be at midlife for this to be true. Teenagers get just as stuck as people in their 50s and 60s. I've seen people give up and throw in the towel at all ages. We've all been witness to the tragedies of misguided lives. The hope and optimism of childhood gives way to despair and disappointment with one bad experience after another. It's the saddest thing in the world. Maybe you know what I'm talking about.
If you think this is too hard for you, you're wrong
Is there hope for the fallen? Can we turn it around after years of wasting time, procrastinating, plenty of hardship and waiting for the right moment that never comes?
Hell, yes!
The good news is that you can have the life you dreamed of as a kid without meds and therapy. Step one is moving. It doesn't really matter how you move. What matters is that you do. Step two involves eating healthy food, whole food that feeds the body, spirit and especially the mind. The garbage this country eats most of the time is killing us. Junk food and fast food (also known as food porn) do not fuel our desire to grow, learn and change. They keep us in a state of flux and despair. If you have problems, procrastinate and feel stuck in general, odds are you're overweight, out of shape and eat junk.
It's not the outside world -- It's you.
The deck is stacked against you at this point. Your brain can't function to solve problems properly if you’re feeding your mouth tons of sugar and grease. If you like this life of quiet desperation, then continue to spend endless hours sitting around. If procrastination, sadness, depression, low self-esteem and a state of malaise fit your lifestyle, then continue to eat candy, cupcakes, high-fructose corn syrup, fried food, saturated fats, soda, processed carbs, hot dogs and tons of cheese on your pepperoni pizza. Nobody gets away with making lame choices in this world. Sooner or later (turns out later comes sooner than you thought), your bad behavior will ruin your life.
On the other hand, good behavior can and will save your life. It’ll give you the opportunity to turn misery into joy and happiness, things we all seek. Authentic joy and happiness come from treating ourselves and others with respect and civility. Adult toys (cars, homes, jewelry, etc.), prestige, money and looks are usually a means to short-term pleasures. These things feed the ego. The ego isn't real. It's your desire to create a false you to present to the world -- but that’s just smoke and mirrors making you feel better than someone else. It’s poison.
What is good behavior? You know exactly what it is by now. It's a matter of whether you want to practice it consistently or not. The more disciplined you are, the fewer problems you'll have. Honestly! For real! Life will still come at you at a million miles an hour and the issues in your life will still exist, but when you exercise and eat right, you create the brain chemistry of a person who can deal with issues, problems and challenges productively and happily. Other variables like proper sleep and stress management skills play a roll as well, but the foundation of "the good life" comes from the two things that make you a joyous, happy human being: exercise and healthy food. Period.
The clock is ticking and your death is inevitable, so while you’re here, why not take the first steps toward a better life. Get off the fence, ask for help, start moving, eat your veggies, enjoy the journey, enjoy the power of right now, push play and experience the life you desire and deserve.
