Your First Step

July 8, 2011 By: Lynne Brick

Special thanks to Bernadette who shared her testimonial.  I hope you are as inspired as I.

A few weeks ago I met Bernadette who shared her inspiring testimonial.  She spent a lot of time on the couch, in pain and depressed.  When she walked, she had to use a cane to help her to ambulate.

Like so many people, Bernadette didn’t think that she could ever get off the couch and get moving.  But she took that first step and she has not looked back.  Her story motivated me to write these three tips to help you to take your first step toward a healthy active lifestyle.

Tip #1:  Change your attitude. Bernadette was depressed and she had feeling of hopelessness.  On the anniversary of her mother’s passing, her friend called and asked her to go the gym.  Instead of feeling sad, Bernadette decided to focus on doing something positive.  She agreed to go to the gym.  Bernadette described what happened that day.  The staff made her feel special, talked to her and encouraged her to do what she could do.  Bernadette walked out of the gym and has not used her cane since. As a bonus, she’s lost 33 pounds in 3 months! Bernadette’s life changed when she changed her attitude.

Tip #2:  Face your fears. The fear of feeling stupid, the fear of getting injured, the fear of pain and the fear of failure are quite normal.  Know that you are not alone.  Everyone has these fearful feelings when they start any type of exercise program.  Remember, any time you learn a sport such as tennis or golf, you have to go through a learning curve.  The same is true to any type of physical activity.   But, when you take the first step toward a healthy active lifestyle, your body becomes a miraculous healing machine.  Your body will thank you by helping to prevent debilitating diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. (I’m more afraid of those diseases than anything else!)

Tip #3:  Just do it! It doesn’t matter how large or small your first step is, just taking that first step is the most important step.  Why?  Because the second, third, fourth, fifth, etc steps get easier and easier.  You create perpetual momentum in the direction of health promotion and disease prevention.  It can be as simple as parking a little farther away, or getting up off the couch and walking around the block.

Try this with me… Get up off your seat and get up on your feet!  Then take your first step toward better health and a better you!  It worked for Bernadette.  It can work for you.

You Go Girl!    Lynne Brick, RN

Last week’s question:  What is the largest organ of the body?  Skin!

This week’s question: Is the saturated fat in coconut oil helpful or harmful?

Thought for the day:  (Quote):  “Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.”   –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sources:    www.LynneBricks.com;    www.BrickBodies.com