A gift of health

Many of you have asked me about ways to be motivated.  I wanted to share with you one of the "tools" that I use to keep me going.  When I decided to "fix" this mess of me I knew that it would not only involve food but also many other areas.  I needed to change everything.  I realized that I needed to move more.  At first I would just give myself a distance and walk that far. The corner was a good walk for me at one time. (I live in the middle of a block so not far.) I also got myself into a swimming suit and committed to  go to water aerobics.  All these commitments were made to MYSELF. I had created the unhealthy life that I had. I was the one who ate, and sat, and watched life leave me behind.   I didn't want the life I was living at the time and knew that change had to happen.  One of the most useful tools I have invested in has been some type of a movement  monitor.  I used one that could be used in the water for quite some time and loved it when I could light up all the lights with that one hour of intense exercise. It also monitored my steps.  I now use one that can not go in the water but it monitors a lot more and different types of movement I make.  I let it get me going and keep me going.  I realize that I am goal driven with the visual charts and happy faces I get when I reach my step goals. I know that I feel better when I move and I can keep better control of my weight.  There are movement  monitors starting at about $10 and going as high as you want to pay.  A pedometer is  an excellent way to start. The American Heart Association recommends 10,000 steps a day for heart health.  That would have killed me the first day if I had tried to do that at the start.   This holiday season I want to encourage you to evaluate your movement.  If someone is wanting a "hint" for a gift maybe the gift of a monitor for movement would be a great idea.  Start small and work up to one that fits your individual lifestyle.  What greater gift can you give to yourself or someone give to you that the gift of health.   Let's all get out and get moving more and something I love to tell others who are working on their own healthy journey is to, "just keep swimming!"