After my heart attack in 2000, my doctor said, “It’s simple – exercise or die.” When my father was 40, his doctor told him to stop smoking or die. My father wanted to live and he was a person of strong determination. He stopped smoking (cold-turkey) and lived a very successful life for another 50 years.
We all know the “rules” for a healthy lifestyle. We should eat properly and get plenty of exercise. This is simple advice but certainly not easy to do. Most people fail, at least at first. In fact, there are whole industries designed to help people achieve their “simple” objectives.
Here are some of the approaches that have worked for me in the past that I am sharing with you.
Partners
My physician, a nutritionist, and a personal trainer all have been exceptionally helpful in providing information, advice, accountability, and support. Friends have also been supportive.
A few years after my heart attack, I realized that I needed an outrageous goal to keep me motivated. I decide to bike the entire Mississippi River. I asked my friend Charlie if he would like to do this with me. “Sure,” he said. We planned to accomplish this in one-week intervals over a period of years. I also announced to other friends what we were planning to do. Over the next six years, they would ask me periodically, how was it going? They held me accountable. It was sometimes hard—Charlie and I biked in all kinds of weather. But we did it together—and we made it!
Measuring
Whatever you measure keeps you focused. A year after my heart attack, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. My physician orders quarterly measures of my average glucose levels. But a measurement of the last three months looks backwards and is not particularly helpful in motivating me to change my day-to-day behavior. So in addition I measure my weight and glucose levels daily. This provides ongoing feedback and accountability for how I am doing and encourages me to tweak my behaviors.
I also measure my exercising and my cello practicing (I like numbers). Both measurements help motivate me to make progress.
Heart disease and diabetes are both serious conditions. I can’t make either disease go away. But I can control my response to help manage these conditions. For me, having partners and measurement are both important and useful.
I understand that my life is finite—no matter what I do to preserve my health. But it is my hope that I will continue to have energy for an active, fun and fulfilling life along the way.
I wish the same for you—a great retirement with good health and the energy to do all that you want.