LIFE COACH
Realization
Develop a Plan
Staying on Track
Our body is an amazing machine but like all machines it needs attention. If your brakes on the car are squealing and you do not fix them they will eventually fail. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) comes on very slowly. CHF happens when the heart becomes too weak to pump the blood and fluid effectively to the point where the tissue is literally drowning. Those with CHF are prone to strokes. It is such a needless disease and can be prevented with better diet and exercise. Many cases the heart muscle’s pumping action will improve if the patient is proactive. It requires being committed to taking the medications your doctor has prescribed, watching your fluid intake, changing your diet, eliminate salt and sugar and commit to an exercise regiment. Sounds simple, but most people just will not do it. In my family my father had it and his mother (my grandmother) had it. She made it to almost ninety but my father has a massive stroke at 70. If my father would have been proactive I believe he would still be with us.
GETTING STARTED
If you have not exercised in a while going out and buying a trike and riding it can be a bit intimidating. The first day I rode my trike I almost loaded it up in the car and took it back but I was committed to riding and each time it got better. If that seems like too much then consider starting a regiment of walking, start out slow and work you way up. Movement of some kind is a must. Diet programs without exercise are ineffective. If it sounds to good to be true watch out. Claims like eat what you want and loose weight do not work long term. Stop the diet pill the weight will come back and then some!
TRIKE RIDING
Recumbent trikes are a great way for people to get started cycling. Recumbent trikes are comfortable, stable and easy on the body. Cycling outdoors gives the rider a sense of accomplishment. Trikes are equally at home on the street or trail. If you are going to ride on the street ride in the bike lanes and make sure you can be seen.
There are a number of great companies that build recumbent trikes. Terra Trike is a US company that builds an entry level trike under $1,000. Catrike is another US company that builds an awesome trike starting about $2,000. Check out www.bikestoponline.com they are awesome!
THE GYM
To me the term “The Gym” is really a set time each day that a person should set out to exercise. The really scary thing is that most people spend more time eating than exercising. Whether it is walking, cycling, running your body needs to sweat. One of the amazing things about exercise is your mind is actually more clear after a workout. To me the more I sweat the better I can think. Try it you might be surprised. Set a goal and when you are about to hit it raise it. For me a ride around the neighbor turned into a ride to downtown Blue Springs to over 1200 miles in the last 6 months of 2013. I just kept changing the goal. You can do it!