Taking the First Steps

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am attempting to get into better shape. This doesn’t just mean going to the gym. My plans are much more ambitious – I want to complete the Abu Dhabi Triathlon in March just before I turn 40. However health isn’t just about physical condition. There are mental and emotional aspects as well to consider. I think this is why most people who go on whatever the fad diet is ultimately put the weight back on and why resolutions in general so often fail. People start off well enough but maintaining these lifestyle changes tends to wear people out and then they end up reverting back to their previous lifestyle. While it may be easy to type about lifestyle changes the reality is that action and follow through is not.

Health needs to be become a term that encompasses not just the physical state of our bodies but the emotional state of our minds as well. Some people may argue that it already is however most things you see or read about healthy living refer to exercise and food. We need to take care of our minds and emotional wellbeing too. This is the hardest part. It involves the way we see and interact with the world around us. Chris Hadfield’s book (An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth) is an excellent read. Joel Friel’s book (Your First Triathlon) has an chapter on motivation that is worth looking at as well. Again, reading and typing is easy but in reality there are no easy answers when it comes to acting on and following through with our goals. I’ll be updating the blog regularly and posting on how things go.