You’ve heard it before -- everything in moderation. And maybe you’re thinking, yeah,
blahblahblah, been there, done that, didn’t work for me, go away. Well, alrightee then. I will go away eventually but not before we
take a different look at exactly what “moderation” can mean to our lives.
Wouldn’t it be preferable to start walking a little bit every day now rather than waiting to begin your SUPER ANNUAL GUTS TO GLORY SHAPE-UP PROGRAM next month, or next year, or after you’ve had a heart attack? I don’t mean to sound so negative, but let’s be honest. It’s pretty easy to keep putting that new exercise program off when you’ve created too daunting a task for yourself. So even though I often preach the benefits of an hour a day of aerobic exercise, consider this: If you don’t have an hour a day, do what you can. Half an hour, fifteen minutes, ANYTHING is better than NOTHING, right? Even a little movement will provide benefits, and it’s infinitely better than sitting around waiting for that motivational bug to bite you.
Similarly,
wouldn’t it be more fun to enjoy a few bites of a really wonderful dessert that
your Aunt Marjory made just for you rather than begging off with, “Oh, I
couldn’t! I’m dieting! I’ll just have more of this fabulous
celery!” Help me. Especially when you know that if you go long
enough without a treat of any kind, you will eventually wind up in the grocery
store parking lot with a plastic fork and a partially frozen Pepperidge Farm
layer cake hoping no one recognizes your car while you shovel that baby in as
fast as you can. What a pretty picture. Moderation means it’s okay to have a few
bites of a special dessert when it’s available.
Skip the fat-free no-taste cookies, though, and treat yourself to
something really divine when you indulge. Keep this in mind, particularly when you
attend a special event such as a birthday party or wedding when you’ll be
tempted by unusual goodies that you don’t often see. Enjoy them while they’re here, I say.
Everything
in moderation is about doing a little bit every single day to make your present
and future life better. Move a little,
try to eat right, enjoy a little treat, have some fun. Moderation now might even mean a better,
LONGER life. Let’s enjoy it!
