Harsh Truth Warning!!
Don't read on if you're not ready for some harsh truth.
This is blunt, but perhaps it's the wake-up call someone out there needs.
Read on below if you dare...
Today's post if for the self-sacrificial parents out there.
You know who you are... Those of you who put everyone before yourself. Those of you who say you can't get in shape because you're too busy meeting the needs of your family.
Today I'm calling BS on those excuses.
Today I'm going to tell you I think you're wrong if that's what you tell yourself.
Listen I've got parents myself and I can speak from experience as a former child and current son of both of my parents (and I don't see that changing anytime soon, ha)...
I care FAR more about the health and wellbeing of my parents than I do about any momentary want or need I might have had as a child, tween or teen.
I care more about my parents staying healthy and fit and being around to be grandparents to my children than I do about them getting to every single hockey practice or creating the perfect PD day experience for me.
Did I need time with them? Of course! And I got a good amount of it.
BUT I don't want it at the cost of their health and fitness and future time with them.
Likewise for those of you working to provide material possessions, experiences and a 'keeping up with the Joneses' life for your kids.
As many of you know I'm a big proponent of hard work.
But that doesn't mean that earning money should come at the cost of self-care. There is not one material possession or experience my parents could have purchased for me that would be worth them sacrificing their health and leaving this world early.
To put it bluntly, you’re not doing your kids any favours by dying early or becoming so out of shape and immobile that you can’t enjoy life with them.
What's more, if you do things right, you can have your health and fitness completely taken care of with ZERO impact or cost to your ability to be that awesome mom or dad or that provider that creates an awesome life for your kids.
The idea that it's one or the other is a false dichotomy.
The truth is, the only reason not to exercise or eat healthy is because you don't want to.
Why do I say that?
Because here are the facts:
Exercise and eating healthy boosts energy (so you have more useful time instead of collapsing at 7pm for 4 hours of mind-numbing Netflix and TV)
Exercise and eating healthy boosts mood (guess who the most common recipients of your bad moods are?)
Exercise and eating healthy boost mental performance (so you can perform better at work and get a raise or a promotion)
Exercise and eating healthy boosts confidence (so you feel better about yourself and set a better example of self-love for your kids)
Exercise and eating healthy helps manage stress (so you can handle the overwhelm that is a fact of modern life)
Convinced yet?
I really hope you are...
Because it hurts to see people I care about sabotaging themselves and holding themselves back.
Now... If you're ready to stop making excuses and start making changes, I'd love to hear from you. (Email me at derek@derekcolvin.com) Whether it's just a quick word of advice you need or a full on professional relationship where we dominate your fitness, I'd love to help you out.
Or, if you're genuinely happy letting your health and fitness go, that's absolutely your right and your choice.
But don't cheat yourself out of your health with one of these excuses.
Don’t blame your child for being the reason you can’t get in shape. They don’t deserve that burden.
P.s. If any of you are feeling all down on yourself after reading this, you need to hit pause on the self-criticism. It's ok. You're human. You don't need to be perfect and No, you shouldn't have figured this out before. Each of us has our own journey and our own factors influencing our life. What matters is that you make the change now before it's too late.
... And no, it's never too late - Just look at Ernestine Shepherd who started working out when she was 56 and is now 80. (Click HERE to read her story) If she can do that from 56 to 80, no matter how old you are, you can start and make modest and worthwhile improvements. It's not about perfection, it's about making small and manageable improvements.
—
Derek