RESPECT THE HUMAN BODY AND THE MIND. AFTER ALL, WE ARE ONLY HUMAN

In order to guard against preventable conditions and diseases as well as to help counteract aging and strive for happiness, the human body must be understood and above all, respected. The human mind and our right to choose what is best for our children and ourselves must also be respected as well as protected.

25 years ago I personally had gained over 50 pounds during the course of two years. I had been eating lots of junk food and I had not been exercising at all. I take full responsibility for my actions, however I must underscore the negative impact that the prevalent and pervasive lack of respect for mothers who chose to stay home full-time to care for their own children at that time had on my self-esteem. It contributed the most to my overeating and becoming obese. Although my husband and I both agreed that it was best for our baby and for me to be a full-time mother, society was very unkind particularly about such personal and parental matters.

The women's movement, as I understood it then, was supposed to be about choice and about being respected for those choices that were in fact a woman's right to make. Unfortunately, everywhere I looked, I became the object of comments such as "Aren't you bored being at home all day?" as well as "Don't you miss interacting with adults during the workday?" It was particularly brutal as these comments all came from other women. I always answered "No, not at all. I want to care for and teach my baby until he turns 6 when he will be in school for the full-day."  Imagine if I had turned those questions around and asked "How can you leave your baby with a stranger in a day care center or with your mother-in-law who is a chain smoker?" or perhaps, "Don't you want to be there to witness and experience the joys of watching your baby grow and learn?" Of course I never did ask any questions of the sort. It was not my decision to make, nor was it my place to comment on the lives of others, but it was open-season on new mothers such as myself. Fortunately for my baby, for my husband and for me, I had made the right choice for all three of us. Then in December of 1989, after a notice came in the mail that our ten-year high-school reunion was coming up in 1990, I took a hard look at myself and how unhealthy I had become. So on my 28th birthday, I began a course of action to reverse the situation.

After consulting with my primary care physician, I immediately switched to a healthy, balanced whole-foods meal plan and completely eliminated junk foods and junk beverages. I also began to educate myself about weight-lifting for both decreasing excess body fat as well as learning how it plays a major part in avoiding chronic and preventable conditions and diseases. I put a comprehensive plan into action and dedicated 7 out of 168 hours a week to proper exercise. Every human being needs to understand the essential role that progressive strength training and on your feet cardiovascular exercise play in improving, sustaining, and saving lives.

So when a sudden, unforeseen catastrophic event occurred (through no fault of my own), on Valentine's Day 1996, my daily dedication to CLIMBING, LIFTING and EATING WELL for six years was put to the test. I passed. I survived the 29-day ordeal and since then I have truly thrived. (By the way, when my life hung in the balance 19 years ago, rather than thinking I should have worked outside the home the first six years of my son's life, I was grateful that I had been the one teaching him, playing with him, and loving him. For if I had not survived on that Valentine's Day 1996, at least my son would have had me, his mother, in the forefront of all his early childhood memories.

I am currently working on a manuscript recounting the details of these events with a very special epilogue to benefit the health and well-being of the public here at home as well as worldwide.

As always, consult your trusted, board-certified physician for your personal health issues and concerns.

CLIMB, LIFT AND EAT WELL...