Start Your New Year Now
Hi, I’m Brian Culbertson, a 40-year old, middle-aged, dad of three girls who was recently diagnosed with high cholesterol and a body weight of slightly above the “ideal,” whatever that means. Frankly, I’m lucky to have a decent metabolism because my eating habits the last few years have been lacking, and while I haven’t exactly been a couch potato, I haven’t exactly been a treadmill tomato either.
You see, when I opened my first Allstate insurance agency here in Southwest Florida way back in 2008, I was in the best shape of my adult life. I was working out 5-6 times per week, and I was making mostly good eating choices. But life happens, and somehow here we are 7-years later, 25 pounds heavier, and cholesterol steadily rising.
It’s not like I haven’t done anything. I had periods of binge exercising, including running (peppered with some walking) my first (and last) half-marathon. I even competed (I am stretching the definition of that word) in a sprint triathlon (I nearly drowned).
I did a juice fast for 3-days — BOOM.
I even tried some cheats. I grew a beard to hide my double chin. I stopped wearing dress pants (they don’t have much give), and stopped tucking in my shirts. These cheats helped to mask the situation.
But the recent high cholesterol and stern “talking to” given by my doctor was a wakeup call. I’m really serious this time, I think?
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve interviewed several friends who have made recent healthy eating and exercise lifestyle changes. The fact is, it doesn’t seem to be all that complicated.
The one thing they all agreed on was, it starts in the kitchen. Reduce your fat intake. Reduce the carbs, especially the bad ones. Eat several (5-6) smaller meals per day. Cut out or greatly reduce your sugar intake. Don’t drink your calories. Add in some healthy stuff (veggies, oats, and flak seed), and get plenty of exercise.
Like most people, I’ve done many January 1st, New Year’s Resolutions about losing weight, eating healthy, blah, blah, blah. I like to put things off. But this year, I’m trying something different, and this is what I want to share with you.
This year I am doing a “healthy living appetizer” in preparation for the main course in January. By starting now, I am missing the gym rush that inevitably happens at the start of the year. By trying to eat healthier through the holidays, I’m learning about will power. Even when (notice I did not say if) I fail to get to the gym, or indulge at a Christmas party, I can get right back up on the healthy living wagon the next day. By starting now in November I’ll be that much more ready to go hard in January. I’ll have the rust out of all my muscles and joints.
Set some goals.
Keep it fun.
Focus on being healthy, not a weight.
Start today.
For a little extra motivation, if you’ve been putting off buying a life insurance policy until you are healthy, did you know that you can buy a policy today, and whatever you’re rated at for health, you have a chance to be UPGRADED to a better tier within the first year? We all should have life insurance, and what a great motivator to keep you focused on the goal.
What do you think, good idea or not? Will Brian stick with this or fail? What’s your resolution? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.
