Fit for Life: I Had a Heart Attack ...

Fit for Life: I Had a Heart Attack ...

"I had a heart attack."

 

That was the text I got last Tuesday from a good friend of mine.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

 

He lived to talk about it, and he seemed fine, but it put some things into perspective.     

 

The first thing is that regardless of how proactive and preventative you are, bad things can still happen if you have a family history that negatively impacts your health and longevity.

 

The friend this happened to is 64 years old; however, this guy is anything but ordinary.

 

He not only religiously watches what he eats but also trains like a true beast. This guy is dialed into a level that inspires me to be better and stay focused so I can be at his level when I turn his age in eight short years.

 

We talked for some time about his incident, and he said that the doctors told him - a. Things would have been much worse if he wasn't in the shape he is in, and - b. His recovery will be 10 times faster than the "average guy" at his age.

 

This is the second friend that had a heart attack within the last year; only my other friend didn't make it.

 

Now, I know there are some nay-sayers out there who will justify their lack of discipline and drive by saying, "See, even fit people die unexpectedly, so what's the point of putting in all that time, effort, and energy when we are all going to die anyway".

 

My response to that stupid and ignorant statement is… "Yes, we are all going to die; however, what quality of life do you want while you are still living?" In my opinion, I would rather live for 60 quality years than 80 years of sickness and misery. It's not about adding years to your life but adding life to the years we have.

 

The second thing we need to put into perspective is that if these things can happen to someone who is dialed in with their nutrition and fitness, how much more likely is it for someone who ignores their health?

 

Most of my friends are active and healthy, so I sometimes forget to realize that we are a minority, and the "general population" of men all around us is in LESS THAN IDEAL shape.

 

My friend John is 62 years old, still plays hockey 3-4 times weekly, lifts weights, and mountain bikes. He smoked cigarettes for 30 years, quit at 42, and reversed the negative projectile his health was going down.

 

He is in fantastic shape; however, he complains that his belly isn't as tight as he wants it to be. We are currently working on his Cheez-It addiction so he can tighten up a bit for the summer.

 

My other friend Bill is also a testament to what a healthy lifestyle can do to prolong longevity. At 60 years old, he can still pound out a 7-mile run, lift weights regularly, and focus on his nutrition daily. He could be a stunt double in the next Bond movie—he looks so good!!

 

My dad is 75, works out every day, and has lowered his body fat to below 18%. On the other hand, my grandmother ate like crap, never exercised, and is currently 100 years old but has been confined to a wheelchair for the past 10 years.

 

Yes, she is still alive. However, I am convinced that if she lived a healthy lifestyle, she would still be able to live independently and not be in assisted living because she can't walk around anymore.

 

It's not a matter of how long we can live; it's about the quality of life we envision.

 

Would you rather be in the minority of people in great shape, or are you ok with being one of the majority of people who are walking health risks?

 

I know the answer because EVERYBODY wants to be healthy and financially stable, yet VERY FEW are willing to commit to getting there. I group these two together, as accomplishing each takes the same traits.

 

First, you need to have the want and desire. If you keep telling yourself that you are happy being fat, unhealthy and broke, then that's where you will stay. If that's your choice, that's ok too; just don't complain about your situation because only YOU can be the solution.

 

Second, you must put in the time, effort, and energy every day, even when you don't feel like it. Just because I am your fitness guy doesn't mean I love to work out and eat healthy. I love pizza and ice cream just like you, and after 35 years of consistently working out, sometimes it's a pain in the ass getting it in. I get tired, complacent, and lazy, too, but I put the shoes on and go to battle at least 6 days per week because I know what it takes to be in shape.

 

Lastly, we need to prioritize and execute. (I stole this from a Navy Seal book I just read). YOU HAVE THE TIME; you will get it done if it's a priority. The time excuse is the most used of any reason. I don't have the time; now is not the right time; summer is a bad time for me. These are all bullshit excuses because we all have 30 minutes a day if it's a priority to us.

 

If you prioritize your health, you will be healthy; if you prioritize making more money, you will make more money. Period, end of story. We will never have extra time, and life will never allow the timing to be perfect, SO IT's UP TO US TO MAKE THE TIME for what is important to us.

 

I know some of this sounds harsh; however, I am very shaken by the text I received, and I feel it is necessary to hit my point home without sugarcoating the situation.

 

My goal in life is to help inspire and motivate as many people as possible to live a healthy lifestyle. My methods may not resonate with everyone, and my coaching style is tough and to the point, but my intentions are all good.

 

I see out-of-shape people who have apparent health risks every day, regardless of where I go, and it breaks my heart to see them because I know everyone's deep-down desire is to live a high quality of life.

 

So now it's in your hands. Ask yourself, do I want to be healthy and fit and be considered a minority, or do I want to be with the majority of the population and be a walking time bomb?

 

Committed to your success,

Coach Matt