Fit for Life: The Things You Take for Granted

Fit for Life: The Things You Take for Granted

So, I had a long overdue eye exam on Tuesday of this week, and the procedure left me temporally blind when I left the office.

The Optometrist warned me that I would be light sensitive when I left the office, but I had no idea how sensitive, and I brushed it off figuring that once I put my sunglasses on, I would be fine.

The problem was that I left my sunglasses in the car, it was a nice sunny day and I had to cross Broadway to get to my vehicle.

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As soon as I went outside, my eyes teared up, and I literally couldn’t see.

I was blind!

I tried wiping the tears, holding my hand over my eyes for shade, but nothing was working.

I eased my way into the street, hoping any oncoming cars would stop, and navigated my way to my truck, so I could put on my sunglasses and get some relief.

I put on the sunglasses, then immediately started giving gratitude.

I was grateful for my health and that I have all my faculties.

I was grateful that I was in a temporary situation that would subside in a few minutes.

I was grateful that I know the difference between feeling 100% and being off my game.

So many folks take their health and wellness for granted, that I wanted to write this article and warn you that you shouldn’t, because at any given moment it can all go away.

The problem is that many people don’t realize what good health is, and it’s easy to take it for granted.

I never had any issues with my eyesight, therefore never thought to get an eye exam.

I found out that one of my optic nerves is larger than the other, and there is a possible risk for glaucoma if I don’t take care of my eyes and get checked more regularly.

I ordered prescription readers, because my vision is different in each eye, and will pay closer attention and be more aware of things like this in the future as a preventative measure.

The truth is that many of you reading this don’t know what it’s like to feel your best, perform at the top of your game, or physically look your best.

You don’t know because you never exercised regularly, have spent most of your lives to this point eating poorly, and never get enough sleep.

Its not your fault because you have never been on a program or decided to make the changes necessary to do so, and I want to make you aware of this, and let you know it is possible.

I hear it from my new members of my gym regularly.

“Wow I feel amazing” is the response I usually get a month in from someone that has changed their lifestyle and habits and is now on point with eating and exercising the Providence Fit Body Boot Camp way.

“I never thought I could feel this great.” is another line we hear all the time.

If you are sedentary, eating dairy products, foods containing gluten, drinking alcohol regularly, and consuming man-made packaged foods, you truly don’t know how good you could feel.

NOT until you eliminate all of those foods from your routine and start moving in a functional way that builds muscle and burns fat.

YES, those foods taste good, but they are not worth the cost of feeling your best. Trust me on this one!!

I was out for lunch with my mother the other day and was telling her how I avoided eating baked macaroni and cheese at a function the other night. She fired back…Oh, life is short, why deprive yourself?

Because my mother and I have a combative and argumentative relationship, I responded. “I think life is too short to live your life feeling like crap, being lethargic, tired, non-productive and non-functional all the time, but that’s just my opinion.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love my mother, and would do anything (within reason) for her, but we don’t see eye to eye on ANYTHING.

She has a stint in her heart, moves around in pain all the time, lacks proper sleep, and has low energy throughout the day, but is in denial that there’s anything wrong with the way she lives her life and takes care of herself.

However, she criticizes me all the time, and finds me to be a pain in the ass, when I call her out, or don’t eat what she has in the house.

That’s because like most people, she has no clue as to how it feels to be healthy and vital all the time.

I know I take things to extremes. Several times a year I do 4-6-week programs where I completely eliminate everything from my eating regimen that will cause a negative effect on how I feel.

I am currently doing the Paleo 6-week challenge where you eat a lot of protein, vegetables, and quality fats, yet eliminate all inflammatory foods, and starchy man-made carbs.

After 3 weeks, I feel phenomenal, and am not missing any of the foods that I have eliminated.

I feel like it is totally worth the sacrifice.

I also sell ARBONNE nutritional supplements and did their 30-Day Detox program. They took coffee out of my routine which was a struggle at first, but by the end, I realized that I didn’t need it to function.

I mentioned it to someone else that did the same challenge, and they said the same thing, that they realized that the more coffee you drink, the less effective it is.

It’s more of a habit than a necessity.

I love coffee, and am drinking it again, but I do so because I want to, and not because I need it.

Don’t get me wrong, when I am NOT focused on a program, I cheat.

I love pizza, ice cream and other tasty foods that aren’t good for us too.

Normally I eat well 90% of the time, but when I push the other 10%, it makes a difference.

When I have gone into all out cheat mode on a Sunday (the 10% I am not focused), I feel the difference on Monday morning from the bad foods I ate. I am lethargic, tired, feel unmotivated and regret the 2 minutes of satisfaction I got at the time of consumption.

So, imagine how it would feel to someone making a drastic change?

I guarantee you it would feel so good, that you wouldn’t want to go back.

I have all the proof and testimonials that feeling your best is worth the sacrifice.

Everyone that realizes they need to make a change, and does, reaps huge rewards.

So, I challenge you.

Take a few weeks, apply some discipline, and remove all your harmful habits from your daily routine.

If you feel like you need help, just reach out, and my team and I will get you on the right path to success.

You will start feeling, looking and moving better in less than a week. We guarantee it.

In the meantime, open your eyes (pun intended), and stop taking your health for granted.

You don’t know how great you could really feel until you give it a try!!

Committed to your success,

 

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one.