Re-evaluation of Health Goals

As I move towards the age of 72 should I change my perspective and viewpoint on the way I live my life or just roll with it? 

I went to the scales this morning, my worst fears were realized when I looked at the reading and it stared back at me telling me that I was 87 kgs, that’s almost 10 kgs heavier than I was at my lowest a little over a year ago although@ when I weigh myself later today I’m pretty certain that what I see will be quite different. The biggest problem is that I have lost certainty on what is the correct direction to go in. I need to improve my muscle mass, that’s for sure. I need to create a workable exercise regime for when I am in Melbourne. I need to create a diet that will nourish me but at the same time help me to lose the excess fat that I have accumulated over the past 6 months, before it becomes a problem. I suppose that I am in a bit of a dangerous place right now, full of excuses, reasons and justifications. No major crisis, no stresses. I’m simply out on the open road and my guard has gone down.

My latest realisation is that my body is an accumulation of what has come before. There is nothing that I can do to undo the years of smoking and drinking alcohol, of over indulging in food and of being obese. Whatever damage I did along the way is done and all I can hope to do now is maintenance and rebuilding.

Looking back over the past 4 years I can see that there have been successful actions that have helped me to turn my health around but I also have to be aware that as time moves on so does my bodies age. Looking at this the first simple observation is that I have to out create the natural deterioration by gaining more knowledge, applying more discipline and self restraint. I need goals and plans, direction and small projects along the way to not only satisfy my mental, intellectual, philosophical and spiritual needs but to actively pursue a concrete and well defined goal in regard to my fitness and overall physical health.

Here’s a cursive list of actions that have helped.

• Study and increasing knowledge – information on combatting aging,  overall health and fitness is forever changing although there is a comprehensive list of actions that form a strong foundation for health. This was one of my major tools and weapons that I used to change my ways and give me some direction over the past 4 years.
• Self Discipline – to apply self discipline one needs a goal, something worthwhile that you are working toward. This can be in the form of daily schedules, lists, assigned activities.
• Affirmative Action – this is simply “doing”, thinking, planning, desiring are all valid enterprises but when it boils down what really matters is doing.
• Evaluating – looking at the results, measuring metrics, doing blood tests and any other tests that give a reflection on how things are going act as a guideline and give data that can be used to tweak and assess what is being done.
• Constant re-evaluation of the goal and the progress toward the goal. How I am feeling, how much I like myself, how much I am interacting with others or pursuing new friendships with people who will stimulate my creativity, health goals and progress. 
• Is my existence worthwhile? That’s a whopper! Am I doing anything to inspire or contribute to the welfare and well being of others? Am I doing things for self gratification or just as service to my fellow travellers?

So over the next week or 2 I will re-assess my life and my goals and actions, work out strategies to improve and to get moving towards a healthier, more worthwhile existence.