Welcome to the eighth installment in my blog series, Living Well with Lee. Here, I talk about my journey living with chronic conditions — while still living my best life.
I believe that we all have more power over our conditions than ever before. I believe in taking control of my health and making the most out of each and every day. And I love sharing thoughts, tips, and tricks with people like you.
A teacher once told me that the word “motivation” comes from the Latin word “to move.” Funny the things we remember. Every January, when people start talking about resolutions and goals, I think about that.
When we’re motivated, we move.
Of course, when we’re not motivated, we do everything but move. We watch TV, scroll on our phones, match socks… Okay maybe the matching socks is just a “me” thing. Do you know how many pairs of socks I’ve matched in my day?
Let’s not go there.
The point: We actually need to be moved to get moving. For example, it was only when I learned I’d become a grandparent, that I started to take the recommendations my doctor gave me for my chronic conditions seriously. I was moved to take action and change my behavior.
I think about that a lot. Lately, I’ve been tracking my exercise – usually a few days a week on the stationary bike – and if I hadn’t made that first big decision … well, none of that pedaling would be possible.
We all know that exercise is important: According to the CDC, “Active people generally live longer and are at less risk for serious health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. For people with chronic diseases, physical activity can help manage these conditions and complications.”
I care about all of that. I want to be one of those people living longer. I also want to be one of those people whose chronic conditions are less taxing.
And these days, what keeps me motivated to keep pedaling isn’t just wanting to be healthy for the grandkids, but it’s also tracking my exercise. Honestly, it’s strangely rewarding.
Entering the info into BlueStar®* has become part of my routine. I record what I’ve done, and how long I’ve done, it right after cooling down. Mostly, it’s biking, but sometimes it’s walking the dog or gardening. Or chasing and catching my grandson.
The more I track my fitness, the more I understand its relationship to my overall health. That’s something my doctors are always talking about: How the information I report helps them help me stay on top of my conditions.
And, frankly, that feels good. Empowering. That’s all the motivation I need to keep moving.
