SUCK IT UP DON'T SUCK IT OUT

An old friend ("Kelly") had lost a significant amount of weight. I commented on how great she looked as another woman ( "Lori" ) listened in. Kelly told me that she had liposuction. But after the operation had a loose skin. She decided to take up running. "After I started running I realized I should have just started doing that in the first place." And I agreed with her.

Now Lori, who is overweight, was only concerned with how much the friend had paid and if she would be able to save up enough money. Kelly kept telling her "You are not listening to me. Just start running."

After five minutes of Kelly trying to convince Lori that exercising and eating right were better alternatives than surgery, I realized that Lori was not interested in what she could do to achieve the physical body she wanted. She was only interested in an "easy" fix.

I am not against plastic surgery. I am not against surgery. I am just confused. If there is a healthy alternative---something we can freely do---which is healthier, less expensive and certain to achieve the results we want---why would someone chose anything else?

It may seem like an easier option. In the long run it really isn't. 

AT ANY AGE

In honor of tomorrow, the day of my birth, I have decided to address what I seem to hear with every passage from my "realistic" friends out there. Nothing seems to be more fulfilling for them but to remind me that there will come a birthday that will mark the end of my health and fitness.

Or the need to justify their lack of health responsibilities with such statements as "it gets harder when you're older." I don't think anyone is saying it's easy at any age. And no doubt our hormone levels decrease with the years. However, you can decide to be the healthiest you can be and look your best at ANY age.

And remember , Brad Pitt was forty years old when he filmed the movie TROY. It’s true he gets paid to look great, however he certainly exemplifies that it is possible to look that great at any age. Ask yourself, if you were getting paid to get into shape would you do it? Most people would answer “yes”, but without money as an incentive, they have plenty of great excuses. If that is you, then perhaps you need to re-examine your priorities and what is truly important to you.