(Note: The writing of this post was very late last night and I published this prior to editing. Please excuse misspellings and grammatical errors. -Vernon)
Okay all you men out there....what is the greatest gift you can offer your wives or significant others?
Okay all you men out there....what is the greatest gift you can offer your wives or significant others?
Flowers?
Nope.
A gift certificate for a spa treatment?
Wrong.
A box of chocolates?
Sorry, this isn't it either.
The absolute BEST gift you can give them......is your health.
Do you realize how much your family worries about your health? Your wife and family members love and care for you so much that they don't want to experience a life without you present in it.
Take a moment to reflect on what your family's life would be like without you here anymore. I had to ask you to think about this scenario but your wife or significant other thinks about it often. Possibly daily. They think about this often not because they are pessimistic or because they don't have other worries, but because you are everything to them. Your absence in the future can lead to helplessness, anger, confusion and pain.
How do you react when your wife or family member suggests that you lose weight, eat smaller portions, start going to the gym or schedule an annual physical? Do you accept this in a constructive matter? Do you get defensive or avoid the conversation?
You may interpret these suggestions as nagging, but your health can provide one of the greatest securities to a woman and equally the potential lack of health/future health can create the greatest insecurity.
Do you understand that your health is not just about you? It's about being there for your family, now and for in the future.
So, what can you do now to show how much you care and love your family? Here are some "gifts" you can give your loved ones:
If you haven't had a physical in the last 12 months, schedule one now.
Suggest going for walks and other forms of exercise. Consider a gym membership for the family and attend frequently.
Assist with meal planning and preparation. Be open to new foods and recipes, you will be surprised by all the flavorful food you have been missing out on.
Identify and address abnormal or suspicious health symptoms and signs.
Set a goal to lose enough weight to reduce your waist size by 4 inches.
Buy a blood pressure cuff and blood glucose meter. Check often and journal bring your results to show your physician.
Drink more water and less soda/alcohol.
Avoid using additional salt on your foods.
Learn about meditation and other ways to relieve stress.
Participate with grocery shopping.
Read this blog often for inspiration and ideas for healthy living.
Look up healthy recipes online that appeal to you and make at least one of those meals for the family.
Know how to manage anger.
Educate yourself about healthy living by reading books or searching the web on the topic.
Replace watching television with doing yard work or spending quality time with your family.
Go out to eat at a restaurant that specializes in salads. Depending one the number of family members, order various salads and eat family style, eating a sample of each of the different salads.
Grill vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus and eggplant.
Watch the documentary, "Forks Over Knives".
Suggest going for a walk on a trail, the downtown pedestrian bridge or park.
Have a competition amongst your friends to see who can lower their cholesterol the most in 6 months using diet and exercise.
Be proactive about health and not reactive to disease.
Make one evening meal a week that is vegetarian or vegan.
Use any of the existing exercise equipment you have at home.
Consider investing in exercise equipment at home.
Know your family health history and learn more about the diseases and conditions that are prevalent in your family tree.
Eat more green leafy vegetables.
Leave work at work. Bring home a smile and happiness.
IF YOU ARE A SMOKER, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BECOME A NONSMOKER!
Ask what you can do to reduce your wife's concerns about your health.
Surround yourself with friends and family that live healthy lifestyles.
If you snore, talk to your physician about setting up a sleep study. One of the best things that happened in my life was to finally get a C-PAP machine to treat my sleep apnea. I wake up refreshed, I am more pleasant to be around, I end my day with energy, I no longer have headaches and I no longer deal from the insomnia associated with sleep apnea. My wife also gets a much better nights sleep since she doesn't have to hear my snoring all night long.
Think about what you want your life to be like when you are 65, 75 and 85.
Talk to a widow who lost their husband years ago and appreciate how much they still are affected by their loss to this day.
Realize how many more quality years you can add to your life by becoming more healthy.
Realize that it is only because your wife loves you that she cares enough about your health and longevity. On the flip side, be a bit concerned if she doesn't show any concern about your health.
Ask yourself what you can do to improve your health, your life and your attitude towards healthy living.
Are you willing to do 5, 10 or all of these things?
Give your family the greatest gift of all......a lifetime of YOU!
A spa treatment wouldn't hurt though....just sayin'
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