Belltown Messenger

Years ago, someone told me he would rather give up a few years of his life than eat fewer fattening foods and make other healthy choices in his life. I thought to myself, "How arrogant." As though he can choose whether he dies relatively quickly at a ripe old age or suffers a stroke at 51, a pitiful, expensive burden to himself and his family.

When you start making "deals" like he did, you're liable to get the short end of the enchilada. Heart disease, diabetes or a stroke don't have to kill you immediately, but can make decades of your life a tragedy in too many acts.

I know there are no guarantees; I could drop dead tomorrow in the middle of my workout. But, those unknowns notwithstanding, I do know two things: Our choices about what we eat and how we get exercise will absolutely affect our odds of living longer and staying healthier. And, doing these simple things to improve our odds is becoming more difficultÊ- because, as a culture, we're going headlong down the wrong path.

"We're so good at working hard and making more money and then rewarding ourselves with too much food, fat, alcohol and leisure "activities" that are, ironically, inactive. It's an ideal way to roll craps with the dice of health.

Collectively, we are fat, stressed, inactive and in the midst of an epidemic of obesity. It's a bizarre conundrum: We're hardworking, yet supremely undisciplined. When the doctor says, "Oops, your blood pressure is too high," most people just want a pill to make the problem go away.

The other day, while pedaling the stationary bike, I was talking to my friend Linda, on the elliptical trainer next to me. I puffed, "Boy, sometimes this (exercising) ain't much fun." She nodded in agreement, managing a "Yep" as her arms and legs flailed in all directions. Yet she chooses to work out each week.

Fifty percent of the time, I make myself exercise not because it's as pleasurable as eating pizza or doughnuts, but because it's a means to an end. It increases my odds of staying healthy, vital and disease free longer.

Our culture specializes in temptations, so many of which keep us from taking good care of ourselves. The best way I've found to counter society's unhealthy temptations is to look outside myself for support. It's often too hard for one person, alone, to create a healthy routine.

Begin by seeing your doctor regularly. Have your blood tested and know what it means. To the extent possible, manage what you can control on your own by tweaking your diet and exercise. Beyond this, expand your support network. Find a smart personal trainer. Check in with a nutritionist from time to time. Maybe enlist a counselor or mentor. Or me. I understand how tough it can be to maintain healthy habits, and I'd be willing to help you. Just send an email to peter@clubzum.

Remember, except for fate, everything is a choice. And, just like the gentleman who chose to "trade" away a few years of life so he can indulge himself, you also have a choice. If you don't pay attention to your diet and your exercise strategy, you're increasing the odds that one day, sooner than later, you'll roll Snake Eyes with your health.

peter@clubzum.com