As you can imagine, I hear many excuses from people as to why they don’t exercise.Sometimes the reason is self-inflicted: I don’t have the time.Other times the reason is procrastination: I’m going to start as soon as tax season ends.And, occasionally, the reason is downright funny: The dog ate my gym shorts.I usually point out to these well-meaning folks that, despite their reason, exercise is an important activity that will dramatically improve their life. I bring up the health benefits and describe how many of their physical ailments would improve. I talk about how great they will feel dropping excess weight and rediscovering a slender figure.However, there was always an excuse that would get me.The devious excuse of “being active:” Oh, I don’t need to exercise in a gym – I’m very active. I play tennis and hike in the summer, and I ski in the winter.Well, they have a point, right? Tennis, hiking and skiing are all active sports that burn calories. Maybe they can be fit without doing any other exercise, especially if they are at a reasonable weight.Then I started to notice a trend.The active people couldn’t touch their toes in a simple flexibility test. The tennis players couldn’t jump rope for 60 seconds. The hikers needed a week to recover from a one-mile jog. The skiers encountered injury after injury.You don’t become fit simply by being active. That is backward fitness. Only by being fit can you become more active.To maintain a level of fitness there is no replacement for a consistent exercise program.True fitness happens when your body can do whatever you ask of it. This means having flexibility, strength and endurance.Do you exercise, or are you fooling yourself with the excuse of being active? How happy are you with your level of fitness? Are you able to meet all of the functional demands of life If you’ve used the excuse of being active in the past, it’s time to reconsider your options. Don’t practice backward fitness with the hope of true results.Get started on a program that will make you truly fit. And if you simply want to lose those extra inches and pounds, make the decision to take action today. After all, there’s no trial run in the game of life.The most important aspect to becoming and staying fit is to be persistent. You can exercise every day for a week, but if you follow that week with a month of no exercise, then you’ve lost all ground. Find an exercise program that you are able to consistently do and stick with it. In the words of Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”RECIPE OF THE MONTHSimple spaghetti squashSpaghetti squash is one of the easiest vegetables to prepare without adding fat in the cooking process. Each squash is filled with folic acid, potassium, vitamin A, and beta carotene – and best of all it is a low calorie food. Servings: 4Here’s what you need…1 spaghetti squash1 tablespoon dried basil1/2 teaspoon garlic saltCut squash in half and scoop out the seeds and fibers. With a fork pierce the squash skin a few times.Fill a microwave safe dish with 1/2 inch of water. Place the squash cut side down in the dish.Microwave on high for 10-20 minutes or until the skin gives easily under pressure (be sure to use an oven mitt, as the squash get very hot.) Let stand for a few minutes.With a fork, scrape the pasta-like insides into a medium bowl. Mix in basil and garlic salt.Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 42 calories, 0g fat, 10g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 1g protein.
