Exercise Is Non-Negotiable! Fight Diabetes!

I was watching Oprah's show yesterday about diabetes. Man, that is scary stuff! I mean, I know it's awful to have diabetes, but the statistics are a friggin' growing nightmare! When are people going to wake up and realize that soda, donuts, and fried chicken are crap?! I'm grateful that I'm on a plan for life where the odds are that I'll never even come close to getting that terrible disease... meanwhile, the cost of it is going to take our nation down if something doesn't change, and for that, I'm miffed. Come on people! Let's get this under control! It's not rocket science... it's simply eating delicious healthy food and moving our tooshies! Can you tell I'm a little fired up about this? 


One of the things I took away from Oprah's show was the importance of exercise. True, I always knew this information, but I love watching things, reading information, and hearing aspects that continue to motivate and inspire me. When Bob Greene came on the scene he said two things that I loved:

• Exercise is non-negotiable. There really isn't much more to say about that statement because it says it all right there. But, I'll elaborate on how this felt when I heard it. As far as I'm concerned, my vegan diet is non-negotiable. What I put in my mouth always has a purpose for the good. Well, exercise has the same effect if it's put in the right perspective. Exercising isn't new to me, and making it a priority has always been important. But, there are times where I have gone a couple weeks without doing it. I didn't worry much during those times because I knew myself well enough to know that I'd get back into it. But, nonetheless, an "object at rest tends to stay at rest" and "an object in motion tends to stay in motion." I want motion! Once I was given the OK to do some walking and exercise during my pregnancy, the role of it took on more meaning to me. I now had two goals: maintain a healthy pregnancy weight and build up stamina for labor. Not to mention that it would be healthy for the growing life inside me, too! I committed to 5 days a week of walking 2 miles each day. And, I've stuck to it. I love the habit it's become. When I add the idea that it's non-negotiable, well, it feels even more hardcore. 

• Exercising 30 minutes a day can lower the risk of diabetes by 60%! Whoa! Did that statistic just rock your core as much as it did mine when I heard it? Like... wow! Bring that exercise ON! Again, there isn't much I need to say about this because that awesome statement says it all! But... I will. We can't just rely on food for health. Yes, it's a HUGE part. But, it's not the whole plan. You can't be truly healthy if you're not physically fit. The great thing is it's so easy to get started because there is a magical force that takes over once you get going. You can literally start with a 10-minute walk once a day. Then, after a week or so, I bet you'll want to do the 10-minute walk twice a day. We're only talking 10 minutes! How easy is that? Once you start doing that every day, or maybe 5 days a week, you get excited and the momentum builds. Before you know it, you're taking that 10-minute walk three times a day, pumping your arms and getting your heart rate up, and lowering your risk of diabetes by a whopping 60%. When I started my pregnancy walking, my midwife suggested one mile a day, four days a week. I did that for a week and quickly found that I wanted more. The next week I told myself that it would be 2 miles a day and I'd do it 5-6 days a week. It's gloriously refreshing and I can't imagine ever stopping.

Today's exercise was fun! My normal 2-mile walk takes me 40-45 minutes. But today, I made it even better. I went on a hike that was easy in some parts and moderate in other parts. The time it took to complete was 65 minutes! Whoo hoo! That's some awesome exercise. I felt (and still feel) fantastically full of life!