Fit for Life: The Ride of Your Life…

Saturday, March 28, 2015
Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

Matt Espeut

Are you willing to accept everything the way it is? Or, do you think you can change things that are undesirable in your life?  Sometimes life stops you in your tracks. I was at a funeral last week for a friend that lost her dad unexpectedly, and I listened deeply to the words spoken by the priest. Now let me start by saying that I am not religious, and I take responsibility for my actions, thus not having much faith or believing that a higher power will control my direction or fate in life. I also don't frown on those who do believe these things. I respect people's faith and beliefs, and feel that everyone has a right to worship or believe in a higher power or spirit. So listening to the words of the priest, and hearing him read certain passages, I started to think deeply and interpret what he was saying. Some words were comforting, but others seemed to be words to get us to accept the tragic loss of a loved one, and this is something I have a hard time doing. His words may be beneficial to help us cope, but I can't accept that the untimely loss of a loved one was "meant to be" or that it is "what this higher power has planned for us". 

“It is what it is?”

I have experienced tragedy in my own family. My friend who just suffered the loss of her father has decided to come to the gym more, joining a fitness challenge promotion I ran last month, and I can truly say that my heart is heavy when I watch what she is going through. I try to be supportive but I can't accept, nor would I tell her, she should just accept what happened.  I realize that life is unpredictable, and we need to find ways to deal with the uncontrollable, but I don't just accept that "it is what it is".  

We all deal with things differently, some talk it out, some lash out, some bury their pain in alcohol and drugs, and others survive by being tough and resilient. My friend decided to come to the gym more to clear her head, and got support from our Fit Body Family. I say to do whatever it takes, without hurting others, to get through a situation you can't control, but never accept things you can alter - like your health. 

The words in your head become your reality.

Playing messages like this over and over in your head become fatalistic thought.  “I don't have time to workout, so I'll never reach my goal. My parents are overweight, I have a family history of heart disease and obesity, or worst one of all - I have bad genetics.” These are all terms of accepting who you are, even when you are not happy with yourself. But they are just cop-out terms. This is unacceptable to me because I feel that 95% of our population has the ability to be fit and healthy, if they really want to be. In life we always have choices, we can accept who we are, or we can strive harder, and become who we want to be. 

Change is a choice you make.

When someone who is overweight tells you that they are happy being that way, they are lying to you. I don’t believe they are happy - they are accepting the fact that they have zero motivation and drive to be better. When someone gets sick and goes on medication instead of changing their nutrition and lifestyle, they are accepting the fact that they will always be sick, and giving in to the revolving door of medicine. Other people use their kids as a reason for being out of shape and unhealthy. They accept the fact that their life is no longer theirs, but belongs to their kids. My come back is: “I have lots of fit parents in here AND they work and have careers, plus there aren't any kids that want fat and unhealthy parents, nor should you put the burden on them of taking care of you when you get older”.  After I come back with that, they usually, agree with me. As I said earlier, with most instances in life - we do have choices. We cannot decide how long we are going to live, but we can decide how we are going to live. So, my question to you is : are you satisfied with yourself ? How you look? How you feel? Your livelihood / income level? If you can truly answer yes, then you are living a good life. If you answered “no”, or “not really” or “not enough”, then you have two choices: get up and make some positive changes, or just sit down and accept things the way they are, and live the life that’s less than what you wanted. Life is not a dress rehearsal, there are no "take twos". Time is our most valued treasure, and can't be rewound or refunded, so live your life and spend your time wisely, because as another friend of mine says, ‘you’re going to be gone for a very long time – make today the day you start - on the ride of your life.  

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"