WillPower
April 18th, 2009
Finding the inner strength required to eat well and exercise is far more difficult than many people realize.
For most of us, we start off with the best intentions and for a while we stick to our goals, some achieve and a few more go on to greater success.
When it comes down to it, willpower can be fleeting and we often fail at the first real test.
Last night we had dinner with my Aunty and Uncle. Both are in their mid 70′s and have had a few medical conditions expected given their age.
What differs is their general outlook on life and one key ingredient that sets them apart. My Uncle has a very strong willpower and my Aunt does not.
My Uncle is a cancer survivor and from the moment he was diagnosed, he changed his diet and started to exercise regularly. 5 years on and he continues with his regime. He was quite a big social drinker in his day but last night I noticed he only drank water and orange juice. After chatting with him about this, he explained that he wanted to live as long and well as possible and felt that he had been drinking far too much to achieve this. He hasn’t stopped drinking altogether, he enjoys a beer, but he has decided to cut back the amount and the frequency. My Uncle is in the best shape of his life, he looks AMAZING. He is fit and looks like a man in his early 60′s. Given his battle with cancer and heart troubles in the past, I think it is quite incredible to see just how powerful willpower is.
My Aunty on the other hand has absolutely no self control. She is eating way too much, refuses to slow down her drinking to just weekends and just generally seems to have given up. She is overweight and gaining more every time I see her. She looks unwell and has a pale complexion. She looks tired and has no energy and every bit her age.
Her excuse for not slowing down her eating and drinking is that she enjoys life too much to do without these luxuries. There is an irony in this that is just so obvious – I don’t think it needs explaining.
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