Better Health with a ‘Miracle Drug’
“Be careful about reading health books.
You may die of a misprint.”
Mark Twain
Have you heard about the greatest miracle drug on the planet?
Its benefits are amazing: for the isolated, it encourages participation; for the sluggish, it increases energy and stamina; for the pessimistic, it engenders hope; for the sick, it activates wellness; for the sad, it promotes joy.
I began taking this drug less than a month ago yet I am already experiencing all these benefits. Indeed, a month ago I was a ‘blob.’ I had been sick with an intestinal bug of some sort that lingered for many days. I was so sluggish it was a chore just to get out of bed. So I didn’t–unless I absolutely had to.
Because of this miracle drug, however, now I am energetic. I’m back to enjoying time with friends, writing articles, attending church, going out for dinner and doing daily tasks that no longer seem like “chores.” After thirty years passage, I even decided to become a Big Brother again.
So what drug creates all these benefits? In a word: exercise. If it were a pill, it would be by far the greatest miracle drug ever.
Ugh! I’ve always hated exercise. Its hard work. It requires perseverance. It brings the discomfort of sweat.
This is what I used to think about exercise. My mind has changed. I have exercised off and on for years–mostly off. I usually served 40 minutes of dutiful drudgery.
Its different now. I go three times a week for 20 minutes. That’s it: ten minutes on the elliptical and ten minutes on the treadmill (I started with a fast walk and am now up to a slow jog). Feeling better, I’m even starting to enjoy exercise.
Yes, 20 minutes of cardio–that’s the miracle drug I take just three days a week. Oh, and I’m beginning to add a little strength training once a week. Call it the lazy man’s way to better health.
If you’re not exercising regularly, don’t be like me and take a decade to figure it out. Just do it for 20 minutes a day, three days a week–and become a vital new person.
Rev. Rix welcomes comments at Quoflections@gmail.com. © 2013 Harry Rix. All rights reserved.
