Oprah Gets It - Do You?

Oprah Winfrey has struggled with managing her weight for several years and has openly discussed it on her television show, website, and magazine. She has tried a variety of diets, exercise routines, and even enlisted the help of Dr.Phil but found success with a combination of changes in her diet and by adding a consistent exercise routine that includes both cardiovascular training and muscle training.

But, she hated exercising.

Her trainer, Bob Greene, tried explaining why exercise was such an important part of her lifestyle. In the June 2006 edition of her magazine "O", she writes, "I understood it intellectually, of course, having exercised (almost) regularly since I met him [Bob Greene] 14 years ago. I've been consistent over the years about hating every minute of it. I understood why I had to work out (to not have a fat tush) but I didn't 'get it' ".

Oprah finally "got it" during a trip to Africa where she is building a leadership academy for girls. When she arrived, she was too tired the next morning so she skipped her workout. This opened a floodgate of excuses. She didn't like the treadmill, she was too busy, the workouts were too boring. Her resolve to exercise was as sturdy as a piece of burnt toast. She had no foundation to resist the sirens calling her: mashed potatoes, bread, and other delicious delights. Her taste buds won. She gained 10 lbs. in ten days. Here's what she had to say about her experience:

"Ten days of high-glycemic foods combined with no workout equals ten extra pounds for me. Even worse than the weight gain was the way I felt. Exhausted. Lethargic. I felt aches and strains that I didn't know existed. I knew for sure that this is what aging feels like. Aha! I got it. Working out slows the aging process and makes you more vital."

Oprah finally got it. Exercising is the ultimate anti-aging weapon. It's the secret to your future youth. Knowledge is only part of the answer to sticking to an exercise routine. You can know that exercise lowers your blood pressure, regulates your weight, and keeps your joints healthy. But, when you feel the cold arms of Old Age slip around your shoulder trying to pass as an old friend welcoming you home, you "get it". Oprah was jolted into a new reality not because she didn't know what to do or how to do it, but because of how she felt. Feeling is proof.

Exercise in your life is not an option. It's a requirement - unless you want to feel old early.

Time to get moving.

Doug Kelsey

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