Keepin' Me Healthy

The alarm goes off this morning at an unheard of 5:45 a.m.

I groggily reach over, hit the “Off” button, and immediately pull the covers back up over my head, hoping against hope that the obnoxious buzzer was really just part of a really bad nightmare….Surely it can’t be time to get up already??!!

As I am silently cursing the alarm gods, my dear Hubby jumps up out of bed, goes to the closet where he quickly dons his workout clothes, and then heads downstairs to the treadmill, where he happily runs 3.3 miles. Gah.

This is when I truly know that the man I married is certifiably insane.

And thus the difference between us…and why my dear Hubby is my “Who Keeps You Healthy?” Hero.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in a “Who Keeps You Healthy?” campaign, sponsored by the American Recall Center.* They asked me to write a post about someone in my life who keeps me healthy – and for me, it was a no-brainer.

When I first met Hubby, fruits and vegetables were anathemas to me. I’d sooner die than put something natural – or organic – in my mouth…and yet, Hubby patiently worked with me over the years, finally convincing me of the benefits of a healthy diet. Over the years, my intake of processed foods has dramatically decreased, while my intake of fruits, vegetables and lean-processed meats has increased – leading to a recent drop in my cholesterol level by 36 points, and a drop in my weight, as well…although I won't tell you how much THAT was…hee hee. Double bonus! Squeee!

And because he has demonstrated over the years that it’s never too early to exercise in the mornings, or too cold to exercise (although I do like to protest sometimes), he’s inspired me to crawl out of bed – sometimes before sunrise, even – and hit the pavement, as well. EEP.

If he can do it, by golly, so can I…although there are definite times I honestly have to admit that I wish that he WASN'T doing it…and yet…and yet…once I get going, I find that my energy levels soar, and my body feels ON FIRE. In a good way, of course. So, yes…I got out of bed and laced up my shoes and ran my own 5k this morning, after he left for work. Although I have to be honest and admit that I would have much preferred to still be burrowed under the covers.

So, hats off to you, Dear Hubby, my “Who Keeps You Healthy?” Hero. Your examples over the years have been a true inspiration, and I look forward (sometimes) to running by your side for years to come.

We can at least sleep in on the weekends…right??? Right???

Peace.

*The American Recall Center provides drug & medical device recall information alongside practical healthcare information and support. Their aim is to build the most comprehensive resource on the Internet for timely & trusted material regarding healthcare topics. This month, they are focusing on hip replacement awareness…check out this interesting blog post from a woman who recently had a hip replacement...