Here we are in November already.  Where did this year go…seems to go by more quickly the older we get and the years of saying “I’ll get to it tomorrow….I’ll focus on me after I get x, y, z done……Oh, I’m only 20, 30, 40……”  Well, the reality is that there’s no time like the present!    Sometimes we pay more attention to our vehicles.  We take them in for the maintenance that we’re supposed to follow for the optimum performance of our vehicle.  We take it in for 3000 mile oil changes, 25000 mile check-ups and so on.  We pay for insurance on our vehicle because in most states it’s the law.  I think you get my point.  We sometimes take better care of our vehicles than our own bodies.   We ‘feed’ our vehicles what it needs to perform at its best and we ‘exercise’ our vehicles most every day. 

So, what about us?  Hectic lives lead to mindless eating at times.  Eating on the run.  Drinking more coffee than we need or even want sometimes and we miss our fitness time because of late hours at work, staying on the computer longer than we really need to or other family obligations like getting the kids to soccer or tending to other family members or a multitude of other excuses…okay, reasons.

Why not consider tending to your own vehicle…your body.  We only have one and we all want it to perform well into the years ahead.  Canyon Ranch (www.canyonranch.com) offers many programs for self care and wellness programs.  Perhaps you’re in pretty good shape and you just need a few days for your tune-up.  Maybe you’ve been burning the midnight oil all year and want/need a week to reconnect with yourself.  Perhaps you’re out of shape, maybe you let your healthy eating habits fade and you want to spend more time getting a better view of your health. Then perhaps the Life Enhancement Program would be a good idea.  You can even get blood tests, meet with a physician, nutritionist, personal trainer, and behavior therapist as well as enjoy some pampering during your stay.   Whatever you decide, it’s a way to assess and reassess your life and create a plan that works for you that you can integrate at home.  Change begins with us.  One step at a time, however we must take that first step. 

There are so many reasons to integrate a healthier lifestyle now, however the biggest reason is you.  Think of it as an extended warranty.  Here’s to your health!

More information on the LPGA Cookbook, Canyon Ranch and the childhood obesity initiative: http://www.shapeup.org/orders/……order1.php