Life throws us many curve balls including, loss of a loved one, disappointments, accidents, tragedies, and simple every day challenges. You have two choices. Do you get busy living or get busy dying?

At the age of 14, I knew I wanted to help people that wanted to help themselves. Over the course of school, and rewarding jobs that I loved, I am now where I am, still promoting Health and Fitness. But, why? Why do I preach until I am blue in the face on a subject people already know, health and fitness.

Everything you do, think, and feel can have an impact on your health. We preach, “You must work out 3 days per week, 30-60 minutes to stay healthy, prevent diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, and live a long happy life.”  Well, did you know if you exercise vigorously for one hour everyday, but then sit in your chair for 8-10 hours, you are equally susceptible to the same health risks as a sedentary person.  It doesn’t seem right, does it?

Coming from many life changing events, I too, have been tested.  Get busy living or get busy dying?  You can bet I am living! I don’t work out in the gym. I don’t have a set schedule. I don’t starve myself. I simply MOVE MORE!

Our family histories all go back hundreds of years and what did they do?  They gathered food, manually washed clothes and dishes, went to sleep at dark, woke up at daylight, ate fresh foods, and all worked together.  They moved frequently at a slow pace with intervals of moderate to vigorous activity ALL DAY LONG.

Why torture yourself with long, intense workouts, less sleep time to make time for that workout, and stressing over the dreaded thought of having to workout?

Move more throughout the day:

• Get up every 20 minutes and move around for 2-3 minutes.
• Play tag with the kids in the yard for 5 minutes.
• Take the stairs, park away from the door, pick up your pace when walking.
• Clean house a little each day.
• Do squats, jumping jacks, and pushups during commercials.
• Constantly change up your routine.

As of four years ago, I chose to get busy living once again. Tragedies will change you. It is your choice to decide how. My goal each day is to be as active as I can, cut corners in my diet, learn something new, make someone smile, and stress less. Why, do I choose my profession?  Because, I live it every day. I challenge you!

Jill Fiala

Director of Elite Living