Michele Cannell

Fitness professional certified in Personal Training, Wellness, CPR/AED, Cycling, Pilates, YogaFit, Tai Chi, and living with Celiac Disease.

The Word Diet needs to be eliminated from the Dictionary

Mantra/Commitment Diet pills and diet shakes have been around since the early 1800s. The first diet shake was made out of vinegar and water in 1820. The first diet pill was created in the early 1800s and was advertised as a fat reducer. It effected the thyroid and resulted in heart problems including death. The diet pill has had its ups and downs since then with over 11 being taken off the market in 2013; over 5 banned in 2006; over 6 banned in 1990. In 2012 Forbes wrote an article on the top diet pills that kill.

Why are we ignoring all of this? Why are we allowing so many deaths which have been allegedly linked to diet pills and diet shakes. Just google ” total deaths in 2013 due to diet pills and shakes”. The articles are never ending.

We have so many research sources out there so why are we always looking for that quick fix in lieu of the health scares? Two words… IT’S HARD! We hear that if we workout for 10 minutes a day and take a pill and/or shake the weight will melt off. After a few short months, we give up because it DOESN’T WORK!

What does work? It is motivation, patience and dedication. You need to determine what is your motivation to stay health? Is it your spouse, your kids, your friends? Once you know what that is- you have created your own MANTRA to health. Repeat it several times to yourself, write it on your fridge, your desk etc.

Understand that patience is needed. We all make mistakes or stray from our path. Think about any other aspect of your life and realize that you have made mistakes in every area or every path. This could be with your spouse or your job or your faith. Are you still proud of these areas in your life? The answer typically is yes. Then why can’t you be proud of your health journey.

Dedication is needed in your health journey. Remember health is a big word and you may be dedicated to your nutrition and not your exercise at times or you may be dedicated to exercise and not your nutrition. That is still dedication. We can’t be 100% dedicated at all times but we can come close every day for our __________________ (your mantra- fill in the blank).

Now go eat something healthy, try a new exercise class or routine and stay MOTIVATED, PATIENT AND DEDICATED!