Chapter 4

Step 2: Exercise for Life - Building your Body's Bank Account

Being fit does not cure any diseases. It merely works to prevent them. – Jack LaLanne

Nutrition goes hand in hand with exercise. You can eat perfectly, but without exercise you'll lose muscle tone. On the other hand, if you exercise vigorously but your diet is lacking, you'll look good physically, but could be a mess internally. Many people look to fad diets for help. Those diets result in weight loss, but without exercise the dieter often ends up with rolls of flab.

No matter your age, it's not too late to get back in shape. Dividends include not only looking and feeling better, but big potential savings on medical bills and long-term care costs too. When you're sedentary, your blood flow is sluggish and you feel lethargic. As exercise accelerates your blood flow, you become more alert, and you'll be able to power your way through life. Pre-retirement or retirement is the perfect time to make a contract with your body for long-term self-improvement. After all, you want to enjoy your retirement rather than struggle through it. Once the contract is signed, it's your commitment to a better life.

The feeling of being "over the hill" affects your life only if you allow it to. Age, after all, is just a number. If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, make the change to physical fitness. Make that contract with yourself. Aging needn't be a time of great deterioration if you invest a little effort in proper nutrition and taking better care of your body. Doing so will revitalize your life.

A Contract With Yourself to Achieve Fitness

1. This agreement, dated [mm-dd-yyyy] is among [your name], The Mind, and The Body, henceforth for the purpose of this Agreement as witnessed in spirit by Jack LaLanne, Morro Bay, California.

2. The purpose of this Agreement is to get in better shape and improve overall vitality, mental outlook, and overall well-being. Party No.1, The Mind, grants Party No.2, The Body, the sole and exclusive right to adapt and change The Body and to increase over-all strength and stamina.

3. It is understood that Jack LaLanne will provide guidance to help The Mind and The Body fulfill this ambition through the tips and goals set forth in this book.

4. The underweight will strive to follow the suggestions to normalize their weight, and the overweight will do their best to lose those extra pounds.

5. Both parties understand that maintaining a good quality of life requires using The Body's ability to strengthen itself or risk losing itself.

6. Further, the term of this agreement is for life.

7. The territory is worldwide.