Support

I'm a little embarrassed to tell you that one day when I was about 7 or 8 years old, my dad was heading out for a game of tennis and as he left the house I called, "Don't forget your athletic supporter, Dad!"  I had heard the phrase somewhere and thought that was the correct name for the strap that held his glasses on during play.  To say he was a bit chagrined would be putting it mildly.

Which brings me around to another, more important, kind of support.  Not the kind that he thought I was talking about, but the best thing you can do for yourself on your quest for a healthier lifestyle.  Find people and places that give you support.


I would not be where I am today on my fitness journey without the people at the YMCA. They greet you with smiles and lift you up by words of encouragement, jokes and laughter. You always leave feeling better than you did when you got there. They accept you no matter how old you are, how thin you are, how rich you are, whether you are in shape or not. They even accept you if your workout shorts do not match your workout shirt. Or if you are accidentally wearing your workout shirt inside out.

Their attitudes make me want to be a better person. They make me want to step out of my comfort zone and give encouragement, both to the people I know and to people I do not know yet. You never know what small action or word will mean everything to someone who is discouraged or having a bad day.

So on your path to fitness, ask yourself:

What can I do today to encourage someone?

What can I do today to encourage myself?

And remember your athletic supporter.

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget: TRICK OR TREAT – you’re always hearing people say, “take the elevator instead of the stairs,” “park at the back of the parking lot,” “walk instead of drive,” etc. See how many times and how many ways you can expand on this idea to get a little more activity in each day between now and Halloween. Let us know if you come up with any great new ideas to share!