Taking a Chance on Healthy Living!  

One of the most important aspects of living a healthy and prosperous life is understanding “risk”. By this,  I mean knowing how to understand and analyze situations in life that affect health. Being able to  accurately weigh the benefits and risks when making health decisions is very important! Too often  decisions are based on incomplete or inaccurate information and this is a huge mistake with significant  consequences!  

Failure to accurately assess risk keeps people locked in all kinds of unhealthy situations including poor  eating and exercise habits (lifestyle), relationships, and jobs. Sometimes people are just afraid to step  out and make a change. They see “risk” in making a change when the REAL risk comes from NOT making  a change. From our perspective, living with the stress, unhappiness, and frustration of indecision and  poor health is the greatest risk of all, and one that is definitely not worth taking!  

Assessing “risk” is nothing more than collecting information, weighing the alternatives, and then making  appropriate decisions based on the information.  

The good news is that failure to accurately assess risk is reversible! The effects of those decisions to eat  inappropriately or NOT to exercise are, the common expression goes, “do-overs.” We can effect  positive change in our lives by following a few simple steps to accurately assess risk: 

1. Accurately define your present situation and assess your health “risks”. Are you eating a  healthy diet? Are you getting enough exercise and good quality sleep? What are the  consequences if you DON’T change? Weigh the benefits of healthier living vs the potential risks  such as increased cost, inconvenience, or discomfort.  

2. What do you stand to gain if you change your present circumstances? Assess the “up-side”  potential. Too often we look only at the “down-side” risk and forget the benefits. What good  things might happen if you take the risk and win?  

3. Limit the “down-side” if you happen to make a wrong decision. Don’t continue down a path if  it does not produce results. This is especially important when following weight loss programs. If  the pounds are not coming off or if the weight loss is only temporary, find a new program! You  not only want to lose weight but want to sustain the weight loss for as long as possible. Take  steps to ensure this will happen. Clear, concise, realistic objectives will definitely help.  

4. Reduce your risk by being smart! Understand the situation and seek the advice of experts in the  field of health and nutrition. This includes finding and forming partnerships to receive support  and get good advice.