The Waiting Period

A few weeks ago, one of my clients discovered a lump in her breast. This is something that runs in her family, so you can only imagine how she felt when she found it. She was scared and sad, but most of all she felt not in control of what the outcome would be. All she could do was visit the doctor, have them run tests, and wait for several long days until she got the news. Well, a few days ago she heard back from the doctor that her lump was benign. She was overjoyed!

I couldn’t be happier for my client. Who wouldn’t love such great news as that?

However, what I want to talk about and where the greatest lesson here is, is the hard part – the waiting period. During that time, my client was anxious, nervous, uncertain, and sleep deprived, if you can imagine. The waiting period is very difficult when you’re not sure what kind of results you’re going to get back.

The fact is, we are all predisposed to certain conditions that are passed down to us from generation to generation. Unfortunately, we are likely to inherit more than just the hair and eye color from our parents. We can potentially inherit diseases as well. Frankly, some things like this are out of our control. However, that doesn’t mean that we’re automatically doomed.

I reminded her that although she couldn’t control whether the lump was benign or cancerous, she is always in control of her diet and exercise. There is real power there. There is power in knowing that if we commit to healthy eating and exercise on a regular basis, we are giving ourselves the best chance to the healthiest life possible, regardless of what has been passed down to us. The focus can shift from a negative to a positive perspective if we realize that we are always in control of our decision to choose between a double-cheeseburger or a chicken salad, or popping in that exercise DVD and working out for 25 minutes or staying on the couch to watch another episode of our show.

Throughout the waiting period, I was proud of my client for keeping her eye on the vision she has for herself. She continued to come to the gym and work hard. She continued to do the best she could with her food choices. Losing weight and building confidence has been her yearlong vision and it hadn’t gone away.

Every day we get to exercise choices and over time those choices ultimately determine our future. Remember that you always have the choice to make a healthier decision and you are always in control of your diet and exercise, even if diseases run in your family. Since my client found out the great news that her lump was benign, she was more determined than ever to working harder in the gym and making better food choices.

Will you commit to healthier eating and regular exercise to give yourself the best opportunity for the healthiest life possible regardless of your family history?  If you would like some accountability with this, post your goals on my Facebook page.  We’ll all cheer you on!

Kim