![\"My](\"http:\/\/www.smarterexercise.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/da.jpg\")
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In 1991 at age 61 my father suffered a stroke which left him with impaired speech, paralysis on the left side of his body, and a generally less than sunny disposition. \u00a0My father had always been an intensely proud man and an exceptionally hard worker, often working two or three jobs in order to provide for our family, this left little time for something as self-indulgent as \u201cexercise\u201d.<\/p>\n
My father\u2019s poor health did not start with his stroke, but the stroke did contribute to accelerated atrophy of his muscle tissue and a long, slow decline. \u00a0No, my father\u2019s poor health was a work in progress his entire adult life.\u00a0 Although he did not smoke cigarettes, take drugs, or drink alcohol, there were other factors at play.\u00a0 He had a hearty appetite, a hereditary predisposition to diabetes and heart disease, and an absence of meaningful exercise.<\/p>\n
After twenty-two years of being confined to a wheelchair, this once giant of a man was reduced to mere skin and bones.\u00a0 After enduring years of what he felt were the personal indignities of needing help with bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, and eating, he had enough. \u00a0In September 2013, on his last trip to\u00a0the emergency room, he reminded the staff that a signed ‘DNR’ was on file with the hospital.<\/p>\n
Sadly, my dad\u2019s story is not unique.\u00a0 And while I have the ultimate respect for my father and the sacrifices he made to provide for my family\u2019s welfare, the cost was too high! \u00a0When it comes to my health, I have no desire and no intention of following in his footsteps.\u00a0 I want to be active and fully engaged with life and family\u00a0for all<\/em> the years of my life.\u00a0\u00a0I watch what I eat, and I exercise a few minutes each week to gain strength\u00a0and preserve muscle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 1991 at age 61 my father suffered a stroke which left him with impaired speech, paralysis on the left side of his body, and a generally less than sunny disposition. \u00a0My father had always been an intensely proud man and an exceptionally hard worker, often working two or three jobs in order to provide … Continue reading “Take Care of Yourself”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-miscellaneous","category-strength"],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.smarterexercise.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/OnBreakLogo.1400x1400.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.smarterexercise.org\/home\/feed\/podcast\/on-break-in-encinitas","embedCode":"Take Care of Yourself<\/a><\/blockquote>