Prior to his death, Randy Pausch gave a lecture entitled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”, also referred to as “The Last Lecture.” This lecture was given around the time that Pausch had received news that he had terminal pancreatic cancer, and had a few months left to live. He gave this lecture to discuss the importance of seizing each moment, because “Time is all you have…and you may find one day that you have less than you think”.

After explaining his prognosis, Pausch gave the quote, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”

When we apply the meaning of this quote to our own health and wellness, this has a powerful impact. Sit back and think about this.

We are all dealt a hand of cards. Our genes. Our family history.

Many of us have family histories and are therefore predisposed to conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. We cannot change our family history. Without a solid foundation of consistent balanced nutrition and exercise, we are more likely to develop these conditions, altering our long term health outcomes.

Now, think about this. Every choice you make today, even the choices you deem small or insignificant, have the cumulative power to make a huge impact on your health outcomes.

We are all dealt a hand of cards. We cannot change our genetic makeup. However, we do have the power today to “seize each moment.” We have the power today to make healthy choices: Eat more balanced meals, drink water, consume less sugar, and move our bodies.

Nutrition coaching offering individualized programming begins to lay the foundation for long term health. Achieving health is not done in 4 or 6 weeks. It takes dedication and commitment, and is best done with an accountability partner— a nutrition coach that is encouraging you, and helping you to dial in the details, and addressing behaviors that derail goal attainment. Ongoing nutrition coaching in a hybrid gym membership is truly the best way to help us play the hand we are dealt and minimize our risk of developing chronic disease and ultimately be the healthiest version of ourselves.

We have the power today to play our hand of cards that we are dealt, to alter our course, and achieve long term health, live a life without the burden of chronic disease.

That is a powerful thought. Go out and make these healthy choices today, be well, and LIVE.

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