Make a trade

When I was growing up, summer was always a time that we played cards - any type of cards. We played by the pool, at the dock, on the beach, and sprawled out on the porch. Anywhere that we might have a chance to play, we did. My favorite game was gin rummy. Not sure why - maybe it was the strategy or the luck of the draw, or maybe it was because of all the laughter that happened when we played cards. You see, when I play cards it is such fun that at first, I had no idea I was actually learning a skill that would help me all of my life. I was learning how to make a trade.

Anyone who plays gin rummy knows that making a trade is done every hand. You are dealt seven cards and are constantly trying to decide what to pick up, what to discard, and what to save for another try. You are always trying to guess what your opponent has and if you should risk discarding the two Jacks for the sure thing of three 7's. And just because you have two aces doesn't mean it's a good deal for you to hang onto them and hope for another one, when you haven't seen one for four hands.

When you are young, it doesn't mean too much to you: you play the game because it's fun. But as you get older, you realize it's a lot like your life: making trades is the only way to get to where you want to go.

With your physical health it is the same way. You have to make trades every day in order to accomplish the goals for your health. Will you get up a half an hour early to run tomorrow, or will you sleep in because you need the extra rest? Will you eat 30 grams of protein before noon because this helps get your body rolling the best way, or will you have a cup of coffee and a bagel? Will you be able to eat 1500 calories of fruits and veggies a day or will you take a supplement to make up the difference?

A couple of years ago, a young man in his 40's came into my physical therapy office after heart bypass surgery. He was going to cardiac rehab every day, but had hurt his knee and was referred to physical therapy to resolve this issue. He proceeded to tell me that he hated to exercise and had never had to exercise before, but now that he had a heart attack he had no other choice. He was not too happy about having to do this and was lamenting his situation.

As we talked, he became acutely aware of the trades in his life he was now being forced to make. You see, before he would have actually been able to choose exercise for his lifestyle, but now he had no choice at all: he had to exercise every day or be at risk of dying. He suddenly realized that he should have made these healthy lifestyle choices before. Why had he waited to do it, and now it wasn't even an option?

This is the way our lifestyle choices often occur. We are suddenly forced to make a change because we waited too long to take care of our shoulder that hurts in the night or our back that aches when we work too many hours. Often we realize too late that we have neck pain from the mouse at work and the phone tucked into the crook of our neck every day.

So, what do you need to do? Well, you must make a trade. I know sometimes it doesn't seem possible to work less hours so your back doesn't ache and then get paid less money, or have a work station ergonomics test done to make your work situation more efficient, to the tune of $120, just for your health. But you have to do it. If you don't do the right thing now, you will eventually be forced to take care of it down the road.

There are no short cuts with your health. Sometimes when the damage is done it's too late to make it right, and you will be forced to do the very thing you were trying to avoid. You see, my patient with the heart bypass surgery came to the realization that if he had exercised three or four times a week for 1/2 hour, he probably wouldn't have to have had heart surgery, and because he didn't, he was now having to exercise every day for an hour. No matter what, you are always trading one set of circumstances for another.

So don't risk it. Your physical health is your most important possession, so make a wise trade every day to make it your priority.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff can be reached at Lake City Physical Therapy in Coeur d'Alene at (208) 667-1988 and in the Spokane Valley at (509) 891-2623.

Consider making a trade for your health this summer - we can help!