I recently walked into the doctors office for my yearly physical. While sitting and waiting to see the doctor, I wondered if the people who sit in their doctors' offices or pass through hospitals know that exercise will help them feel better and prevent some of their ailments. When I see someone with what appears to be muscle weakness, I know that with just a little strength training, their life would be so much better. I see people who are overweight and wonder if they do regular aerobic exercise. If not, why?

Superficially, it appears that the majority of people seeing their primary care doctor could use a dose of exercise and a reduction in food intake. These observations make me wonder why more people do not take care of their health. Why spend time in a doctor's office if many of the reasons for going can be prevented? Why rely on pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications for your daily health when, in many cases, exercise and proper nutrition can help to render you prescription medicine-free?

At some point, we will all start suffering from the advance of age. Why not slow that process and do everything possible to avoid the suffering? If you fall in the no-exercise, unhealthy-lifestyle category, you can keep up with business as usual and increase the chances for an undesirable end to your life - which only increases the chances for your loved ones to spend many hours of their time and energy helping you through the final days or years. Knowingly increasing your chances of needing help in your later years, I cannot think of a more selfish way to go through life.

We only have one chance. Why not live every day with the idea of winning in life?