Freedom From Diseases – A Gift to Your Kids and Family
Recently, at my gym where I usually do my weight training, I made a new acquaintance. You know how it goes, first it’s a smile, then a nod, and finally, words are exchanged. She looked at me and said, “I see you lifting good weights.” With a playful smirk, I replied, “If you think what I lift is good, you clearly haven’t visited during peak hours, you would see the pro lifters in action!” We laughed at our own silly jokes, but soon the conversation turned serious. She confessed that she had just started working out because her doctors told her to. Out of curiosity, I asked more. She had been diagnosed with a disease in its early stage, and the doctors had advised her that regular exercise could prevent it from worsening. That’s why she and her husband had signed up for gym memberships.
That conversation really got me thinking. Why does fitness often become a priority only when health problems knock on our door? Why can’t we treat exercise and healthy living as a family value – something we practice together to stay strong, joyful, and resilient?
Another thought struck me – why is fitness always equated with being lean or slim? We have all done it – looked at a slim person and assumed, “Oh, they don’t need to exercise,” or looked at someone heavier and thought, “They should start dieting or hit the gym every day.” But where do these notions come from? The truth is, we have created these stereotypes ourselves. Social conditioning, cultural standards, even Pinterest boards, they have all shaped how we view fitness on the outside. But real fitness has always been about the inside – how you feel, how much energy you carry, and how confident you are in your own body.
And here’s the key, this feeling of being “fit” looks different for everyone. It’s deeply connected to our personal values and beliefs about health. You may follow your own path and rhythm when it comes to fitness and that’s perfectly okay. Just remember, it’s natural to see others through your own lens of fitness, but that lens isn’t the ultimate truth. What truly matters is consistency – that we all make fitness and daily physical activity as non-negotiable as eating. Because just like food fuels our body, movement sustains our life. How many times we need to read this to remember – Movement is Medicine.
Doesn’t our family often shape our habits, and my own journey with fitness is no different. On my dad’s side, many relatives struggled with lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high BP. So, our family doctor advised my dad to keep up his morning walks as long as he lived. My father, slightly on the heavier side, took it seriously. And I have never seen him skip his walks since. Those walks became our bonding time too. I still remember competing with him – who would reach the milestone first, who could jog longer. That’s where I fell in love with cardio and movement, without even realizing it. I will always be grateful to my dad for this gift. But fitness inspiration wasn’t just from my dad. My mom was a teacher by profession, and her discipline spilled into her personal habits too. She was strict about fitness. I remember her saying, “People don’t gain excess weight without poor eating habits. It always reflects what they practice daily.” Her mindset about food and exercise shaped me deeply. And then, there’s my father-in-law. At the age of 72, he decided to join the gym. Yes, you read that right – 72! He had always been active, but when he saw me and my husband with our regular gym routines, I think we may have nudged him in that direction. But what really inspires me is not our influence – it’s that at his age, he believed he could still start something new, lift weights, and improve his health. That, to me, is real strength. And honestly, I want to be just like him when I am 72.
The truth is, aging has a lot to do with movement. The more you exercise, the less you feel the weight of age. For those of us over 40, I am sure you already notice the difference compared to your 20s or 30s. I felt it strongly when I turned 40 right in the middle of the COVID years. For almost three years, I had stopped weight training. And I could feel the change, not in a good way. After teaching my Zumba classes or conducting two full days of instructor trainings, I would struggle to recover. My body felt heavy and tired and I had stopped enjoying my passion for dancing and thus teaching the same. But the day I returned to weight training, everything shifted. Two years later, I feel 10 years younger. My body feels alive again, and when the body feels good, the mind feels even better.
That’s the magic of exercise, moving to burn calories everyday. It isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good, inside and out.
Think about it this way – just as you eat food every day, your body also needs to burn calories every day. Exercise is not optional because you might be lean or obese – it’s fuel for your health, your mood, and your long-term independence.
Diseases don’t come knocking politely; they usually show up as unpleasant surprises. And when they do, they often bring dependence – on medicines, on people, on circumstances. Dependence breeds frustration for all of us. But here’s the truth, you can break free from that frustrating cycle. You can set yourself free by choosing to exercise daily. You can live a disease-free life filled with potential, at any age. People who exercise regularly radiate different energy. They are more resilient, more productive, and more successful – because exercise doesn’t just shape the body, it releases endorphins and dopamine that reshape the mind. I once read a quote that stuck with me – “People who lift weights are more resilient in daily life.” And I couldn’t agree more because I actually feel this everyday.
Like countless blogs and podcasts out there, I want to leave you with a simple but powerful activity – one that can help you finally prioritize exercise. Because once it becomes a priority , nothing can stop you from moving daily.
Imagine this – if someone paid you to exercise every day, what form of movement would you choose? Would it be a 20–40 minute walk? Write it down. Or maybe you would pick something more dynamic like Zumba, Yoga, group Spinning, or Pilates classes. Group workouts are wonderful because they bring accountability, energy, and the joy of exercising together.
If you might not be into group classes, sign up for an upcoming marathon and begin training with short daily runs to hit your first 5K marathon. You will even find marathon communities on Facebook or WhatsApp to keep you motivated as a beginner.
If you prefer guidance as you might be totally new to this domain called fitness, join a gym and hire a personal trainer. In fact, give them a bold goal – “Help me fall in love with exercising.” Once you cross that point, nothing in the world can keep you away from the gym.
Here’s the deeper part – take a moment and ask yourself – what was the last new habit you successfully built? What motivated you to stay consistent? You can do self reflection while reading this blog too. The more you understand your own patterns, the easier it becomes to stick with fitness as a lifestyle.
Now, let’s put this into practice. Write down your weekly schedule for the next 7 days. If you could decide right now what time of day you can dedicate to your exercising – just one hour for yourself. Treat it like an important meeting that cannot be missed.
And here’s the important part – at the end of the first three weeks, reflect. Ask yourself – How do I feel after committing to this revised healthy routine? Yes you might feel body soreness or muscles paining due to working them out, what else, how do you feel? Chances are, you will not only feel fitter – you will feel more alive.
Dear reader, a disease-free life is not just a gift for yourself – it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give to your kids and your entire family. After all, what more can any of us truly want than a happy, healthy family life where we feel we belong? Because good health isn’t only about adding years to your life – it’s about adding life to your years. It’s about living with energy, independence, and joy. Think about this – why do people save money? For their children’s education, a dream trip to Europe to see the Eiffel Tower, or to secure their retirement days. But what use is all that money and wealth if your health fails you? Without vitality, you can’t enjoy the Eiffel Tower, the celebrations, or even the comfort of your retirement. That’s why health is the most legendary gift of all – one that you give to yourself, and through your example, to your children and generations to come.
Don’t wait for medicines to take charge of your health. Instead, start small – move your body daily, eat mindfully, and yes, take your multivitamins to keep your immunity strong. We only have this one life. Let’s live it at our best potential, and let’s pass down the gift of health as a family value for generations to come. Your health is your family’s wealth. Start moving today.
