Hey guys! How’s the state of your machinery? You know – your car, your lawn mower, your computer – your body? Which one do you service the most? It’s illegal to drive a car in New Zealand without an annual warrant of fitness. But there’s no law requiring a body warrant of fitness – perhaps there should be. Whether it’s your car or your body, if it crashes, you’ll likely hurt more than just yourself.

We all know machines seize up when they’re not used for ages. Your body is no different. In fact your body is worse – nuts and bolts don’t shrink from lack of use but muscles do – and fast! Same for our brain! Our body is designed with the largest muscles in the legs, not the butt. Does that give you a clue as to what we are meant to be doing most of the day?

Yeah, yeah. I know this applies to girls as well. But you blokes are notorious for ignoring your body until something serious happens – like sudden death (which is one of the first symptoms of heart disease)! And us girls don’t want faulty machines in our lives (I was thinking this as I vaccuumed today). We want our men to be mean machines – or at least healthy and happy.

Yesterday I finished teaching a 10-week nutrition course. At the graduation one of the guys spoke about his life. As a kid he was poor but active and healthy. Then he got a job – and money. Where did it go? Burgers, pies, chips. Then he bought a car. No more walking to get takeaways – he could drive. One day he was playing basketball and found he could hardly jump to reach the goal. He was shocked. He went home, looked in the mirror and … where did THAT GUT come from? He finished by saying, “You choose the food you eat, you choose your lifestyle – good or bad.”

It reminds me of some other words of wisdom: “I set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…”

So take that body for a service, move those muscles, swallow the right fuel and remember – you’ve only got one body – no trade-ins possible! Us girls love you – and we want you around for a long time.