Yesterday , I wrote about my father’s recent stroke. When I received the call about my dad’s condition, it was unexpected. But it was not a total surprise. You see, for the last 15 years, before my dad retired, his business required quite a lot of travel. And while he was away from home, his diet and his exercise routine suffered. Over the years, he gradually gained weight, and his health began to decline.

Since retiring, he has made significant improvements in his diet and his weight. Still, that decade and a half of neglect took its toll.

Fortunately, he now has a chance for a new beginning.

There is nothing like the threat of permanent disability (or even death) to wake us up to just how important our health really is. As you might expect, my father is now totally committed to a diet that will help restore his health and optimize his weight, and an exercise program that will improve his strength and fitness.

I thank God that he still has this opportunity. And I feel certain that with effort and determination, he can be functionally younger and much healthier at 66 than he was at 62. (He’s now 64.)

If you are overweight, tired and sore, and becoming more unhealthy with each passing year, I urge you to do something about it TODAY! Don’t wait until it is too late, because you might not get a second chance. With a proper diet and consistent exercise - and an early start - there is no reason that you cannot enjoy a health span that is equal to your lifespan.