Find your way to a Physical and fiscal health in 2007

So how were your holidays? Except for feeling more like Easter than Christmas mine went well. My late father used to quip that Christmas is for kids and the older I get the more I see the man's point.

There's a kid in all of us around Christmas and I sincerely hope that you had a joyous and fun filled holiday season. Now, the holiday decorations get packed away, and don't look down but you and I might be packing more than just decorations away; how about p acking away a few more pounds thanks to last month's holiday gatherings, parties, general over eating and drinking each November and December brings? I hear you, if you are in this camp I know just how you feel.

Add to the holiday overdoing it the fact I just turned the page back in August and hit the big '4 0'. Among other things mom's been on me about is getting the dreaded '40' year old or 40 thousand mile, as I've heard it termed, physical. For those under 40 and many of our female friends, the physical to the 40 plus male is like hearing you've been served summons for limb extraction or some other form of grand torture. I was dreading it. I am in generally good health, yes, but like most men it's what we don't know we don't know that scares us most.

Are we going to get lectured? Not dieting enough, stop smoking, exercise more, by the time were done with our thoughts we have the doctor or health practioner basically telling us in our minds that everything we're doing will eventually kill us. Fear keeps us away and our thoughts build in our minds so strong that getting that phsyical becomes harder to accomplish than building a snowman in August.

I just wanted it over with, so I called my doctor and schedueled an appointment. I arrived late, couldn't help it, work issues. I arrived 20 minutes late and was told I had to reschedule since I was getting a full physical I needed to be on time. I couldn't help but laugh on the way out and rescheduling, what doctor ever sees us on time? The next time a doctor is late seeing me, I am going to bill them for my time and have his people call my people to reschedule. Doubt that will work but at least it would raise a few eyebrows.

Finally on my follow up I got the escort to the waiting room and the process began. Standard stuff out of the gate. Your blood pressure is taken, you're measured and weight all get recorded. Then I hear 'Doctor will be here in a minute, just relax." Yeah, thanks. No sweat. Once the doctor arrived it went better than I expected. In fact a lot better. The exam is actually harmless, some resistance tests, he listens to your chest, checks reflexes, pretty harmless. Now if you're a guy reading this you're waiting for the part that every man dreads. Suffice to say while that part of the exam ( if you're a man over 40 you know what I'm talking about ) is really fast. The best part of this part of the exam is when it's over and you hear everything's fine. The way I see it I don't need a physical again until I'm 80 and by then I won't care. Chances are neither my doctor or my mother will let me get away with that. Here's the bottom line, if you haven't gotten the physical and you're over 40 then get it done. You're probably in better shape than you think and you may be surprised as I was that the exam is really no big deal.

Guys, we're particularly squirmish about these physicals. Women tend to take better care of themselves and see a doctor more regularly than we do. If there is an issue, chances are it's so early on that you can do something about it now before it's any where near a big deal. I left with a note to get my bloodwork done as is standard procedure in these things, and yes I still have to get in and have mine checked. The thought did cross my mind that getting bloodwork done around the Christmas holiday might just get me admitted to the hospital once the results arrived to my physician.

This month I have no excuses and at least have resumed to working ou t so it's time to complete the physical and get this last piece of the process done. Take care of yourself, you're all you've got and taking care of your health means a lot to more than just us, others are counting on us to stay this side of the grass for a while, so do you're part and get that physical you've been putting off. While you're at it use this opportunity to audit yourself. I usually start the year by going over all my spending habits, where things stand with household expenses and more. I heard a friend once say to me if you're physically fit and financially fit you'll be psychologically fit. Maybe a bit of a stretch but it sure does help with peace of mind.

Once again if you're financial physical shows some areas of improvement you can work on it now in the New year and get it under control before we close 2007. Not fun stuff giving ourselves the financial physical. Likewise stressful getting our own physical. The good news is the months upcoming feel a lot better when we get these two hurdles cleared. Advice I was given a long time ago and only started taking a short while ago. Hopefully, unlike yours truly you'll take the advice I was given before I got wise. Feeling better, see 'ya around town.