Jim Silva: Your body deserves the best, too

Do you have a prized possession? Maybe a classic car, an expensive purse or a piece of jewelry with special meaning?

Most of us have prized possessions. And we take great care of them. We keep them clean, treat them with care and occasionally take them in to an expert to make sure they’re in good working order.

If only we treated our bodies with the same reverence and care.

This thought came to me recently after an annual checkup with my doctor. After ordering some lab work, he joked that it was kind of like my annual oil change. He also joked that many of his patients take better care of their cars than they do themselves.

I was guilty of this for much of my adult life. After I turned 30 and had kids, my physical well-being dropped on my list of priorities.

About five years ago, as I was just about to turn 40, I made the conscious decision to begin taking better care of my most prized and important possession – my body.

Here are some of the ways I changed that you can apply to yourself, as well:

Get moving: Running changed my life. When I first started, I couldn’t run a complete mile. Four marathons later I’m still going strong. There is nothing better for your body – and your mind – than getting daily exercise. It doesn’t have to be running. But it does have to be rigorous enough to get your heart pumping. So whatever you like to do – walking, hiking, biking, etc. – get out there and do it. Every day.

Look at food as fuel: I used to look at food simply as a pleasure. Now I look at it less as pleasure and more as fuel. Do you put low-quality gas in your car’s engine? Then don’t do it to your body, either. Yes, I still can enjoy a burger and treat myself with some ice cream on occasion. But when you look at food as fuel for your body, you look at it differently.

Work on body and mind: There’s no denying the mind-body connection. Feeling well physically helps improve your mood and mental health. Having a positive attitude increases the way your body feels. Being in tune with both mind and body is critical to well being. I’ve been reading a lot about meditation lately and am trying to work 10-15 minutes of quiet relaxation into my daily routine.

Get the oil changed. It’s so important to visit your doctor at least once a year. Even if you’re in great physical shape or feeling well, it’s important to have your doctor give you the once-overregularly.

Your body is your most prized possession, and unlike a car, purse or necklace, you can’t buy a new one.

Take good care of it.

Team In Training season

Two of my four marathons were run as a member of Team In Training, and another season of TNT is gearing up.

Participants train to complete an endurance event and at the same time raise funds to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Northern San Joaquin Valley Chapter of Team in Training is registering people now to train for marathons/half marathons and triathlons that will be held in the fall. You can sign up online at www.teamintraining.org/sac or by calling (800) 482-8326. Training will begin June 6.

An information meeting for prospective participants will be held at 6 p.m. June 2 at Modesto Centre Plaza, 1000 L St., in downtown Modesto. A season kickoff event will follow at 6:30 p.m. June 2 at the same location.

If you’re looking to train for an endurance event while being surrounded by wonderful, supportive people, I highly recommend Team In Training. My two seasons with TNT were two of the best experiences of my life.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Jim Silva: Your body deserves the best, too."