It's time to take action

We here at Veterinary Economics prescribe lots of practice wellness and preventive care: team training, continuing education, budgeting, the writing of mission statements. And we do try to take our own medicine. So we know it's not always easy. We have been known to skip our monthly CE meeting when we get busy. And I have to admit that I have not personally taken on Dr. Ernest Ward's challenge, issued in March, to get fit and run a 5K.

Marnette Falley

His article "Get Out of Your Unhealthy Rut" did make me think about making some changes every time I read it. And I read it three times during the editing process. But all I've done is think.

Associate Editor Amanda Wolfe is setting a better example and taking the thinking to the action stage. She requested Dr. Ward's berry and spinach smoothie recipe. (I did try this. You really can't taste the spinach. Even my 9-year-old daughter agrees itcompletely tasty.) Amanda enlisted Dr. Ward's support and got advice. She bought new running shoes and printed the workout schedule posted at vetecon.com. And then she actually hit the treadmill. She'll be running two 5K events later this summer.

Better yet, she's tracking her progress for all of us. Read her blog Read her blog about her experiences during the eight-week program and feedback about her trials and tribulations from Dr. Ward. I'm hoping her dedication inspires the rest of us to jump into action.

Dr. Ward is always in action. He participated in the Ironman competition last month. And he's following up his springtime advice about your health with some great strategies about talking to clients about their pets' obesity—a growing threat to pet wellness that rarely gets the attention it deserves. Just like human wellness, the fix is both simple and tough: moving more, and eating less.

Marnette Denell Falley, Editor

ve@advanstar.com