My mother is 73 with a whole page of health problems and a pill to "fix" every one of them. Most of her ailments could have been prevented and her overall general health would improve with proper diet and exercise. My husband and I have given up trying to get her off the couch and just take a walk down the block. She has an excuse for everything and it's pointless. She's not going to change but it is difficult for me to sit back and watch her deteriorate the way she has. We bike and run with people older than her that are the picture of health.

To add to this, she is constantly telling my husband he's too thin and he doesn't look well (he's training for a marathon) or that I shouldn't be out on a bike on the highway at my age (whatever that means) and takes it personal if we won't eat a huge piece of her cake. Mom is an example of what happens to you if you don't stay active and take care of yourself. She's my motivation to stay at it--I have the same genes.

The irony in my family is that my brother was the athletic one when we were younger. I'm 3 years older than him and he has high blood pressure and high cholesterol and won't watch his diet or exercise and I'm the one that is in decent shape. It's frustrating watching people you love ignore the obvious and not do anything to change their situation.