I’m not going to sit here on a pedestal telling you how you need to be more focused and more disciplined, etc, etc.
Why? – you ask?
Because, I am not one of those 8%.
My New Years resolution for 2014 was to lose 20 pounds. I am actually 5 pounds heavier today than I was when I made that resolution! I didn’t miss one workout all year. I did my cardio – not often as I should have, but I did it…. you probably even witnessed me running a few times (sorry about that – I know it wasn’t pretty).
But, what I failed to do was stick to my nutrition plan, or “diet” for lack of a better word. I, like most of you, was full of excuses. I would eat good Monday thru Thursday, and then the weekend would come along….. and along with the excuses…..
– “well, I had a rough week, I can eat this….”
– “these kids are driving me crazy, I need a drink…”
– “the football game is on…”
– “it’s the holidays…”
There is always going to be an excuse. Does that mean you give up? I think about how much more I would weigh if I did give up.
I have to admit, I enjoy working out. Probably more than most people – so that helps. It is also a huge stress reliever for me. But, if your reason for working out is for just extrinsic reasons – you most likely will fail. You have to have a bigger reason – intrinsic reasons.
Losing weight is a benefit of working out, but not the only one. I had my annual physical a few month back. My doctor did agree with me that I could lose a few pounds, but some of the benefits of not giving up and sticking with my workout program showed up on my tests that made my doctor very happy, as well as myself. My cholesterol was “excellent”, my blood pressure was “perfect”, my tendinitis was minimal, and compared to most other 42 years olds – I was considered far and above the average.
Yes, I do want to lose 20 pounds. It will be my goal again this year. Maybe this is the year I finally do it. But I won’t quit if I don’t, because there are many reasons “why” I need to be doing this.
So if you only have one reason “why” right now, that’s fine, it’s getting you here. The point to remember is to pick up some other reasons “why” as you go along, and think of those consequences of giving up.
Don’t let obstacles discourage you. Don’t “wait until you are not so busy”, or “when you are a little more motivated”. You know as well as I do, those times will never come. The excuses will always be there, you have to ignore them and focus on the big picture – YOU.
