Excuses

New Years Resolutions - Ahhh...they seem like bright big shiny coins of possibility when you first make them!

This is the year I'm going to get healthy! This is the year I'm going to start working out! This is the year that I'm going to change my life!

Well, it's January 10th - Right about time for people to start saying WHY they can't live up to those pesky resolutions they made.

I don't have time to work out.
I don't have time to eat healthy.
I can't afford to eat healthy.
I'm embarrassed at the gym.
But it's sooooo haaaaarrrrddddd!

Tough love time, people.

You do have time to work out. I used to make this excuse, too. "But I'm a single mom. And I work. And I have friends. And...and....and..." But that's what it was. Excuses. I have to seriously prioritize my time...but I make ME a priority now and get it done. You will too if you want it badly enough.

You do have time to eat healthy. I used to make this excuse, too. It's not necessarily AS easy to eat healthy on the run. But it is possible. Precook meals, bring snacks, preplan what you're going to order in the drive thru to make better choices.

Eating healthy does cost more. Being sick because you're unhealthy costs a lot of money, too. Make your choice.

There is no reason to be embarrassed at the gym. The only people who MAY be watching you at the gym are the other people who are new. The people who know what they're doing are paying attention to their own workouts. 'Nuff said.

Yes, it IS hard. Nothing in life worth doing is easy. If it is, you won't appreciate it.

If you want this new lifestyle badly enough. You CAN and WILL make it happen. If you don't, you won't. The choice is yours.
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Replies

  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    ^^ What she said. Excuses are worthless. Do it or don't do it. But either way, you are making a choice.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    OH my gosh! So much win! Love love love this!
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    justdoit_zpsdc22275d.jpg
  • spider_mark51959
    spider_mark51959 Posts: 2,869 Member
    Another great post Jersey!
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Do,%2BNot%2BTry.jpg
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    As I put in my profile, it boils down to choices.
    , you're busy. But what you're really doing is saying, "These other things I'm spending my time doing are worth being unhealthy." AKA, when you sit down and watch the latest Walking Dead marathon on TV, you're CHOOSING that as more important than your health (and don't get me wrong, I love Walking Dead).

    Now yes, no ONE decision is the reason you're out of shape. But those ONE decisions add up to make you out of shape. So you have to make the choice to make your health a priority time and time again.

    If you're looking at a menu and deciding what to order, ask yourself if you'd rather have fries or a slimmer waist. If you'd rather have extra mayo or good blood pressure, because that is what you're choosing.

    If you have to, ask yourself if you'd rather have an extra hour sleep or a nicely toned body. I can say from my experience you may actually end up with more energy by working out instead of sleeping that extra hour :)

    If you can't workout at the same time every day, look at your calendar and say, "Which of these things is worth doing if it means I'm going to be fat" and cut out the one that is least worth it and get to the gym.

    GOOD LUCK!

    EDIT: Personal story....my life changed when I realize I chose to be fat. All I had to do to not be fat was chose differently for a while.
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    As I put in my profile, it boils down to choices.

    Yes, you're busy. But what you're really doing is saying, "These other things I'm spending my time doing are worth being unhealthy." AKA, when you sit down and watch the latest Walking Dead marathon on TV, you're CHOOSING that as more important than your health (and don't get me wrong, I love Walking Dead).

    Now yes, no ONE decision is the reason you're out of shape. But those ONE decisions add up to make you out of shape. So you have to make the choice to make your health a priority time and time again.

    If you're looking at a menu and deciding what to order, ask yourself if you'd rather have fries or a slimmer waist. If you'd rather have extra mayo or good blood pressure, because that is what you're choosing.

    If you have to, ask yourself if you'd rather have an extra hour sleep or a nicely toned body. I can say from my experience you may actually end up with more energy by working out instead of sleeping that extra hour :)

    If you can't workout at the same time every day, look at your calendar and say, "Which of these things is worth doing if it means I'm going to be fat" and cut out the one that is least worth it and get to the gym.

    GOOD LUCK!


    So, so much ^This.
  • BamaBreezeNSaltAire
    BamaBreezeNSaltAire Posts: 966 Member
    Agree with all of it! There are NO excuses!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Yup. And people think they have to change everything all at once, and that they have to be perfect in all these things in order to succeed.

    They don't. When they realize perfection is unsustainable, they "fail" and give up.
  • InForBacon
    InForBacon Posts: 1,508 Member
    :drinker: :heart: :flowerforyou:

    Thank you for this!
    Make time, get off your azz and do work. End of story!
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    Be "good" more often than you are "bad" and you'll be fine in the long run. Don't rush it.
  • As I put in my profile, it boils down to choices.
    , you're busy. But what you're really doing is saying, "These other things I'm spending my time doing are worth being unhealthy." AKA, when you sit down and watch the latest Walking Dead marathon on TV, you're CHOOSING that as more important than your health (and don't get me wrong, I love Walking Dead).

    Now yes, no ONE decision is the reason you're out of shape. But those ONE decisions add up to make you out of shape. So you have to make the choice to make your health a priority time and time again.

    If you're looking at a menu and deciding what to order, ask yourself if you'd rather have fries or a slimmer waist. If you'd rather have extra mayo or good blood pressure, because that is what you're choosing.

    If you have to, ask yourself if you'd rather have an extra hour sleep or a nicely toned body. I can say from my experience you may actually end up with more energy by working out instead of sleeping that extra hour :)

    If you can't workout at the same time every day, look at your calendar and say, "Which of these things is worth doing if it means I'm going to be fat" and cut out the one that is least worth it and get to the gym.

    GOOD LUCK!

    EDIT: Personal story....my life changed when I realize I chose to be fat. All I had to do to not be fat was chose differently for a while.



    THIS!!!! :drinker: is right on!
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    Be "good" more often than you are "bad" and you'll be fine in the long run. Don't rush it.

    Truth.
  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,779 Member
    this makes me hear "Eye of the Tiger" in my mind.
  • stormbornkraken
    stormbornkraken Posts: 302 Member
    Agreed! I may be stressed and life may be hectic however it will be even more challenging if I do not put myself and my well being at the top of my to do list.

    I have more on my plate but I am motivated and energized so I tend to accomplish much more.
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    Agreed! I may be stressed and life may be hectic however it will be even more challenging if I do not put myself and my well being at the top of my to do list.

    I have more on my plate but I am motivated and energized so I tend to accomplish much more.
    I think that's an underrated truth. People often don't realize that when you invest a small part of your time in yourself you typically can accomplish MUCH more than if you hadn't.

    Just like we would have more time to get things done if we never ate or slept, but the body would shut down eventually die if we did that. You have to make time for yourself to re-energize yourself.

    Addition by subtraction :)
  • thelowcarblady
    thelowcarblady Posts: 137 Member
    amen to this!!!

    Excuses have been my worst downfall, and coming up with any and every excuse or jusification as to not work out -- NOT ANYMORE!!!

    I wanna actually enjoy myself at the beach this May! I can't ever say I've ever had fun at the beach cause I'm always worried about how I look. NOT THIS TIME!

    :bigsmile:
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    this makes me hear "Eye of the Tiger" in my mind.

    I'm hearing "Indestructible"...
  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,779 Member
    bump.

    this is too good to let drop
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    bump.

    this is too good to let drop

    :heart:
  • Thanks for this! I have a lot of weight to lose - that was always my excuse. I was a secret dieter, I was afraid if I told too many people and I failed, I would be ashamed. In reality, what I'm ashamed about is how I look and feel. I want to be around for my 3 yr old for a long time. So, what did I do?
    I stopped the excuses - I told everyone I knew that I was starting a healthy lifestyle and being more active. It's not a diet, it's a change. I don't know which MFP member said it, but I read it on one of the boards recently - "You need to eat during this lifestyle change how you will eat when you are maintaining - this way you won't gain it all back" ( I may be paraphrasing). That has stuck with me. Now, I don't deprive myself, I do it in moderation.

    I now work with a personal trainer 2x a week - I will up the time frame in the next segment.
    I log EVERYTHING I eat
    I work out no less than 30 minutes a day.

    I just started this on Monday, so I know I'm still new - but this time it's different I WILL CHANGE MY LIFESTYLE!

    My new Mantra
    NO PAIN, NO CHANGE.

    Anything obtained through hard work is more appreciated - so I am going to appreciate my new body as I get there!

    Good luck to everyone!
  • ponycyndi
    ponycyndi Posts: 858 Member
    YES!

    Instead of thinking of all the reasons why I "can't", I think of what I CAN do.

    It is about choices, and you prioritize what is important in your life.
  • AmyZ46
    AmyZ46 Posts: 694 Member
    this makes me hear "Eye of the Tiger" in my mind.

    me too
  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    this makes me hear "Eye of the Tiger" in my mind.

    me too

    I hear "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. Is that weird?
  • YallaEsma1
    YallaEsma1 Posts: 14 Member
    I hear Katie Perry "Roar". Maybe we need to start a separate thread on this :)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Bah sometimes excuses are valid! I typically walk 3 miles a day, and slipped 4 times in 10 minutes this morning. So I went home. I just walked/jogged for 30 minutes in front of the TV instead, but it's not quite the same.
  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    Bah sometimes excuses are valid! I typically walk 3 miles a day, and slipped 4 times in 10 minutes this morning. So I went home. I just walked/jogged for 30 minutes in front of the TV instead, but it's not quite the same.

    That's not an excuse. You still did something. An excuse would have been if you slipped and came home and sat on the couch watching TV because it's too icy out.
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    Thanks for this! I have a lot of weight to lose - that was always my excuse. I was a secret dieter, I was afraid if I told too many people and I failed, I would be ashamed. In reality, what I'm ashamed about is how I look and feel. I want to be around for my 3 yr old for a long time. So, what did I do?
    I stopped the excuses - I told everyone I knew that I was starting a healthy lifestyle and being more active. It's not a diet, it's a change. I don't know which MFP member said it, but I read it on one of the boards recently - "You need to eat during this lifestyle change how you will eat when you are maintaining - this way you won't gain it all back" ( I may be paraphrasing). That has stuck with me. Now, I don't deprive myself, I do it in moderation.

    I now work with a personal trainer 2x a week - I will up the time frame in the next segment.
    I log EVERYTHING I eat
    I work out no less than 30 minutes a day.

    I just started this on Monday, so I know I'm still new - but this time it's different I WILL CHANGE MY LIFESTYLE!

    My new Mantra
    NO PAIN, NO CHANGE.

    Anything obtained through hard work is more appreciated - so I am going to appreciate my new body as I get there!

    Good luck to everyone!
    Love this. Can't wait to read your success story in the future :-)
  • sklarbodds
    sklarbodds Posts: 608 Member
    Bump. So important for people to see
  • _JPunky
    _JPunky Posts: 508 Member
    Bump. So important for people to see

    Thank you. :heart: