If you have read my very first post, then you will know that my current fitness status (crazy, exercise-obsessed girl) didn’t come easily and is still a work in progress. It took me about a year to get to this place that I am at; and “this place” is my ability to exercise for a long time without getting tired, fitting into sizes 3-5 (compared to when I started which was nearing the sizes 7-9 arena), loving exercise, and eating healthy. And this all came out because of my determination to succeed and my discipline to keep on keeping on – it wasn’t easy!
However, if you talk to people that know me, you would think that I got here by some magic formula. Now that I am starting on a journey towards teaching my own exercise, I’m getting comments like, “You have to make me skinny like you” or “Teach me how to run” (seriously?!) or “Help me exercise.” The last comment is fine to make but the implication is that it is up to ME to help YOU lose weight and be healthy. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to help someone become fit but I’m just not the type of person that will coddle and fuss over someone if they don’t want to do it. I’m sorry, folks, but that is not how it goes. It starts with you and it ends with you. If you want to lose weight, fit into those size 5 jeans again, or just feel better about yourself physically, YOU have got to be the one to get your ass out there and do the work. YOU have to take responsibility for YOURSELF. Forget about dieting, using pills, or those “quick fix” workouts - there is no secret to getting into shape, all it is is making the decision to do it AND STICKING TO IT! I’d like to say this just one more time:
THERE IS NO SECRET TO GETTING INTO SHAPE, IT IS MAKING A DECISION AND STICKING TO IT.
I know you can do it because I did it. Me, Miss Start-something-and-never-finish-it, did it. I lost 15 pounds and dropped 2 pants sizes because I didn’t quit. People will always make the excuse that they don’t have time to exercise but will still complain about how fat or out-of-shape they are. Hey, if you have time to complain, you have time to exercise; if you have time to watch tv, you have time to exercise; if you have time to surf the web after you get home, you have time to exercise. Maybe you feel like you don’t have the energy, then start small. No need to begin jumping rope or sprinting – take a walk. Gradually increase your speed until you start jogging. If you get home after dark, do squats. Buy a home-exercise video (I highly recommend Turbo Jam). There are ways to get into shape if you just think about it.
Really, becoming fit is all up to you. There is no way around it, it’s hard work. But it can be fun, just find what it is you like to do and DO IT! If you remember just one thing, remember this:
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION AND JUST DO IT.
Happy exercising all.
