Get Off Your Lazy Ass!

By CocoaDiva on Aug 19, 2008 with Comments

I wrote this post for everyone, including myself. I admit I have been a slacker the last few weeks. I was not hitting the gym like I should be to lose my last 20 pounds. I noticed I follow a pattern. Once I stop exercising my inner fat girl starts screaming and stomping her feet “Eat all the Thin Mints, pizza, and bread you want! Tomorrow is another day!” <insert evil laugh and thunder clap.> That heifer is a piece of work!!

Once I start listening to Fatty, I start on a downward spiral and I need a reality check to teleport me to the gym and the Health Food store. I started thinking of all the reasons why I stop working out and eating right. I came up with my list of excuses. These excuses are pretty popular and I felt many people might feel like I do.

1. Fear- Deep down I am afraid of being toned and in shape. I admit it. I have always been that thick girl and the last time I was called skinny was when I was 12. I really got used thickness being my claim to fame and it seemed like these comments defined me: “Girl, you have a@@ for days” and “I love your thickness shawty” (yes I went to college in the South lol). Someone even told me I was losing my a@@ the other day…..Gasp! No not the cheeks, anything but that!!!

I have to tell myself that is the old me and I shouldn’t base my self perception on any thing else but how I feel. At 40 pounds down, I feel so much lighter, I have more energy, and <whisper> I kind of like the gym… I like being healthy and that’s nothing to be afraid of. Its just time to get to know CocoaDiva version 2.0 and rock the sexy!

2. No Time -You make time for what you want out of life. It seems I can’t get to the gym anymore like I want to after work. So, I decided to get my tail up at 6 am and hit the gym before work. Working out is something that has to be done for my longevity and to living a healthy life. If I can’t make time for exercise then I am willfully making time for health issues later in life. That’s not cool. So, I need to make the time a few days a week, shut off the TV an hour earlier and go to sleep so I can wake up. Its just that simple.

3. Exercise is too hard- Think all exercise is difficult? I need to slow it down a bit…I am not She-Ra. No one says you have to pick the most complicated routine or machine to lose weight. If I can’t go to the gym, I can walk outdoors or at the high school track. I can even pop in a DVD on my super lazy days. The Firm will put you to shame!!

4. Slow Results- I have been working on losing my 60 pounds for ummmmm 7 months now. I fall off the wagon a few times and get really frustrated with how long its taking especially since I am so close. I have to realize Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was the fat on my thighs. I won’t fit into a bikini over night. My results are determined by how long I work out, how often I work out, and what my healthy eating plan is. I need to stick it out because, on average, it takes about six weeks to see results.

5. Hair - I have a natural now but I know how it was to be relaxed and salt from sweat ruins the best planned do. Suck it up. If my hair is pressed I will put some anti- humectant on it. I should be washing my hair about 2 times a week anyway. Check P.O.S.H.’s hair posts. I can also try out new products to assist in maintianing my do. I don’t want to meet Saint Peter and have him tell me that if I only pulled my hair back in a pony tail near the end of my wash cycle, instead of trying to be fly, I might have lived 10-15 years longer. ( I will do some exercise and hair posts in the next few days!)

6. Lonely- I can only listen to what ever Crunk-tastic mix I made on my iPod so many times. Sometimes I need human companionship to make workouts fun. I may need to bring my exercise buddy to the gym. You are less likely to stay at home or skip the gym if someone is waiting on you or is depending on you. It might be a good time or participate in a group activity like those Salsa lessons at the community center. Hey, its a group activity, its learning some new moves and expanding my horizons. Win win!!

To me, this excuse really has some validity. Exercise can be lonely but it doesn’t have to be. Find a friend who also wants to get into shape or just improve their wellness level (trust me this is easier to find than you think). Being accountable to someone helps keep you motivated. It’s easy to sleep in when you are walking at 5:30 am alone but if you know your friend is on her way, you will be more apt to get up.

7. No Motivation- Motivation can be combated with having a partner. I found that when I was working out with someone or having an accoutability partner I stuck with the program. Hey, I am comptetitive and love a challenge. My buddy holds me to my workout schedule and determine realistic and manageable goals of working out about 4-5 times a week. Hey, you can even determine a prize for the person who sticks to their workout plan! Challange!!!

8. Too Many Other Things to Do – make a list and stick to the program. I am capable of multi-tasking and find time for every thing else. I decided to make a list of my daily activities and allocate time to do them until I fall into a routine again. I also will pencil in my work out time. I need to make appointments with me. The most important thing is my health and if I am not healthy the rest of the items on my list will become more difficult and stressful.

9. Too…. Hot, cold, rainy, sunny, hazy- This is just bs and drawing at straws. Tomorrow is never promised. I am not working outdoors that often so these are definite excuses.

10. I Hate to Exercise – Well, at least this one is honest; the dreaded “E” word, exercise. This will be the hardest to overcome. Like anything, if you do not make the decision to quit smoking, moderate drinking, eat properly or exercise, you will not succeed. Begin with an activity you feel you will enjoy. At least you are giving yourself a chance. Don’t give up for at lest 6 weeks and see if perhaps that helps you start a pattern.

What is stopping you from exercising? What can you do to change your habits and excuses to get into shape?

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