Excuses we all make

We tend to find excuses not to exercise all the time. "I can't afford going to the gym", "I don't want people to see me working out", "I don't have any equipment", "I can't get motivated". Well trust me I use to say all of these things, until I noticed that I weighed 439 pounds, and was only 29 and couldn't bend over to tie my shoes without losing breath or feeling like I was going to faint.

I began small, doing little things. I would jog to the mail box and back into the house, or do door jam push up's (this is where you position your hands on either side of the door jam and lean into the frame in a standing push up motion). Then I started walking, I went out and got a pedometer that not only counted steps but mileage too, and challenging myself to make certain milestones.

Then I was looking around my house to see if I could find "equipment" that I could use for working out. I saw my broom and 2 bags of grapefruit. I put the two bags of grapefruit into shopping bags and hung them on either side of the broom, and thus made myself a barbell. Totally inspired by this creation, and the effectiveness of it, I began really thinking outside of the box. I taped 4 old phone books together to make a cardio step. If this doesn't work for you then instead of walking or making your own equipment, maybe march in place for 4-5 minutes.

I then started looking at places like Craigslist.org or Freecycle.com to find and request unwanted equipment from people in my area. The first thing to come my way was two 8 pound weights. Next were some ankle weights, then a stair stepper, and then an Airdine Bike, and then a health rider. Saying "Can't" is a drug that we all are addicted to in the early stages of self-improvement. My motivation for beginning my weight loss was seeing others lose their weight. I likened myself to people like Drew Carrie, and Al Roker, who were both big men, and made the decision to make changes in their lives, and thusly I made the same choice.

I live with 2 other people who don't typically workout with me, but I still keep myself going strong irregardless of partnership or not. There are thousands of websites, free products, and information that can help you and be beneficial for you, should you choose to make that first step. I know its hard, trust me I know. I don't claim to be perfect, or be a diet guru, but you can make changes in your life, and in your weight by taking baby steps.

I hate diet's, can't stand them and wont do them because I feel deprived. Instead I went out and got a cafeteria style plate with the slots in it, and divided my meals into the slots, and once I was done that was it, no seconds. I kept eating candy, but tried to make it sugar free, or limited myself to 1 a week. Switched from drinking dark color soda (Pepsi, Coke) to sprite and seven up and lost 10 pounds doing that (the caramel coloring is what causes the weight).

So quit making excuses and just do it, as Nike would say!