Disclaimer

This blog is an accounting of my personal journey to find fitness. All the content on this blog should be read as a biographical piece of literature, not a medical resource. I am a physician, but I am in no way giving medical advice or establishing doctor patient relationships with my readers. I am simply keeping a diary. If you are starting a diet or exercise program or require medical evaluation or advice, please see your own family physician.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

What's your excuse?

Here's a summary of my day yesterday:
6:00am: Get up, get dressed,
6:15am: Take son to school
6:40am: Back home, girls fed, make up on, school supplies ready.
7:45am: Take daughter to school, Pickup mom at car place. Take Mom home. Take other daughter to school. Go to Target for errands. Chugging water.
9:00am: Arrive at work.
9:05am: Working
11:30am: Change for TKD. Drive to class while chugging water
12:00pm: In class
1:05pm: In car on way home to change, chugging more water
2:00pm: In car after shower and change and quick lunch. Chugging yet MORE water
2:15pm: At work. Working.
5:00pm: Done w/ patients doing paper work.
5:30pm: In car on way BACK to TKD . Yes chugging water. And snack-almonds 100cals
6:00pm At TKD, change clothes. YEAH my extra uniform came in. Now I have 2 and don't have to wear smelly one.
6:30pm: In class. Asking myself why I'm doing this as I am tired. And hungry.
7:00pm: Kicking and drills completed. Sweating my brains out. So tired. Can't stop. Won't stop.
7:20pm: Class over. Happy smile. Tired. Sore. Dragging Ass.
7:30pm: Back in car. You know what I'm chugging.

I did two, THAT'S RIGHT two TKD classes yesterday. That means I did a total of:
180 crunches, 30 push ups, lots of stretches. 40 jumping jacks. 20 minutes of kicking. 20-30 min of being thrown on the ground and throwing people on the ground. A bunch of practice on my forms. Lots of punching.

It was awesome. I got home at nearly 8pm. I walked in to kids needing baths, homework. Lunches to pack, trash to take out. I had to shower and eat. Get kids to bed, read, including hugs and kisses, of course. AFTER THAT, I spent at least 1.5 hours doing paperwork so I wouldn't start today behind.  All this after the emotional hell of last week, which frankly isn't over. Won't ever be over, but I am managing.

And so I ask you:  What's your excuse?  

If you are one of those people who just "hasn't had time" to exercise, why not?
If you are one of those people that just "doesn't like exercise", so what?
If you are one of those people that "used to be an athlete", why aren't you now?
If you are watching your diet, but just haven't gotten "motivated" to add exercise, WHY not?


I had at LEAST 10 patients tell me that they just didn't have time to exercise this week already. They were just "too tired" when they got home from work. They get up too early. They are so busy all day. They are always running they're kids around. Or they are "really active" at work so they don't have to exercise.
Or exercise is just "really hard for me".

Really? REALLY?

I am soooooo tired of the excuses. Do you think I WANTED to go to  one class, let alone ANOTHER class last night? NO. Why did I? Because I need to exercise. I'm trying to lose weight. I HAVE A GOAL. I'm going to test this weekend and I needed the practice.  AND finally...........FINALLY....I like it. I do. I love it. I never dreamed it. I've never ever been one to work out. (DUH.  See starting weight.)

Do you think when I started all this a year ago that I enjoyed working out? That I looked forward to going to the gym? That walking was a breeze even? NO!

Do you think I LOVED exercise at first? That it was easy for me? That I knew what I was doing? NO!

Do you think it's a breeze now? That I sail through these workouts? That I don't sweat and groan and moan? That I don't wake up sore and stiff and wondering what the HELL I'm thinking as a 40 something mother of 3 trying to do these things MUCH younger and MUCH thinner people have trouble with?

The first time I went to the gym by myself I had a panic attack. No joke. I was sweaty, heart racing, chest thumping and this was BEFORE I walked in the door.  I'd never used an elliptical. NEVER used a weight machine. NEVER even SEEN half of them. NEVER BEEN IN A GYM other than once or twice in college.

So I ask you again: WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

What's stopping you? Why aren't you doing what you KNOW your body needs? What you know will help you feel better, lose weight, be toned? What are you waiting for?

Do your muscles ache? Do your joints ache? Do you have trouble getting short of breath when you move? Exercise will help you. I promise. (see your doctor of course before you start exercise).

Do you take a handful of pills in the morning? Are you tired of dreading seeing your doctor?  Exercise will help you.

What can it hurt?   Your body is meant to move. We're built that way. We are not built to sit and watch TV and play computer and type on our blogs. If you are spending more time on your blogging than you are exercising, YOU NEED TO RETHINK.

I don't care what you pick. Walk, run, bike, jog, zumba, aeorbics, elliptical, treadmill, skating, swimming, water walking, water aerobics, martial arts, DVDs at home, Wii Fit,  or dance naked in your living room for all I care, but you have GOT to move.  You do not need fancy equipment. You do not have to join a gym. You don't need a trainer. You don't have to take a class. You do not have to know how to swim. You don't need a bike or weights or stairmaster or ab-machine. Just MOVE.


I know ALL the excuses. I've used them all. Part of me still tries sometimes. But, that person is almost gone from me now. The new me is different. And I'm so glad.


At first this was me in my head: I'm tired. I can't. I don't want to. I don't like it. I'm too busy. I'm too stressed.
With only a little of this: Yes you can.  You aren't that tired. You'll learn to like it somehow. You'd be a lot less busy if you die. Death is a GREAT stress reliever.


Now, I'm generally excited to get time to workout and pissed when I don't. That's my time. That's me getting healthier, thinner, faster, stronger time. And no one is standing in my way of that. ESPECIALLY not me.


News flash: NO ONE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU. You are on your own. It's your choice. You alone control your fate. You can either move or not move. You can chose to pretend everything is OK. You can lose weight without exercise, well for a while at least. You can keep dishing out these excuses to yourself.  But to be healthy and active and LIVE you have to move.

So for the last time: What's your excuse?

Are you accomplishing your exercise goals? Have you set some? How often are you exercising? What's your favorite excuse for not exercising?  How do you get yourself to exercise even when you don't feel like it?

7 comments:

  1. Wow! Awesome job! I am fortunate that I have a lot more free time in my day so I really don't have that excuse at all. What works best for me is having someone to work out with. I do cardio 7 days a week with my husband. Usually at least one of us is motivated just enough to get us started:)

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  2. Wow you are amazing and committed to being a success!

    I have not been doing so great with the exercise but you have inspired me to get up and get moving!

    You know they say that successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people will not.

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  3. I agree. Just do something. Walking is free. Water is cheap.

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  4. Great post! Your commitment to getting healthy is amazing and inspirational.

    I really don't have any excuses for not working out, except I also have "gym phobia." I don't know why, but I guess I have an image of myself that doesn't seem compatible with working out, and I become very anxious. That isn't even a good excuse, because such things can be overcome. I need to ask myself this: Do I really want to overcome the anxiety, or do I want an excuse for not moving my body? I think I know the answer the that (the latter).

    Well, I'm into facing some truths these days, and that is one of them that I need to deal with--I'm physically lazy! When I get over this virus, I will get moving. The way you deal with your schedule is nothing short of amazing!

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  5. I'm a little belated, but I'm sorry for the loss of your cousin. That's tough-it looks like you two were pretty close. I love the photos you posted, especially the ones of you in cowboy/cowgirl gear! I hope that spending time with family was cathartic for you. Great job getting back on track and getting to the gym. You're doing awesomely Dr. F.
    Christine
    www.phoenixrevolution.net

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  6. HA!! You are so right! There are a couple of ladies here in my office who sit at lunch and gripe about how they can't lose weight. Guess what they're eating? Fast food. Jack in the Box, Chic-fil-a, Taco Bell, that they drove to pick up! I just shake my head as I go out the door for a run during my lunch break, or go downstairs to work out with Buff Chad and the guys. (Come ON you two...it's a FREE personal trainer, and he's fun to look at!!) I just want to smack them both upside the head.

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  7. I have said it once and I will say it again. It comes down to making your health priority. Everyone has 24 hours in a day. It's a cop out to say I don't have the time. Sometimes I just wish people would say "I don't value fitness over other events in my day." such as ... well sitting on the couch.

    We tell all those lies to ourselves so we can cope with the fact that we have made a choice to not care about our health.

    Thanks, great post!

    Starting At 500 Pounds

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Progress to TouchDown and GOALLLL!!