Who Am I To Tell You What To Do Anyway?

Who Am I To Tell You What To Do Anyway?

It's no secret. We are overweight. We are bombarded with information about how we're dying because of sedentary lifestyles. Our health care systems are charging higher premiums because of weight related deseases being on the rise. Our military is turning recruits away due to obesity, children are developing ADULT Onset Diabetes and even Shaq produced his own reality show about obese kids. These are just a few examples.

So, we know where we stand. It's in our face now. We know we need to change. We know we need to GET MOVING!! So why don't we? Well, having been out of shape and overweight, I get it. I know what it's like to be what society and the news are warning us about. I'll tell my story in this article and hope that maybe some of you can relate and learn.

Pain can be a motivator.

I have always been lazy by nature. Lazy in both mind and body. It caught up with me though. Before I knew it, clothes shopping, bathing suit and other social activities and even thinking (now that's lazy) had all become undesirable situations that are a part of normal and everyday life. Who genuinely enjoys looking in the closet for hours only to find they just don't like the way they look in anything? For me, the lack of confidence, energy and all around lethargic feeling towards life spiraled out of control to create a vicious cycle that only created more of what it already was in my life and change seemed impossible.

I would work tirelessly throughout the day with no energy left over to devote to my fitness needs and the nutrition aspect of life wasn't any better. I would settle for eating whatever was quick and available because this is what most of us do when we're busy. I was tired, I was in physical pain and didn't know how to begin to crawl out of the hole I had created for my body and therefore, my life. There weren't enough ibuprofins in the world for me at that point and something had to change.

Have an intention and the world will create a pathway to get there.

I noticed an ad and landed a job at a local fitness center without needing any fitness certifications or experience to work the front desk. I had prayed for the right set of circumstances to cross my path and the ability to recognize them and this was it. It was out of my comfort zone and I didn't think I belonged at such a place, but I had to put myself out there. I had exercised in the past and knew the basics, so with the exposure to the equipment, I got moving. It was tough at first. I was out of shape, out of breath and out of strength. Still, I knew what I needed to do and persevere. It didn't take but a couple of weeks to notice improvements and then I was hooked. It became senseless to eat the wrong foods after putting in so much work in exercise that I began to plan my meals and take them with me. More on nutritional common sense in another article. Seeing results kept me motivated. It took some time, but all good things take time.

After being warned ( respectfully ) by my employer about teaching people to exercise without certifications and formal knowledge, I realised it was time to take it to the next level. It was time to go to school. This was a huge step because I was lazy and afraid of school. I would miss my sofa and comfortable ( but not enjoyable ) routine. I will get into detail about fitness education, schools and what to look for in a trainer in a later article.

It's never too late to be better.

One year later, 35-40 pounds lighter and having earned several certificates of formal hands on training from one of the best schools in my state on Fitness Training, I'm now unstoppable and I'm on a mission. You see, if I could get my lazy ass off the sofa, get moving and lose weight, anyone can. It's the thoughts that need to change. I had changed my thoughts and therefore, I've changed my body. It takes a few small steps, the right support, guidance and the ability to be held accountable for our actions and we can do what we set out to do.

Am I suggesting becoming a trainer? Maybe. It could be an awesome career choice and society needs qualified and educated fitness professionals. What I'm suggesting is to surround yourself at any possible given time to health and fitness related materials available and learn. This is part of what helped me. I was around it and I got pumped up by the world of fitness. Just watching people move can sometimes be enough to encourage movement. Knowing that mountains can only be climbed one step at a time helps us realize that this isn't an overnight situation. Just get moving. One way or another, just get moving.

Results speak louder than any other voice in your head.

As I sit and write this now, even I know it's time for me to get moving. It isn't because I have the insatiable desire to sweat. It's because it's the right thing to do. It's gotten me to 16% body fat and it's gotten me to feel pride about who I am and how I live. Exercise delivers oxygen to the brain, so I ought to be pumped for my next article. Just remember this, for every reason, getting fit is simply the right thing to do.