Originally Posted by vesteroid

I disagree with this in theory.

The problem is from my perspective, that most people (me included) want an answer that is easy and fits with their plan. They dont want an answer that works.

I know this sounds harsh, but all the claims I have ever heard about my job, or my kids, or my wife, or my church, or my family, or whatever are really just ways we reason with ourselves that its OK not to put the work in thats required to reach a healthy life style.

In other words, we have NOT TRULY MADE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. On our diets, we still want to have "cheat" meals or days for that matter...again we have not really changed. On exercise days, its often put off by the kids soccer ran late, or rain, or the boss was a fussin at me today...again we didnt put our health first. There has been no REAL change, just a set of excuses we use to make ourselves feel ok with failing yet again.

The serious health related ones are the hardest to understand. I see post after post on here (and other forums) where people had a serious health scare. Diabetes for instance. They go on a weight loss program, they start exercising, they see positive results, they go off meds, then they fall off the wagon and get right back on those meds.

I have lived this life, I am not saying I am any better, I have gone on 2000 diets in my life, and started at least 100 exercise programs. I finally decided I was tired of the bs and decided that I was going to change my life, not go on another program. I set a goal of running a half marathon, and started training. My race is two weekends from now, and I am in my taper, so I found I needed a new goal. I am going to do a tri in september and train all summer for that. In addition to that I have signed up for a ride around lake tahoe in september as well, so thats 80 some miles and tons of climbing. I will sit down and map out a training schedule by day from now till the goals, and I will meet that schedule. I travel for work, so I know how hard it can be to manage work, family and workouts. I have made my workouts a priority. They come first now. If I cant keep myself healthy, i cant provide much value to my family or my boss. I do have to adjust, so some nights I have to run on a treadmill in a hotel, or ride an elliptical instead of running outdoors, but I find a way to get active for the same amount of time.

Its hard. I often think about taking a break, or taking it easy...but I weight myself every morning and I have that constant feedback that I cant stop, or cant take it easy. As we all know its way easier to gain it back than to lose it, and I worked too darn hard to lose the weight I have. I am not going to have to lose it again.

All I am saying is in reality its not as hard as many of us make it out. If you are truly dedicated to changing your life, YOU are the only one who can do that, and the stars dont need to align for that to happen. Find a way each day to make it happen in some shape or form, and set real goals, and measure your progress.

Reach your goal, then set another. Rinse repeat.