If you clicked the link due to the title you will probably understand what this post will be about. Procrastinating about everything because of whatever “now” moment seeming more important. Delaying your health because the peer pressure around you telling you to do what they want, not what is best for you.

We all were (or still are) at this point and it is what keeps getting in our way of going to the next level of our lives. Wanting to lose weight, getting into better shape, reaching that next rep, beating your personal best, having more energy, being able to play with the kids, being confident at the pool side, finishing a charity walk/run. Deciding to put it off for another day for some retarded reason can cause many problems. I should know, I did it for the majority of my life. I just want you to take some time and read this to reflect on how your attitude towards your life has changed or will change.

Delaying your diet/workout routine until Monday so that you start on a “new week” is one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make. I am sure it sounds good at the time when you are at a restaurant ordering that second dose of chips and cheese dip with another round of beers/drinks for the friends. All you are doing is setting yourself up for failure. For 10 years I would tell myself a little more food wouldn’t hurt, wait until Monday, only 1 set of an exercise was enough, etc. Stop giving into these urges. They do nothing for you.

Why do we do this you may ask? Well how the hell am I supposed to know? You are the person doing it, don’t ask me. Ask yourself. I can only offer up my conclusions after some deep “fat boy searching”. In my case I realized that I was doing it to myself because I really did not want to change. I wanted to hold on to my lifestyle. Eat what I wanted, drink what I wanted, no worries about daily fat/carbs/protein intake, I wanted to hang out with my friends. I wanted to play video games all night long. I wanted to wake up and feed my face if I felt like it. I wanted to live without thinking about my health, but most of all, enjoy myself without any regrets. But that was the problem, I had regrets. Nearly every day I had a regret or moment of depression about what I was doing or who I was.

This was MY problem and I got over it by doing the opposite of what I “wanted”. If I wanted to sit and play games then I went out for a run. If I wanted to eat fatty ass foods while out with the family I ordered a salad without dressing and kept eating no matter what it tasted like. (unless rotten, of course) If I wanted to stop my current exercise set and leave the gym then I stayed and did 2 more sets.

I changed my lifestyle. I stopped being lazy and changed my mind set about everything. I forced out all of the bad habits and replaced with the things that I knew would work for me. Because it came to the point of no return. I was too close to losing all that I had because of selfishness and gluttony. Not so much of a good feeling and it kicked my ass into physical and mental shape. It was necessary for me to change my life. Letting things get to the point of no return will only be detrimental and life will only get more difficult from that point on.

Ever have those people that just wanted to bring you back down to your former self? Tell them to piss off. Don’t hang out with them. If you have to hang out with them (family, ugh) and they try to encourage you to “just eat this” or “give yourself a break and not workout” then give them the mental finger (or actually give it to them if you have that sort of relationship). Most of all, just take accountability for yourself.

Who gives a shit if you don’t pig out anymore?

Who cares if you stop your bad habits?

Who cares if you stay a little longer at the gym?

Who cares what you order at a restaurant?

Who cares if you are out walking/running/jiggling around?

Who cares if you could even make it up 1 flight of stairs without wheezing?

Who gives a shit if you end up with a debilitating disease or health complications before your thirties?

Who cares if you have to spend half of your paycheck on pills to keep you “alive” everyday?

You should.

(Note: These are the thoughts that went through my head when I started my life revival. These are to point out the things that I did when I was in my fat boy mode and how I kicked my own ass into gear.)

This is your life. No one else should influence your life more than you. Stop procrastinating on changing your life. Make a decision. Get a gym membership. Even if it breaks the bank. This will force you to stop eating at fast food places and SHOULD give you incentive to put that money to good use. Get rid of your cable tv service and go outside every day. Breathing fresh air and having the sun on you will burn more calories than you thought. Stand with good posture when you are out someplace. Especially, when you are waiting at a doctors office, on break/lunch, whatever. Back starts hurting? Good, that means you are including those muscles and that is a GOOD THING. Choose to stand and not be lazy. Walk up the stairs everywhere. You will be surprised at how fast your body will get accustom to going upstairs and how quickly your huffing and puffing will dissipate. That soda that you’ve been drinking doesn’t need to be finished, throw it out and get some water. It’s normally free everywhere you go. That pack of cigarettes doesn’t need to be empty for you to quit smoking. That bottle of booze in the fridge doesn’t need to be finished for you to ease back on your binging. When waiting in line anywhere start doing body weight calf raises. When going up the stairs, challenge yourself, take 2 or even 3 steps at a time… that’s can be considered a lunge for your daily routine. (Surprise!) Ever go to the park with your kids? Why not play with them instead of sitting on the bench the whole time. Hell, try a pull up/chin up while you’re at it. Ever tried going to a local farmers market? Good fresh foods are waiting for you! Best of all, it’s unprocessed. I am sure that dog of yours wouldn’t mind a walk every day. I am sure that box of cookies in the pantry doesn’t need to be wolfed down in one sitting. Have you ever tried cooking a meal in advance? What about taking a lunch into work instead of eating out? Saves money and your life! If nothing else, portion a meal out for yourself. Actually use a weight scale and measurement tools to find out how much a serving size really is. I am certain that you will be shocked at what you have been eating.

I am not trying to belittle you. I am not trying to be condescending. I am not trying to make you feel like crap toward yourself. I am trying to get YOU to motivate YOURSELF.

Stop procrastinating.

Start participating in your life.

No one else is going to do it for you. Don’t think about it, just do it. Thinking about it will lead to making excuses and eventually delaying you again.

I hope by now you get the point. If not, then maybe your suggestion or experience can help someone else who just doesn’t get it. Leave a comment on how you got motivated to start being the active and fit person that you are now. Not there yet? What do you think will get you motivated into becoming the better person that you know that you can be?

You will never know until you start leaving that pit of despair and start participating.

- RedBeardRaven