Damn this weather / Excuses
Cross Posted on Pick on the Fat Kid
I’m sick of winter already. I’m not even sure it’s here yet (isn’t it the 21st or something?). However, it seems like every day I’m walking in some sort of precipitation. Last week I dealt with snow and ice. This week, more ice, lots of rain. Last night, it was huge gusts of wind and rain. I’m really looking forward to the day I get home from work, walk outside and see sunshine. That’s a few months away though. For now, I’d be happy to walk outside and see the stars. No rain, no snow, no ice. Hell, I can deal with the temperature. I’m not picky 
Despite my bad luck with the weather lately, I’m not going to let it stop me. I refuse to make it an excuse. I refuse to make excuses for anything to do with this journey. I’ve always been one to use “time” as an excuse not to exercise. This seems to be pretty common amongst other people I talk to as well. “I’d exercise if I had the time” or “As soon as I’m done with XXXX, I’ll start exercising”. I’ve used those excuses myself many times in the past.
When you actually start breaking down your day, it’s really not hard to find time to exercise. It really doesn’t require any creativity, just a little sacrifice. Think about it: how many millions of Americans never seem to have time to exercise, yet have the time to watch American Idol every week. You never miss an episode of Lost? Me either Why is it that we don’t have time to exercise, yet we have the time to drop everything and sit in front of the TV for an hour? Finding time to exercise is more psychological than anything.
I’m still finding time to watch my favorite TV shows. I still find time to play poker. I still find time to hang with my friends and family. I’ve just been able to break that psychological barrier in my brain that allows me to MAKE time to exercise. My normal work day is 9 hours long (1 hour for lunch). Plus I have a 2 hour commute (1 hour each way). So it takes me 11 hours out of the day to work 8. Subtract 7-8 hours for sleep and I’m not left with much. However, I still find the time.
I’ll admit, it was tough at first. However, my brain has reprogrammed itself somewhere along the way the past few weeks to just do it. First thing after work, I grab the puppy’s leash and hit the trail. I also have another trick up my sleeve that I’m going to start using on Wednesdays to get my walk in. 1 hour lunch! Who needs an hour to eat a turkey sandwich or a piece of chicken? I have plenty of places to walk around the office. I’m going to start going to the airport and walking around there. Hopefully the TSA guys don’t think I’m some fat terrorist.
The bottom line is that I’m done with excuses. Excuses don’t help me do anything. They just help me rationalize for not doing something. If I don’t accomplish something, then there’s no need for an excuse. I’ll learn my lesson and move on.
I think it helps that when you plan to workout you keep telling yourself that you’re going to workout. Don’t just say it passively, really mean it and put some emotion behind it. Don’t let yourself even think about you don’t feel like it or don’t want to do it. Make sure everything you tell yourself is positive and it will completely change your outlook. It takes some time, but it works.