I can't go to the gym....I diet...

I am addressing something I have heard a lot of women say over the years when I say I exercise. I wonder if it is: -

i - The fear of pain or
ii - Sweat...it's unlady like to sweat? or
iii - Fear of hard work? or
iv - Fear of failure having made the commitment or?
v. - The cost?

Maybe I am being overly optimistic, I think it is the last two that bother people more than the first three.

You see, dieting is a private affair, the whole world does not have to know you are dieting, and if it fails, it is also a private affair. However, exercise is difficult to keep a secret, unless you live alone and exercise only in your abode. If one fails, they think they will be subject to ridicule, and comments like..."all that exercise and you're still ...," we are good at that, shame on us.

Every serious thing we do in life requires a commitment. When we are employed, we make a commitment to work in order to get remuneration, when we marry, we make a commitment to be faithful and live - in good and bad times - with our partner, when we go to college we make a commitment to graduate, when we buy a house on mortgage we make a commitment to pay the monthly installments so that the house can be truly ours...we make commitments everyday yet the most important commitment, which is to take care of ourselves in order to ably complete all other commitments, we refuse to make.

I read a comment on an article in an AAR (insurance) newsletter recently, and paraphrased, it went like, we spend our lives making money and then spend all that money in old age on illness. Mostly preventable illness.

That first step I made especially after the birth of my daughter is an investment, that I will be able to skip with her and play hide and seek. That first walk I did, that I ended up crying after, was the first step towards gaining back my fitness, not having shortness of breath as I climb up stairs, avoiding medication for my asthma, and so much more.

Therefore, commitment towards living a fit, and healthier lifestyle is the most important thing you will do today.

Cost?

I admit, gyms can be costly. But you do not need a gym to get fit. Get moving! That's all it takes!
Taking a walk, that is exercise, with time, it becomes less challenging and you have to increase your pace to a jog, or a run, or increase the distance, all that matters is that you're moving.

Heard that it takes weight training as well to lose and keep the weight off? Do you realise your own body can be used in weight training for both push and pull exercises that will help build and maintain muscle? Try and do a push up, unless you're already fit, this simple exercise will show you just how challenging using your own body as a weight can be. The more fit you get, the more challenging you can make it...moving on to walking push ups, or one hand push ups....

So you see? The barrier is only in our mind.

Dieting alone won't tone your body, it won't sculpt it. You need to move to get to where you're going...literally :-)

Have an active day!