In a previous post, I tried to shoot down a very common excuse I hear when people try to explain why they can’t diet and lose weight. That excuse dealt with finances. I thought since I was talking about excuses, I’d tell you about another excuse I frequently hear. “I’m not ready.”
I used this one myself, so I can come at this excuse from both sides. From the side of having lost 150 pounds and kept it off, and the side of weighing over 250 pounds and telling friends, “I’m just not ready.” This is what I say when people tell me that now. “Not ready for what? High blood pressure? Bigger sized clothes? Diabetes? Difficulty with your joints? What?” Okay, I don’t really say that, but I sometimes think it. When we use the excuse, “I’m not ready,” what are we really saving? We are saying I’d rather deal with all the problems being overweight brings, than try one more time to get my weight under control.
That’s what I said. I’d rather not fit into the seat belt (read “These Seat belts Should Be Bigger”), or develop a health issue than try to get healthy. This excuse really doesn’t make any sense does it? After all, who would willingly choose the unfortunate consequences of obesity over the benefits of healthy living. When you see it written like that, it may give you pause. Has your doctor ever cautioned you about what lies ahead if your weight doesn’t improve? Mine did, and I didn’t listen very well. He told me that I was heading down a slippery slope that was going to be harder and harder to climb up if I kept letting my weight creep up.
He was right. It was a lot harder to lose 150 pounds than to lose the 50 I needed to at that point in time. I didn’t listen to him then, but I hope you will listen to your doctor and listen to my story as well. Don’t tell yourself “I’m not ready,” and let it go at that. Tell yourself, “I’ll never be READY, so I may as well start right now.” That’s what I finally did. I realized there was no perfect month to start. There was no perfect day to get started, and there was no magic to a certain program. I started, and I didn’t stop until I reached my goal weight.
Don’t use a lame excuse to put off today what has the potential to reap great benefits into your future. Get ready, and GO! Diane
