In the back of our mind, we all want to become slim, fit and healthy. But when it comes time to actually do the things guaranteed to get us there, we come up with dozens of silly excuses. These are the reasons why we can't look the way we want to.
When I was 50 pounds overweight, I was full of these excuses. I was like a detective, finding all these crazy reasons why I couldn't start getting healthy today. "I want to get healthy, but … " "I want to work out, but…"
I realized that if I wanted to drop the pounds, I had to stop saying the word "but" and actually get up off my own BUTT!
In this article, I'm going to debunk the eight most common excuses people use to delay starting their weight loss programs. And once you see how silly they sound, I'm sure you'll be ready and motivated to unveil the new you.
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"But I don't have the time to work out." This is an old favorite of mine. Well, it doesn't matter if your schedule is so packed it makes the President's day look boring, you can still find the time to work out. We're not asking you to become an Olympic athlete here! Twenty minutes of fat-blasting exercise three times per week? You can definitely manage that! Just think of all the time you spend sitting in front of the TV or gossiping on Facebook. You can make much better use of that time.
"But eating healthy is too expensive!" For some reason, people think that you need to be a millionaire in order to enjoy nutritious whole foods. Nice try, but it's just not true. Sure, a steak costs more money than a bag of potato chips, but what most people don't realize is that eating whole foods keeps you satisfied for longer. When you eat junk food, you're ready to binge again in an hour or so. But when you stick to lean proteins and foods packed with fiber, you stay full for a long time. Yes, these foods may be more expensive, but you need to eat much less of them to feel satisfied. The cost evens out in the end–the scale does not!
"But I don't know how to cook." I don't know where the rumor started, but for some reason, people think you need to be a gourmet chef in order to prepare healthy meals. The good thing about sticking to nutritious whole foods is that it's kind of hard to mess it up! Anyone can season some chicken breasts and throw them in the oven. And there are hundreds of delicious recipes you can whip up that don't require much preparation at all. You don't have to be the next Iron Chef to get slim and sexy–you just need to be able to follow simple instructions.
"But I just wasn't made to be skinny. My metabolism is too slow!" Another great one that puts the blame on someone else's shoulders. It's true that some of us have an easier time losing weight than others, but so what? Just because you aren't one of those skinny girls who burns calories just by thinking about working out doesn't mean you're doomed to live a life of being embarrassed about your body. We should all strive to be the best we can be. And by developing healthy habits, you can boost your natural metabolism and shed those pounds.
*This post was originally published on July 22, 2013.
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