Excuses.

We have all been there, right? Making excuses for one thing or another. I do it all the time. I excuse why I'm grumpy, I excuse why I'm lazy, I excuse my lack of motivation in some things, etc. It's easy to do and makes us feel better about not doing something. Please let me note that I DO NOT in any way have it all together, nor am I pointing fingers at everyone else but not myself. I still have to constantly think about motivating myself or keeping myself in check. But I do get tired of seeing perfectly capable people make excuses for things they just don't want to do. I would much rather hear someone say to me, "I just don't want to, or I'm just too lazy" then to constantly make up excuses that I know aren't true or aren't completely true.



Lately the biggest thing is when it comes to fitness/health. It seems like I get made "fun of" more now that I'm trying to eat right and work out. People may say things in a joking way but I know it's truly how they feel - "You think you're so good cause you work out!", "Well, Alaythea's won't eat that cause she's healthy", "Oh, I forgot you're on a diet!". And it makes me feel bad! And I hate that. I guess that's insecurity on my part but I feel bad that they makes excuses for themselves but put me down. Is that fair? I do my best to encourage people to be better, to take the step it takes to feel better about who they are.

I have learned over time and with a lot of effort that the way you eat changes the way you feel - mentally and physically. When you are eating the wrong way it makes you physically feel heavy, bloated and out of whack. This effects your attitude and your outlook on life. Working out not only makes you look better it makes you feel better as well - it boosts your confidence to stay on track, to know you have the motivation it takes to daily make the effort to work out hard and resist cravings. I'm an emotional and a boredom eater so it takes a lot of will power for me to resist munching on anything and everything. I have to take a look at why I want to eat when the urge hits me - is it because I feel sad or depressed? Or am I bored? I curb boredom eating by making myself find something else to do. Piano has helped me alot, when I feel the urge to eat out of boredom instead I make myself go sit at the piano and practice for awhile instead! Learning your habits and tendencies is key to keeping yourself on track.

The biggest excuse I hear all the time is I DON'T HAVE TIME!!! Hey, I used to use it all the time. It was my biggest one to fall back on. Being a stay at home mom I felt like I was always taking care of my daughter, or picking up the house, or running errands with my mom or mother in law, etc. etc. but one day I realize that I have time for what I make time for. I have time to watch TV, I have time to get on the computer, I have time to snack......and I realize I have time to work out for an hour or an hour and a half a day. I have to make meals anyway, so why not make them healthy? I make time to snack so why I don't I buy healthy snacks. It's just as easy to grab an apple as it is a cookie. Sure, it takes a little effort, a little planning ahead but believe you me, we all can do it!

For you it may not be health & fitness - it may be reading more, or spending more time on crafts, whatever it may be don't let excuses keep you from doing it. Make a plan, set a goal and DO IT!!! I promise you, no matter how busy you THINK you are, you have some extra time around somewhere - don't watch TV at night, use that hour instead to do whatever it is you wanna do (read a book, work on a craft, get a good work out in!). If it's fitness and health you want to work on take 15 minutes each night and plan out your meals and snacks for the next day. Go ahead and cut up and bag what you can. It's not a difficult and impossible as you think!

I love it when people ask me about how I've gotten where I am so far - I still have a ways to go, believe you me! But I know how impossible it felt to me when I first started working out and trying to lose weight and get fit back in 2009. I've learned alot of "tricks" and I've gotten into a routine with it now. But before it took some trial and error and a lot of effort. I love giving tips, answering questions the best I can and pointing people in the direction in order to get fit at home (hint, hint - beachbody.com!) There are also so many websites and phone app's now that help you keep track of calories and food intake and make it such a breeze (I personally use myfitnesspal.com's app for my iPod). If you can't purchase a workout program or get a gym membership right away a great app for home work outs is the Nike Women's Training App. It's FREE and it's AMAZING!!! I've already used it once this week since I got it and I'm going to use it again tomorrow. Right now I'm doing Insanity and adding extra workouts three times a week using the Nike App. Monday I did both and at the end I was exhausted and shaky but I felt SO good - so accomplished! I kicked butt! Lol!

Whatever it is you want to do, DO IT! Stop making excuses and do it!

"Not managing your time and making excuses are two bad habits. Don't put them together by claiming you don't have the time!" - Bo Bennett