I’ve heard so many people complain about the shape they are in. Lots of excuses and futile attempts at dieting and exercise.

Most of the ones who complain have been jumping from fad diet to fad diet for years thinking that this time, this diet is going to work. These are the ones who have been overweight most of their lives and yet are holding on to old behaviors and excuses.

It is mind boggling to me the amount of people who have treatable diseases like Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, knee and back pain due to lack of exercise and poor diet.

Yet they ignore the recommendations of their doctors and instead go on medications.

I’ve heard sad stories of obese patients being admitted to hospitals for obesity related diseases that can’t be treated because of extreme weight. Some lifesaving medications or measures will not work on the extreme obese patients.

This can change! We have control over our destiny. We make the choices to continue to live or to continue to die or worse, continue to live a life of quiet desperation.

I’ve had thousand of clients, many who have seen dramatic changes in their lives and many who leave exactly the way they came in.

Here is the difference

Successful client makes gradual changes to their current diet by eliminating the foods that are are unhealthy and have no nutritional value. They exchange soft drinks and sweet tea for water.

Unsuccessful client tries to eliminate everything from their diet, cutting calories too low and skipping meals and then going on extreme binges.

Successful client understands and accepts the fact that healthy weight loss will be anywhere from 1-2 pounds a week and that losing weight and getting in shape is a process that can take weeks to a year depending on the amount of weight they need to lose.

Unsuccessful client is looking for a quick fix hoping to drop 20 pounds in a couple of weeks, hence the jumping from diet to diet, program to program.

Successful client keeps a food journal so that they learn about their eating habits and see where they might need to make changes and more importantly see how many calories they are eating.

Unsuccessful client does not keep a food journal and makes excuses why jotting down the food they eat is too hard. They guess at the calories and are convinced that they are not eating that much.

Successful client eliminates processed food from their diet and instead begins to eat fresh fruit and vegetables and lean sources of protein.

Unsuccessful client continues to eat fast food, processed foods and non nutritious food because they don’t have time to eat healthy.

Successful client make time to exercise at least 5 times a week. Even though they are busy and have kids. They will carve out at least 15-20 minutes out of their day to exercise. They make themselves, their health and fitness a priority.

Unsuccessful client makes excuses and does not make their health and fitness a priority.

Successful client make healthy choices when eating out, eats smaller portions and brings home leftovers or shares large entrees.

Unsuccessful client eats out frequently, makes poor choices, chooses high fat food and alcohol.

Successful client accepts setbacks and yet continues to live a healthier lifestyle, getting back on track immediately.

Unsuccessful client will tell themselves that the program or diet is not working and will move on to the next fad and diet.

Successful client will challenge themselves in their workouts, making goals and striving to improve.

Unsuccessful client will do just enough to get by, skip workouts and make excuses.

Successful client will do effective full body workouts, lift weights that are challenging and push themselves out of their comfort zone.

Unsuccessful client will have a house full of exercise gadgets including ab rockers, ab circles, ab-o-sizer, shake weights, and a treadmill being used as a clothes hanger.

Successful client will be consistent over time knowing that losing weight and getting fit is a lifestyle change. They will choose an eating plan and exercise that can be done for life.

Unsuccessful client will get frustrated and give up after a week or two of not seeing changes. They will “diet” and eat healthy maybe a few times a week and then eat poorly the rest of the week. They convince themselves that they are in fact eating healthy and that this diet, this exercise, this program is not working. Again, they move on to the next quick fix, not realizing that wherever they go, there they are.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve trained thousands of clients, I’ve seen success and I’ve listened to tons of excuses but more importantly, I’ve been there myself.

Losing weight and getting in shape is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. If you can do the right things even 80% of the time, you will be well on your way to a fitter, healthier life. You will lose the weight in the safest possible time, you will be stronger, have more energy. You will be a better spouse a better parent a better employee.

Spending time doing the right thing will actually free up more quality time so that you can enjoy the life you’ve been given.

It’s up to you. Take inventory of where you are and where you want to be. Make goals that are doable and write them down. Put them somewhere you can see them through out the day.

Start keeping an exercise and food journal. Write down your excuses and then write the steps you ARE going to take when you start making excuses.

Accept the fact that this is not a quick fix but a lifestyle change.

Laurel