The Word on Weightloss

I’ve probably heard it all. Just like a grade school teacher who’s heard every excuse from his or her students not having their homework, I’ve heard every excuse as to why individuals can’t stick to their weight loss plan. Too often we fool and excuse ourselves into thinking it’s OK to skip a workout or indulge in our late night ice cream sundae. If you allow yourself an excuse for everything that happens, you’ll no longer have a weight loss plan to follow.

Below are the most common excuses I hear from friends, family and fellow weight loss goal seekers. The idea is to address the excuse, examine why it’s happening and determine a way to address it head on in order to stick to your goal.

#1 - I don’t have time.

• Nobody has time, evidently. We’re all perpetually busy, even when we’re sleeping we’re busy! The more hectic our lives the more likely we are to fall off the wagon and eat more fast food then our weight loss plan allows. First ask yourself – are you really too busy or are your priorities in the wrong place? If you have an extra hour to watch your favorite TV show, you have an hour to workout or prepare a healthy meal.

• Address your excuse, head on. Instead of sitting around watching TV, get up and do something. Record your favorite show and save it for a rainy day, or play it in the background as you prepare a healthy meal. Use the time to head out to the grocery store and buy enough healthy fruits and vegetables to last you the rest of the week. Encourage yourself to spring into action – take charge of your life, don’t let it take charge of you.

#2 - It’s Friday, and I’ve been good all week!

• Congratulations! You’ve been the model student of your weight loss plan all week. So, you think it’s time to reward yourself with a day (or full weekend) of binge eating – everything evens out at the end, right? I thought and did the very same thing FOR YEARS, and the only thing it got me was a bigger number on the scale each Monday morning. Was that champagne brunch really worth it?

• Address your excuse, head on. While there’s nothing wrong with a little splurge or reward from time to time, it’s always a balancing act that requires a little planning. You should enjoy that Sunday brunch with old friends, don’t get me wrong. Indulge yourself in the finer things from time to time; just balance it with a morning jog before you go. Better yet, reward yourself with something that will encourage better habits – a new workout outfit, pair of jogging sneakers or an extra session with your trainer. Rewards don’t always have to be full of calories.

#3 - I had a stressful day.

• We’ve all had those days where we’re anxious all day long the emails don’t stop and the phone keeps ringing. When will it stop? Chemically, your body produces hormones that can increase your appetite and if your stress levels continue over time, lead to fat storage in the abdomen which can throw you right off your weight loss plan.

• Address your excuse, head on. Research shows that exercise, specifically high intensity cardio workouts, can biochemically calm subjects under intense stress. Tap into your natural capacity to bust through your stressful lifestyle. Start your day with a workout and stabilize your equilibrium before your day ever begins. Literally, reward your brain with extra oxygen through the cardio activity that pumps extra blood through your body. More blood means more oxygen and more oxygen will lead to full functioning brain cells.