#NoExcuses

Alternate title: The One Where I Publicly Force Myself to See it Through.

This all started with me Googling “benefits of vitamin C serum.” (I’ve been on a beauty kick lately.) I’ve complained to everyone who’s willing/unwilling to listen about my skin’s sallow and blotchy condition. And I also want to get a haircut and fiiiiinally try that balayage technique on my single-color mane (which I noticed is starting to age me).

In a nutshell, I’ve done a lot of internal body shaming and just overall shaming lately. It’s been unhealthy. Then, a wise person said something that’s been on replay in my head:

Shit. That’s totally me. Just how many excuses have I given myself and to other people? You know, subconsciously giving myself a free pass out of taking care of myself?

The Excuses

• It’s too hot outside
• It’s too cold outside
• There are mosquitos outside
• There are noseeums outside
• It’s raining
• I’m tired
• I have no energy
• I don’t want to pay for a gym membership
• I need someone to exercise with me
• No one will exercise with me
• I need a treadmill
• I don’t have money for a treadmill
• I have to clean the house
• I’ll be too tired after I mow the lawn
• I won’t have energy to mow the lawn

If reading these excuses makes you think I’m ridiculous, you’re right. If anything, writing these out have made me realize just how ridiculous my excuses are.

Maybe it’s time I shut up about it or do something. I started thinking about how many years I’ve spent unhappy with what I see in the mirror. Key word: unhappy. Then I thought about how happy and energized I felt when I was in the best shape of my life. I want that back and I want it now.

Why I’ve Failed

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you’ve noticed I’ll say I’m going to lose weight and then I never mention it again. (Hangs head in shame). Yup, I am totally calling myself out.

When it comes down to it, the reasons I’ve failed are Procrastination and Inconsistency. It’s definitely not laziness. People can’t believe I mow our large yard with a walk-behind mower. We have neighbors that have riding mowers for much smaller lots, or straight up hire landscaping companies, but I happily mow our yard with a regular mower. I even started with a reel mower but almost passed out with over-exertion in the Florida heat. Why? It’s exercise and I love seeing perfectly manicured grass.

However, I procrastinate to do “real” exercise. The kind where you’re doing things repetitively (such as lifting weights). With yard work and housework I have instant gratification after I’m done. With exercise, the gratification (aka: a rock hard body) is delayed, and so I give up after two days of exercise…without fail.

When we lived in Georgia, I bought a set of Zumba DVDs. They were really fun and I got a “high” about 25 minutes in. I did them for a few months but saw little results as the dancing didn’t include strength training. My knee injury from a prior car accident also made it painful to complete the sessions. I had knee surgery and all is well, but then all the above excuses make center stage.

My Plan for Success

I came across this incredibly inspirational article that I shared on Facebook. I had completely forgotten about it until now. So I re-read it. And then I followed Kelsey, the woman in the transformation timeline, on Instagram. Which led me to follow Kayla, the creator of the fitness program she follows.

Which led to me, this very morning, signing up for her exercise program called Sweating with Kayla ($20/month, no gym membership required). What I like about the app is that it lays out every single exercise for you on a daily basis. It also prompts you to take a progress photo to keep you motivated. What I love about the program? The after photos. Not just the body transformations, but the happiness that accompany them.

You guys…I mapped it out on a calendar. If I start today, I’ll have 12 WEEKS of exercise under my belt on Thanksgiving Weekend. Twelve. That’s enough for a body transformation photo.

That’s exactly how long it took for me to see a total body transformation in college when I had a buddy to workout with.

But now, I’m not waiting on a workout buddy. I don’t need a gym because you don’t need one with his fitness program. I have climate-control within my own house so I can’t complain about the weather. I don’t even have to bother with meal plans because the program has it.

But most importantly–all of this goes with me where ever I go because it’s an app on my iPhone. And it prompts me with my daily schedule.

So, where does this leave me? Will this turn into a fitness blog? Hell to the no. Others are really successful with that niche, but I have no business doing that. Will I share with you my progress? Absolutely.

I want that. I want that happiness, and I’m willing to work for it.

Because, really, fall is just around the corner. Thanksgiving is not THAT far away. And a Thanksgiving feast is a totally appropriate time to reward my dedication.

I am starting the #BBG program. On my own. Here goes.

And, I’m off to take my before picture.

Wish me luck.