It’s 2009. Your old excuses for not getting in shape won’t work. As Dr. Evil (Austin Powers) said, ZIP IT! I don’t want to hear them anymore! Read em’, then haul your excuseless butt to the gym!
1. I have no time
According to a story in a recent issue of Men’s Health magazine, Barack Obama works out for 45 minutes a day, 6 days a week. Obama doesn’t just play basketball either. Our new president stays fit to lead with cardio and weight lifting. He also says he wishes he could train 90 minutes a day. Have you ever seen what the daily schedule of a U.S. president looks like? If the busiest man in the world can train every day for 45 minutes a day, then what’s your excuse? ZIP IT! You ain’t got one!
2. It’s too expensive
Getting in shape certainly is expensive… if you keep wasting hundreds of dollars, month after month on worthless “miracle” weight loss pills, internal cleansing gimmicks and “magic” potions that all claim to make you slim. Deceptive advertising and slick marketing for bogus diet aids is more rampant than ever. 2008 was the year of the wu-long scam and acai berry scam and of course the ubiquitous “cleansing” and “detox” gimmicks. Unless you put on your critical thinking cap and learn to investigate before you invest, then you’ll get scammed by 2009’s flavor of the year as well. Your quest for those elusive “6-pack” abs will not only continue to be expensive, you’ll go broke. Walking, jogging, calisthenics and body weight exercises are FREE. If you want to know what’s really expensive, tally up the cost of legitimate expenses like natural food, gym memberships, fitness education, dumbbells and so on, and compare that to your doctor’s bill when you’re sick.
3. No one will support me
Experts on social influence say your income will be approximately equal to the average of your 5 closest friends. Not only do I think that’s pretty darn accurate, I also believe that your health is your greatest wealth, and your physical condition will be about equal to the average of your 5 closest friends. It’s a real challenge to stay positive, focused and active when you’re surrounded by critical people and negative influences. However, in 2009, lack of support is no longer a valid excuse. Online social networking is exploding (check out Twitter and Facebook) and more IN PERSON friendships and associations are being made from an internet connection than ever before. Training buddies can be found online. Connect with them. Mentors and coaches are easily found online. Hire them. Support forums have been around for years. Use them. No support from your current friends? Stop whining, start reaching out and go make new ones. In 2009, support partners and new friends are just a click away.
4. I can’t lose weight because of my genetics
The marvels of modern medical and biological research are astonishing. Our top scientists have mapped the human genome! In the past few years, numerous genes linked to obesity have been discovered. However, the obesity epidemic we’re facing today has only developed over the past 50 years and genetic mutations that lead to serious obesity are extremely rare . Genetic predisposition only means that you have a tendency. It’s when the genetics meet lifestyle and environment that the genes express themselves. If you have a family history of heart disease, is it smart to smoke, eat junk, be a stressed-out type-A maniac and a couch potato? Well of course not, and it’s the same with obesity. If you have a tendency predisposing you towards obesity, you’d better be the person doing the MOST exercise not the least. You’d better be the person paying the MOST attention to your nutrition. You’d better be the person with the healthiest lifestyle. But unfortunately, it’s usually the opposite. Most people throw up their arms in frustration saying, “what’s the use, I was dealt a bad hand.” Sorry. That won’t fly in 2009. The latest research says genetics are a factor, but a tendency is not a destiny!
5. I don’t know how
The lamest excuse of them all in 2009 is “I don’t know how.” NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL AFTER THEY HAVE ACTUALLY DONE IT! Ponder that for a while. You don’t need to know how at first. To get started, you only need to know WHAT… what is the goal? Setting well-formed goals is the master skill of success. Not wishy-washy resolutions that have no resolve behind them, but real goals. In writing. With emotional ooompf! As you continue to affirm, visualize and focus on your goal with clarity, belief, and expectation, your new goal or intention will be received by your subconscious. Once a goal is accepted into your subconscious mind, your brain, being a goal-seeking mechanism, will turn on your attention filters to seek out all the information you will ever need to reach your goal. It will also turn on an infallible navigation system to guide you to your goal like a torpedo to its target. As your brain guides your attention, your direction and your behavior, you will discover that today, in 2009, there is more good information, coaching and instruction available than ever before. And when you’ve activated that “success radar” in your brain by setting goals effectively, it’s not as hard to find honest, accurate and helpful HOW-to advice as you might think. In fact, you found this webpage, so you’re doing pretty good right now aren’t you?
No more excuses. In 2009, remember my Body Fat Solution Creed:
You can either make excuses or get results, but you can’t do both!
About Tom
Tom Venuto is a fat loss expert, lifetime natural (steroid-free) bodybuilder, independent nutrition researcher, freelance writer, and author of the #1 best selling diet e-book, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle: Fat-Burning Secrets of The World’s Best Bodybuilders & Fitness Models( e-book) and The Body Fat Solution (Hardcover, Avery/Penguin Books). Tom is also the founder and CEO of the Internet’s premier fat loss support community, the: Burn The Fat Inner Circle.
“No one knows how to do anything until they have actually done it”I LOVE that! I never really thought about it that way. Great article, Tom!
NO TIME – Thats the excuse I used to use. After all I have a full time day job, another part time job that takes up 5 nights a week and a weekend job that takes up the rest. Now I just get up early and I can still fit in 90 mins workout 5 days a week. If there is no time, maybe you don’t want it enough!
I wrote an article recently on how to get fit for free – including isometrics, free online exercise videos, body weight exercises, etc. And some woman totally missed the point, whining about how expensive it is to work out. Great post, Tom.
Great as always, preordered your new book, great reading can apply to so much more than just fat loss!
well, my exuse was that no one would support me…. , i didnt know how to get that support, eventually I found an online community (sparkpeople.com) who would…..HAPPY NEW YEAR
Excellent stuff Tom, I read that about Obama recently which is pretty cool.I have ordered your new book and would like to let some clients know when it may be available in Australia, any ideas on eta?2009 is going to be an amazing year!
I always have time, and I make it-I have my own weights, and nutrition is so simple! It’s funny no one gets it. I support myself and need no one else for that. As for genetics, I do come from a fat family but that’s because they can’t eat right. I can maintain 5% bodyfat and I do. All of where my body accomplishments come from not knowing, but finding out how by experimenting and keeping a mind that is open.
Hey Tom,Great post as usual. I am interested in philosophising about the last one “I do not know how”.I think that was an excuse that may have been valid for my parents generation. My dad is 72 and my mom is 68.It was vogue to smoke and drink, and maybe they did not have the health and fitness info readily available to them growing up.And unfortunately from what I can see; they are paying the price. Out of my parents 17 siblings, only one is drug free and strong and independant. I am so happy that it is my mom. But one is dead (live exploded at the age of 45 from drinking) and the other 15 have had at least 2 surgeries, are in and out of nursing homes, suffer from all of the big ones, heart attack, stroke, diabeties, high blood pressure, you name it, and they got it.It hurts to see the quality of their lives very low, and those of their family members, friends, etc. Like you said, Tom, it’s like the ripple affect.You, me, and our clients are starting a revolution Tom. This is big baby, we got to rattle some more cages baby;And like I told you before; my bet is that you won’t jump on the couch :)Darin L. Steen (aka The Chicago Kid)
The truth is that you don’t have to think too much about your weight loss start.Just do it, otherwise you will change your mind.
You couldn’t say it any better! I can speak from my own experience, excuses are just what they are excuses. I wanted results so I didn’t make any excuses, that is exactly how it works! Thanks again for all you do!
Great article! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard people make these excuses (and even used them myself at times). Excuse #2 is my personal favorite because people never fail to take into account just how expensive things like prescription medications and doctor visits cost.Excuses are merely justification for laziness. Great article!
Well, shut my mouth, why don’t ya? I’ve been told – no excuses!Love you Tom and thanks for keeping it real with us!Happy New Year -I HAVE THE TIME TO EXERCISE. WHY? BECAUSE I MAKE THE TIME. If the President-elect can do it, so can I.YES I CAN!!!
Your list is right on…thanks for the swift kick in the keister that I needed as I rally to get back into a lifestyle that makes me feel better and look better. (Funny how easy it is to walk away from the things that you know you need to do and want to do, but can make excuses like “no time.”) I am giving up TV for a month to see how much time I actually have and waste…if I am watching TV it will be on the elliptical machine at the gym! Thanks for the inspiration.
Simply – Thank you Tom!Now, let’s not form a line, we’re all going to go “Massive” big time in 0-Nine!
Totally agree. I’m a trainer and nutritionist with 11 years in and I have to tell all out there who are considering listening to this guy – stop thinking – start doing. Change your mind – Make a shift. If you’re looking for a house address and the numbers keep going down, turn around cuz it MUST be the other way. I know what we in the industry tell you to do is against logic to some degree – what is really crazy is doing the same thing again and again. Here’s the shift. Forget losing weight – THINK INCREASING METABOLISM. This guy knows his stuff. I bought his e-book years ago and I always reference it. Make 2009 your year and end the struggle. Take from me (another professional) – this is the answer – supported by experience and connected to science. Continued success Tom
#3 – lack of social support is my excuse/reason.I actually thought for a long time that I don’t need support – I know how to do this on my own!But I do really enjoy finding someone who shares the same interests, and beliefs about food and exercise that I do! And being a member of small gym I have the perfect reason to make some new like-minded friends!
Just found this site today and already have learnt so much!! Thank u so much Tom, all this information is great. I am reading all your articles. Thanks for making it so easy. You cleared out so many misconceptions and confusion from my head! Here’s to a healthy ME!!