I've been overweight since my childhood. I've gone from chubby to fat to obese. I've accomplished a lot of things in my life, but losing weight has always been my Achilles' heel.
Every night when I get in bed, I think about the opportunities I wasted that day. I think about what I could have done to get closer to my goal but didn't. It's a frustrating way to end the day, knowing you had another opportunity to do something about your situation and let it slip away.
But lately, I've started wondering if something has finally clicked in my head. Have I finally figured this thing out? Have I finally found a way to break out of a rut I've been stuck in for decades?
Only time will tell.
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In six weeks, I've lost 26 pounds. I didn't discover some revolutionary diet or secret formula. I reduced my portions, avoided carbs as much as possible, cut out desserts, candy, and sugary drinks, and added a couple of brief walks throughout the day.
That's it. Nothing fancy. No miracle product. Just making better decisions consistently.
And you know what? Going to bed feels different now. Instead of thinking about what I failed to do, I can reflect on a productive day. My clothes are getting looser, which is another encouraging reminder that the effort is paying off.
Starting is the easy part. Committing is where the real work begins.
You only have to start once. Commitment, however, requires you to show up every single day, even when you don't feel like it.
And the sooner you start, the better.
If I'd started putting in this effort ten years ago, I'd probably be in better physical condition today and capable of more intense workouts. Instead, I'm older, heavier than I'd like to be, and facing a tougher climb because I allowed time to pass without making the changes I knew I needed to make.
That's 100% on me.
And this isn't just about losing weight.
It's about paying off debt and fixing your credit. It's about quitting smoking or drinking. It's about getting out of an unhealthy situation and finding a healthy relationship. All of these things require commitment, and some require you to make better decisions every day.
Let's talk about relationships for a minute.
If you're single, think about where you were ten years ago. I remember some of the women I tried to get to know when I was single. Some of them are still single today. There's nothing inherently wrong with that. Being single isn't a failure, and neither is getting older.
But time changes your circumstances.
Some of those women now have more children and/or their bodies aren't the same. In a young person's market that makes it that much tougher to attract dating candidates.
The same applies to male friends of mine who have been single for a while. They're older, their circumstances have changed, and some of them may not exactly be bringing the same energy or appeal to the table that they did when they were younger. They may have baby mommas to explain, responsibilities in multiple households, etc. How many women want to inherit that complication?
Yet people still want the benefits of a healthy relationship without necessarily committing to becoming a healthier partner. They want somebody who meets their expectations while refusing to examine whether they meet anybody else's.
You can't keep doing the same things and expect time to deliver a different result.
Eventually, you have to take responsibility for your part in the situation. You have to work on yourself, make changes, and stop expecting life to reward you for intentions you never put into action.
The bottom line is simple: STOP WAITING.
The longer you wait, the more time passes, and the harder some things become. You can't get yesterday back. You can't go back ten years and make better decisions. All you can do is decide what you're going to do with today.
I pray that I won't be looking at this blog post a year from now, knowing I failed to stay committed. I'm writing this because putting it into words makes it real. It holds me accountable, even if the only person checking up on me is me.
I'm no longer waiting.
I need to feel better. Look better. Be better.
And the first person I need to stop making excuses for is myself.
The only thing stopping me is me.
Now, let's see what happens when I finally get out of my own way.