Another year is coming to pass and here you are still in the same shape you were last Christmas season. And right now you may be thinking that 2015 will be your year to reclaim those glory days.
You remember those days, right?
Back when there was visible muscle on your body and you didn’t have that squishy roll of fat hanging around that waistline. Back when you felt great about yourself and weren’t embarrassed to take your shirt off at the beach. Back when you actually liked looking in the mirror.
But I’m not here to beat you up and tell you that the only reason you look the same (or worse) than you did this time last year is because you’re lazy because you already know that. Even if you aren’t willing to admit it and use excuses like “I had a really busy year” or “work got in the way”, or “I have small children at home”, deep down you know it’s all bullshit.
The Good News
The good news is that just because you took the last year off (or the last 15), it doesn’t matter one bit because today is a new day and the only thing preventing you from achieving all your fitness goals next year is you.
I fully understand that life is busy for you, that you have a ton of responsibilities, and you think you are doing the best you can to keep it all together. I really do.
I’ve lived that life for many years now and know full well the struggle of balancing everything at once. As we get older, we take the focus off of ourselves and place it on things like our children, our new home, getting promoted at work, and a million other things.
And while that’s quite normal, the one thing we forget to do is circle back around and refocus on ourselves at some point. One year turns to five. Five turns into ten. And then we’re 45 years old, 40 pound overweight, look and feel like a wet bag of shit, and have lost almost all motivation to be fit.
Almost.
There is always going to be a part of you that wants needs to be lean, fit, virile,strapping, and full of vibrance. As men, we have an innate desire to look great, be supremely confident, and be in control of our lives.
And getting your ass off the couch at Starbucks is the first step.
Do It Now Or You May Never Do It At All
I’ve seen waaaaaayyy too many dudes give up on their hopes of being fit simply because they couldn’t get their shit together for long enough to make it happen for themselves. Excuse after excuse left them at the mercy of late night Taco Bell runs and copious amounts of Anheuser-Busch products.
I don’t have to remind you (or do I?) that eating everything and anything you want will suck your energy and motivation right out of you, not to mention turning you into a fat bastard. And given that it’s easier to get a Big Mac than it is to get something healthy, it’s no wonder so few men are taking control of their health and making positive changes.
But that can all change in one instant. The instant you chose to make a better decision.
Don’t be the guy who still talks about how great he looked in 1992. Be the guy who gets stares everywhere he goes because he knows he looks great right fucking now.
It’s Your Life
Life is not all about being fit, looking good, and having six-pack abs. Not even remotely. Life is about living it the way you want to live it and being truly happy. It’s about having the experiences and relationships that fulfill you, bring peace into your heart, and make you smile.
But being a healthy person, full of energy and confidence has a very strong correlation to living this way. I can tell you from experience that breaking out of your rut, both physically and mentally can and will change your life for the better.
I want you to sit somewhere quiet and take a hard look at your life. Where you are and where you want to be. Who you are now and who you want to become.
And then commit to taking one step, no matter how small, towards becoming better.
Your life if passing much faster than you think, so do this now. Do it for those you love and for those who love you.
Do it for yourself.
Do it today.
You’re right, life is passing by much faster than we think. But it takes much longer than we think to get in shape. It takes a long time to even begin to see the first tiny results. In my experience, it takes even longer to begin to FEEL the first tiny results. The first days, the first weeks, the first months feel miserable.
That’s what makes it hard. Yes, time is flying by all too quickly. Is it worth it to feel even more miserable for an indefinite, but definitely LONG, stretch of time trying to achieve a nebulous “healthy, fit” life? And will I feel any better when I get there?
Or should I just go grab a Pepsi and a Twinkie and feel good RIGHT NOW!?
Agreed David. Once you start seeing those initial results, it does get monumentally easier.
I see your point about about suffering through a “healthy” lifestyle, but it honestly isn’t like that. Once you have adopted new healthy habits and your energy, motivation, and confidence is up, it is a great feeling and it ceases to become hard.
Instant gratification will always rule our minds but we have to be stronger than that! And you can be too..
Twinkies are the new “superfood.” Don’t you keep up with the latest research? 😉
http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/20657/twinkies-the-new-superfood/
That can’t be serious…