A New Year usually brings on a “new resolution” for some. The one that tops many peoples list is weight loss. I don’t make New Years resolutions anymore. I set short and long term goals as needed. My attitude has always been if I really need to do something I don’t need to wait until the start of a new year to accomplish my goal.

During the first few months of the New Year, the gym where I attend is more crowded than normal. It’s filled with people who are determined to lose weight. They come to the gym religiously but after a few months you don’t see them anymore. Why have they failed? In most cases, they didn’t have a plan. They have a desire to lose weight, but they really didn’t think of how they were going to accomplish this. After the first few months they become disappointed and stop working out.

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People make all sorts of excuses as to why they cannot work out. Injuries, lack of time, hate exercise, or they don’t have a gym membership. I’ve worked as a physical trainer, and occasionally I still train people. The excuses I’ve heard are many. I’ve found that if a person really wants to work out it they can. They need to get past the main person that is holding them back, themselves. Along with the physical workout, they need to engage in a mental workout. Your mind is powerful if you continually tell yourself you cannot do something in most cases you won’t its self-fulfilling prophecy.

For example, one of my workout partners has used injury as an excuse of why he cannot have an effective workout. What was his excuse? A leg injury, Initially I didn’t question him about t; however, as time progressed I felt the need to learn more about this injury. In his case this injury had happened over four years ago.

In my mind, I suspected part of what was holding him back from working his leg was himself, but I told him to check with his doctor to see whether he could work out his left. After he received the approval from his doctor, I gave him additional leg exercises. In his case, he had the ability to work out harder with his legs, but his mind told him he couldn’t. What are his results? He’s getting a better workout because he isn’t using his legs as an excuse. He realizes that even with his old injury he can still work out.I’m not saying everyone who say they have an injury cannot workout. That’s something your health care provider has to decide. I do believe that many of us hold ourselves back because in our mind we believe it cannot be done.

If you want to lose weight set realistic goals be positive. If you face minor, setbacks don’t let those keep you down. We all make mistakes. Pick yourself up and keep moving.

Question: What’s holding you back from losing the weight? What’s holding you back from exercise?

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