No Excuses…Fist Pumps To PFG.

I have no shame in telling you that today’s post is completely and totally motivated by Jen, who shares her life with us at PriorFatGirl.

Jen has shed over 100 pounds, and now shares with everyone the struggles and successes that she faces in keeping off the weight.  I have been reading along for several months now, and all I can tell you is that she is an amazing, amazing woman.

I began reading Jen’s blog in on August 1st, 2009, when another fellow blogger posted a message to keep her in our prayers.  Jen’s mom was hit by a car while she was on a walk, and passed away on the way to the hospital.  Gut wrenching.

I didn’t know this girl, nor had I even been reading her blog, but I cried when I read about this horrible tragedy.  I couldn’t imagine how I would pull myself up from that type of situation if it had happened to me.

If the tables were turned, I imagined what I would turn to in order to cope with the intense feelings of grief involved with this type of situation.

Would I turn to my old method of coping?  Would I begin abusing myself and my body again?

That day, I went back and read Jen’s prior posts for about 2 hours.  As a very naturopathic-minded person, I don’t agree that drugs and surgery are the answer to weight loss and improved health.  I immediately admired Jen because of the fact that she had shed so much weight without the help of surgery or drugs.  She accomplished her weight loss on sheer will and determination alone.

As I continued following along with Jen in the aftermath of the accident, I read her struggle over the course of days and weeks.  I read her disappointment as she realized that she had gained back 10 pounds while trying to process the reality of what had happened.

Then, something great happened.

She stood up, brushed herself off, and got back on track.

She knew that the only way that she was going to get through this horrible time in her life was to show her body protection in the form of good food, exercise, and kindness.  She took her time, listened to herself, and did everything at her own pace.  She wasn’t escaping the pain through exercise, she did it because she knew that she would feel better.

The point is, she did it.

She didn’t make excuses.  Her mom died very unexpectedly–but she didn’t make excuses.

We ALL make excuses.  I am often the queen of excuses.

• I’m tired.
• I worked all day (see “I’m tired”).
• I DESERVE it.
• It’s the holidays.
• I don’t have the time to exercise.
• I’ll work out extra hard TOMORROW.

I make excuses to eat more than my body needs.  I make excuses why I can’t move and sweat.  I make excuses for making excuses.

But.

Excuses won’t keep my body (my temple?) healthy.

Excuses won’t protect me from diabetes and heart disease and high blood pressure.

Excuses won’t help me live a long, productive, active life.

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So, with Jen as my inspiration, I’m going to stop making excuses.  Because really…if losing her own mother didn’t cause her to make an excuse, what gives me the right?

It’s NO EXCUSES Tuesday.  What are you going to do about it?

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