Thursday, February 11, 2010

Why Not?

Why not today?

I mean, seriously: why not?

Why not change the things that we both know need changing, dig down deep and really give this journey a true shot at success?

Why not finally sit down and craft a workable plan, something that makes sense and something you can stick with? Something that doesn’t feel like a death sentence and something that you know you can sustain.

Why not start moving your body a little, because I’m here to tell you that this journey is so, so, so, so, so much easier if you can burn up some calories instead of simply reducing how many you consume.

And if you are going to exercise, why not commit to doing it every day, even if it’s simply walking around the block or doing ten minutes of a workout DVD?

Why not believe this is something worth fighting for and… well, fight for it?

Why not accept that this is going to be a time-consuming process, that’s it’s going to be a day-after-day-after-day kind of grind?

Why not embrace the idea that you can have a little fun along the way as well?

Why not find a lifestyle you can live with and start living with it?

And while you're at it, why not tell me your story? And I don’t just mean what you ate for breakfast and what you did at the gym. Tell me your hopes and your fears, about your successes and your setbacks. Tell me who you are and tell me why this is important to you.

Why not make today the starting point of a new phase in this journey, take this opportunity to shift this baby into a gear that you maybe didn’t even realize you had?

Why not do it, do it right and start doing it today?

Why not?

49 comments:

  1. Jack, you are doing such great, inspirational work. Thank you for sharing your gift with so many.

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  2. Your blog today made me cry.

    Why not indeed.

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  3. AWESOME POST!!! I needed that today.. I just recently decided to get serious about working out and I love reading post that inspire me to keep going.... I'm trying to loose about 60 lbs and I've been doing cardio and weights 6 days a week and watching my calorie intake.... I've not gotten on a scale yet... but I know it due time I'll see some improvement since my first day of working out on 1/13/10... thanks for the encouragement!

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  4. I've thought about this a lot. I mean, really, why not? Time is going to pass regardless. and a year from now I'll either be fatter and unhappier, or I can get my butt into gear, make a few small sacrifices (in the grand scheme of things) and be happy, healthy and look like a million bucks.

    I think I'll choose the second option.

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  5. outstanding words Jack, thank you!

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  6. Jack I enjoy your humor and then you sprinkle in some seriousness every so often, and then I'm a captive follower. Love it.

    I came out of Fat Denial Syndrome (FDS as I call it) and realized living at 270 lbs is NOT healthy and I am NOT happy. I was offered a chance to change my life by my trainer and I jumped at it. I'm only three months in to this life changing set of events, but I'm getting there. I'm learning a lot about ME for once. I'm not doing this for anyone but me. I am hopeful that the positive side effects of weighing less, being healthier & happier, having more confidence will rub off on my children and husband. They are very important to me and that keeps me in check. I'm learning how not to suffocate my feelings with Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies and that it's OKAY to cry if I need to cry. This is three months in. I can only imagine in three more months how much farther I'll be on this journey. :)

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  7. Great post! Why not indeed. I finally realized this a few weeks ago, and have finally developed a workable plan and am sticking to it!

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  8. Why Not? I need to ask myself that along with Why YES! My Story is too long to post here but I am glad you asked. My biggest hurdles have been my relationships and my PRE instilled judgments.
    My relationship with others, my relationship with myself, my relationship with food and money and the never ending reality of searching for who I am and letting that shine through all the layers!

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  9. Why not indeed!!!!!!!!!! Great post Jack! Don't wait for tomorrow.

    Right now my fear is the teeth.. headed to UCLA to start that crap... UGH!!! Had a good wokrout first though! :-)

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  10. Great post as usual Jack but do you really want me to tell you why not (because I probably could, she whimpers) or is that rhetorical?

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  11. Hi Jack. I'm what some lovingly refer to as a "Blog Lurker"; one who follows but never comments. :) Today, I have to comment because you're post hit home in a major way. I've started this journey at least once a year for 3 years. And as a result manage to lose approx 20 lbs each year. But then the fear of other people's expectations sets in. And I quit. I'm afraid that if I don't progress at the right pace or if I have a set back that the whole world will stare in mockery and disappointment. What I really want is to be able to drop the 70 lbs that I'm holding on to as a security blanket and start living my life again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to lurking mysteriously.

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  12. You already know my story. :)

    What you may NOT know is that you, and you alone, are my inspiration for getting better and better in the gym and with the fitness end of this gig.

    I am just going to DIE if you ever give up your blog. Please don't leave us...EVER. :)

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  13. This is great. I am going to write up a couple lines that you wrote on post it notes and stick them to my mirror. Why not, indeed.

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  14. I decided to quit the Scarlett O'Hara routine with the atttitude "After all, tomorrow is another day." I had tons of health problems and I didn't want to die at the age of 46.

    I finally got my head in the game and decided to stop putting things off until tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.

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  15. Dorothy: Oh, will you help me? Can you help me?
    Glinda: You don't need to be helped any longer. You've always had the power to go back to Kansas.
    Dorothy: I have?
    Scarecrow: Then why didn't you tell her before?
    Glinda: Because she wouldn't have believed me. She had to learn it for herself.

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  16. "Why not?" is right! If not now, then when? And it's so true about taking the little steps, and progressing consistently! Great post!

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  17. Great post as always. I love reading your blog. It is funny, insightful, and honest. You really do a great job...

    I have one of those flashy things on my blog that says...."If not now....when?" It's so easy for people to put this weight loss thing off. Unfortunately time is going to pass one way or the other. You'll be fatter or thinner in 6 months. Take your pick.. Dang, I'm going to take my own blubbering advice :)

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  18. Why not beats the words I can't any day.

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  19. Thank you for this post! That's what I'm working on, doing things that I can KEEP doing forever, I know I won't keep doing the things that I have to "gut it out" to get done.

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  20. I have a girl who joined my online group over a year ago...she has been losing the same kg's since she first started, she has wasted over a year and is currently * fallen off the wagon * is her status..I cant even gt myself to reply to her anymore as I have no more words after all this time...
    I wish she could read this post.

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  21. Hey Jack I just came across your blog this week. I like your post today. It was reading posts like this for the last 3-4months of 2009 that gradually got my head into the right frame of mind to start the weight loss journey again. Keep it up because even if someone reading it doesn't start "Today" it still probably registered within them and they will eventually start like I did.

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  22. Great post! I've been cycling to and from work for a year and I'm getting fit. Couldn't figure out why I didn't lose that much weight with 2 and half hours of cycling 5 days a week until I got really honest about what I was eating. OK, so I still have a hard time laying off food at night but at least now I know exactly how to get results and why I didn't get them. Being honest without being ashamed is a must. And yeah, why not? I figure I deserve to look good and, especially, to feel good.

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  23. I can never give up food as a comfort device when anxiety starts up. But I have learned to substitute low calorie snacks for the stupid fatty ones.

    Secretia

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  24. Everytime I get an email from someone say.."I'm starting a new healthy life in (insert # of days/weeks"), I'm going to send them this link. Thanks.

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  25. I think I can manage this lifestyle, 4 perfect days in and I'm not doing too bad, but the weekend is coming and the boyfriend is coming to town and it is Valentines day and we are going out for dinner... but guess what! I think I can still do it (I already know what I am getting for dinner at the restaurant- healthy smoked salmon, something great and something I love)

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  26. Excellent post! This has got me thinking....
    Claire xx

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  27. I have asked myself the same questions and decided why not try? No one ever said life was easy. But your blog makes it a bit easier! Thanks for following me at My Lipstick Life but I could really use your boot in my a$$ over at my weight loss blog Desperately Seeking Size Ten :)

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  28. Well,I sure can't think of a reason why not.

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  29. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”

    If we think back, we have all had those "aha" moments, when something clicks into gear and we felt the power kick in to actually go above and beyond.

    Thank you for doing that with this post, and for being an inspiration! I'm new to your blog, but I love it!!!

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  30. Great post. :) Who I am and my story be on my blog. :)

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  31. Why not indeed?

    Thanks for that, Jack. My story is on my blog as well, if you've the time or the inclination. I'm very new to this road, but I feel like I'm heading in the right direction.

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  32. "And if you are going to exercise, why not commit to doing it every day, even if it’s simply walking around the block or doing ten minutes of a workout DVD?"

    Oy, this. I seem to still be stuck in the "I deserve a break!" mind-set. Really, what's 10 minutes? Geesh.

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  33. Why not? Because I said so, young man! Don't make me bring this up with your father when he gets home, or you'll be in real trouble!

    Oh wait.
    Wrong scenario.
    Sorry... don't mind me... I'll just be moving along here...

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  34. How did you get to be so smart? All I see in this post is smartness--I want some of it. I'm just starting to blog about my story--and your words are encouraging. Especially on the exercise front. Thanks!

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  35. Today I was walking and thinking...It has only been nine months and my life is completely different.
    I am thinner, I am happier.
    So any of you reading these comments after reading Jacks awesome post.
    Let me just say
    DITTO.
    Do it today.
    Time WILL GO....one way or the other.
    Do you want to be closer to who you want to be...or do you want to be filled with regret for letting more time pass you by, for letting more of your life seep away.
    DO IT NOW.

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  36. You seriously ROCK. I love it. Why not?

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  37. Jack, I look forward to your posts everyday and you helped me stay the course through the holidays, I thank you.

    Why not? I have been saying that to myself most days. Every day that the CouchTo5K program looks hard because it is a time I have not done yet. I say, why not do it? See what you can do. Guess what, I have done every single day on the plan and finished week 6 today. Why not try the 30 day shred? Why not skip those cupcakes that you had to make for the cake walk.

    Everytime I ask myself that question, I realize there is NO FAILURE if I choose to do those things.

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  38. I ask myself this all the time...

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  39. I asked myself all of these questions a year ago....when the big 40 was starting to loom ahead.

    And more than why not now....was the 'you're running out of time' that motivated me.

    As always, thanks for the reminder of why I'm doing this.

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  40. Awesome. Something I needed today. I have lots of Whys here findingfitme.blogspot.com.

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  41. When I was a kid, I asked my unlce "Why?" and he answered "Why not?" That got me thinking about the reasons for the things we do. Now, here's a post about "Why Nots". Why not, indeed.

    Why not be the person I know I can be?
    Why not live the life I want to live?
    Why not pursue my dreams today?
    Why not?

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