I marvel at the human capacity for stubbornness, sometimes. Every year, starting around Thanksgiving we Americans start promising ourselves we won't overeat during the holidays, or that we'll restrain ourselves.
Then, we do what we really want to - eat. And when the inclement weather hits, we start sitting around more and getting less exercise. The pressures of holiday shopping kick in, the parties, and then the anguish when we finally put batteries in the scale again and see just how much we've gained.
Then there always seems to be this mad dash between Christmas and New Year's to eat absolutely every bit of "junk" food in the house to get it out of the way before our annual New Year's resolution to take better care of ourselves kicks in for a few weeks. It's as though for some odd reason we think that the last piece of pie in the house must be disposed of through the toilet instead of going into the trash can without being digested.
We party hearty, with loud promises to ourselves and everyone around us to "be better" starting 1/1 as we nurse hangovers (the real reason we all have the day off from work), and many people really do make positive changes for a while. We go to support group meetings (that we pay for), we nervously yet determinedly enter the gym and proceed to reacquaint ourselves with muscles that have lain dormant for the last 10 months, and we feel good about ourselves.
About 2-3 weeks of this on average, and we catch a cold. Or we're too tired, or the weather's bad, or our personal trainer couldn't make it... and we lose our stride. Before you know it, you're gearing up for Valentine's Day and all the ads for chocolate and diamonds are everywhere. So we buy chocolate because it's on sale (for a lot less than a diamond) and by the time 2/14 rolls around most people have given up on their diet/exercise plan and very quietly don't mention it to anyone, hoping no one will notice.
If you're one of the fit minority, or you don't see yourself in this cycle of insanity, congratulations! Just know that a LOT of people follow the crazy emotional cycle listed above, and try not to laugh at us.
So what's really the secret? It's not a new gadget, it's not a pill, and it's not some temporary change to your eating habits. It's really just math. Eat fewer calories than you burn, and your weight will decrease. At the heart of all of the crazy science and gadgets out there, that's really it.
There is no pill that will make you lose weight in a healthy way.
There is no diet that will have the pounds melt off as you sleep.
There is no exercise gadget that has the magical ability to make you lean and strong if you don't use it.
If there was a single "magic bullet" that worked with no effort, we'd have a nation full of lean and healthy people. Go to the shopping mall and look around, and you decide for yourself if most people you see are healthy or not.
Free weights, Bowflex, and other home gyms do help you get leaner but only if you use them regularly.
That's it. Sweat equity works. If you did nothing but a bunch of jumping jacks and push-ups for 30 minutes every day, you'd probably be in a lot better shape in 2 months than if you just sat on the couch and watched television.
So my friends, don't buy the hype. Don't buy the pills. Don't buy the gadgets. In the upcoming Fitness Crazy season, flip the channel away from the infomercials. Buy a good pair of shoes and a jump rope, or a yoga mat and a DVD. Pick one thing, and stick with it for 3 months and then decide if it's working the way you want it to. Save all of the money you would have spent on wacky pills, plans, or advice and think about buying a bicycle with it when the weather gets nicer so you can get out and see the world and get some exercise at the same time.
You can only break the cycle by making permanent changes to your habits. Do the research, and start with something simple and stick with it. I would wish you luck, but you don't need it, you just need to make good choices.
Pick your goal, and stay focused!
Best wishes,
Alan.
Well said, Alan!
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