So, What is Your Excuse?

“What is your excuse?”

You’ve probably heard or read that from a lot of “fitness” influencers and it might have made some of you feel guilty about not being able to go on a “diet” or workout at a gym, because they would often be followed by a story of how someone worked hard to lose weight and become fit. Heck, even my story has been used for that purpose. Not directly, but I’ve received messages like, “sana ako rin” or “goals!” And as much as I take those as compliments, since I really did work hard to be where I am right now, I don’t like using my story and struggles to compare my choices and journey with others.

Your journey is your own.

As much as I post a lot about my weight loss journey to inspire and motivate other people to start on theirs too, I also make it a point to give emphasis to how we all have different circumstances, privileges, and struggles.

A mom of three with a very demanding full-time job, may not be able to do the training I do, nor prepare meals that way I do. I live on my own, I work from home and I coach on the side. I have my own set of struggles and privileges. That is why I always remind people that if they want to start a healthier lifestyle, do not try to copy how other people do it. Assess your current lifestyle, find ways on how you can do small tweaks and work with what you have.

I know I work at a gym, but I got to be honest – you don’t need to go to the gym to be healthier and fitter. Do not let privileged “fitness” influencers make you feel guilty for not being able to go to the gym. Not everyone has the budget nor the time for it. But if you do, I suggest you go and visit one. I will be bias about it, but CrossFit is a real game changer for me. Visit your nearest CrossFit affiliate box and try it out.

Find what works for you and focus on your own goal.

You do not need to lift heavy weights, you do not need to run 42k, you do not need to eat salad or go keto every day. You just need to find what will work on you based on your lifestyle, your job, your responsibilities, what your body can do… Basically based on your own self.

Some people say eating healthy is expensive. No, it doesn’t have to be. Your normal one cup of rice, meat and veggies every meal is okay. Basically, your typical Filipino meal, just cut a little bit of calories.

Don’t have time to go to the gym because your work is demanding or maybe the commute is eating up most of your supposed “free” time? Try a little bit of walking every once in a while, or maybe do some workout at home. If you don’t have the budget for some equipment, do some body weight work outs then. Or go to Youtube and browse some dance fitness routines you can try out for 10-20 minutes at home. Hey, even cleaning the house is a physical activity in itself so count that as well. How are those for options?

Never compare; rather appreciate your progress.

When you’ve already started your fitness journey, it’s easy to feel disheartened when someone progresses faster than you do. I’ve been there. You see, I have ADHD. It’s harder for me to absorb and process information than most people do. It takes a lot of practice, patience and hard work for me to learn techniques and skills. Good thing I have the most patient coaches! Another thing is some people have more time to train than I do, and that is okay. That is their privilege, and it’s out of my control. And because it’s human nature to feel a little bit jealous with other people’s progress, process it this way – use them as a motivation to not stop working to reach your goals. Whether it’s to be stronger, fitter, run faster, use them as your inspiration and remind yourself that you’re doing your best. Be proud of every step you take in reaching your own goals and commend others for their successes rather than hating them for doing better.

Just love your body and take care of it. The rest will follow.

At the end of the day it all boils down with how much you love your body. Body love is about loving your body and taking care of it, because you want it to be healthy and reach its full potential. Once you learn how to really love and take care of yourself, you’ll realize that you don’t have to force things to it. You just have to give what it needs, give it some treats every once in a while, and just continue moving at your own pace and in your own time.

Remember that you are in control and your choices are your own.