AND the Tortoise Wins by a Hare!!!

I remember when I was about seven or eight years old watching the "Tortoise Beats The Hare" cartoon. Here you had the cocky and boastful hare who was just convinced that he was going to beat the slow ass tortoise. But all the while the tortoise remained cool, calm, and collective. No matter all the sensational hype of the hare the tortoise kept firm in his abilities and stuck to his guns. When it was Showtime the hare blew the tortoise away…in the BEGINNING. But in the endurance phase of the race he lagged behind and the tortoise won. And we all know why right?

BECUASE HE PACED HIMSELF!!

I see this all the time when the weather heats up or with a dawn of a new year. Those who were afraid of the blistery cold weather and the dark morning sky all of sudden turn into seasoned Olympic athletes with boundless energy . Determined they venture to the gym morning, noon, or night or sometime morning, noon, and night!! They are so excited that they tell anyone who has ears how early they woke up and all the hard core ab exercises they did. They insist that going to the gym nonstop is okay because they are motivated and you got to strike the iron while its hot!!!

This superhuman effort makes them feel powerful but then……. it happens. “Hey (insert name here) you want to go to Chili’s with us at lunchtime????" You say to yourself no…but then you start to bargain and say, “Well I can order from the healthy menu and still stick to my diet”. Okay I will you that but then some generous person orders the triple play and then you say to yourself, “Gee just one, no two, I'm sorry three little buffalo wings won’t hurt...besides it's protein and my body needs it to build muscle.” (LMAO..ok..and all that fattening sauce is just what you needed…anyway back to the story) Well before you know it you had the appetizer, margaritas, a healthy entrée (side eye and stare) and 3 spoonfuls of apple crisp with French vanilla ice cream that you are sharing with three other people, but that's okay because you didn't eat the whole thing. (ummm..okay..lol)

While you are not completely thrown off course you have started to pack your bags to “Square One Land.” Soon the trips to the gym slowly began trailing off and then you say the kiss of death, “You know what!!! I just can't seem to get out of bed. Or I don't like the crowds at the gym with all those people staring at me... let by this treadmill or workout tape instead. Besides look at all those sucess stories!!” If you find yourself here well CONGRATUALTIONS !!!You just collected another piece of dust for your house.

My point is that the battle of the bulge is a marathon not a sprint. Although it would be nice to lose 15-30 lbs in a month it is not feasible nor is it healthy. To stay in the game I say do the following:

1) Join a gym – I'm sorry working out at home will not give you the same results as going to the gym. Unless you plan on buying $15,000 worth of equipment in your palatial 3 bedroom home then it’s not going to work. You need to rely on your community to help you…you are not an island!!

2) Seek professional help– Personal trainers don’t just tell you how to use a machine. Hell that’s what the diagram on the machine is for. They are there for emotional support!! You are going to want to stop and they will tell you why you have to fight. They will switch your boring routine to something new and challenging. And if they are really good..they will give you the right nutritional plan to jumpstart your metabolism.

3) Start off going to the gym only 3- 4 times a week. If working out isn’t a regular activity you slowly have to get your body adjusted to the extra hour or two you will be up. Yes it’s hard to wake up early or to extend your day. But we are sophiscated animals and just like a plant we adapt to our environment. Pretty soon you'll do it like it's nothing.

I’m just saying folks you can’t expect to go from Aretha Franklin to Halle Berry in 3 months. It’s time, determination, and persistence…and that only comes through time…

If you’re having a problem staying in the game…leave a comment below…it doesn’t hurt to ask.