I’m Not Pregnant, I’m Just Fat
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I had an interesting conversation with a good friend of mine a while back. She told me how she saw a t-shirt that said, “I’m not fat, I’m Just Pregnant.” She then joked and said, “I need a t-shirt that says, I’m not Pregnant, I’m Just Fat.” While she was able to make a joke out of it, she does not like her situation.
Exercise is boring and gyms stink!
She admitted to me that she thinks exercise is boring. She also refuses to join a gym (she used to belong to one) because she hates the smell and is a bit of a germ-a-phobe. Already I thought this is going to be a tough sell. I told her that I would love to help get her into the exercise habit since I used to dislike exercising, I understand where she’s coming from. I suggested she try bodyweight workouts that can be done right at home. I told her how I do them when I don’t go to the gym and it takes me about 30 minutes. I also mentioned how there are so many combinations of exercises to do, she shouldn’t feel bored. Finally, this sparked her interest!
Below is an excellent video that demonstrates several bodyweight exercises that can be done with no equipment:
I’m not going to stop eating what I want
My friend is the most stubborn when it comes to food. She loves her desserts, her Starbucks®, and fast food. I told her how I was a huge fast-food addict and big soda drinker. I told her how even to this day I still struggle with the eating thing but I have changed my ways quite a bit. I try to make better choices and I don’t drink soda anymore. I had to be firm in this area and said that the diet is going to have to change or else no amount of exercise is going to shed the pounds. It’s just common sense and she realizes this. The stubborn thing we’ll have to work on together.
I’m happy to say that she is willing to keep exercising with me and this is great because I care about her well-being and I know that together we can really motivate each other to stay on track. I am linking her to some great motivational fitness blogs (you can find in the right sidebar) and lending her some of my fitness magazines to learn more about diet and exercise. It will hopefully keep her in a positive mindset.
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It sounds like your friend and you are coming at this from very different places! Here are some suggestions from somebody who also hates the gym and has some “attitude” about being told I can’t eat some stuff: I like to have exercise DVDs that are fun. Right now it’s Richard Simmons Disco Sweat and I have a bellydancing DVD on order. I have found that I had to commit to exercise on a daily basis.
As for food, try baby steps. First just cut out sodas and juices and replace with water. Once she can do 1 thing, she’ll feel like there is hope in yet another area.