Making excuses is easy. Blaming others is easy.

“I gained weight because I had a kid.”

“I gained weight because I got out of the service and stopped running.”

“I got out of shape because I hurt my foot and never got back into it.”

“I am genetically predisposed to being overweight.”

“I am overweight because I can’t exercise, and I have very limited mobility.”

Blaming anything or anyone at all is easier than taking responsibility for your own health and fitness. The truth is that you don’t need to exercise to be at a healthier weight (and healthier weight means not obese). I know that there’s a huge movement afoot to accept all body types, and I agree that not everyone can have the thin and slender look, but there’s a difference between a healthy weight and an unhealthy weight despite looks. But getting to a healthy weight can be accomplished through a few simple (and I didn’t say easy) steps:

• Cut grains, dairy, legumes, alcohol, and anything with added sugars (aka Whole30 or Paleo Diet).
• Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night (may vary +/- 1.5 hours for some people).
• If you can, do some exercise. You don’t need to be a gym rat or become a heavy-duty runner. Just something active for 30 minutes, three times a week.
• Persevere. Do what it takes to resist temptation and stick with the plan.
• NO SABOTAGE. That means no cheat meals, cheat days, etc.

Don’t be a victim. Don’t play the victim. Take responsibility for yourself and your health and do what it takes to get it done. You can be healthier by eating right. The list of people who have turned their health, weight, and fitness around is growing in my personal circle of friends. I was not an anomaly. My wife is not an anomaly. We are the average people putting in average work and getting normal results. You can get the exact same results by being honest and doing the requisite work.