I’m a little bit of a control freak (shhhh…don’t tell anyone I actually admitted to that). I like things done HOW I want them to be done and most importantly WHEN I think they should be done…you know, the right way!! Because I am fairly busy and often feel overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done, I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for shortcuts.
That’s why I own a crockpot, a microwave and a rice cooker and rarely use my oven. My hair is almost always in a ponytail. (In fact, the other day, I wore it down and my 5 year old commented, “Wow, mom, you look pretty today!”) I drive on a road that is clearly marked “Road closed to ALL through traffic” because it’s the quickest way to get across town (please don’t call the cops on me). I’ll eat a cheese sandwich over a healthy salad because it takes less time to prepare. And I hate to admit it, but I’ve tried to take shortcuts to get skinny. I’ve tried pills, fasts, juicing, cleanses, the cabbage soup diet, the 3-day diet…you get the point. Guess what? They didn’t work…I know, you’re shocked! I’ve choked down cabbage soup for 3 days in order to lose 5 pounds only to gain it all back the instant I start eating normal again. It’s depressing, ineffective and not healthy.
While it’s great that we’ve pretty much created a new language to save ourselves a few seconds (ur, LOL, BRB, c u l8r, etc.), there is no shortcut to a healthy lifestyle. It is hard. It takes work. It requires dedication and determination. If being healthy were easy – everyone would be healthy. But it’s not and 99% of people who are fit had to sweat and sacrifice to be that way. (I made up that statistic. I wanted to say 100%, but we all know there are a few lucky people in the world who just don’t have to try.)
There is no “shortcut” to six-pack abs, chiseled arms or rock hard legs. Those are found in the gym and in the kitchen. This challenge is all about getting fit in a healthy, sensible, steady way. It is not a diet. It is not a quick fix, and it is not a magical cure. We have seen some amazing success stories here, but I guarantee you, those successes were a direct result of the amount of hard work and effort put in by the participant. It isn’t going to happen just because you registered and paid your fee. That was the easy part. The hard part is putting in the time, making your health a priority, giving up indulgences and working your butt off (literally) in the gym.
Get to work…NOW!
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