Here we are, roughly 28 days into my undertaking to turn a new leaf and get fit.  It seems like a short period of time, but in those 28 days I’ve celebrated a birthday (I’m now 36 for those of you keeping score), we’ve entered a new decade and most of all – I’ve found that when you put your mind to doing something, that thing you dreaded the most becomes second nature and the dread turns into, dare I say it, a love affair.

Ok, so maybe I don’t have a love affair going with the gym, but you get my drift.

I commented on Facebook the other day that when I started I was able to run around 3.0mph on a 4% incline.  Today I discovered that I can now maintain a 4mph run at a 6.5% incline – a dramatic improvement.  I also find myself no longer making excuses for being too busy, too tired, too [insert excuse here] for working out.  I find that if I miss a day (other than scheduled days off) I really feel bad about it.  Most of all, I find that going to the gym is something that relaxes me – and is a great way to blow of steam and the stress of everyday life.

If you are reading this chances are you want to lose some weight yourself; I’m willing to bet as well that you are like me – you see this monumental task in front of you and come up with 1,001 excuses about why you can’t do it today, but by golly you will get to it tomorrow!  Funny thing is, tomorrow just never seems to come.

My advice to you is simple – just do it.  Don’t be scared to go to the gym.  For so long I didn’t want to go because I thought I’d be the laughing stock of the whole place.  You know what I discovered?  There was a whole gym full of people just like me.  Sure, there are the gym jocks – but even they flash a smile when they see a “regular” like me walk in nowadays.  You will find that once you get past the first week or two, and become a regular face that your whole attitude is going to change.  Instead of dreading it, you will think of it as “your place” where you can escape from the real world and blow of some steam.  You will start to get to know faces, and you will start to make friends.  Heck, I even ran into an old work colleague from 10 years ago the other day!

I know what helped me a lot, and still does, is to bring along a few podcasts.  Get yourself an iPod or a Zune and load it up with music and podcasts.  I love to listen to Cartalk and Leo Laporte while working out.  Not only does it take your mind off what you are doing, but it lets you focus in on yourself and drown out the world around you.  You don’t even need to get a fancy one, the cheap iPod shuffle works just fine for the gym!

It only gets easier folks – no matter how out of shape you are, no matter what fears you have, just get out there and start doing it and you are going to be amazed at how your attitude changes in just a few short weeks.  Your body will thank you for it!

Tags: gym, motivation, working out