I love my workouts.  I rarely miss.  Yes, something must be off in my head.  I do realize this is not a “normal” characteristic.  It wasn’t always this way.  I started the drudgery of working out years ago under the sole obligation to help me loose unwanted pounds (30+, and no, I have no photos.  They’ve all been conveniently destroyed.)  I’m not really sure when the “have to” workouts turned into the “want to” workouts.  But in the right now where I currently live, I love the way lifting weights makes me feel strong and empowered.  I love the challenge of a hard cardio hit of doing more than I thought I could.  I love the way victory feels when I beat my personal bests.  I like knowing I gave it all I had.  It helps me feel accomplished and in control of at least one thing in my life.

If this doesn’t describe you and you are having a hard time relating, don’t give up!  There is hope!!  Weight loss can be achieved without an addiction to exercise.  Yes, you heard right.  A personal trainer whose job is to help people exercise just said that.  Can you believe it?  Now let me be clear, exercise does help and goes hand in hand with eating right to keep you motivated and on track (it also helps tighten up and pick up what was lost), but it is not the most essential element.  So if you’ve been waiting for an old injury to heal or time in your schedule to open up for exercise before starting a weight loss journey.  Wait no more.

Exercise is only 10% of the healthy body equation.  Genetics, which we can do nothing about, also holds a 10% spot.  Guess what gets the remaining 80%…. NUTRITION.  If we can really grab hold of how important the food is that we put in our bodies, I think we can make better food choices and weight loss can be had.    Our weight is a direct reflection of our choices and our health.

As I write this, I am confined to the couch with low back pain.  I have mild scoliosis that causes my low back to “go out” every now and then.  Right now is one of those times.  I’ve been here on this couch for almost a week.  It is driving me crazy!!  The only exercise that I’ve been able to manage has been some slow stretches and a dab of Pilates to try and work the kinks out of my back.  I haven’t burned hardly any calories.  However, I have tried to be careful with my nutrition.  I’ve kept my eats clean and portioned correctly and my calorie count has been right at goal.  But I still feel sluggish.  I looked at the scale this morning and hesitated.  I haven’t weighed all week.  I didn’t really see the point when I haven’t been working out.  I assumed the number would climb but I decided to suck it up, own up and climb on.  To my surprise I lost a pound.  Wow.  Nutrition really is 80% of the equation.

So if you are looking for a place to start your journey and are hesitant on the whole exercise scene, give good nutrition a try.  Fuel your body with lean protein, whole grains, fiber, veggies and fruit.  The fresher the better.  Be careful with anything that comes out of a package with a “healthy” design.  Make sure the label supports the marketing claim.  Look for nutrition – not just low calorie.  

Give it your full 80 and “weight” no more!!