Getting Into Shape
April 23, 2009 
71 Comments
Spring is just around the corner. Actually – calendar-wise, spring has already sprung! But for some of you across the country, it’s still nut-busting cold. And you’re saying to yourself – when the weather gets warmer, I’m going to drop that weight.
Let me ask you all a question: how many years have you been telling yourself that? How many years have you told yourself that, and how many years have you actually dropped the weight?
And why are you waiting?
Why are you waiting to start an exercise routine that you could have done years ago? Why are you doing this? Why are you always waiting for things?
It’s funny. If you look at life, a lot of people who tend to want to lose weight are people who put off other things in their lives as well – they are procrastinators. These people are always thinking that they’re just waiting for a good time.
I coached a guy once who wanted to lose twenty pounds. He told me, “As soon as I lose this weight, I’m going to start talking to women.” So I let him buy into his excuse for a little while. He was on an exercise plan, and I said, “Why don’t we start the coaching when you’ve lost the weight?”
So he loses the weight, and a month later he comes to me with a new excuse. He said,
“Now that I’ve lost the weight, I’m going to start talking to women as soon as I buy a new wardrobe.”
Are you one of those people who just pile one excuse on top of another? As soon as you lose the weight, you’ll start meeting people. But then you lose the weight, and you decide that you have to buy a new wardrobe before you start meeting people. Once you buy the new wardrobe, you go ahead and pile another excuse on.
But in reality, if you want to lose weight, or start meeting people of the opposite sex, you have to start doing that today! You have to start taking action today.
Why are you waiting for everything? What are you waiting for? Do you want to be a waiter in life? That’s what I call you guys – you’re waiters. You’re always just waiting for the “perfect moment.”
There is never going to be the “perfect moment.” How many times have you seen a woman that you’re attracted to and you’ve waited for the “perfect moment” to approach her?
There she was, walking to the bathroom. You decided you were going to meet her by the bathroom and casually bump into her.
Guess what? You and ten other guys have been thinking about that same perfect moment. You and ten other guys waited for that perfect moment, and you all collided like a bunch of stooges at the bathroom door, looking like fools.
There is no perfect moment. Get out and start now!
You’re always going to be full of excuses. I have found that people who procrastinate now will always procrastinate – unless they step it up and start new things every day.
Do you want to lose weight? Get out there and start losing weight TODAY.
Change your diet. So many people want to lose weight, but they refuse to change their diet. Or they don’t exercise regularly.
Or maybe you’re into the fad diets – you’re on your tenth or eleventh fad diet, but you’ve never exercised. And you just can’t figure out why you’re not losing weight. But you’ve never done a combination of diet and exercise.
It’s about making those changes. So stop the excuses and procrastination!
Regardless of my weight I have never let it influence me in how I interact with people. I have never used my weight as an excuse for anything. Despite the fact I am considered obese, I am still as confident as when I was at my normal weight. Actually it’s not all bad you get a wonderful chance to filter all the “shallow” people off real fast and get to keep the real ones. Anything you experience you can turn into something positive and being overweight has most certainly opened my eyes to some very interesting observations on human behavior.
My weight loss concerns is mainly for health reasons. I have just finished a 30 days worth of Raw food, amazing results in my body, can’t remember if I ever felt this good in body, my skin and my mood.
This girl Jenna Norwood http://www.jennanorwood.com/ owns a restaurant that I had the food delivered from. I don’t think, I will be all raw and uncooked forever, but I do know from now on it will be a big part of my diet. I got a dehydrator to prepare all kind of neat things in it.
What I have found it when you want to make any diet change it will the most successful if you have your food delivered. Yes it’s not cheap but If you have gone a lot of years not being able to succeed the regular way, it will be totally worth it. This way you don’t need to think about buying food all you need is right in front of you. With 3 kids I don’t think this would have been a success if I had not gotten it delivered.
One of the more important steps for me to gain confidence was to lose weight. My family is typically large. I topped out at a very scary weight and started making changes to my lifestyle to reflect that. I’m still losing weight, but now I excercise regularily and I am looking good. One of the best boosts to my confidence is seeing all the women out there who stop and take a look. Makes you feel good.
And it was relatively easy to get started. Like David teaches, it is more important to take the initiative than it is to measure your goals. I don’t weigh myself. I didn’t want to get discouraged. So every day I honor my achievements and stay positive and sure a few years later, the results are very favorable.
Mike
STOP eating refined sugar! That is the first step. No soda, no candy. Replace those things with tea and fruit. imho.
I’ve been a waiter all my life. But then I decided, no more messing around. I got my gym membership, changed my diet, and now I’m feeling better about myself. Granted I’m only a month into it, but I’ve started and it’s gotten better as I work out more and eat better; I feel less lazy, and dropped 6 lbs.
However, there is one thing I’m a waiter on. I’ve been waiting to pay off my student loans before I buy a car, and waiting until after that to either rent or buy a house of my own. What do you think about that? I would like to believe that it’s reckless to say, “I’ll buy a car, and a house at the same time, RIGHT NOW!” I know it’s a bit off the topic of working out, but I was addressing the being a waiter point.
a.movie-
I used eat a lot of junk food, sodas, and caffeinated drinks, however after I slowly started to cut my caffeine, and junk food, I noticed a big change in my energy. It wasn’t easy at first to cut it all at once, it took some times. I do have to admit, sometimes I lose the war against guilty pleasure:)
This is my favorite blog so far. Thanks David!!!
There were many times when my friends wanted me to work out with them and I always had an excuse not to such as bad weather or fatigue. Then, I start procrastinating when it comes to my job, dating, eating healthy, saving money, etc.
Can you create a mp3 download so I can put it on my ipod?
I agree with what you had to say today.
I think its really important to always check up on our health, which is our most valuable assets, without it we are not going to be happy.
David – i have watched your videos and you look very fit, what kind of work out do you do for abs or just in general?
I also heard that you do yoga, which kind of yoga do you recommend?
Mike-
I lost 35 pounds in 6 months my senior year of college because I was sick of looking like the chubby chode in pictures. I like to joke that for every ten pounds I lost, my subsequent girlfriends got fifty pounds lighter
I did cardio 6 days a week and ate nothing but salads and grilled chicken. It’s all about cutting carbs, upping protein, small frequent meals and doing tons of cardio. Good for you for taking the initiative – and you’re right, it feels great when people compliment you on how good you look.
I’ll also add, on the same theme of “making excuses,” I often chuckle to myself when I think about how many of my relationships started because I made a very small, split second decision to talk to someone. Usually, I’m lying in bed with a girlfriend, staring at the ceiling, and I say “man, I’m glad I stopped and talked to you on my way out of that place four months ago, otherwise we wouldn’t be here…”
You got nothing to lose.
johnny love— are you checking out david’s abs on the videos:)
btw…i like your name, i thinking about changing mine to howelove.
actually you know what i am challenging sandra today.
sandra- if you change your name to horny sandra, then i will change mine to horny howe, are you up for?:)
ok i need to add something about today’s blog, don’t want to make it sound like i am talking about sex all the times like you guys think here in this blog, well actually to be honest that is what i am thinking about now:) where is lisa, marina, sandra …..to stimulate my mind:)
so about todays blog- i have always been a skinny guy, but i started to hit the gym since last year because i want to look good from inside and out. So far i have gained 15lbs. My goal is to put on 10 more pounds of mass, that will be perfect.
Noah-
That is a great feeling when you’re looking at the ceiling and thinking to yourself or telling her that man if I didn’t say a word that day, I may not be here with you tonight laying right next you!
Mike, Leo and Noah
Congratulations to changing your habits..Personally I find the greatest reward is feeling you are in control of what you eat again and that you no longer crave the junk so often.
Horny Howe…easy just changed it..
Sandra might just be up for it..
Johnnylove
depending of your flexibility level watch out with what kind of place you take your class. If you are new and not very flexible I highly recommend to go to smaller classes where the teacher is in tune with the fact you are new. You can get pretty injured from yoga if you don’t do it the right way. Personally I love Hot Yoga/Bikram it’s a 90 min yoga in a room with 105°F (40.5°C) with a humidity of 40%.
Here I thought I was the first to post still waiting moderations
any suggests anybody how to put on more mass? or coach yakub?
howe-
you want to get bigger.
it is simple.
eat more calories……and more frequent meals!
forgot to mention and drink a lot of water!
thanks coach Y! i think i need to eat more like you said, i am lazy on that part. i feel like i am stuck, and not going anywhere in the gym.
If you want to bulk up, eat your weight in grams of protein a day and lift 3-4 days a week. 160 pounds = 160 g protein daily. And I’d recommend a trainer. I saw big gains when I started doing the right exercises.
hi Marina- how is your day going?
marina- i am waiting for sandra, we have deal and thats when i will change it:)
Yakub
Just turned amazing…always love greetings from you.;-)
Could you wake up the west coast my first is still awaiting moderations, I had mentioned my raw food diet it’s just shy of amazing.
Have a great one
Noah- i go to the gym 3 days a week, you think i should go 4? and are you saying that i need to consume amount of protein equal to my body weight?
Same here hun always love seeing you on the blog, and reading your comments:)
ok I will give west coast a buzz, so that your first comment goes right through!
Have an amazing day!
Howe-
3 is fine. It’s just important to let the muscles have 24-48 hours to rest and rebuild between sessions. If you lifted every day, you would actually see little to no gain.
The protein thing I was told about by a trainer – but I would double check at your gym you to see what they say.
Leo- great to hear that you are choosing healthy living. I think it doesn’t hurt sometimes to spoil yourself or call it rewarding your healthy choice:)
thanks Noah- i sued to go more than 4 days before, and i didn’t see lot of results so that’s why i changed to 3 days, and it gave me better results than more than 4 days.
what you said make sense and i will check in my gym with the cuties, ok j/k i will check with the trainer or something.
Thanks Marina & Yakub- I tell you I am more in control of my eating habits than months ago. It definitely gives me more energy in my daily life.
Marina-
Thank you for the recommendation. I have heard of bikrams yoga, tell more about it, how long you been taking it for?
I am new, I don’t think I am too flexible as I used be in my early 20′s. So I think I have to search for smaller classes!
I’m the opposite of all you skinny types out there. I put on weight, muscle or fat, really fast. Diet and excercise are the key for me. I’d love to be able to tell you how to add weight, but its easy for me.
Johnnylove,
I have been doing it on of off for 15 years, but I would not recommend Bikram for a beginner unless it’s a studio that has a specific class for only beginner. just take a regular beginners class.
But this is what I have my 14 years old do Flextasy, as he is not very flexible. The same guy Blue is my Hands-on Myofascial Release theraphist.
http://www.evolutionhealth.com/stretching_exercises.htm
Johnnylove,
My comment is waiting moderation but search Blue Dunn and look under his Flextasy program it’s very good and my son is using it and not before he is able to do the whole with no problem is he ready for Yoga.
I’m a waiter too. I wanted to loose weight and look good for about a year now. As a matter of fact I actually gained a lot of weight in the last 2 months.
However, for the last 1-2 weeks I changed my diet around. I don’t eat that much sweets anymore but therefore eat a lot more vegetables and fruits. So far I even lost 2 kg without really doing anything, that’s great.
Exercise? Oh man, I was running around for 2 weeks, wanting to start and I had the perfect excuse “I don’t have a training plan that I can do without any equipment”. I dont have the money to go to a gym at the moment, and the next “real gym” with coaches and stuff is like 1 hour away, so good combination.
Today I finally got my ass up and did some exercies. Still I don’t have a real exercise plan (and I’d love to get one if someone would have one handy) but hey, better do something – even if it’s not perfect – than nothing.
As far as it come to meeting people… Naah, not yet. This might be an excuse, but I don’t like how I look at the moment and I don’t like people touching me right now as it makes me unconfortable with myself mostly.
But yeah, I’m really, really good at finding excuses and wait for ages instead of just doing things.
I’m glad I finally started loosing my weight. Can’t wait to be able to take of my shirt at the pool and feel great about it. (Dang, I really need to find a good all around wourout program I can do at home, I want this so badly)
Yo DW team:
Yesterday the most coolest thing happened which blew me away.
I was in the grass quad area at my college with the biology club planting a tree and hanging out. It was a grey and cool day. I turned to my 2 o’clock to see who was walking across the way passing us by, a girl–I thought to my self \’hey theres Tiffany!’/(she is soo cute). Man! I’m happy to see her She is my friends girlfriend and goes to my church.
She is about 50 ft away walking I smile big, wave towards her and starting walking to talk to her. I say “hey whats up?”, “Nothing much” she replies. \’Shes looking a little whiter in the face today than last night hmmph maybe its makeup’/, “Where you going?”, I non chalantly ask, she said the library, then she starts asking me about the tree and the club and we start walking to the group. I’m kinda of thinking she is as tall as me. Thats strange I never noticed that– ah! who cares. I ask to play with her phone, the “view”, she says its not nearly better than my iphone. While doing that I felt I need not mention my friend or what she talked with pastor about the night before, because thats none of my biz, so Im thinking what to ask her when I realize damn she is looking just a little different \’Shit! I dont know her’/, I tell her whaaat… in a drawn out puzzled tone she mimicks me and and i stare at her and she like puts her hands palm up like “what” and i say “I’m totally thinking you’re somebody else right now”, you totally are she said. We laugh we exchange names I ask “So why did you stop and just go along with it all?” She told me she didn’t want to blow me off because she thought i was inviting to join the group by the tree.
Holy crap! I have never been so happy and relaxed approaching a girl and I rarely get nervous anyways to boot. It was like Khiem said in our bootcamp to just assume she is my really good friend and she wants to talk to me. I lived that by accident. It was also like the beach lesson where you take the lead and invite random girls to help us build sandcastles. She followed me and just went along with it because my friendly and awesome personality was totally present because I thought she already knew me! This has shot my confidence to an astronomical level because not knowing who I am this total cutie talked, walked and followed me. I’m not the ugly hobbit with crooked teeth, big nose and receding hairline?? I’m not the boogeyman?? Wow! I am stoked at how this works. There was no monkey chatter no nerves no editing just me seeing my “friend”. I made a new friend on top of my other friend.
Thanks, David, for a much needed kick into action.
Years ago I work for a business and all I did was sit in front of a computer and snacked on junk food the next thing I know my butt was looking like the chair…Then one day I bought a bicycle and the hill I had to go up was not a bump in the road it was high fun going down but going up it was a chore…When I finally came home to Tennessee I started dieting and lost over 24 pounds in just months by watching what I eat… When I first left Tennessee I was in a size 10 but when I came back I was in a size 24 it about made my dad cry and he asked me why did you loose that beautiful figure you had…Now also my weight loss was due to my stress and anxiety that I was going through even today…But all in all I am yo yo person when it comes to weight look at my pics on facebook.com under Sandra Hutchens
Oh Howepua don’t cum all over yourself when you peep…
Oh before I forget want exercise work at a retail that will keep u on ur feet and no time will the pounds be coming off I ought to know I work for one…
Thanks Marina! I am looking into it now. How do you feel after doing yoga for years?
“Years ago I work for a business and all I did was sit in front of a computer and snacked on junk food the next thing I know my butt was looking like the chair”
…………..that’s hilarious Sandra, how you said it.
“Years ago I work for a business and all I did was sit in front of a computer and snacked on junk food the next thing I know my butt was looking like the chair”…………..that’s hilarious Sandra, how you said it.
this is so retarded, I don’t know how I have 2 same comments:)
Sandra- i think you just made howe’s dream come true and he will cumm all over the place plus the blog:)
Jimmi,
You are being needy…You really want everyone to read what you say..;-) We will have to disinfect this place after Horny Howe comes back..Yikes..
Sandra,
I thought you meant the chair was stuck to your ass when you stood up.
You had to bring up parents up, ok here is one of mine.
My late husband took my dad to a notorious stip joint in Tampa. Allegedly my dad was not into it, as he told me, we pretty much have tell all policy in our family..not always a good thing..I still don’t believe him, but that another story. The funny part was that as they left, as a real class act I was waiting outside in a car, yes Florida will turn everyone into trailer trash,..my dad told my husband..They were bigger than Marina’s…just plain wrong but I guess that’s the fun part of having families
I can see howepua now licking the computer screen once that mayonnaise hits it…lol
Marina
There were times i wondered where that damned thing was
Exercise is something that many people have an excuse about..I don’t have time, I hate sweating, I don’t look good in those tight pants, etc. Again, the boogeyman can stop you from doing it!
I think of exercise as a basic need that is part of the day..just like eating and sleeping. I try to fit it in no matter what..it’s not an option.
Marina–yoga is a great exercise for the mind and body. It also forces you to stop and slow down which I need to work on!..thanks for the suggestion.
Jamie “Taz”–thanks for sharing that story…that’s fantastic and very inspirational. I’m so happy you are experiencing that openess and not having those excuses to meet people! Keep it going and keep us informed!
Sandra,
Now you know…I still can’t find my cat maybe that got stuck in my ass too….
MarinaTheNotSoOrginal- i am too needy for your attention:) glad i am getting some from you!
how do you plan to disinfect this place?
Sandra this for you too. I didn’t cum yet, it takes me a lot longer than you think:)
Marina- good one:) i prefer the mayo from a woman, it just more appetizing, i can lick that all day long!
Jimmi,
I am not even going to go there..I am leaving it up to Horny Sandra and Howe to figure out
But somehow I think when DTO comes here he will have a clever solution…
MarinathenotsoOriginal- your dad’s story was hysterical:) is that really true? now i am curious
Let me get my mermaid siren out and see if DTO can hear me oh danny boy, come out come out wherever u are give him time he will be here tomorrow he must be out looking for another lay…
Marina are you the same person as Marinathenotsooriginal?
and where is DTO today?
love the new name- horny sandra:)
Jimmi,
Oh yeah….followed by a trip to Disney with way too many odd looks from him to Minnie Mouse..All I could do was shake my head smiling…
MarinaTheNotSoOriginal is Marina’s Imiginary friend..
oh i imagine all you could do was smile and blush:)
its a crazy story, now i wonder do all dad’s think like that, but few say it out loud.
I have one that might put the icing on the cake…When I was younger my family and some friends of theirs and families as well was camping and I had fell asleep this is what I was told there was this couple that slept in a pup tent the woman came out of the tent and stripped down and dressed in her swimsuit and I don’t know if the man did also but I could see the males of our party with their tongues hanging out like wolves when that woman was doing a strip tease….
Talking about being adventagous
Jimmi,
Nah I have still to cross a subject to would make me blush. I come from a very open background were anything goes and can be discussed. Some of my best friends were always boys and we would discuss the sex they had with their girlfriends.
Sandra,
a everyone is topless where i come from and nudist beaches is not a big ordeal. Besides why would she put a swimsuit on, swimming nude is the best feeling out there.
Whoever sits with the blog the No-I-Am-Not entry is mine.
I can definetly relate to this… I remember back when I’d first read “The Game” I wouldn’t approach a girl because I was afraid I didn’t know the right thing to say was. So instead of being inspired to higher action, I only ended up with yet another excuse for why I shouldn’t try. It wasn’t until a year later until I realized that the best way to learn is to actually go out and try things. Wish I read this blog back then…
Bag of Doritos $4
A repair man to get Sandra’s ass unstuck from her chair: $40
A pua dude (howe) who is not a 2 pump and dumper (if such thing exists): Priceless
lol
Funny about Bikram yoga Marina. I ‘ve been meaning to stop by this studio in my neighborhood to check it out, a friend of mine has been doing it and loves it. I promise the blog posters I am going t do it tomorrow, no more being a waiter:-)
I have added some pounds after college but still go to the gym 3 times a week and play soccer at least once. I need go get going on yoga again, at first I hated it but then begun to like it.
Oh, my friend also told me there are a lot of hot women who go to that yoga place:-)
Dan,
Nothing like cute yogis especially Bikram all glistering with sweat in tiny tight outfits….øh i mean the boys…..no shirts on….yes Bikram is very hot indeed
For once I’m not guilty! I did 2 half marathons this year.
I’ve been meeting new people, too. I even sent the first email online.
great post David! Yeah, I already got started on losing weight. I got a goal that on the end of May (It’s the end of summer for us in the Philippines) I’ll go shirtless on the beach! Yeah!
I always take pictures of myself every Sunday after days of workouts. Every picture I take, my belly shrinks and shrinks. I’m happy! But I will NEVER make an excuse that I need a wardrobe to meet girls. I already got my dad’s closet of clothes. I’ll use those instead 
howepua,
Noah is right on on his body building and weight gain advice. I used to be pretty skinny too. I had to eat more… and definitely used protein supplement to put on some mass… It only took me 2-3 months to gain the 15 pounds I wanted in muscles.
Adding bulk is less about working out often as it is about working out enough but eating MORE and resting often… so that your muscles can build up.
Thinking about that.. I should start eating more again. Been lazy LOL
you guys suck… ;P
I wish I had the problem not eating enough…
I have to eat less…
This is so unfair
I will.
The whole weight-loss, stop-smoking or talk-to-women thing has one root problem. Some call it procrastination, I see it as not being able to take control over one’s life. I mean look at our today’s society – everything is about immediate rewards, we are all looking for short term gains and giving a shit about long term wins.
Losing weight is a long term thing. Short-termed you’ll be suffering a lot because you can’t eat or have to change your diet. No one will have compassion with you – thats life!
Talking to women is the same thing. The first 100 or so approaches hurt and they are really not easy. But if you can’t do these, no one can help you. If you do them, your long-term success is almost guaranteed!