I'm too old. Age 34.- I'm too tired. Okay, It's 12:18am.
- I'm used to my old skin.
- I have three small kids.
- I'd like to go to church more often.
- I have a full time job.
- I'm trying to write a novel.
- I'm trying to revise another novel that I already wrote.
- Facebook is lots more fun than food journaling.
- Facebook is a lot more fun that exercising.
- Pretty sure I have a husband somewhere.
- I need to do laundry.
- I should really wash the dishes.
- Never mind cleaning the house.
- I don't want to get sweaty before church on Sunday or work on Monday.
- I'm thinking of an excuse why I don't want to get sweaty on Saturday mornings.
- My volunteer commitments have hit a new high this year.
- Georgia Romance Writers. I'm the Vice President of Programs and Conference Co-Chair.
- Decatur Book Festival. I'm a stage captain and begging for a good stage.
- I have to change the litter box and feed the cat.
- The media has graciously told me that it is okay to be large, therefore I don't need to worry about my personal health or fitness.
- Don't, don't get me started on the media on black women . . . It is particularly cool for me to be overweight as long as I'm the comic relief. (Now you think of all the things I've said in complete seriousness that you found hysterical. Time for an Arsenio Hall "Hmmm" moment.)
- I'm pretty sure I brought sexy back before Timberlake did. So I don't need to lose weight.
- I gotta man. (What's your man gotta do with me?)
- My weight is my security blanket. Would you make Linus give up his?
- I like food. Buying food. Smelling food. Tasting food.
- I don't know what my life will be like if I hit my goal weight.
- I'm scared.
- I'm healthy enough.
- Exercising takes time away from my family.
- I feel selfish.
- I gain weight when I'm both happy and sad.
- My body is like a big cushion for my kids. They won't want to cuddle with a smaller me.
- I'm smaller than some people, isn't that good enough?
- Food is how I show love to myself and my family.
- It is easier to be a failure than to be a success.
1. I would like to see a change in myself.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. -- Marianne Williamson
One of my sisters had a harsh conversation with me about my writing last year. She encouraged me to spend more time writing, and I responded with a variation of the list above. She told me to google "fear inadequate powerful" and told me I was afraid of being successful in my writing.
Okay maybe two reasons why . . .
2. Haruki Murakami
I was about to turn thirty. I was reaching the age at which I wouldn't be considered young anymore. And, pretty much out of the blue, it occurred to me to write a novel. I can pinpoint the exact moment when it happened. It was at 1:30 P.M., April 1, 1978. I was at Jingu Stadium, alone in the outfield, watching a baseball game. . .
If you have a chance read this article from The New Yorker 09-JUN-2008 "The Running Novelist". My friend Gaby mailed me the article around the same time I had this conversation with my sister. I think she was trying to tell me something about my writing, too. But, I had a 10 month old baby. But I had a two-year old and a four-year old. But I was working. But, but, but. That was only a year ago.
Murakami started writing, gave up smoking, and started running after the age of 30. He's done all right at these things.
The things we are supposed to do, we will do, in spite of the obstacles. My comma usage is way off there, but you get the idea. Weird Weight Loss Tip: You can list 100 reason why not, but all you need is one reason why to get started. Somehow my writing and personal fitness are intertwined this year. Happy eating and exercising.
Wednesday Exercise Journal
1 hr yoga
6 flights of stairs
1 hr dance party at kids' school
1 hr Get Ripped 1,000 with Jari Love (and I do love her)
Wednesday Food Journal
150 - 2 boiled eggs
120 - Coffee with milk
165 - Salmon salad
220 - Sushi
075 - Honeydew
100 - Pretzels
600 - Burger with no bun at school. I have no idea how many calories are in a school hamburger, but my guess is a lot.
090 - Cheese
050 - Fruit
This is helping me think about writing again. As I have just taken the month off and can't forsee getting any done until after we move... it's so hard to stop and start, probably like losing weight. You have to keep it in your mind all the time, be dedicated, push away the fear. You go for it, Nicki!
ReplyDeleteI honestly know that I do the same, the list of excuses, for our business, and definitely for excersice. We need to be submitting our work, it is the only way to be a top ten wedding photog, or any of the other top ten's that help shape your business, but there is a fear there of stepping into our place. Funny. So I have my list of excuses as well, some the same as yours. This was the push I needed...to acknowledge the fear. I will be submitting photos today! I'm proud of you for your writing and weight loss goals, and can't wait to see the results!
ReplyDeleteI especially like that you brought sexy back before Justin Timberlake. And, no, I don't consider you comic relief.
ReplyDeleteI think you're absolutely right about the correlation between exercise and writing. Yesterday I did my super sets at the gym then came home and wrote 5 pages for a total of 10 on the day. I can't find the time, and I have a ton more than you do, so thanks for inspiring/kicking our butts. : )
Sally
You had me with #2-36...they seem like perfectly good reasons. But since I'm turning 46 in a month, excuse #1 doesn't fly. :)
ReplyDeleteLast year my dad died and I reasoned that french fries and brownies would make me feel better. And they did for a minute. But what didn't feel good was that my fat clothes were tight. So I signed up with a gym and a trainer on Innauguration Day. I decided that I couldn't be on a "diet" but that I would have to change the way I looked at food. (I'm backsliding on french fries and it's showing already!) My reasons for WHY I should keep it up are: I really do feel better about myself; and I want to be healthy and a good example for my kids.
Thanks for being a great inspiration today!!!
The Excuse Factory runs 24/7/365. Don't buy their product.
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------------
• I'm too old. Age 34.
Lance Armstrong is 38 – placed 3rd in the Tour De France
Buster Martin walked the London Marthon at a 101
• I'm too tired. Okay, It's 12:18am.
Exercise has show to improve sleep quality.
• I'm used to my old skin.
New cars are better than old card. I suspect the same is true with skin.
• I have three small kids.
Exercise and eating well boosts energy which can broaden your participation in your kid’s life.
• I'd like to go to church more often.
Is church walking distance? Can you park ½ mile from Church?
• I have a full time job.
Most people you meet, healthy and unhealthy, have full time jobs. So they do find a way to stay fit despite the job.
• I'm trying to write a novel.
• I'm trying to revise another novel that I already wrote.
Exercise reduces stress. Good eating provides your brain’s full. The combination of the two should make writing easier.
• Facebook is lots more fun than food journaling.
ReplyDelete• Facebook is a lot more fun that exercising.
Being healthy is a lot more fun than being sick.
• Pretty sure I have a husband somewhere.
I though he was helping you exercise? So I’m sure he’s there.
• I need to do laundry.
• I should really wash the dishes.
• Never mind cleaning the house.
If it is in the budget, consider a housekeeper. Think of it as a health investment. I just hired a housekeeper. It frees up 2-3 hours a week and cost much less than I expected.
• I don't want to get sweaty before church on Sunday or work on Monday.
• I'm thinking of an excuse why I don't want to get sweaty on Saturday mornings.
Easy, get sweaty afterwards. Or walk at a slow pace indoors or use something like the Wii Fit.
• My volunteer commitments have hit a new high this year.
Volunteer your time to yourself first. When you have yourself in order, you will find more time for others.
• Georgia Romance Writers. I'm the Vice President of Programs and Conference Co-Chair.
• Decatur Book Festival. I'm a stage captain and begging for a good stage.
Perhaps you need a sabbatical? Which is more important, chairing a committee or your health?
• I have to change the litter box and feed the cat.
You can be sweaty and do this.
• The media has graciously told me that it is okay to be large, therefore I don't need to worry about my personal health or fitness.
If you let the media rule your life, it will be a short one.
• Don't, don't get me started on the media on black women . . . It is particularly cool for me to be overweight as long as I'm the comic relief. (Now you think of all the things I've said in complete seriousness that you found hysterical. Time for an Arsenio Hall "Hmmm" moment.)
Not sure weight has any thing to do with humor unless you’re telling fat jokes.
• I'm pretty sure I brought sexy back before Timberlake did. So I don't need to lose weight.
ReplyDeleteDo you think you would be sexier by shedding a few pounds? If yes, then you’ve provided your own rebuttal to this excuse.
• I gotta man. (What's your man gotta do with me?)
I assume you want to keep him – not that he will run off due to some pounds, but you certainly can keep him longer by living healthier.
• My weight is my security blanket. Would you make Linus give up his?
Linus has the cartoon benefit of never aging. You don’t.
• I like food. Buying food. Smelling food. Tasting food.
Healthy food can taste good to. I don’t remember seeing too many untouched plates at H3I.
• I don't know what my life will be like if I hit my goal weight.
Neither do I, but I can bet it will be better than it is now both mentally and physically.
• I'm scared.
Overcoming fear builds confidence. With that confidence, perhaps sending something to HaperCollins will not seem impossible.
• I'm healthy enough.
Really, I thought you were tired, sleep deprived and wanted to shed a few pounds?
• Exercising takes time away from my family.
Like a financial investment, exercise requires deposits now to reap greater rewards later.
• I feel selfish.
Good. Selflessness is overrated. If you’re not happy and fit, how can you help others.
• I gain weight when I'm both happy and sad.
Then happy and sad is not a trigger. Perhaps stress is the trigger. Perhaps habit is the trigger. Find that trigger.
• My body is like a big cushion for my kids. They won't want to cuddle with a smaller me.
So, I can call you Bean-Bag Nicki? Plus when they are 16, I doubt they will want you as a cushion.
• I'm smaller than some people, isn't that good enough?
At one end is failure at the other is success. So you’re happy because you are not quite a failure? Wouldn’t you rather measure from the other end.
• Food is how I show love to myself and my family.
I can buy food. You can’t buy love. So I think your math is off.
• It is easier to be a failure than to be a success.
Except when it comes to your health. If your health fails, I’m sure life becomes pretty difficult.
Regarding Item No. 23: Bring sexy back? What does that mean? W-where did it go?
ReplyDeleteSee below starting at 1:44 mark:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/72446/saturday-night-live-immigrant-tale#s-p1-st-i0
Reason number one is straight-up pride: we want to prove to ourselves that we have some control over our own outcome (I'm not into the word destiny). Plus, we all want to look as good as we think we do in our own minds. Okay, maybe that is just me.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicki:
ReplyDeleteSo good that you're exercising and writing. They are one in the same. Physical and mental health. :)
--Alicia
Jen, I'd tell you that you should be writing but that is really the worse encouragement anyone can give you. But I sense a challenge, if you push away your fear, I'll push away mine.
ReplyDeleteCaroline, that Nike campaign from ages ago must have been about fear and hestitation. I love excuses, I can make excuses better than anyone. I'm still trying to focus on how to do it instead of why not. Why not is so much more fun and easy!
Sally, I took sexy back from you. Do you think GRW will like my exercise and writing write-in idea? :)
Vanessa, I felt old when I was 19. Nothing new there. As for #2-36, I thought of about 10 more today, but I'll save it for another whining session. That being said...
ReplyDeleteJeff! Can you not appreciate good old fashioned whining when you see it? Your literal Yale mind cannot process my girl snarkiness. Being positive all the time is not natural. We must face our demons. Wait, YOU brought sexy back? Ok, you do appreciate my good humor. We can be friends again. Keep pushing me. Like Robert says, "One More Rep!"
Alicia, you are my fitness mentor. But I disagree about physical and mental health. I think writing is more physical for me and exercise is more mental. Probably why I'm struggling at both :)
Pride, Mamie and I always thought we had reverse anorexia in college. We thought we were way thinner than we were in reality. I always look super fine in my mind.
ReplyDelete"Bring sexy back? What does that mean? W-where did it go?" I concur.
Hi, Nicki! Your writing continues to inspire me and keep me on track. I joined a gym and Weight Watchers. I'm not really following the WW point system. I'm just paying to step on the scale and have accountability. I also have enjoyed meeting people at the meetings as we share the same common goal. Ignore the haters!!!! I know it is easier said than done, as I am struggling with them as well. You are doing awesome! I also signed up for the Komen Race for the Cure in Charleston in October. It is a 5k, and I plan to be able to jog it. Come join me?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Denise Musick
Denise, tell me the date in October and I'll see if I can come to Charleson. I'd love to have a goal to work toward and you know I have great affection for cure events and cancer education. So glad to hear about WW. I love them for the reasons you stated. Accountability and a support system. Keep up the great work! You don't know how much you inspire me :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my many faults is lack of appreciation for whinners.
ReplyDeleteOne of my more endearing qualities is whinning.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicki! The Susan B Komen Race for the Cure in Charleston is on October 17th. I just signed up myself and my husband. I tried to jog this morning on a treadmill at the gym...my joints were not liking it. Maybe we can speed walk the 5k. :) Keep writing and inspiring all of us.
ReplyDeleteDenise Musick
Denise, I will check my schedule. If I can't make it to Charleston. I will try to do 5K here with my husband in your honor. Don't forget you need to be one of my guest bloggers... :)
ReplyDelete