1. Pride
Applying the 7 Deadly Sins as dieting tips maybe my new diet strategy. First, letting go of pride.
If I had a nickel for everytime a friend told me they couldn't go to the gym because they looked too bad, they didn't want to look silly, didn't have the right outfits for it or there would be men there...my next cruise would be paid for.
The gym maybe the only place where looking bad is actually the goal. Sweaty= yay! Hair askew= who cares! Face beat red=great workout! Yes, there are 20 years old prancing around there almost naked and the only time they will have any fat on them at all is when I bump into them; I no longer give a damn. Yes, there are girls there working the weight room like a nightclub, good for them, don't care about them either. If I manage to make it to the gym; find the time, get my clothes on and get down there. Then I feel just a triumphant as the young man who bench 200lbs for the first time.
As for looking silly; well, good. Anyone who bounces into a class for the first time looks silly while learning the routine. Looking silly is good, means your trying. Wobbling around a track on a pair of roller blades wearing helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guard is okay too. Takes practise. I used to roller blade with my kids, maybe I did look silly to them, it was still fun and I got to spend time with kids. And after roller blades and pads were bought it never cost me another dime. Looking silly=beginner. After awhile, you won't look silly anymore.
The right outfit would be one that is clean and doesn't smell like B.O. Not covered in paint from where you painted the house. And not all torn to shreds. Wal-Mart sells sweats every fall. Go buy 2. One to wash while you're wearing the other one. Once you get tone, buff and lose weight, go buy a couple of those nearly naked outfits the 20 year old are wearing.
There will be men there and they will see me. Eek. Get over it. Heart disease kills women dead by the thousands every year. Besides they are most likely looking at the fat free nearly naked 20 year olds.
Let go of pride. Work out. Have fun. Get into good shape. Live long and prosper as Spock would say.
