Dear internet and future self.

Here are the top reasons why you want to get fit and continue training:

• It’s good for your health
• Helps you build confidence in your body which in turn
  • Create confidence in your mental self
  • Allows you to date knowing you also look good
  • Can show off muscles and strength when needed
  • Enhances your personality (so that you aren’t subconsciously thinking about how you look)
  • Look great in group pictures and selfies and festivals (Coachella)
• You paid money for a gym membership ($45/month)
• Fit into better/fashionable clothing. Pant sizes will go down when you workout and eat less.
• More energy throughout the day
• Able to participate in sports with endurance
• You won’t feel embarrassed going to the beach or pool.
• Do it for self-love. Give your body what it needs.

Here are the reasons that stand in your way of obtaining this goal:

• Requires easy, medium, or tremendous effort
• It requires lots of discipline to keep attending the gym
• Soreness will be a thing. You need to get used to it.
• Laziness: being a couch potato and watching movies or TV shows
• Tiredness: you might want to hit the bed instead of working out
• Timing may not be convenient if you have conflicting schedules or events
• You love food, soda, and social drinking
• You subconsciously think people are looking at you

Here are the actions to help you stay on track:

• Remember your internal motivation anytime you don’t feel like working out or get tempted to eat bad food.
• Go to the gym as much and as often as possible with an effort on working out consistently.
• Keep tracking calories and be honest with yourself. You know what’s good for you. Don’t be tempted.
• Weigh yourself every morning on the scale. Keep track of all incremental changes to your weight.
• Change up your workout as soon as you start to get bored with your current regiment.
• Forego as many “group” events as you can that involves food, drinks, or alcohol. If you do go, keep track of those calories.
• Check out all those pictures of people that you DO want to look like.
• Remember that the goal is attainable. The process is slow but you will eventually lose weight. Trust the process.
• Hack yourself.
  • Brush your teeth early to prevent late night eating.
  • Park far away to get extra steps in during the day.
  • Purposefully take breaks around your work building.
• Lift weights or do a body workout while watching TV.
• Drink water when you feel hungry.
• Remember the memories when you were not proud of your body:
  • when you could not ride an attraction because your body was too big
  • Squeakiness of chair/bed/sofa due to your weight
  • Reflections of the mirror because you were ashamed at how you look
  • not being comfortable at the beach or pool with friends
• Remember the time when you did look good, you can get there again.
• Make it a habit and part of your routine.
  • Try different gym schedules (before work, after work, or both)
  • If not the gym, at least maintain by going for a run, hiking on a trail, participating in cleanup
  • Break a sweat for an extended period of time
• If you eat outside, pick healthier choices.
  • Stick to white meat like chicken and fish.
  • Do not add sauce to your food.
  • Don’t drink sugar (no sodas, lemonade, etc).
  • Log your food.
• Other people have been successful, which means you can be successful too.