Complaints of Weight Gain

Some of my coworkers complain that they are gaining weight. Some even ask me for exercise tips since they know I like to workout. Sadly, these are the same people who like to talk about dieting and starting an exercise program but never get around to it or are unable to do it consistently. I try to tell them that exercising is a lifestyle change, that they have to put in the time to do it and make it a part of their daily lives. If only talking about dieting and exercising were an aerobic activity, these people would have lost a lot of weight already. We had a registry nurse working with us a few weeks ago and by the way she talked, she knew just about everything about dieting. Yet…she was obese. I don’t say this as a way of mocking her, I’m just stating the truth. Just stop talking and start doing. Losing weight and keeping it off takes a lot of effort. How many times have we read or heard of that? A coworker asked me earlier tonight how I can motivate her to start running. I told her as a joke - pay me to do it. I suggested that she should just start walking for now. Other coworkers have started exercising but after losing control of their food intake and gaining a couple of pounds, they get discouraged and stop. Gaining a couple of pounds is more reason to increase the duration or intensity of your next workout to get things back in control. I know of people who are so enthusiastic and motivated that they overdo things during the first workout and when the soreness sets in the next day, they couldn’t get started again and that’s the end of that. These are the same people who like to sit on their behinds all night when all the work is done instead of moving around. I tell them that every little bit of activity helps. They see me pacing up and down the hallways or doing squats in the middle of the night to stay awake and they still wonder how I manage to keep my weight down. I practice the old Nike advertising exhortation: “Just Do It!”. I wish it was that simple for others.