Anyone who has determined to be healthy will have days when you just don’t feel like doing the things that you know that you need to do such as working out and planning your meals. Those are the days that your success is determined. There are not many days that most of us who have jobs and live in the real world get up just itching to squeeze in our workouts. If you are blessed to be a professional athlete then that is incredible, but even then, there are probably still many days when you had really rather just relax in front of the t.v. or simply do nothing.

When real life is overwhelming and you are pressed for time it seems easy to eat out and rush through the day without exercise but the truth is, as David has so often said, it really doesn’t take very long to prepare a simple, inexpensive, healthy meal at home. He has been known to prepare a full meal in 12 minutes. You will definitely almost always sit at the drive-thru longer than that. The key to a quick meal at home is to keep it simple. Save the complex recipes for a day that you’re off of work and have nothing planned. On a busy day, throw some protein into a non-stick skillet, brown it, turn it over, lower the heat on the stove and let it simmer til done. While it’s finishing, steam some veggies and throw a potato in your microwave. Done.

And then there are those days that it would seem almost justifiable to skip a workout. I mean those extra days. There are days that it makes sense to skip. We need rest days to let our bodies build muscle and recuperate but when we know that we’re just wanting a little extra time off, it’s time to be tough. Remember why you’re doing this and be realistic about what it’s going to take to meet your goals. I am more fit than I’ve ever been and I am not satisfied. To go any further with my fitness takes serious dedication and work. There’s no need in me lying to myself and slacking. Sometimes we try to pretend that we don’t know why we’re not progressing when we know all along. If it was easy to look like a Greek god or goddess then we all would. If it was easy to have the blood chemistry of a healthy sixteen year old as a mature adult, then we all would. It’s not easy. It takes work, hard work. Face that truth and embrace it. When I first discovered David’s Way, I was at my Weight Watchers goal and was pretty resigned to that being enough. When I realized that I needed to lose 20 pounds, thank you David…, I had to dig in. On days that it would be almost excusable to skip a workout, I remind myself that I will never be the person that I want to be by skipping, and I don’t. I work a high stress, full time job and have a little extra responsibility at home. Quite often I am working out in the wee hours of the morning but when I finish, I am content that I have done exactly what I need to do. I would not have rested well without fulfilling my commitment to myself.

It’s imperative to avoid people who negatively impact your commitment. They don’t have your best interest at heart. They may not understand your reasons and odds are, they don’t want to understand. They just want to control you. Don’t let it happen. In the first hours after my home was destroyed by a tornado, someone tried to take my Iron that I work out with to another house “for storage”, stating that I “wouldn’t be able to do that in a motel”. I said “No.” I did workout in a motel, for three weeks. I made significant progress during that time. Don’t ever let another person determine your workout schedule or decide what you will eat. You have to live, and die, in your body. You decide how that will happen.

On those days that you want to skip, just go through the motions, doing what you know that you need to do for about 15 minutes. Suddenly you will notice an enthusiasm that you didn’t know that you had that day. Feel good about it. Pat yourself on the back and strut, knowing that you’re making your dreams come true. Before you know it, your workout will be finished and you will have a healthy meal cooking and the sun will seem brighter.

If you feel less than inspired, read David’s Way! Interact with us. We will both answer. Post on the forum. Try one of our recipes. We do this because we want you to be healthy. We are constantly searching for new ways to inspire you to be your best. Being active on the blog will keep your mind turned towards health.