What If I'm Too Fat to Go to the Gym?

It's perfectly normal to feel self-conscious or lack confidence when your body doesn't look the way you want it to look. But there are two very important things to remember.

• Number 1, you can fix this problem and you don't even need to go the gym to start.

• Number 2, most people are so self-conscious themselves, that they aren't looking at you as much as you think.

What if you aren't comfortable going to the gym yet?

One of the most intimidating issues of starting to work out is when you show up and begin comparing your day one with other’s day 700. What you don’t realize is that most of those people who are shredded were once fat themselves. Or at the very least, not in shape.

No matter what your mindset is, it all starts with diet. Most people over-complicate this. It's very simple when you first start out. Reduce sugar. Eat a diet high in fats and protein. Personally, I eat a mostly Paleo diet. This means natural food that has existed for millennia. I eat bananas, steak, chicken and veggies. Stay away from fried foods, oils, sugar and anything that has been processed too much. 

Losing weight is 80% diet and 20% exercise.

Now most people make the mistake of changing their diet too fast. What happens next? They get frustrated. They get cravings. They give up after being too hard on themselves. So, try the Path to Manliness Technique. Remove one thing. Cut out soda or ice cream. Whatever you can give up easiest but know you need to let go.

After 30 days, you'll see that you don't miss it as much as you thought you would. Now remove a second thing from your diet. If you can be reasonably successful with this over the course of a year, you'll make massive life-altering changes. And you're much more likely to stick with this type of elimination diet. 

Imagine how you will look a year from now if you implement these changes. Imagine how proud you will be to look in the mirror after a year without soda. Imagine how people will look at you as you pass them on the street after you've been eating healthy. Girls will stare and smile at you, rather than turn away or stare at their phone. Your friends will tell you that you look great and be jealous of the new you. People will respect you for taking the time and dedication to get in shape. 

It really does start with your diet and then going to the gym. This is the path to a new you! It will create a positive feedback loop that gives you more confidence and before you know it, you’ll be addicted to your workouts.

Most of what you’ve been taught about diet is misleading or downright wrong. Too many will focus on eating low fat when the real culprit is sugar. Removing sugar from your diet is the key to losing weight.

Next step is the actual fitness part.

When you begin your weight loss journey, it can be a bit intimidating. It can feel like starting an epic video game with unfamiliar controls, rules and maps. Just like in those games, you can learn how to navigate this journey. Again, start simple. Most people over-complicate this or overdo it and make it too difficult to maintain.

I recommend starting with biking. You can either use a conventional bicycle or get a stationary bike like this one. I started with this bike before I got into running. Plus, the convenience of being able to exercise at home means it still gets a lot of use. A LOT OF USE. It's got over 4,000 miles on it now, so I mean it when I say it's a sound investment. 

This bike is perfect for someone who hates running. If you struggle to run, start with biking. This is a great place to start your weight loss journey. Its much lower resistance and easier on your knees. And I love having at least some exercise equipment at home. That way you can’t say it’s too cold outside or the gym is too far away. The less friction to start, the better.

And this bike comes with different levels of magnetic resistance meaning it will get tougher as you grow stronger. Start out at a low level and go for a light bike ride. Then as you get used to that, you can up the resistance or bike faster.

Another one of the great aspects of working out at home is you are truly in a judgment free zone. You don’t have to worry about anyone else looking at you. You don’t have to worry about feeling inadequate. You can simply focus on beating who you were yesterday.

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.”

-        Ernest Hemingway

Using this biking technique, I was able to jumpstart my weight loss journey. I lost about 10 pounds before I even started running. I knew I was a little heavy and running is a tough hobby to get into. So, by focusing on diet and biking, I got myself on the right path.

It was after I had gained a bit of momentum that I slowly eased my way into running. Since starting, I’ve lost 30 pounds in 2 years. Anyone can do this. You simply need a desire to be better and the consistency to work out nearly every day. Even if it’s not for a long time. Just get started.

It’s all about taking small steps each day and building on that foundation. You don’t need to go on some epic workout right away. Simply starting is going to separate you from the masses who would rather live an unhealthy and lazy life. And remember that it takes a few weeks before you start seeing results. Be persistent and in time, you will be rewarded for your efforts. Get after it!