One of the biggest barriers to weight loss, at least any kind of sustained weight loss, is the resistance you run into. This resistance comes mostly from myself.

I’m too tired. The gym is too far. I ache. I can do it tomorrow.

All kinds of things play around in my mind to keep me from exercising. These exercise resistance gremlins are different from the eating gremlins. The exercise resistance is a lot mental with a tad bit of physical thrown in.

Today was the perfect example.

I had a pretty busy morning. Part of it was taken up in physical therapy for a neck issue. It’s hard to turn my neck due to some degeneration bought on by age. It’s know as arthritis. Anyway, the session usually involves some light exercise and some guy working my neck to try and loosen it up and elongate it a bit.

Long story short. When I get out of that, it takes about an hour for the aches and pains to set in but they start to make themselves know. I just want to sit back. Tune in some New Age music and doze.

Even after the “power nap” I didn’t really feel like doing anything. But, I forced myself to get into some gym clothes and get in the car and go.  I did my half hour on the treadmill and came home.

Believe it or not, yesterday’s walk wasn’t so bad. Today, I actually broke a sweat and felt, if not exhausted, than pretty damn tired from the same settings – 30 minutes, 2.6 mph, 0% incline – that I used yesterday.

The other part of the resistance comes from getting on the scale this morning after being so virtuous and doing my leisurely 30 minute walk only to find out I gained a pound. My mind immediately starts reminding me that no matter what I do I’m doomed to exist in this 300 lb body and, who knows, I may even get heavier and heavier and heavier. Pre-destination.  John Calvin’s not dead. He’s living in my head.

The bottom line is that I need to break through the resistance. I need to build the habit. I need to power through the 21 days or whatever it takes to keep going. The resistance is brutal.

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