My definition of the word “excuse”:

1. Lies we tell ourselves to avoid what we should be doing.
2. Belief in self-imposed limitations

The guy on the left couldn’t run to the mailbox.
The guy on the left drank 3 cases of beer per week plus countless shots of booze.
The guy on the left watched several hours of television and sports daily.
The guy on the left thought real food was “diet food” and that manufactured food was “real food”.
The guy on the left was a ticking time-bomb with high cholesterol and constant gut pain.
The guy on the left took up to 4 daily prescription drugs in his 20s and 30s.
The guy on the left preferred to spend most of his time with others who encouraged the same bad habits.
The guy on the left rarely went to church and was not following Jesus.
The guy on the left had high anxiety.
The guy on the left started many things he never pursued to completion. Giving up early was normal.
The guy on the left did not live with peace or joy and lacked discipline.
The guy on the right has very little in common with the guy on the left.

Do you know why there is no magic pill to weight loss? Do you know why so many people fail after having weight loss surgeries? Do you know why I was yo-yo dieter who could lose 40-50 pounds in 3 months and gain it right back?

Because those quick fixes deprive us of the journey. The journey is not easy and causes discomfort. Growth occurs while enduring discomfort, leading to self-discipline. Sure, I’m thankful I lost all the weight. I’m very thankful I recovered from 2018’s car accident. I’m more thankful for the growth that occurred while going from fat to fit; and later, injured to ultra-marathoner.

Can you imagine telling the guy on the left that he could run a 100k ultra marathon or multiple trips to the Pikes Peak summit in a weekend? The guy on the left would have given dozens of excuses while declaring it impossible. The guy on the right learned the true definition of “excuse” and did something about it. It did not occur overnight. It took consistent and small gains of 1%, accumulating over several years.

Work hard, trust in God.
Go get it
Phil 4:13