In life, it has always been my firm belief that there is no substitute for hard work. In today's instant gratification oriented society, we tend to want things here and now! This may work well when browsing through the Internet and looking for a song, but it doesn't transfer over well when it comes to fitness.
I was having a casual chat with one of the guys at the gym, and I was explaining my steady progress thus far. He said, "You look good, but you are going to have to get some work done to finish off your tummy. It looks like you have some leftover, loose skin. You really should get some cosmetic work done." Now, when this was said, my initial body image panic alarm went off, but I caught myself before it went too far.
I have a bunch of leftover, loose skin? I recognized when I started this journey that this could have been a very real possibility, but my body has been recovering rather well. Yes, I still do have a little pouch in the belly, but this journey is still ongoing. I'm not done with it yet! In fact, I will never be done; this is a life-long commitment. Even so, this person was encouraging me to take a shortcut.
I'm currently fluctuating between 195-200 pounds, which means that I still have about 20 to 30 pounds to drop before I reach my set target of 170-180 pounds. This means that there is still a significant amount of body fat remaining on my body, I can see it. This is not loose skin, and it is definitely not a reason or excuse to take a shortcut and get some "work" done.
The only "work" that I plan on getting done is the hard work and hours I put in at the gym. Listen, I won't judge you if you take the shorter route, it's all good if that makes you feel happy. That is your choice, and I wholeheartedly respect it. However, for myself, I don't like shortcuts; I prefer to earn things the old-fashioned way. Not to mention that there are far too many risks associated with any type of surgery, and for what? Vanity? No way, that is not for me. I will not have my body cut open unless absolutely necessary.
When the day comes that I reach my target, should I end up with a bunch of loose skin that I cannot get rid of through hard work and training, then I'll look at my options, since I'll have no other choice. However, as long as training, heart, and a strong will are still on the table, there will be no cosmetic surgery happening here!
Thank you very much, but no thanks! What are your thoughts about this topic?
An earlier version of this article originally appeared on AngelRTalk.com.