What's stopping us? -- By Dave Berry

It's time to roll out the second Fit City Challenge message.

The first message, asked in several ways, wants to know: "Why do you want to be fit? Why is it important for you to be healthy? What is your WHY?"

In an earlier post, I outlined my reasons for being fit. No sense repeating them. I've heard from many in Tyler's Fit City Coalition about why THEY think it's important... being role models for their children or spouse, building energy to do their jobs better, living healthier lives for as long as they can, wanting to be proud of themselves, wanting to enjoy life, wanting to undo the impact of too many years of apathy and inaction...

There are lots of reasons why. Obviously, there are more reasons why not. That's why so many of us are in a pickle ... unfit, unhealthy, struggling to shed pounds and fretting over the health of our children.

Which leads us to the second message that will be showing up in the next few days. Basically, it's this: "OK, if that's WHY you want to be fit, then WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?"

What is stopping us? I used to say it was time... not enough time. Now I see it's really about priority. I didn't make good health and fitness a priority. If it's a priority, you can find the time.

I'm working on it. Last week, my priority was to burn at least 500 calories through exercise every day. I missed one day but made up for it on the rest: Three days on the elliptical, two days walking with my wife, Saturday morning downtown for the Mayor's FitWalk and another walk later. (My pedometer hit 10,000 steps for the first time.)

The result: I shed a few pounds and hit a weight I haven't seen in months. Tomorrow, with snow on the road, I'll be on the elliptical again. Where will you be? OK, what's stopping you?

New Year - Amy Brocato Pearson

It's time to dust off the old Under Construction blog, which hasn't seen any action in quite some time. In fact, publisher Nelson Clyde even said he was going to log an entry simply saying "blah, blah, blah." That was Christmas eve, I believe, and I had to agree with him.

But whatever spirit inevitably grabs one by a choke hold in the new year has indeed prevailed. I've exercised not one, not two, but THREE whole days in a row.  I stepped onto the scale (NOT pretty). I am logging what I eat. (The bite-sized pecan pie tartlet was not a good choice. Being "bite-sized" does not equal being "calorie-free".) And now all of East Texas has seen our "before" pictures in the most recent issue of IN Magazine and I'll be darned if my "after" picture will look the same.

So here we go. Again.