Make it a Lifestyle

This is a phrase that often sits on the back of my head as I encounter people expressing their desire to enter the world of “fitness and health.” The number one thing I see go wrong is the fact that a true commitment has not been established since the get -go when people embark on this journey. Instead, many hope to find results by hopping on an elliptical machine a few times a week, eating a few healthy meals here and there, and pinning some inspirational and motivational pictures online. Girls (and guys), let’s get real. Leading a healthy lifestyle requires dedication and most importantly a game plan. You will need to dig deep and identify why exactly it is that you desire this and what you will do to accomplish your goals.

Staying fit is not a short-term goal that one achieves in time for summer and then throws it away. If you want to see lifestyle changes and make an effort towards actually leading a healthier life, prepare to dive in equipped with the mental strength necessary to do so or you will almost guaranteed rebound back to your original state. Hey, it’s happened to me before, and I too rebound to unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle choices.  

What I’ve found to be the most helpful thing is actually developing a schedule (Google calendars is AWESOME, by the way). I’m talking about being a busy working mommy to a 2 ½ year old, managing the stresses of nursing school, and yet still making time to incorporate exercise into my weekly schedule. My work schedule tends to fluctuate a bit, which can become frustrating at times - especially once I’ve locked in a routine that works for me. This is when having a visual of what my week will consist of comes into play. It becomes easier to pencil in the classes, at home work-outs, and weekend hiking trips I dearly enjoy. A friend likes having a weekly meal preparation schedule so that she doesn’t find herself having to scavenger and rush for last minute meals. This makes things much easier when you take those dreaded long trips to the grocery store as well, but I’ll save my tips on making healthy choices at the store for a later post.

So, what do I mostly want you to take from this? Your outlook on what staying fit and healthy means to you needs to change. These will need to be placed higher on your list of priorities than you might have initially planned on and they will need to remain up there in order to stay on track. In no means will this prove to be an easy task, because it’s not. In fact, it will be extremely challenging and at often times disappointing when you veer of track. But keep at it; work hard, admire your changing body, learn to love the soreness as your muscles break down and build back up, and learn to get back up and push harder when you hit a plateau. I promise, the results are worth the time and effort!