I am sure we have all said “New Year, New Me” right? Well, why wait for the new year why not start today? You just need to believe that you deserve that reaching your goal is within your control. You need to believe that you deserve whatever positive habit you are trying to build. Habits take time to form, but when they do you will see a whole new you! You must give it time, be consistent, and remember why you started this journey in the first place.
First, start SMALL. Going all out or going cold turkey could quite possibly set yourself up for inconsistency or giving up all together. Remember its ok to start small while being consistent. For example, for the first few weeks focus on nutrition. You can’t out-exercise a bad diet!! So look at your diet and see where you can make small changes. Swap out fried foods for baked, eat more fruits and veggies, and eat leaner meats or even go meatless for a few meals. Once you feel like you have a handle on your diet add in exercise. Again, start small and focus on consistency. Aim to work out two to three days a week then add another, until you get to four to five days a week getting your exercise in.
Second, set your foundation. Getting enough sleep, getting enough exercise, setting yourself up for success, and managing your eating and drinking. Your body craves what you give it! Getting adequate sleep is imperative to your wellness journey. Getting your workout in 4-5 days a week and you will see the muscle build. Getting your steps in will ensure you are not just sitting on the couch all day. Getting your food scale, food prep containers, recipes to try, and planning your meals will also set you up for success. Meal planning will help get your eating and drinking habits in check. Remember though, life happens to if something comes up and you don’t eat what you’ve planned, readjust, and continue, one meal won’t ruin your progress!
Third, get accountability. You can set a specific goal (lose weight build muscle or increase activity) and share it with your partner, friend, or trainer. Have a clear and specific workout plan that supports your goal. Meal prep and set your clothes out to be ready for working out.
Fourth, be ready to monitor progress. Tracking creates awareness. You will soon realize how much or how little you are eating. You can use MyFitness Pal (or any similar app) to track how much you’re eating. You can weigh daily and then get an average weight per week to monitor weight loss. You can take measurements of arms, chest, waist, and legs to monitor inches lost. And you can take progress pictures to visibly see the changes. I also encourage journaling to help with the mental changes that happen while doing a wellness journey.
And lastly, scheduling. One of the most common reasons people have for not working out is lack of time. I have a busy life but schedule my workout to make sure it gets done. One can find the time to exercise if it’s truly important to you.
Good luck with your wellness journey I’d love to hear from you how it’s going, and if you need help remember you don’t have to do it alone!
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