Yes its been a while since I sat down to write, truth is I was side tracked with life and the holidays. I'm sure you've never been there. Anyway as we reach the end of this year with parties, shopping and fun most people are not setting goals for health and fitness yet, that comes on Dec 26th. But it will happen, it does every year.
So here are my top 4 reasons why people set this goals but fail to succeed and keep reading because I want to help you get to a successful goal.
1. Lack of planning - most obvious option when "getting into shape" or "losing a few pounds" is joining a gym but here is the downfall of that you choose the closest one to your home (they have bad hours), maybe the one with the "deal" or the one with childcare. Well once you get there day one you walk in and wander around (unless you are paying for a trainer) doing a little here and a little there guess what? those are the results you'll get a little here and a little there, maybe you've found a class you like, but wait! it's only on Tuesdays and you already know you can't come next Tuesday, can you come the next week? and then you never go again. Lastly you choose the one with free childcare well that means you are loading up your children, dropping them off trying to make it to a real workout, you get paged they "need you" and you are done! I understand this can happen anywhere anytime but it you aren't prepared or have a plan in place these little interruptions and little progress are going to lead to an epic fail by Jan 31st.
Make a plan: find a class that has multiply times and days and schedule it into your calendar try to get there 3 times a week. Find a friend or trainer to walk you through the gym to help you make a plan either with the weights, machines or both and do that on the opposite days. You'll feel great and you'll stick with it and love your routine. As for choosing a gym make sure it's close enough to your home or work you'll get there and the hours fit your needs. as for Childcare have a backup plan if you need to take them or things go awry get out the stroller and hit the park for a jog.
2. Lack of Education when if comes to "healthy foods" and what a diet is.
A diet is NOT eliminating everything you love. When the need or desire arises to loose weight we are so quick to DIET that is a 4-letter word didn't you learn those are bad, well most of them, I will teach you few that are great to add to your vocabulary. If you start giving up everything you start to feel lost and deprived of LIFE (a good word) and instead of focusing on eating all those healthy foods you focus only on everything you said you can't have and that is why fad diets are the worst they eliminate and give you so many rules that eventually you are going to fail and when you do you'll jump right to the next on wasting valuable time, money and your wits.
Have a Food plan: get a plan together if you "fail to plan you are essentially planning to fail" I can show you a few things to start you off on the right track step 1 purge the items in your pantry and refrigerator/freezer. Start fresh! then I subscribe to a clean eating magazine great tips and recipes for feeding a family that likes to eat. (*you have to watch your portions when cooking and preparing meals) one you have those in place start adding in season fruits & veggies to your grocery list, fresh organic meats and fish and beans. Try new spices and fresh herbs, simple changes from white refined items to whole grains will also help you stick with your goals. Don't give up everything learn a new way and enjoy learning it nothing happens overnight so explore your kitchen and taste buds to find a new you and a new menu for your family. ditch the DIET and start cooking real food again. *side note portion control and everything in moderation is HUGE just because it's organic or whole grain doesn't mean its ALL good for you.
3. Lack of Effort and or Commitment -I've been doing this a long time and I hear the "I want to change" "I want to look and feel different, BUT" (another word to get rid of) I can't or I've tried. again you can't putts around the gym or in the back of a class and thing change is going to happen or eat at home one night a week and think why am I still feeling like this? Lack of effort is a huge downfall of most the program is great...in the beginning, the food taste grate...for one shopping trip. that once a week gym trip or walk around the park is good for your social time or park for the kids but let's face it you lack of commitment leads to your goals going down in smoke.
Effort is how much you put into the new you and your new Healthier lifestyle (KEY word)
Commitment is how often do you stick with your plan for a Healthier Lifestyle
Must have BOTH Commitment and Effort to succeed once you've given up one you become a cynic and say this doesn't work when in fact you haven't given it everything it needs you HAVE to make the change, it should not take your entire day or life to plan this out but it does take daily effort and daily commitment. Stick with it set daily, weekly, monthly goals and see positive changes happen.
4. Focused on the scale - sometimes the biggest hurdle to get over is that darn scale, we think for some reason that defines us. Note: it doesn't! Yes the scale is a great tool to keep you on track and focused on a goal but for those of you that live each day allowing the scale to determine your mood and commitment to continue it's going to let you down and failure is on its way in. Let's face it you won't have your 16, 18, 20 yr old body back but who wants that when you can have better, yes it can be done at any age. I can show you how without the scale trying to get back to high school.
Get Refocused - have a weekly date with your scale and tape measure and have a daily date with the gym and your kitchen. Learn to trust your efforts and commitment that when the end of the week comes the results are going to be great and well earned. something to think about 1/2 pound loss every week for a year = 26 pounds gone or 1 pound a week loss for an entire year = 52 pounds Gone!
Learn what works for you! I know I can help by offering you the support and the food education to meet your individual needs, but you must ask and you must put the work into yourself and learn to LOVE yourself and the new you that you see inside.I can also talk to you about why I don't belong to a gym (is 7 yrs) how I never diet and how I'm fitter and leaner than ever.
It's worth it, you're worth the planning and the time each day, week, month and this time next year you'll say hello to the NEW Healthier Happier You!
Thank you for reading today. I hope you are inspired to get out your planner and begin before December 26th. I have accountability groups on line to help you with nutrition and exercise to keep you motivated and succeed.
Joy
Joyforfitness.com
https://www.facebook.com/JoyBracerofitness
