
If you're not where you want to be, in terms of your health & fitness...why?
Now I'm not talking about Utopia here. Not perfection...just a spot where things are pretty damn good. I think for most people it comes down to one of these things:
You're not taking personal responsibility.
If you're blaming your busy schedule, the cost of things, other responsibilities, your spouse/family or anyone else for your inability to reach your goals - you're not going to be happy. While you can't control every circumstance, you can always do something differently...and unless you've done all you can - don't start pointing fingers.
Instead look in the mirror. Life will get much better the minute you own that.
You don't know what success really looks like.
It's not some random number on the scale, or looking like a photo of someone on Instagram. You have to figure out where you want to go and why...otherwise you'll likely reach a goal you don't enjoy. I know I did. I wanted to be 125lbs when I was in college, because I thought I was “Supposed to” be that weight. I got there. It made me happy for maybe a day. Then the excitement of hitting that “perfect” number was gone. The scale fluctuated (as it does, and as it should) the next day, and I realized that goal wasn’t something I could hold on to…. Or that I actually really cared about.
Now my goals are more centered on feeling strong, having lots of energy, and being able to compete in triathlons. If someone else wants to point out that my weight is “perfect” (or not), that’s fine but I don’t really care. The real reward is being able to spend time with my family, enjoy our active lifestyle and experiences...and to use my own journey as a way to inspire others to reach for their dreams.
You don't have guardrails.
You own your time. Not the other way around. The words “I don’t have time for _____.” should never have to be uttered. Guardrails are the tools you use to ensure that.
I know for me, there was a time I rationalized that I was just “too busy” with work and grad school to make the best nutrition choices for myself. Or, I “didn’t have time” to read as much as I said I wanted to, when in reality I spent an hour a day scrolling through social media. It's crap. If you come up with all kinds of excuses why you just can’t get a regular exercise program going, or eat a healthy meal every day, then you need to take a serious look at where and how you waste time...Because you are, and you can reallocate it to get what you want DONE.
You're not playing to your strengths.
You have some likes / interests / preferences when it comes to activities, meals, and relaxation or stress management techniques. Take a moment to think about what they are. Sure, at some point, you’ll need to venture beyond what you prefer. But to get started...if you choose a workout or a nutrition plan that you absolutely hate from day 1, it’s not going to last very long…. You’re going to quit, and likely write off ever being able to reach your goals altogether.
I
spend about 80% of my time doing the exercise that I love [lifting weights, running, biking] and eating the foods I love….I’m entirely happy because it’s a balanced approach.
You're not hanging out with the right people.
Maybe it's the wrong friends. Maybe it's the wrong partner. Maybe it's the wrong coworkers. But you can't have the right life with the wrong people.
No chance. If the people you spend the most time with don’t share your goals, interests, and hopes, you’re not going to get where you want to be.
I’ll never forget being in a relationship where I felt miserable because my partner and friends group wanted nothing to do with exercise or eating well…it was more like having beers & wings, and sitting around all weekend. The second I exited the relationship, I felt better - physically and emotionally.
You aren't doing the work.
This one is tough to admit...but you can't outrun it.
It's not possible.
You can't become healthier and happier if you aren’t willing to put in a real effort.
You can’t lose weight and get “toned” if you aren’t willing to move your body and eat well.
You can’t expect to live a happy & fulfilled life if you don’t face your mental and emotional obstacles head on.
You aren't asking for help.
You can’t possibly know everything there is to know about how to reach your goals in the most efficient and effective way. But for some reason, when it comes to fitness, people feel that they “should know how to do it” all on their own. You hire a mechanic to fix your car. You have a dentist to check / fix your teeth. You have a financial adviser to help grow your wealth. There’s no difference in seeking out a fitness professional to help you reach your fitness goals.
So those are the core areas I'd look at if my health & fitness wasn't where I wanted it to be. I'd go one by one and do an honest assessment of where you are today and where you need to be in order to look and feel your absolute best. And I'll be the first to tell you...I've screwed up every one of these areas.
Every. Single. One.
And the only way I've fixed them is to first identify and acknowledge them. So if you're falling short of where you want to be...this is the place to start.
- Coach Michelle
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