by Alicia Capellan
Most recently in the past few months I have been working with amazing people that have opened up in believing that their goals are a priority and together we can reach them. The clients’ mindset may change over a period of time as they get to truly focus on themselves. Change occurs as they incorporate a new nutrition foundation that works for their environment, find a physical activity routine that they enjoy, and a organize a lifestyle of having things in order and keeping stress levels down.
Listening to many stories, many would love to have these types of changes, but we need to learn what is getting in the way without beating yourself up about it. May it be fat loss, strength, mental or physical peace, body image, athletic endurance etc. I hope you can take something from what I am about to say. There are a few steps you can take to get YOURSELF on the right path, one that works for YOU.
Who can plan out your life and the way it runs… not your mom… only YOU can. Giving yourself time to set days and times for your workouts, prepare a workout routine so you do not waste time wondering what to do next, and geting your meals structured can reduce a lot of stress and frustration. If the organization is not there then it is easy to lose focus. Focus by writing down your meal plans and workout plans. It cuts down the precious time you have. Re-reading your goals from either a journal or a vision board on the refrigerator can direct you back to where you want to be. There are tons of programs and workout ideas in this universe! Every “diet” or “workout extreme” works, only if you stick to it. But, in reality, we must do the things that work for us. Maybe you have friends that have had great success with certain training programs, at home videos or bootcamps, etc. It works for them because they planned it out. Do not just follow the crowd, but become your own leader.
Having the mentality that your goal is all or nothing can be draining. Ease your way into making your goals a priority. Put it on the list of things to do. For example, if your goal is to get more upper body strength, well then you need to work at a slow rate to get yourself there by putting it on the list of priorities. Take time to make sure you stretch and warm up properly to get stronger with your upper body along with fueling your body right to recover those muscles. Find the balance that works for your body and your routine can take time. If we put our minds into thinking all or nothing, it could get too extreme to handle all the changes physically and mentally.
Be patient with yourself. I would like to reflect on the Drop Two Jean Size Challenge I hold twice a year. Many of the participants learn a great deal as to what changes they need to incorporate in their daily routines. Some adjustments to the routine such as breakfast or mid afternoon snack can take some time to get use to. By the end of the 8 week challenge, a few of the participants knew that they had a few slips and were okay with the fact that they could have done better, and used the information that was given to them to keep on going. Another part of the group were in it to win it. Given the tools for their workouts, food log, recipes, daily routines, they took the motivation, and most importantly, they believed in themselves. They felt unstoppable; they knew they needed to be patient, got involved with the support system, and made it their priority.
Having the support and accountability can be huge for some people. You do not necessarily need to be part of a large group like the Drop 2 Jean Size Challenge. There many other options for getting on board communicating with your trainer, seeing a specific coach that motivates you, family, training partner, or even with a friend that cares about your well being. You can turn to these sources for information or even emotional support. I have to bring back the part about patience one more time. Short-term goals and long-term goals both need patience. Working out everyday for 2 weeks in a row is a lot of work and getting frustrated over not seeing or feeling different can throw someone off routine and think they should give up. Hitting a plateau means you have to keep going! Having unrealistic expectations is tough to deal with, but if you plan out what you need to do to get yourself to where you want to be it's a goal that can be achieved. Small changes to create your new habits is what it is all about.
Make sure that whatever route you choose to get to your goals is done with a sense of peace through your journey.
