by Kerry Taylor
This topic has come up 3 times in the past week, so this topic is out there in many circles and I wanted to provide a little guidance from my point of view on how to handle getting back in shape or back to your routine this time of year. I wrote previously on how to adjust when it came to the summer time. A shame how quickly it has come and gone. The fall is now here, which means school is back in session, and even better yet, football and many other sports. This year, sports have taken over my family more so than they have in the past. So my schedule has taken a hit as well. Those of you that know my family well know that both kids are in to sports, my son currently playing pop Warner football and my daughter running cross country. And this year, I have decided to put the whistle back on and coach my son’s football team. So if it’s not running with my daughter or watching her race, I’m coaching my son and his teammates. Busy, busy, but I love every bit of it. In order to get my workouts in, I get them done during my break time, it’s one of the only ways I can do it and stay consistent.
I bring that up because some of you may be dealing with the same thing I am this time of year. Some people say, “I need more time”. I might suggest the time you have is enough, you just have to put a plan in motion that works best for you and the schedule that you have to now work with. Don’t look to make a plan that doesn’t fit your schedule, make one that fits so it will last for the duration. Consistency, as always, is key to creating the change you want from your fitness journey.
So what do you do? I always look at targeting 2 - 3 days a week, whatever 2 - 3 days that work best for me and my life. I try to put a day of rest in between if I can but if I can’t, there are other solutions and a way to approach that.
As I mentioned earlier, try to make your training schedule be a part of the day’s plan. If mornings are too chaotic, look at afternoons or evenings and vice versa. If practices or events happen on certain days, be determined to have them on the other days. If evenings are packed with dinner, work children’s homework, look for a different window.
Some times we try to fix everything at once and it, unfortunately, does not work like that, as much as we all wish it did. You don’t need the perfect eating plan to go with the perfect schedule. Remember, this is all about you and what will work for you. Target one thing at a time. Here are a few things to think about that you can change over time.
Increase your protein intake. I’m sure most of us could do that and be okay, even if it’s just a little.
Drink more water, yes, more water, just like protein. Most of us do not drink enough of it.
Get sleep when you can. My solution is cat naps. I usually take a nap throughout my day. Isn’t that funny? We grow out of naps and grow right back into them. LOL
Eat more whole, one ingredient foods. You know what it is and where it came from. An apple is an apple no matter how you look at it.
Move more. That can be as simple as adding more steps into your life.
Plan a meal for a few days in advance. That will grant you some time back in your day.
Take those simple concepts and build from there. We are always striving to find the perfect something, the better something. It is sometimes right in front of your face, it’s just packaged in a way that you may not recognize it. Remember, at the end of the day when you look in the mirror, if you ask yourself, “did I improve my health today,” you want that answer to be yes because a lot of people need you in this world, but most importantly, you need you! You know what’s even better? If you’ve done nothing up to this point and you’re reading this, do me a favor and start doing something now. Just think of where you can be by Thanksgiving. That’s when the holiday challenge comes into play, but we won’t get into that just yet! Lol.
Until next time gang, continue to live life 1 degree above the rest! The changes you desire can be yours, just take it one step at a time.