Stay On Track With Those Resolutions!

So it is officially February and that means you have had close to a month to work on those resolutions.  How are they working out for you?  Are you staying on track?  Did you give up already?  Don't fret, here are 5 tips to help you stay on track so you achieve success.

1.  Be Patient! - Success will not come overnight.  As much as we tend to be very impatient in the process, you must trust that it works and change will be made.  Consistency is the key!  Keep at the routine and know that change will be achieved. "Believe in yourself, trust the process, change forever." -Bob Harper

2.  Evaluate and re-adjust -  Are your goals still realistic?  Truly evaluate if they are.  If not, re-adjust those goals.  You are not selling yourself short, and there is nothing wrong with tweaking them.  Change the path of the plan if need be.


3.  Need Accountability? -  Put your goals OUT there!  I'm serious!  Post them where people can see.  Honestly most will not care, but you will think they do because they are out there and you will be more likely to hold yourself accountable.  Tell a loved one, close friend, or even post a note on Facebook.

4.  Tailor the Schedule - Were you totally committed to getting up at 5AM every morning to get that workout in, but then the snooze button became your best friend....?  Well change your schedule.  Maybe AM workouts are not best for you?   Can you do at lunch or in the evening?  Find what works best for your schedule and family.

5.  Track Progress and reward the little successes! - It takes small steps and successes to achieve the bigger, loftier goals.  Reward yourself with healthy/wholesome rewards for achieving those little successes and steps along the way.  How about a new book, water bottle, or fitness accessory?  Something fun that will keep you pushing away towards the Big Kahuna.

Remember, you ARE worth it!  Keep at it!

Let me know your progress.  I'd love to help you along your journey!

Best in health-

Stop Your Whining! It's Crowded- Now Change Your Attitude!

Now I must preface this post as I'm not known for taming my tongue.  I tell it how I see it and some of you may not like it, but you must change your attitude!  Yeah I'm talking to you.  You see, going to the gym has been a little frustrating lately - it's packed, chaotic, and hectic.  I know; I hear you; I see it every year!  My normal routine is a little more challenging as my overlooked corner of the weight room is occupied whenever I'm there, and it seems that every hour is peak hour. I know that January is typically a crowded time for the gym as people are making good on New Year's resolutions, and they just received the best membership deals of the year.  Now quit your whining and complaining!  People are making their health a priority; here's hoping it keeps up all year long! 

You see as a fitness professional, I am encouraged that there is motivation to commit to a healthy lifestyle and people are making the effort for real change.  It may be seen as an inconvenience at this time and it may not last, but as the most obese nation in the world and with our nation having the most astronomical health care costs, we must change our attitude and continue to positively encourage those people that want to make their changes, even if it's in masses starting in January. 

Now put your whining aside and let's talk a little gym etiquette. If you are a gym newbie, the gym rats can get annoyed with your lack of gym etiquette so here are a few tips to help keep all happy.

  • Always clean equipment properly- Your gym has disinfectant spray bottles and towels dispersed throughout the gym (if they don't, you best talk to someone).  Please spray down your equipment before and after use.  No one wants to get sick or bask in your leftover sweaty mess.
  • Please honor the cardio machine time limits- If the gym asks that there be a 20-30 min time limit on the cardio equipment, please honor that.  If that is not enough time for your cardio workout, then go sprint some stairs or grab a jump rope to keep your heart pumping.  You don't need fancy equipment for elevated heart rates.
  • "Work in"/share benches or free weights- If you notice the gym is busy and others are waiting for benches and weights, please "work in" or share your equipment after each set.  You can go do another exercise while you share the bench or weights.  Common courtesy here folks!

Gym rats- there are a few things that you can change as well this time of year to help ease your frustration and help with the attitude adjustment.

  • Go to the gym at non-peak hours- Yeah your routine may not be regular, but nothing is regular much this time of year.  It's fitness chaos so get up a little earlier, workout at lunch, or late night.  Check with your gym to see when non-peak hours tend to be.
  • Work out at home to a fitness DVD, on-demand video, or new activity that you haven't tried out before- You won't have to fight the rush, parking, and crowded machines. 
  • Create bodyweight/minimal equipment workouts that you can do outdoors or at home- You don't need a gym to get a workout.  Bootcamps at the park are a great example of a creative way to get a killer workout.  Use your body as your machine!

I hope this sparks some new ideas and new ways of thinking this time of year.  I'm sick of hearing the whining and really we need to do more encouraging and less bitching of others.  You may have been this "annoying" person at one time...  Remember, healthy bodies led to healthy minds so let's encourage all for healthy lifestyles!

Best in health-

Be A Little Selfish, You're Worth it!

 As 2011 has made its way, many start, and do not follow through completely on their resolutions.  I'm not much of a resolution person anyway.  I mean NOW is as good a time as any to start working towards a goal or start healthy habits.  Most fail at those silly resolutions after a couple months anyway.  The key is setting smaller, attainable steps to reach those big, hairy, audacious, goals so you don't peeter out in the beginning. 

As we look forward to new adventures, it is imperative to look back and reflect upon your previous habits.  History will repeat itself if we do not learn from our previous mistakes and setbacks.  Many of us are coming off a hectic holiday season where maybe we took a timeout from the gym; had one too many cocktails; too many layer bars (thanks mother-in-law); spent too much time consumed by others and neglecting ourselves.  It's time to be a little selfish!  Put yourself first for once!

I am a firm believer that healthy bodies lead to healthy minds!  Put your health and fitness goals first so you can feel better about yourself, be a better spouse or significant other, a better mother or father, a better co-worker, or be a better person to just be around.  You may feel guilty about the thought of being selfish and putting yourself first, but trust me, all will gladly appreciate you taking care of yourself first so it is a pleasure to be around you.  Now your schedule may dictate when you can make the time to focus on your health and fitness, but I see the most success when people get a workout in first before you attack that to-do list and run around for everyone else.  You will feel more energized and your sense of well-being will be heightened if you put yourself first, first thing!

"The good news about the past, is that it's over!  The great news about the future is that you can CREATE it!" -The Daily Love.  Now go create greatness for yourself!!

Best in health this new year-

A Swift Kick in the Butt

Sometimes a good kick in the butt and self reflection is truly motivating.  I think many of you can relate. My friend Angel has some big health and wellness goals for herself and is truly committed to making progress and reaching those goals.  Angel shared her latest blog entry on Spark People with me and allowed me to repost:

"I worked out with my trainer on Sunday and we spent the day on legs with a little core work thrown in. Holyfreakingcrap. Not only was it hard for me to do the exercises, it became extremely frustrating when my body wasn't executing the moves the way I saw them in my head. I did them all, to the best of my ability, and worked hard but by the end of the session I was so disappointed and mad at my body that I almost cried. I kept thinking that my body had betrayed me because it wasn't performing the way I was telling it to.

Later, when I was in the locker room shower, I was still thinking about how "betrayed" I felt when it hit me... My body hadn't betrayed me; I had betrayed my body. My body was only performing to the level that it had become accustomed to. I know that seems like a really simple thought, but it had a huge impact on me. I just stood there for a moment, absorbing the weight of this new thought and then moved past the disappointment and anger to a new level of understanding and motivation.

If anything, I was more inspired than ever to push myself and work past all the physical and mental limitations I had burdened myself with. I was more excited than ever to stick to my plan and work towards progress and a better version of myself.

Sunday was a good day and I will keep that feeling in mind the next time I get down on myself for whatever reason. Positive outcomes only! "

Have you allowed yourself to betray your body?  As time goes on with continued habits, you may ask, "how did I let it go on so long?"  Sometimes it feels like you are so far from where you want to be, that the challenge is too great or daunting.  Sometimes you just need a good kick in the butt!  I love when we have a community of people who have the courage to share their goals, share their challenges, and share their successes.  The more we put them out there for the public to see, the more support that tends to flock our way, and the more accountable we tend to be to ourselves.  Sure, some could probably give a rip, but just knowing that you have made those goals public, tends to keep us focused and on track.  Go get after them!

Maybe you don't feel you have the best support system surrounding you?  If that is the case, there are many tools you can seek out on your own.  Spark People is a great online community that provides diet & fitness plans, recipes, calorie counters, and a community to connect with others for support like Angel's blog.  If you feel this would be a good fit for you, I encourage you to check it out here.  You can also try signing up for a new group fitness class or group training.  Being surrounded by people who have health and wellness as a priority, will help keep you on track and can be a great network of supportive people.

To read more of Angel's blog, check it out here:

Best in health-

The Honest Truth

My family and I were sitting at dinner recently and my four year old daughter asks me, "Mommy.  What's your talent?"  I replied, "I don't know sweetie.  What do you think my talent is?"  Her response, bless her heart, was, "Being in the kitchen making stuff."  My husband and I just looked at each other and started laughing.  Why was this humorous?  Because if you know me well enough, you know I HATE the kitchen and I HATE cooking.

So how can the person who is so passionate about healthy lifestyles and clean eating hate the kitchen?  The truth is, I love to eat, but I really do not enjoy all the prep work and, more importantly, the time it takes to prepare the food and meals.  I am very impatient and when I am hungry, I would just like a meal to magically appear in front of me...  I know, snap out of dream world!

The truth is, because of my passion for promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles, I CHOOSE to take the time necessary to prepare healthy meals for me and my family.  It does not mean I enjoy it.  I choose to spend Sunday evenings mapping out a plan for the week for my kids' lunches, and dinners for the week.  I choose to do the grocery shopping so that I make sure our kitchen and pantry is packed with clean eats and I am prepared.  I choose to make sure there is not junk readily available for anyone in my family to easily have at arms reach.  If we are out with friends or it is the weekend, it is ok to have a treat, but there is a definite difference between a snack and treat.  I am no different than many of you out there.  I just make a choice to live life as healthy as possible and encourage my family to do the same.  Ultimately, they make their own choices, but I want to make sure they have a solid foundation.

The bottom line is, I make a conscious choice to make sure my family and I will be encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle.  I do not shun or judge on those who are not making those choices.  That is just the way it is in our house.  I will continue to encourage, promote, and support you if you choose to come along on this journey as well.

Remember, it is never too late to make a change.  Live your best life and dare to be remarkable!  I am always listening to your successes and challenges.

Best in health-
Misty

© Dynamic Edge Nutrition 2018