Fresh Start Fitness

Talk yourself into it, not out of it. When the voice of defeat and negativity creeps in (“you can’t do this”), imagine a giant red stop sign in your face and stop those thoughts in their tracks. Remember: just because you think it, doesn’t mean it’s true. Stop the thought and replace it with something hopeful: “I can do this!” “I am strong enough for this!” “I am ready!”. Just because you failed before doesn’t mean you will again. Failure is part of every great success story. And yes, you can do it— believe it!

Find your why. Everyone wants to lose weight. Why? What do imagine you will feel when you achieve that? Writing it down on paper in your own hand can be a powerful motivator. Some “whys” might be: lowering risk of disease, increasing overall health, lowering blood pressure, ability to get up and down off the floor, energy to keep up with kids, the feelings of confidence and pride, or to be a positive role model. They’re all valid reasons but the most valuable motivator of all is: YOU. You’re worth the time and investment in yourself. You deserve to be healthy and strong, to feel good in your own body, and to know you’ve taken care of yourself.

Watch, read, or listen to things that are inspiring and promote the healthy lifestyle you’re hoping to achieve. I have another post about media that inspires me. It does not include mindless social media scrolling or shows like The Bachelor, that leave me feeling uninspired, inadequate, and basically terrible about myself. Be honest with yourself about how you fill your mind and your time: is it positive or negatively effecting how you feel about your place in the world?

Make a plan. Big goals are achieved by small steps. Come up with a reasonable plan which might include: increasing daily step count by adding a lunch time walk, a gradual start to structured exercise (zero to one or two times per week, not zero to five times per week), planning weekly weigh-ins, meal prep and lunch packing, drinking less soda and more water. How will you achieve your goals? Think hard about what’s possible for you. Are you a Starbucks junkie? Fine, keep that one for now and change some of the less significant habits first. Or, keep the Starbucks but make smaller swaps of milk, whipped cream, syrup, etc for lighter versions. People tend to be more successful when they make small changes over time rather than one big overhaul of their daily choices.

Grocery list, meal planning, and Pinterest for recipes! Pinterest is a plethora of healthy-ish, less-fat, protein-filled, affordable family meals. Almost anything you make at home is better for you than anything you’d get from a drive-through. Make a new board of healthy dinners, write out a grocery list, and plan out those meals a few days ahead of time. I get overwhelmed when I go more than 3 days out, but even having a plan for today and tomorrow gives me peace of mind. Plan ahead, or you’re planning to fail.

Purge your stuff. The saying goes, “No one likes to cook in a dirty kitchen” and that applies to the rest of the house, too. Get rid of stuff so you have less stuff to pick up and clean. Start with one smaller area like the bathroom or even a closet. Commit to cleaning it to completion and then enjoy how it looks and feels to have an organized space and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment for finishing a task.

Try whitening your teeth. Many people who are overweight or obese cite that they lost sight of caring for themselves. A simple, inexpensive and low time commitment habit like using Crest white strips has been a catalyst for me. I remember that the way I feel about myself physically matters and it’s okay to spend some time, money, and effort on appearance and myself. I enjoy the way I look when I have white teeth, nail polish on my toes, and mascara on my lashes. Those small habits make me feel happy, motivated, and pretty. When I feel good about myself, I take better care of myself in all areas.

Getting fit doesn’t start in the gym. It starts in your mind.