The gym is finally calming down a bit. Some of the January Joiners have stuck around, but others have already gone. For that reason, this Fitness Friday features a bit of tough love. Sorry, but love hurts.
Leading a healthy lifestyle is fun. It’s rewarding. It’s contagious to those around you. Most of all, it’s… well, healthy. We already know all this, but here’s another truth, leading a healthy lifestyle is tough! If it were easy, everyone would do it.
If your resolutions seem to be slipping out of reach, here are a few thoughts to consider. Maybe they will help you stay grounded, reset your expectations, or realize that lots of people feel this way, even seasoned gym rats!
- 5 a.m. is always early. If you have chosen to start your day with a sweat session, no matter what time the alarm goes off, (4, 5, 6, or even 7 a.m.) it feels too early. Sure, your body will get in the groove a bit, and you’ll start going to bed earlier. Some mornings you’ll even pop out of bed like a jack-in-the-box, but you’re bed will always be more comfy than your running shoes. Get used to it.
- Something always comes up. If you workout after work/class/etc., you know how things often get in the way. You’ve had a rough day, the weather’s terrible, or you have to work late. It happens! You’re not the first person to miss a workout, and you won’t be the last. That doesn’t mean you need to throw in the towel completely or let cancellations become a habit.
- Habits take time. Working out regularly and eating healthfully are part willpower, but they’re mostly habit. Take baby steps, like not getting whipped cream at Starbucks, and then you’ll be taking big steps, like ordering healthy meals at restaurants. Don’t automatically blame your “lack of willpower” when you’re just not in the habit yet. You’ll get there!
- You will never “find” time. Time isn’t something we can find and purchase on Amazon. While some people are certainly busier than others, we all must make time for our priorities. If you want a healthy lifestyle to be a priority to you, make time for it. Write down your workout plans. Prep your meals Sunday. Do whatever it is you’ve gotta do to make the time.
- No one’s perfect. We all slip up here and there, but practice certainly helps. Before heading to the fridge for a snack, visualize yourself picking out a healthy option and enjoying it. (sounds silly but a neat trick) Even if you’re not a marathoner or track star, you’re still lapping everyone on the couch!
- Get out of your comfort zone. You don’t need to push your workouts to extremes every day, but you’ve gotta bust out of your comfort zone. In short, if you still look cute after your workout, you didn’t work hard enough. Sorry to say it, but you know it’s true.
Was that too tough? I know the tough love won’t work for everyone, but it works for me! I find it refreshing, and on that note, since it’s Friday and all…
- Got any other tough love to share? How about some Friday love instead?
February 8, 2013 at 6:17 am
Thank you for this reminder. I’ve been slacking on my healthy diet and need to make time. great tips!
January Joiners- buh bye. Seriously. And you’re right, it’s hard to keep up and be active. Way to keep us motivated:) Have a great weekend!
February 8, 2013 at 8:36 am
I’ve been slack too. Now that I’m finally well again, I can’t use my sickness as an excuse anymore. Hmmm… maybe I’ll get back on track *after* the weekend.
February 8, 2013 at 7:44 am
“You will never find time”…..so true! Just do it!!
Happy Friday!
February 8, 2013 at 8:17 am
yes! Also, people view it as a physical punishment for something they ate, and it doesn’t have to be that way… nor does the body work that way. Plus, fitness teaches us confidence, dedication and how to ‘show up’ – we can use it as a tool to apply those lessons to other areas of our lives.
February 8, 2013 at 8:37 am
So true! Are you secretly a 90 year-old shoved in a hottie body? You’re so wise! haha
February 8, 2013 at 8:27 am
Love this reminder! Thanks for it!
I just saw that last quote on Pinterest and loved it. It’s so true though- if my hair is still decent after a workout, I definitely didn’t go hard enough!
I just heard a harsh quote yesterday, too, but thought it was true. “You’re not a dog, so don’t reward yourself with food.”
I definitely think it’s ok to indulge and eat tasty food, but don’t always reward yourself with food. Maybe buy new workout clothing or something like that instead.
February 8, 2013 at 8:28 am
Love this! Great tips!
February 8, 2013 at 8:38 am
I’m with you on early calls !!
When I’d run at 5:30am, the 5am alarms were early. Now that I run after my kid is off onto her school bus, 6:30am is STILL early!!
And I’m one of those with whom life perpetually interferes after work in the evenings. So no run/workouts for me at night.
February 8, 2013 at 9:08 am
Great post!! Definitely agree with making it a habit. I naturally wake up at 5 am now because I’m so used to getting up and going to the gym!
February 8, 2013 at 9:49 am
I’m a fan of tough love as well, but I was talking to a friend who said that tough love actually makes her want to rebel and do the opposite. Different things work for different people, I guess!
February 8, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Yes, great tips! 5am is always early, for sure. I try to alternate between early workouts and evening ones on the days I know I can squeeze it in so I have a few days to “sleep in”. Have a great weekend, Tiff!
February 8, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I love your version of tough love – get over it and do it!
I had a similar conversation with a co-worker earlier this month. People think I LOVE working out (and sometimes I do), but I had to explain that sometimes it’s a pain to fit in and I don’t feel like it and I would rather be lazy and, and, and…but you just do it! =)
February 9, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Thank goodness someone else gets what I was gettin’ at!
February 8, 2013 at 3:14 pm
I’m more of an evening girl for the workouts, and it is sometimes just as easy to skip those workouts when work has been super stressful. On the other hand, when I know I’m going to have a late meeting or another obligation in the evening, I make sure I have all of my stuff for running or the gym out and ready to go to make it easier on myself to get up and get rolling in the early morning hours.
February 8, 2013 at 7:55 pm
JUST DO IT. That’s all I tell myself. Stop being a baby and do it.
February 8, 2013 at 8:12 pm
I hear this all. the. time. from coworkers or my patients. Great advice – get over it and do it!
February 12, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Such a great post, Tiff! I think sometimes bloggers make things sound easier than they are
Morning workouts will ALWAYS be hard for me!
February 14, 2013 at 12:27 pm
LOVE this!