Over the last, oh I don't know, eons, I have tried every diet, fitness routine, quick fix pills and several equipments, and even several diet products that promise to make me skinny in no time flat. Some worked short term then I had to get back to reality, others just didn't work at all and for sure I figured it was the crappy product or diet plan I was on. It couldn't be me right?
I have become a little bit smarter about all the dieting and quick fix programs and their false promises - basically I don't believe in strict diets nor do I believe that diet pills or quick-fix equipment work, at all. OK maybe some of you might have lost some weight or lots of weight taking an over the counter or prescription pill but go ahead and stop taking that pill and see how long the weight stays off. Strict diets only work if you do them consistently for the rest of your life.
I learned, the hard way, that the #1 key to success is consistency. Once you have a plan that includes eating healthy and exercising then all you have to do is follow through and keep doing what you planned to do. The best laid plans are nothing if we don't follow through.
So buying a journal, a gym membership, cute workout clothes and new running shoes and paying a trainer will not increase your ability to lose weight or get in shape or even improve your health if you don't use them. You still have to watch what you eat (and I don't mean watch it go in your mouth, I mean be aware of what's good and bad in what you eat each every meal). The gym membership is just a waste of money if you don't actually go to the gym; cute workout clothes and new shoes are pointless if you don't ever break a sweat in them. Go ahead, make them stinky - that is the smell of a hard workout. The Personal Trainer still gets paid regardless of your progress - he/she is there to lead you, teach you, motivate you and guide you - but you have to want it more than the trainer. Show up, work hard!
I'm sure, in fact, I know I have not reached the MY personal fitness goals. Not for lack of motivation, know-how, or consistency but simply because I set goals for the long term and I know that it can take as long to get there as it did to get where I am now. Funny how my body just didn't bounce back after baby number 3 and 4. What was I thinking? Regardless of the changes in my body as I age, umm get wiser, I can't give up and blame it all on my "maturity," in fact, I work harder because it takes longer to achieve the same results. Add to that the added stress of raising kids, added stress of packing out and moving every 2-4 years due to military orders, school, work, etc..etc.
With a well laid out plan and taking into consideration holidays, kids getting sick, family visiting, etc. What can possibly keep me from getting a workout in today? Well, first my attitude can get in the way of things. If I get up looking for an excuse not to go to the gym or for a bike ride or a walk then, believe me, I will find a way and a reason why I can't exercise today. Secondly, preparation. If I don't lay out my clothes, pack my gym bag, fill my water bottle AND write on my calendar what my next day will be, it's very likely that it will be filled with a lot of things, none of which include my fitness routine.
To avoid these potential interruptions in my fitness routine I first fix my attitude, before I even get to bed. I write down what class I'm taking or how far I plan to walk/run/ride, etc. When all else fails, I call someone and tell them what I'm doing. Now there's one more person I'm accountable to. Second, I plan to succeed the next day by preparing everything the night before - gym bag, food, water bottle, clothes, etc.
OK so I have control of these two issues in my life. I can fix that. But what about the others, the unexpected or even expected events that come up. I have those days. Believe me, with four kids and a husband whose not always here, the last minute cold, tummy issue, and food spill rests on me to clean up. No matter how great a plan I had to go to the gym at 9:30 am, things happen.
It's OK to stop and do what needs to be done. Deal with the situation and move on. I can't beat myself up about it, I can't beat my kids up either -- that would be counter productive. So I have to go to plan B. We all should have one. Options: Once all the clean up is done and the child is settled or asleep, workout at home, use FitTV, ExerciseTV, YouTube, and the million and one blogs out there with easy, no equipment required fitness programs that can be done at home in a short period of time. In fact I have a few of those myself. Checkout the links below. The idea is to keep moving, do something, don't just give up for the day and call it quits.
The last minute visitors...they have a place in my healthy heart too. Either come with me to the gym or wait here, I'll be back shortly. Many of my friends already know to show up prepared, just in case we go for a long walk or in case we go to a Spinning Class. When I have overnight visitors coming and I know they're coming I tell them in advanced that I plan to go to the gym and I would love for them to come along. But if they don't want to, that's OK. Mi casa es tu casa...be back shortly. I know there are times when you have company coming and you have to prepare, clean, cook, etc.... that's different, but not so. This is a great opportunity to get the workout in around that particular visit - very early or late on the day of, or the day before or after. No one ever said we had to be working freakishly hard 7 days a week. But we can certainly plan to exercise and eat healthy before a party.
It is not difficult to be consistent with matters of the heart and health. We can consistently find time to do a great deal of things in our every day life, except taking care of #1- that usually goes to the bottom of the list. Maybe it's time we reset our priorities and put YOU back on the list as #1, permanently.
Here's a tasty, easy, breakfast recipe - try it, hope you like it!
Egg white & Salsa Wrap
1/2 cup egg whites
2 TBS Salsa
1 TBS Mild Cheddar or Colby Jack Cheese
1 Small wheat flour tortilla
Cook egg whites
Add Cheese and Salsa
Scoop it into the tortilla, wrap it and eat it!!
It's delicious.
Stay Well,
Relevant Links:
Cool sites you should visit:
LoveEshe - Exercise advise, nutrition tips and tough love!
The Jungle of Life - Traveling through the jungle we call life- one step at a time.
Create a Balance - A life balance personal development blog to help you embrace your authentic self.
Making ourselves #1 - easy to forget...
I loved the lead up to this point. Life is full of of things to pull us off-track. And if we haven't planned in times for ourselves - then that is what will likely get pushed to the side. I've certainly been guilty of this. And continue to be - when I don't specifically focus on what matters.
And what a great thing to do - to take care of our body. In so doing, we're only setting ourselves up for a future where we're in better condition to physically more capable of everything that comes our way. And that's a great place to be...
Thanks for the reminder...
Posted by: Lance | May 27, 2009 at 06:13
Consistency is the key. But what happens when all of a sudden, that motivation to keep going simply disappears?
Posted by: Irene | June 01, 2009 at 14:36
Irene, I understand all too well what you mean. There are those times when we just run on fumes and there's nothing left. I'll tell you what I do to get back on track. First I take a day or two off and re-evaluate what I've done, re-evaluate my goals, and revisit my accomplishments so far. Second, I design a new plan - go to new classes, new workout routines, workout with a friend and look for that spark in other areas of my life. Third, I create new short-term goals--it's important to have those little goals, like loosing 5 lbs, loose 2 inches, doing more pushups, running longer by a certain date. Finally, I remind myself of two important things - #1 why do I exercise? Why is it important that I eat nutrient rich meals? and #2 How do I feel when I follow an exercise and nutrition plan?
Sometimes we just have to take the time to see the big picture. It is way too easy to run like we're trying to arrive at some destination--living a healthy lifestyle is a journey.
Posted by: SpinDiva | June 01, 2009 at 15:42
Lance, some think I'm nuts when I say put the "me" time on your schedule and tell your family so they know this is time for you to refresh your mind, work on your own self and get inspired. I love my "me" time!
Posted by: SpinDiva | June 01, 2009 at 15:45
Sorry I've been gone so long. Thanks for another great post!
Love this post. I set a 9 month goal, but i know it's really just about building consistent habits. Friends keep asking me..."have you tried this workout" or "have you tried this diet" and then they always talk about how "it" didn't work for them. I truly believe that anything I'm consistent with will eventually give you results. "It" never works I'm the one who has to be working =) I'm the only one responsible for my healthy. Now i just have to remember that more consistently. Like every time I get hungry, or even before i get hungry by planning out my day better =)
Posted by: Fitness Surfer | June 01, 2009 at 22:21
Hey Fitness Surfer--so glad to see you back and thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Time to get back to work on those goals and yes you are the only responsible for your health. I'll be by your site shortly!!
Posted by: SpinDiva | June 02, 2009 at 06:13