January is over and now the true warriors will show up and fight for a better tomorrow, and a better version of themselves. It is easy to say: “I want to look fabulous, and I want to lose 10 lbs.”, but it is not easy to do it. If you have never done it, look at those 5 next steps to make your journey successful.
- Step 1.
Identify WHY you want to “look fabulous and lose 10 lbs.”, but don’t lie to yourself and come up with some easy answers. Dig deep, and figure out why you REALLY want it. Do you want to feel accepted, maybe confident? What happened in the first place that you lost it? This answer will be crucial because it will be your strength base. Your motivation to keep going. Without it, you have no purpose, and the real goal might be forgotten, it also can lose its priority. I always know my why, and without it, I probably wouldn’t be motivated to keep going every day. Many times, I’m tired or overwhelmed and exercise is the last thing I want to do. But then this energy from my “why” comes back and I do what I am supposed to do, despite everything.
Your regeneration happens when you sleep, and nothing can replace it
- Step 2.
Create an easy PLAN. Know what to do. When will you exercise, what will you do, and how much time do you need. Be specific and plan only achievable steps, that fit your schedule. For example, if you are not exercising at all choose 2 days where you will do something fun and enjoyable, like a group class on Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm or go for a 20-minute walk with a friend every weekend at 9 am. The goal is to get used to the movement little by little. Bi-weekly, or monthly you can change your fitness routine to fit your condition level. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a crazy schedule. Make it simple.
- Step 3.
Tell your friend about your plan to hold you ACCOUNTABLE. We all need to be in check with someone to perform better. It could be your mom, best friend, or a coach. Whoever you will choose make sure they are invested in helping you, or they are as consistent as you try to be. Otherwise, you might not follow through with your plan. The best option would be having someone exercise with you because then you will have extra motivation to act! I personally love working out with friends, and that is what I do most days of the week. Our energy is so high that we can’t wait for our workout! It is truly the best time ever.
- Step 4.
Get your beauty SLEEP. It is super important to get enough sleep. I know it sounds so easy and basic, but this is the best way for our body to rest. Your regeneration happens when you sleep, and nothing can replace it. As a mom, and a professional athlete, I totally understand that it is easy to say than done but I see the difference. And honestly every day I also try to sleep more. It is a habit I constantly work on. I’m a night owl, so it is difficult, but I can let myself not sleep because the next day, my family expects me to be in full mojo, my training is waiting for me, so I can’t afford to be tired.
- Step 5.
Don’t skip your MEALS!!! After eight years of experience with fat loss clients, the first thing I see is that most clients are not eating enough. The majority, after consultation, admit that they eat only 1-2 meals a day. I will be honest I don’t believe in diets. But the best diet is the one you can stick to. I like to approach this topic gently and work my way up by adding or reducing food one by one. Everyone is different but if we would generalize it, I would say eat breakfast at 8 am, then lunch at 1 pm and lastly dinner at 6 pm. I like to use patterns and create a habit. Not skipping meals will not only give you energy for rest of the day, but also make your metabolism move, and digest everything accordingly. In another word, without energy, we won’t be able to move more, and without proper metabolism, we will store most food as fat. It is also crucial what we eat, but again if I would generalize it, I would say eat most unprocessed food, so anything that doesn’t have a label. Focus on fruits and vegetables. Add a good source of protein and very little fat, and you will be set for success.
In Summary. Make it as simple as you can. The simpler plan the better. Don’t overcomplicate it because it will only create chaos and eventually lead to quitting. Enjoy things you do or eat. That is the only way to stick to it.
Photo By: Images By Calvin