When thinking about changing your wellness habits and activities, often the first step is the hardest. Walking into the gym, choosing to put the junk food back from the shopping cart, actually making it through eight glasses of water in one day ... those can be tough steps to take.
No matter if you're starting for the first time or for the tenth time, we all need friendly tips and reminders to help us get going, and keep going on a wellness journey. St. Andrew's Family Fitness has found five must-have tips for you to keep in mind while you take that next step (whatever it may be!).
Be patient through the process. No matter what your goals are, they're going to take some time. Learn to enjoy the journey, celebrate the small wins, and accept that you're not going to get where you want to go overnight. The best practice is to think about where you want to be in one year, then break that goal down into three daily habits that you can work on every six weeks. At the end of a six-week period, while continuing with the daily habits you previously established, add on three more. If you don't feel like you're ready for more, continue working on your first three until you're proud!
There is no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to workouts, fitness programs, or diets. Part of this journey is discovering what fits you. Push yourself to try new fitness classes, routines, and workouts on a monthly basis. Be leary of any too-good-to-be-true supplements, diets, drinks, etc., but do experiment with new, healthy recipes often.
Consistency is key, not perfection. A huge part of successfully reaching your long-term goals is what you do on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean you have to be 100% perfect all of the time. Perfection doesn't allow any room for you to be a human and will most likely cause you to fail. Tough days are a healthy part of life; show up for as many of them as you can, but also know and understand that it's okay if you need a break sometimes.
Find the diet that works the best for you. Again, there is no "one-size-fits-all" plan. Some people see great results and feel good on Keto, for others it's Paleo. For you- it could be something completely different. The most important diet advice to remember? Stay away from highly processed foods, drink plenty of water, limit your sugar, and enjoy whole grains, fruits/veggies, lean protein, and healthy fats!
Fitness is more about how you feel and less about how you look. Changes to your body, from losing weight to toning up, are obvious extrinsic benefits of fitness. However, because these changes can take anywhere from three months to one year for you to see it's better to focus on how working out and treating your body well makes you feel. Confidence, vibrancy, strength, less anxiety/depression, and less physical pain are just some of the many benefits of fitness and wellness outside of your dress size.
If you feel like you need help planning your next step in your wellness journey, St. Andrew's Family Fitness is here for you. Please submit a Starting Point Questionnaire online today and our Fitness Director will personally contact you to help you set up your next step.