The greatest compliment
The greatest compliment to me is when someone sees the success that I've had in making major lifestyle changes, and asks me to help them do the same. What a great confidence booster and what a great chance to help someone out (while also offering accountability!). Recently I had a family member ask this of me, and here's what I told her (with a few things added in-because I know she will read this):
1) Make small changes: each small change adds up to larger change. Changing everything ALL at once can make it that much easier to slide back into old habits.
2) Move your body-we forget how much we were designed to move. Our ancestors moved more hours in the day than we do in a week (quite literally). It was designed to move, and you'll feel better if you do it.
3) Build a support system-accountability is key. If you tell the entire world you are eating healthy and working hard at something, they will ask you how you're doing and hold you up if you're feeling weak. It's not about bragging, it's about having support systems in place.
4) No one's perfect, everyone splurges. It's about doing the best you can, most of the time. More hours of the day than not, eat what you know fuels your body in a positive way.
5) Remember your 'aha moment' and keep that close in your mind. Mine was my mother being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I knew I NEVER wanted to be there, and with a family history of EVERYTHING, it was time to change my life.
6) Celebrate your accomplishments (they do not have to be numbers on the scale). Celebrate halving your blood pressure medicine (I did!), celebrate and reward yourself for running a half marathon (still have the beautiful running shoe necklace). We are a little like pavlovian dogs in that if we reward ourselves we will continue the good fight!
And last but not least…..
7) Have fun with it. Take the opportunity to try new things: exercises, foods you've never before liked, recipes you've been interested in. Some will suck (Zumba class was my arch nemesis), some foods will taste terrible. But you've tried it, and likely it will have been fun trying it out. If not, you will have a great story (Zumba!!!).
And with that, have a great, healthy & happy week everyone!
Kara
1) Make small changes: each small change adds up to larger change. Changing everything ALL at once can make it that much easier to slide back into old habits.
2) Move your body-we forget how much we were designed to move. Our ancestors moved more hours in the day than we do in a week (quite literally). It was designed to move, and you'll feel better if you do it.
3) Build a support system-accountability is key. If you tell the entire world you are eating healthy and working hard at something, they will ask you how you're doing and hold you up if you're feeling weak. It's not about bragging, it's about having support systems in place.
4) No one's perfect, everyone splurges. It's about doing the best you can, most of the time. More hours of the day than not, eat what you know fuels your body in a positive way.
5) Remember your 'aha moment' and keep that close in your mind. Mine was my mother being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I knew I NEVER wanted to be there, and with a family history of EVERYTHING, it was time to change my life.
6) Celebrate your accomplishments (they do not have to be numbers on the scale). Celebrate halving your blood pressure medicine (I did!), celebrate and reward yourself for running a half marathon (still have the beautiful running shoe necklace). We are a little like pavlovian dogs in that if we reward ourselves we will continue the good fight!
And last but not least…..
7) Have fun with it. Take the opportunity to try new things: exercises, foods you've never before liked, recipes you've been interested in. Some will suck (Zumba class was my arch nemesis), some foods will taste terrible. But you've tried it, and likely it will have been fun trying it out. If not, you will have a great story (Zumba!!!).
And with that, have a great, healthy & happy week everyone!
Kara
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