So we are a few months into our healthy New Year. Now it is time to re-evaluate. Do not step on the scale. Do not even go near it. Focus on how you FEEL. Has your energy increased? Are you sleeping any better? Do you see any baby muscles popping up any where? If you haven’t reached any of these yet, THAT IS OKAY! People who go crazy and do too much too quickly get burnt out. Take it slow. Take everything day by day. Make changes by focusing on each day, each meal, each hour if you need to. Look forward to doing something for yourself that is going to make you a little bit healthier today. Maybe you started drinking more water; started going on long walks in the fresh air; or maybe you started adding a pile of greens to your dinner…all small but important accomplishments that are making your body cleaner, stronger, and more efficient on the inside. The outward stuff is only as important as you make it. The blood is flowing, and your muscles, heart, and lungs are all waking up. Do not stop now.
Now take a step back and look at the changes you have made. What have you loved? What has been terrible? The obvious response may be: It has all been HARD; remember though that you are teaching your body something new, and you have to constantly remind yourself that it is going to become something so much better. Those first few weeks of moving your body are challenging. Especially if it is something new, or something you are returning to. But you have to push through. When you are not in shape, things are not going to work well. But as things start changing and you teach various parts of your body how it should function again, things will get better and better. Do not quit. Do not give up. Think of this first month as a giant hill you need to run up. When you get to the top, it is going to be glorious. On a side note…if you keep in shape and keep health a priority…these giant hills will not be so giant.
It is also time to check in and see how you feel about the new foods that have been incorporated in to your diet. Are you exploring REAL foods with amazing ingredients? Are these real foods tasting good? Honestly, if they don’t, you have to come to the realization that something is not right with your body. It should make you want to push through this time even more. Your body needs to relearn what it should be eating, and therefore what foods it craves. If your body is full of crap and toxins, that is the food it will want more of. If you give your body energy-filled, nutrition-packed foods that make you feel amazing, then you will want only that. Focus on foods that will fill you up and leave you satisfied. You never have to sacrifice when your body is being fueled with things that make you feel good. With every meal add veggies, add whole grains, add colorful seasonal foods. Make your meals even more exciting than they were before because you know you are doing something amazing for yourself. One of the biggest tips I can give you…instead of getting excited and anticipating cookies or ice cream, get excited about finding a new “green powder” to add to your smoothie, or a energy-packed bar that is going to make you feel good in a way sugar never could. Plus, it doesn’t come with a stomachache or sugar crash. That high is one that is hard to come down from.
Welcome to a life of health. It will never be easy, and the road will always be long. But when you are feeling amazing, you can take that road head on, and have fun making it an amazing journey. You have a wonderful, amazing body just waiting for you to wake it up and show it that it is pretty fricken awesome. It is yours. Take care of it. Improve it often. Make your journey unbelievable.
Strong mind. Strong heart. Strong body.
Val