So many of my clients come to me knowing what they need to do to improve their health. They know they need to limit their junk food, eat more vegetables, hydrate, and move their bodies more, but for whatever reason, they do not.
They are simply getting in their own way by creating excuses, making improving their health harder than it has to be, and finding themselves in the false mindset that they will not succeed.
If you find yourself in this boat of you know what you need to do, you just are not doing it, then you need to stop getting in your own way. Let yourself do the things that will bring you closer to your goals. Stop with the excuses and start getting more focused on how to make small changes to your lifestyle a reality. These are my top tips for how to stop getting in your own and start being successful with your health and fitness goals.
Figure out what you are tolerating vs what you are excited about. There are certain things you are going to be willing to do for your health and certain things you do because you “have to” but you loathe. Figure out what each of those items are and work to incorporate more of what excites you and less of what you are tolerating. Get your free worksheet on identifying your excitements and just tolerating here.
Keep a workout log. When you feel like you have not made any progress, having a workout log of your past successes can be a powerful tool to remind you of how far you have come. You can download your free Fit Planner here, or just keep a log in your phone of your workouts, weights, and how you felt during each workout.
Make realistic changes. Any changes to your health can quickly become overwhelming, especially if you are trying to do it all at once. Choose just one or two realistic items to focus on each week. Once you have mastered those, add in another. Improving your health is a process and not a quick fix. Realistic habits you could focus on may include:
- hydrating for your body
- two workouts each week
- replacing one snack with a fruit or vegetable
- going to bed at a consistent time each night
- meal planning an entire week
Plan ahead. This applies to both meal planning and scheduling workouts. If you know you have a party coming up this week, then do what you can to eat healthy the rest of the week so you can enjoy yourself guilt free. If you know you only have time to fit in a workout two days this week, make sure you do not skip it.
Remind yourself of your goals. When you are faced with a poor nutrition choice or the chance to skip a workout, remind yourself of your goals and ask yourself if this decision right now will move you closer to that goal. If the answer is no, then make a better food choice and put on those workout clothes!
Ask for help. If you are feeling completely overwhelmed and like you want to go back to your unhealthier habits, reach out for help. That help could come from a trusted friend, spouse, or Health Coach. Being able to commiserate about your struggles and possibly find solutions you have not yet thought of can work wonders on your motivation and focus.
Prepare for setbacks. You are not going to stick to your new found habits 100% of the time, and that is ok. The idea is that you get back to your healthy lifestyle as soon as you can and not spiral backwards for too long, or too hard. Spend time now, while you are motivated, preparing for those setbacks. You will be glad to have a plan of attack in place when you need it most.
Get over your gym intimidation. When many of my clients start a new workout routine, they have a mental block about going to the gym. Unless you keep some equipment at home, you need to go. Keep in mind that most people at the gym are more interested in themselves than in you. (i.e. the people taking selfies in the mirrors).
Journal. Jotting down just a few notes each day about your victories, your mental, emotional, and physical state can be incredible for reflection on what is and is not working for you. With a journal, you will have a log to look back on when things are going well and when they are not.
Find a community. Being part of a community of like minded people can be an incredible motivator and provide you with that jolt of inspiration you need. Whether that community is online in a Facebook Group, with a group of people at work, or with other friends and family, it can work wonders on your commitment to your health.
Stop with shiny object syndrome. At this point, you know what you need to do to be successful. Stop buying into new programs, products, or quick fixes and just put what you have in front of you into action. Not only will you save time and money, but you will finally make progress towards those goals!
Still feeling stuck in your goals and like you are getting in your own way? Let’s chat! With a Health Coach, we will determine action steps to get you out of your rut and moving forward in a real and sustainable way towards your health and fitness goals.
What do you to re-motivate yourself when you are stuck in a health and fitness rut or getting in your own way?
I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
We are often our own worst enemy! Great post on stopping self-sabotage
I agree! Most of know exactly what we need to do, we just have to do it.
The struggle is real trying to get over feeling intimidated by the gym and not being able to lift heavy weights right away. Getting into the mindset of accomplishing any goal can be a bit challenging but recently I have been trying my best to stay mindful of what I am eating. Recently, I have noticed I am not drinking enough water lately and I need to start making smoothies again to ensure I am getting enough nutrients to carry me through the day.
It can definitely be challenging, especially in the beginning or when you have to put new routines in place. Just keep being persistent with small changes each day. They will lead to big results over time.
Holy cow! This is the most timely post ever! I have been having a convo with myself all week about just stopping already with preventing myself from doing what I know I can do!!
Exactly! You KNOW what you need to do. Now go do it!
I truly believe that it’s impossible to enjoy a healthy life without loving it. Nobody can follow nutrition experts’ advice and keep it up for long because it’s so “medicinal.” Most books on healthy living give a blueprint of things to do, to not do, procedures to follow. No wonder so many people fall off the wagon on these diet and exercise programs. They’re not only not fun; they’re full of rules and regulations.
Live your life with common sense. Eat and drink what you want within your doctor’s prescriptions. Enjoy your dining and have fun when you exercise. Using common sense, live a life where you moderate what you do, taste what you like, and enjoy fresh food and exercise in ways that are fun or at least tolerable. Try new foods. Try new activities. It doesn’t matter what age. Healthy life styles are not the exclusive property of the rich and famous. We are al recipients of a wonderful bounty of food and a world of incredible adventure.
Cheers!
I completely agree. It is so difficult to follow the advice in health books or new fad diets because they can be so restrictive and put people into a deprivation mentality. While some systems are beneficial to teach people how to eat and portion, they are usually not long term fixes, but rather a learning tool.
The difficulty comes in when people do not have common sense around food because of a lack of education, disordered eating, or knowing what to make and how.