Eek, look what’s just arrived in the post!
I can honestly say this is one of my favourite purchases over Twixmas. I eagerly anticipate the arrival of a blank document with pen poised ready to ink the first page of a New Year in a new diary.
I’m a planner. I love a spreadsheet (it seems you can’t take the accountant out of this girl!) and I use the calendar on my phone but there is something unique about a hand-written account, especially if I am really wanting to commit to something. It can’t simply be deleted with the swipe of a finger, erased as if it never happened or was even a proposed thought.
The 1st day of January 2023 will be a Sunday. What a great way to start a New Year with a day to pause, reflect, and look forward. Equally useful, I find, is this period between Christmas and New Year which I have recently heard described as ‘The Hush’.
Regular routine is key
For the past 17 years as a self employed FitPro I have chosen to take a well-earned break over Christmas, swapping my trainers for slippers and resting my weary muscles. This year has been similar but different at the same time! Working online means I now have the ability to prepare in advance and then schedule my workouts meaning that there’s far less disruption to regular routine for both me and all my lovely members.
There’s a well-used phrase in the health and fitness industry – ‘It’s not what happens between Christmas and New Year but what happens between New Year and Christmas that heavily influences your overall health’. And that is a reality, isn’t it? A little over- indulgence and kicking back on the sofa on occasion is not what causes someone to carry unwanted weight and/or have poor fitness, it’s the habits we perform day in day out on a regular basis.
And that’s where there is hope. Say what?!
Little steps
Little steps build to far greater things. So often we get to January and we adopt a really drastic strategy of nutritional self-denial and punishing workouts. Gyms are heaving and everyone is jumping on the ‘New Year, New You’ health bandwagon. Revisit those gyms towards the end of January and many have already fallen by the wayside and given up their unrealistic health kick. Dry January efforts have all but dried up and you’re kicking your butt again at how you have failed, YET AGAIN.
So …. Is there an alternative?
Categorically, yes!
You get to choose
There are so many opportunities to make different choices that lead to different outcomes, if that is what you truly want.
Ask yourself ‘Why is my health and fitness important?’ and then closely follow up with a further question ‘And so what?’
Let’s say you acknowledge that …… you are often out of breath, your knees creak, you find it uncomfortable to sit in a regular chair, it’s tough to get up and down from the sofa, you can’t keep up with your grandchildren, you say ‘no’ to invitations far more often that you want to because you fear you’re not fit enough, your clothes don’t fit as you would like them to and anything with a fixed waistband is simply not an option …… I could go on but I think you probably get my gist if you are still reading this.
Making long lasting meaningful changes to your health and fitness takes commitment – absolutely.
It can be challenging – without a shadow of a doubt.
It can be life changing – a resounding YES.
And it doesn’t need to cost the earth nor feel too onerous.
Little steps build to far greater things.
Imagne training for a marathon
Okay, running a marathon may NOT be a life goal for you but let’s use the analogy.
A marathon is 26.2 miles. The length of time you take to travel that distance will depend on a number of facts but it doesn’t mean it’s an unrealistic goal per se. What would be unrealistic however, would be the assumption that you could go from being relatively sedentary to being able to go out on Day 1 and run that distance. No, you’d need to chunk down the goal, schedule and adhere to a training plan, and build up to that goal. It’s as much about the journey as the goal so we might as well find some enjoyment in it along the way! Think back to my earlier point, those gym attendance numbers significantly drop off as the routine is unrealistic.
And it’s the same with any healthy habit you are taking on (notice I haven’t said unhealthy habit you are trying to give up). How do you want to ‘feel’ in the future as a result of adopting this new habit? What difference is it going to make to the quality of your life and others around you? What invitations might you choose to say ‘yes’ to in 2023?
Start small
Start small and build new habits. Acknowledge your efforts. Find a coach that is truly empathic and who will be your biggest cheerleader. Choose to plug in to positivity and you can literally transform yourself.
Rather than ‘New Year, New You’ how about trying this …. New Year, OLD ME.
Yes, you read that right. How about trying to find the version of you that seems to have gotten lost recently? You know – the one that had energy, a spring in their step, that looked forward to the opportunities each day might bring, that was kind and compassionate to themself, that laughed and felt light. NOT the version that wakes up with a foggy head and needs caffeine and sugar to get through the day. NOT the version that has little or no energy and finds even the idea of exercise an effort. NOT the version that has nothing left for themself as everyone else is a priority.
We know what that feels like because WE’VE BEEN THERE TOO.
There is a different way, and it makes you feel FAB-U-LOUS.
Small steps taken repeatedly in the right direction with guidance, motivation, inspiration, variety, and support on a weekly basis. Exercise that works at the level exactly right for you – in the comfort of your own home, where nobody feels judged, where all you will receive is praise and encouragement.
Take a moment and then choose to go for it.
Use this link to sign up for a complimentary 7 day pass to our SlimFit On Demand membership. Try it for yourself and see just how different you can feel. Start by committing to just 7 days.
What are you waiting for? Next Christmas?
