Most
people think about training and exercise as something that we do to make our
body to look better, that it's all about changing the outside, but what's
not the whole story.
Making the decision to take action and start a training program can also cause profound shifts within as well.
When
I started exercising, long before I became a fitness trainer, it was to
lose the 40kgs I had gained during pregnancy, an 'outside-focused'
motivation.
I wasn't
sure I could do it, after all my Mum never lost her pregnancy weight, my
body had changed, I was looking after a small baby, where would I find
the time?
I made a plan
so I knew what I needed to do physically, and I did it everyday, whether
I felt like it or not, I stopped eating 'junk food' and ate much more
fresh, unprocessed food instead. After a few weeks, I discovered a few changes within me that I hadn't anticipated.
I
actually enjoyed the tastes & textures of so many fruits and
vegetables and that when I noticed physical changes of carrying less
weight, clothes fitting differently, being able to move more easily, it
was wonderful.
I could
see and feel the results of my decision, it empowered me to keep going
and I began to realise that I liked being fitter, I had more energy
& felt happier.
I've
since seen this happen many times over with clients who start training
for one reason and go on to discover myriad benefits in their life that
they did not expect:
- more energy in everyday life
- no more 3pm energy slump
- breathing easier
- feeling stronger and more confident
- no more anti-depressant medication required (in consultation with GP)
- more flexibility of movement
- better quality of sleep
- and my favourite...
- being able to conduct a meeting after walking up 3 flights of stairs to the meeting room
Whether your motivation is internal or external, use it, start today with MET Fitness, and see the results of your decision in action.
We can scare ourselves into inaction by thinking we need to make GREAT BIG radical changes all at once.
It is the small, sustainable changes we put in place each day, one at a time, that make the biggest difference in our lives.
There
is a small but dedicated group of training clients who have taken on
the MET Fitness 6 Week Challenge, making changes to the way they eat,
train and take care of themselves.
There
is another group, who are quietly watching from the sidelines, perhaps
waiting to see how this goes, wondering if they could take on the
Challenge for themselves.
The
thought of making changes to our daily habits can be daunting; it took
the Challengers a couple of weeks to get used to the idea, prepare
themselves mentally, emotionally and physically, and put in place the
planning they knew they needed for success.
I
am always impressed with the thought, creativity, dedication and
consistency shown by previous Challengers. They learn to pay attention to the quality of food they choose to put into
their bodies and they make fitness a regular part of their day.
They understand that it is not about being 'perfect', it is
about paying attention to your life and your health - YOU get to decide how you live!
I
am equally impressed with the continuing curiosity, learning and desire
shown by the observing group, to live healthier lives, to find ways of
making that work for them.
Making changes in your life that you know need to happen takes time - making the decision to start takes an instant.
Change
one thing for a week to give yourself that sense of achievement and the
confidence to know you can reach the next goal, and the next.
Whatever your health or fitness challenge, write it down, make a plan and set the date. Go!
"Dontcha know talkin' about a revolution sounds... like a whisper" and if you were listening to music in the late 1980's you will recognise these Tracey Chapman lyrics.
However, you may not recognise the truth of this statement in relation to your health and well being.
It's that little voice inside that very quietly tells you that YOU DO know exactly the right things to be healthier, fitter, happier.
It often pipes up when you're partaking in a particularly unhealthy practice, or in those quiet moments of reflection.
Listen to that voice.
That voice knows you better than you think.
Too often we ignore that quiet voice or it is drowned out by our 'inner teenager' who loudly shouts:
"but I DESERVE it',
"No one tells ME what to do",
"I can have it if I WANT to",
"but I'm SO (insert feeling here), I just NEED this".
Start to view living a healthier life as a revolutionary act, where YOU reclaim your responsibility for your own well-being and daily choices.
Learn the difference between what you want and what you need.
Learn that saying 'no' to your 'wants' while meeting your needs, gives you a profound sense of mastery over YOUR life.
Challenge your 'usual' habits, particularly when you are feeling tired, stressed, sad, angry; examine your responses and find out what you do instead of rest, relaxation, or dealing with difficult feelings.
Start to change those responses.
Get help if you need to.
What if you lived in a world where the majority of people were healthy and happy most of the time?
Imagine that future - then start creating it in your own life, one step at a time.
It is wonderful to see so many more people out walking, running, riding and playing in the sunshine this weekend!
A little taste of spring goes a long way towards getting you thinking about getting into shorts & skirts for summer.
MET Fitness clients know how good it feels to be active, fit & strong, to have MORE energy to live their busy lives.
Our A-List Body® Bootcamp is a coordination based approach to movement that combines cardio with strength training to get you toned and strong.
Learn to move with correct alignment, improve your posture & transform trouble spots.
As
I tell all of my clients, you can't out-train a bad diet so you also
need to think about what you're putting into your body and in what
quantities.
Fresh food, real food, is the best fuel you can give your body and doesn't have a nutritional panel to decipher.
Eating
lots of leafy greens, crunchy colorful veggies and enough good quality lean
protein will give you much more energy as you shape up for
summer.
Give yourself the gift of fitness every morning with this quick total body workout:
10 Pushups
20 second Plank
30 Squats
10 Lunges (each leg)
20 Crunches
Start
with one round, vary the repetitions as your skill level increases and
before you know it you'll be doing 2 - 3 rounds, knowing that you're
getting a workout done before you start your day.
Still thinking about starting an exercise program?
Start with MET Fitness.
If you have questions about any of the exercises listed here or would like some technique tips, find me on Facebook and send me a message.
There
are all kinds of products, fads & gimmicks that will try to
convince you that by purchasing them, you will automatically have the
body, waistline, or life you've always dreamed of.
If you've ever
been seduced by the late-night infomercials into believing the
"Ab-Master-Pro-6000" will make you look like the person on the
commercial "with only 3 minutes a day!", this article may not be such
good news.
You may believe that eating, or not eating certain foods, at certain times is the magic solution you've been looking for.
You may believe you have a "slow metabolism" and that losing weight is harder for you than for other people.
The
truth is, YOU are responsible for what you do with your health, and
this IS good news, because you are also the only person able to make the
changes you've been wanting to make, but are maybe waiting around to
"feel like it" or for them to "happen to you".
First of all, stop
all the self-criticism & negative self-talk that you tell yourself;
with that kind of thinking is it any wonder you don't take better care
of yourself?
Why would you feel you deserve better food, better
energy levels, better relationships, if you're always down on yourself
for all of the reasons you come up with?
Now, imagine someone was
talking about your best friend, or your partner, the way you think
about yourself when you're being negative; you wouldn't tolerate it,
you'd argue back, stand up for your loved one and point out all of their
great qualities.
Do this for yourself, as the saying goes, "be your own best friend".
There
is no magical solution to your weight-loss goal, you do not have a
"slow metabolism"* you CAN achieve your goals, but YOU need to be
actively working towards it.
I didn't expect to have gained 40kgs
during pregnancy, (although with all the crap I ate, it should not have
been a surprise to me), nor did I realise the amount of thought,
planning, consistency & effort involved in losing that weight over
the next couple of years.
I know it's not easy, but it is simple; if
you are consistent in making nutritious food choices & find at
least 30 minutes a day to move at a pace that puffs you out, over time
you will see the results that YOU are responsible for achieving.
You CAN do it and I'm here to help.
* if you are seriously concerned about this, see your GP and possibly get a referral to an endocrinologist
I use this phrase a lot when I work with people who want to make long-term, sustainable changes in their life, the kind of changes that will dramatically alter their health and their future.
They often interpret this to mean they don’t have to live up to their health commitments, that they can go off-track and sabotage their food & exercise prescription simply because they “ didn't feel like it” or were “having a bad day”.
This is entirely opposite of what I mean.
Being kind to yourself, really taking good care of yourself, starts with a decision that is not negotiable and a willingness to be realistic about what is good for you.
Imagine: you've had a really stressful day at work, your boss is cranky at you, co-workers are being more difficult than usual and you have a splitting headache on the way home from work.
Dinner consisting entirely of chocolate and cheese, possibly wine, and staying up late to zone out in front of the television may seem like an easy option. “ I've had an awful day,” you tell yourself, “I deserve some pleasure, I can’t be bothered doing anything else.”
So you eat some non-nutritional food and flake out on the couch. Your headache feels worse, you feel sluggish and tired but instead of going to bed, you stay up too late watching television, exacerbating your tiredness.
Imagine that this is your child, or your best friend.
Would you deliberately ignore their needs, or make excuses for why you wouldn't help them feel as good as possible, especially under difficult circumstances?
I bet you wouldn't.
Imagine: you've had a really stressful day at work, your boss is cranky at you, co-workers are being more difficult than usual and you have a splitting headache on the way home from work.
“ I've had an awful day,” you tell yourself, “so I’m going to make sure I drink plenty of water when I get home. I’ll make myself a quick vegetable omelette and I’ll make sure I get an early night.”
The first scenario may seem like the easiest option, and by certain criteria it may be, but since when has easy meant better.
The second option means you actually change your situation for the better.
You contribute to your health rather than detracting from it.
You actually meet your real needs, rather than giving in to what it is you think you want.
Making your life a little easier the next day and helping yourself to feel better - THAT is being kind.
