"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
