New Lifestyle, New Vision

My own health and fitness has been a process. I was a year-round athlete throughout high school, transitioning from volleyball to basketball to softball with barely a week to rest in between sports. Then I became a college basketball player – running, jumping, and playing for hours every day. During that time, I even went on a trip to Colombia where I pulled myself up a tree and zip lined across the Amazon jungle. I was in great shape and it felt good.

I soon realized that when all you’ve ever known was what it feels like to be in shape, it’s easy to take that feeling for granted.

After I graduated from college, I went to grad school. My running, jumping, and playing days turned into reading, writing, and studying days. Before long, I found myself losing my excellent shape quickly. It was so slowly though, that I could barely notice it from day to day. However, my clothes gradually started to get snug, and I started to gain weight in my face, neck, back, and hips.

I wasn’t trying to gain weight, my lifestyle just changed.

A lifestyle change is not uncommon to hear with the clientele I work with. Many were once active and full of energy, but then their lifestyle changed – they got a desk job, had a few kids, ate more sporadically, and basically started moving less. Over time, your body simply adapts to the new change.

I remember feeling ashamed, and I began to lose confidence because I knew I could do better. I felt especially embarrassed because I was pursuing a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and I lost touch with my own health and fitness. I decided I needed to do something about this.

I knew that I had to begin with a vision – a vision of who I wanted to be. I’m a big dreamer, but I knew that it’s also important to test a big dream with what was realistic as well. I understood that my lifestyle had changed and I was no longer going to be working out on the basketball court for hours a day anymore. I understood that lasting change happens over time and I had to keep the vision of my new best self in clear view. I knew that my goal had to be broken into smaller goals – down to weekly and even daily goals.

I started with the basics, implementing realistic, good habits into my life. I realized that I could be just as happy, healthy, content, and confident by reaching my new vision. I understood that it would take one meal at a time and one workout at time to get to my goals. I didn’t beat myself up for “messing up” once in a while because it’s healthy to make mistakes and learn from them. I’m still on my own journey, but making new goals and tweaking them frequently, and understanding that steady, consistent effort day in and day out is the key to my success.

Think about your own vision for your best self. Are you dreaming big, but being realistic about your vision? Visit my Facebook page and share one thing that you can begin implementing in your life that will lead you to your best self.  I’d love to chat with you!