I think all of us moms out there want to feel better, look better, and have a ton more energy. How is it that some of us are able to start a fitness program,eat healthy, and stick to it but some of us fall short?
What makes a commitment stick???
Part 1
First I think there has to be a strong motivation and why needs to be asked.
My why was strong and at the time it started was a "do or die" situation. Not all of us have those moments. So how can we make them a strong motivation? A life changing moment.
If you are a mom, you probably don't always consider your own needs. That is the first mind set that needs to change. If you are unhealthy and practicing unhealthy habits, then you may not always be around for your kids and you are setting a poor example for your kids. I know...harsh, but true.
Set a small goal for yourself, a baby step if you will then you are more likely to reach that goal.
Educate yourself on fitness and good nutrition. There are many resources and even real people that have been there or even still working on their fitness and nutrition goals for free here on the Internet! Never be afraid or shy about asking for help.
Don't listen to negative remarks from friends and relatives. They are either not educated on the subject themselves or even a little jealous that you are committing and they are not able to as of yet.
It goes back to the mean high school girl syndrome...They never gave themselves a chance to get to know you or understand what you were all about before they judged, they looked at the outside but they were really exposing the frustration they had on their insides...make sense?
If you are around others that don't have the same mind set as far as weight loss or eating healthy, don't fall to peer pressure. You can sit at a table with them and eat healthy and shy away from that drink. You are leading by good example. Maybe even get them to think twice about changing their lifestyle.
If you can, find a buddy to reach your goals together. Sometimes spouses are really great for this.Great for your relationship and your kids get to see their parents working together as a team.
Nothing like a little heated competition...HOT!
Workout groups are a great way to start getting active. There are probably free or very low cost workouts in your area where you live. Check out your local paper. Gyms have several of these too and you don't always have to be a member, you can buy a day pass to try one out very affordable.
Your long term goal is not going to happen overnight! That is why shorter more attainable goals are best. Rome was not built in a day and neither is your body.
Do your best and forget the rest (Tony Horton).
Set a small goal like going through your cabinets and replacing snacks when you go to the store with healthier options. Then make a goal of eating totally healthy for a week, see how it feels. Then add three days of a low impact exercise , walking, or bicycling about a half hour each time. Then keep going and after you have a month behind you, up the goal a little.
The key about exercise is finding something that is fun to do for you. Whether it is an extreme fitness program like P90X, dancing like Zumba or Turbo Jam, or the gym...if it is not fun for you then you are not likely to stick to it.
Think back to what you enjoyed as a kid, sometimes there is an answer in there.
Biggest excuse is..."I don't have time"...there are even programs that work on the theory of interval training. Short burst of going all out and getting the heart rate up then short breaks and go again. One such program is 10 Minute Trainer. Each workout is 10 minutes, but you can do an hour at a time if you want to by stacking the workouts in the dvd set. Everyone can afford 10 minutes...what I really mean is you can not afford to not give up 10 minutes to exercise.
Boredom is another factor. It happens alot, you start a program and you are doing great. But then you just lose interest in that program or you don't see the results fast enough. First of all, if you get bored either push the mute button and play your own music if you are working out to a dvd or try something else. Second, like I said above, you cannot expect instant results. In females, the waist is generally the last thing to go. You probably did not get in the shape you are in now in a short time and it will take time to get back into shape.
It takes about 3 months for someone to change from a small goal taker to making a semi lifestyle change. It takes a good year at least for someone to take that lifestyle and make it a permanent lifestyle change. It is not easy for most. It takes a dig deep type of person. A warrior, but you have kids so you know you are all that already. But it can be done!
Lastly today...
Do Not Get Frustrated Easy! If you have done programs in the past like Weight Watcher's, Dvd workouts, Personal Gym Trainer, bought many pieces of home equipment etc...and they did not end up being a permanent success...DON"T LOOK BACK!
Get your mind right ans start fresh. Everyone can makes positive changes, it is just a matter of finding the right combination for you. There is no "one size fits all diet" and a fitness regimen that works for your friend may not be for you.
One place you can always go and find help is facebook. Strange but true. In my community of fb friends there are literally hundreds of people willing to help you for free with your nutrition and finding a fitness program that works for you. They will motivate you and keep you accountable.
I really could go on and on. I will have part 2 coming up soon. In the meantime, I would love to hear from moms out there that do exercise and find out what your tips for staying committed are. Email me : getfitwithartistmom@yahoo.com
I would like to use them in a future blog with your permission and give you credit for your ideas.
Don't forget...Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC Friday @ 8pm eastern.
For info on fitness programs for any age and every fitness level: Http://www.beachbodycoach/artistmom4
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