“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”
Winnie the Pooh.
It may seem odd to quote a fictional bear about fitness, but Pooh bear sums up your health journey quite nicely.
For the most part, being healthy is not rocket science.
You likely ARE stronger than you seem and know more than you think you know.
Although there is a mountain of information available to us, much of it can be broken down to common sense principles that even our grandparents knew: eat wholesome foods, go to bed early, move your body.
However, the simplicity of these concepts can get lost as we over complicate matters. Often by over thinking, we get ‘paralysis by analysis’ and we don’t do the things that we know we should. We think we need to invest more time and energy than is necessary to stay healthy and we might do nothing.
The fact is, like Pooh bear said, ‘you’re smarter than you think’, most of us know in general WHAT to do in order to get and stay fit and healthy, but it does get confusing, more importantly, it’s the consistent application of these principles where most fall down.
Are you someone who has a ‘start and stop’ nature where you’re either ‘on’ your fitness game or totally off?
Let me explain a little about the commitment needed to enjoy a really healthy lifelong term.
As a long-time professional in the health industry, I’m often asked ‘how many hours a day do you workout?’
I get a surprised look when I say that my daily workout is less than an hour, often only 20 minutes a day. I think people want to hear that it’s necessary to workout for 2-3 hours so that they can tell themselves that it’s just not possible for the ‘normal’ person to maintain that kind of regime.
You see, it’s not the amount of time devoted to fitness daily, it’s the consistent amount of time devoted OVER time to fitness that makes all the difference.
Health and fitness is a LONG game and the smartest players, those that are winning health wise, invest a bit of time in themselves daily.
But how do you stay motivated?
How do you keep at it day in and day out, even when faced with life challenges? How do you navigate your days to find that small amount of time needed for long term health?
There’s a very simple solution…
First, let me explain another key to fitness longevity and that is to get the MOST ‘bang out of your buck’ in terms of what you do with your fitness time.
There’s no point in putting in your 20-30 minutes daily if that time is ineffective.
Just as you take your car to a mechanic, one who knows mechanics and the changing technology of car repair, you also need someone who can prescribe the ‘right’ dose of exercise based on you and your changing body over time. This body mechanic will keep your engine running in top condition with the least amount of breakdown.
In addition, they can make recommendations on fuel needs to keep your body looking and feeling it’s best. After all, nutrition is one of the most important factors in determining long term health.
Pairing a solid exercise program with nutritious diet will almost guarantee abundant health, but if there’s confusion over exercise regimes, there’s even more confusion over nutrition since there are thousands of diets to choose from.
Wouldn’t it be great to have all this confusion cleared up?
There’s no need to re-invent the wheel when you can tap into the knowledge of someone who has devoted their life to solving this for you.
So, arm yourself with the knowledge.
But knowledge is not enough.
Go an extra step further…. Reach out for accountability.
Having someone in your corner, someone that will direct you, motivate you, hold your feet to the fire, this is what will move the needle on your health gains the most effectively long term.
The healthiest people tend to put safeguards in place to prevent ‘drifting’ back to old habits and to keep them moving towards their goals.
Just like a road map helps get you to your desired destination, it’s beneficial to have someone to turn to where your health journey is concerned.
Your time and health are non-refundable. Value both by safeguarding them with a professional in your corner. I do. As a coach, I also have coaches because we all know what happens when we don’t. We all tend to drift back to old habits that don’t prove effective in the first place.
Congratulations on taking the first step of gaining knowledge to improve your health. It’s a fantastic beginning. Keep going, All the best to you and your health, – Shawna Kaminski