The Bigger Picture

I know for most of us there are days that eating right, working out, putting in the extra effort, it just isn't something we feel like doing. Who hasn't said "chuck it" for a day? Most of us have had that little splurge or missed a workout because of one reason or another. We need to make sure that we don't let little missteps sway us from our ultimate goal. Yes, working toward a better, healthier way of living is a bit of a balancing act. We have to juggle our body's weaknesses and the desire of our hearts. There are days when overcoming a weakness takes everything you have got. Other days you don't even blink, you just do it. It is important to remember that even if you slip off the balance beam, all you have to do is hop back up there and keep going!

The other big struggle happens when we don't see the results we want. We put in HUGE effort, stick to the eating plan with no deviation, and yet the dreaded scale doesn't budge. That can be a big motivation killer! First I want you to know you are not alone. Everyone has those weeks. Second it is important to be realistic. You are not likely to lose massive quantities of weight super-fast. It takes time for your body to adjust to fewer calories and it takes time for the work you are putting into reshaping your body to be visible. It isn't going to happen overnight. Does that mean it isn't worth it? Not at all! In fact, it has greater value than it happened quickly. The more work we put in, the more we appreciate the results and the longer they will be a priority for us to maintain. 

There are several things we can do to combat disappointment. 
 

1. Find a good support network! Pick a few friends/family members that value what you are trying to do. Share your goals with them. Be transparent about your struggles. They are there to help, encourage and keep you accountable. When we have other people that we don't want to let down, we tend to work harder. 

2. Don't rely solely on the scale to tell you if you are making progress. Take before photos, front side and back, in something that will allow you to see muscle changes, definition, and body shape changes. Take measurements the day you start. Or if you have already started take them today so you have a basis of comparison. You will usually see more change in inches lost and appearance in photos than you will on the scale!

3. If you are on social media, find and follow people/groups that encourage and inspire you to stick with it and see it through to completion. Lord knows, we all need cheerleaders and we all need to be inspired to keep going.

4. If you haven't taken a long hard look at your "why"... Sit down and spend some time thinking about what is REALLY driving you. Write it down. Post it on your mirror. Go back and read it every time you feel like quitting. Sometimes we are the biggest challenge we have to overcome in order to reach our goals!

If you need some friends or support people for your journey, we have a great group of people behind us and with us. Send me a message, email or join our community on Facebook! We would love to have you along for the ride and we would be thrilled to see you reach your goals! ^_^ https://www.facebook.com/NerdyGirlFitness

Remember: You have got this! You aren't alone! You ARE worth it!!!

Nothing Like It!

It is late at night. 

The sky is clear. 

The air is cold and crisp. 

The faint smell of the fires that warm our hearths and homes, only just embers now, slowly smoldering their last, hangs ever so lightly on a breeze. 

I sit on my bed in the dark quiet. 

Wrapped in the warmth of our Father's love.

The sound of my precious family sleeping peacefully fills my heart with joy.

I gaze out the window at the twinkling stars.

Far too many to count; brilliant in the inky blackness of the night sky.

The light of the moon shines off the delicate frost crystals that blanket the ground like so many diamonds.

Thin wisps of fog have woven themselves among the branches, freshly bare for winter.

The world, so filled with pain and strife, seems still and in this beautiful moment, at peace.

Right now, in this place, life is as glorious as it was designed to be.

It is here that I see so much of the beauty of creation. 

I feel the wonder of a child on Christmas morning.

I feel the peace of a baby held safely in it's mother's arms.

I could not be more content in the abundance of the blessings that God has given me.

I am deeply and truly thankful.

 

 

Bless and be blessed, y'all! <3

Defining Your Why

We spend a lot of time talking about "Why" and with good reason, it is the first step to our success.

As a child it is the most common inquiry we make. We want to know how things work, what causes things to happen, the reason for choices or actions. As humans we have a deep need to understand the world around us and our own purpose.

The same is true of any goal we set for ourselves. If we are to succeed at something, we must first know why we are doing it. Since this is my healthy living blog, we are going to run with weight loss as the example. There are different types of "why" answers. 

• There is the surface answer. It is usually a superficial reason. Something like "I want to be skinny." or "I want to look cute in this outfit.".
• There is the self image answer. This is usually the result of how world sees us, which in reality is only what we think they see based on what we believe about ourselves. This one sounds something like "My butt is too big." or "I want to look good in a swim suit.".
• Then there is the deep root desire. This is often emotionally driven and based on a strong need. Sometimes the need comes from a source of hurt, others it comes from necessity. For example, "I just want to feel good about myself and like what I see when I look in the mirror." or "If I don't do this the Doctor says I could die.".

When we set a goal for ourselves whether it be career, fitness, savings, a vacation, we ultimately need to dig in and really look for the deep root "why" if we are going to stick with the plan and see the result. 

If I say I'm gonna start eating different and set aside time to workout because I want to look better than so-and-so, I will be highly likely to cheat, skip workouts and eventually just quit. The same is true of the self image reasoning. Yes, I will probably stay committed longer, but in the end I will get discouraged or sidetracked and the goal will slip away.

If I fully understand what is driving my desire to make huge changes, sacrifices and commitments to getting something done I am much more likely to stick with in the hardest moments, make better choices and see the thing through to completion. Does that mean there won't be missteps? No. Does it mean I won't have to fight to stay motivated or force myself to do something when all I want is to not do it? Nope. What it means is that I will have the understanding of that deep need to keep me going. 

The second part of this is to find trustworthy people who you can share your goal and your "why" with. You want someone who cares about your success. Someone you know will encourage you. Someone who isn't afraid to be your accountability partner. It is extremely motivating to know that you have people cheering you on and it is much more difficult to let others down than it is to let ourselves down.

So, set your goal. Define your "why". Write it down and revisit it every time you feel your commitment wavering. Find a friend or a whole group of people that will encourage you along the way. Keep your focus on the prize and fight for it with all that you've got!

The end result is worth it! The feeling of accomplishment will encourage you to set another goal to achieve. Most importantly...

YOU.ARE.WORTH.IT.!!!
You've got this! I've got your back. :) Message me or contact me on my Facebook page if you want me to be one of your support people. ^_^

Above all... Bless and be blessed! <3