First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for following my health journey this year!! 2021 has been SO AMAZING, and a year of tremendous growth!! I hope that you can also look back on this year in appreciation of how far you have come both physically and mentally!
I love this time of year because it gives me the space to truly PAUSE and reflect. Some of my best and brightest ideas have come from this reflection period! Exactly 2 years ago, I purchased this domain name to get Kettlebelle Fitness blog started. It was also during this time last year that I made the decision that enough was enough, and that I was finally going to take charge of my health. I am forever grateful for making that decision!
As we bid farewell to 2021, I want to share with you some lessons learned to help you crush your health goals in 2022!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Crushing your Health Goals
- Don’t: Start running or sign up for a half marathon when you absolutely HATE running.
–> Do: Sign up for an activity or class that you genuinely look forward to.
- Don’t: Go from not working out at all to working out 5-6x/wk overnight.
–> Do: Increase your activity gradually and focus on quality over quantity.
- Don’t: Skip meals and snacks to create a calorie deficit.
–> Do: Eat nutrient dense meals and track your food intake to ensure you are staying within calories.
- Don’t: Spend a small fortune on supplements.
–> Do: Prioritize clean nutrition and eating a balanced diet.
- Don’t: Skip your workout entirely for the day if you miss an AM workout.
–> Do: Follow a routine that makes sense for your schedule. Ex: Up all night with baby? Maybe an evening exercise routine is more up your alley. You don’t have to be an AM exerciser to lose weight (I am living proof!)
- Don’t: Compare your progress with others.
–> Do: Stay in your lane and focus on the wonderful progress you have made both on and OFF the scale!
- Don’t: Step on the scale every single day if you find the information frustrating.
–> Do: Take your measurements and progress photos at least once per month (if not every two weeks). Limit stepping on the scale to 1x/wk.
- Don’t: Drink your calories.
–> Do: Limit sugary lattes and alcohol. Focus on water intake instead.
- Don’t: Go into the week without a plan.
–> Do: Prep ahead lean proteins and veggies. Schedule which days you are going to workout and what you will be focusing on.
- Don’t: Cut out major macronutrients (ahem, CARBS)
–> Do: Focus on moderation, and eating a balanced diet of carbs, protein, and fat.
- Don’t: Buy clothes 2-3 sizes smaller than your current size in order to motivate yourself to workout.
–> Do: Plan ahead rewards for milestones that suit your goals. (Ex: Buy new performance leggings after losing 15 lbs).
- Don’t: Go out to eat without a plan.
–> Do: Review the menu and nutrition information ahead of time to make the most informed decision.
And last but not least…
Don’t: Jump ship when it gets hard (because IT WILL)!!!
–> Do: Surround yourself with layers of accountability and remind yourself WHY you are on this journey to begin with. Only you know the answer to that question!!!
Progress > Results
DO NOT fall into the results trap!!! You WILL encounter people that claim to lose 5-8 lbs/wk (or more!) First of all, not only is that incredibly unhealthy and potentially dangerous, but I absolutely GUARANTEE you that they are not achieving their results in a sustainable fashion! Check back in with them in 6 months and you will see exactly what I mean.
Don’t get caught up in any of that. Instead, celebrate YOU. Celebrate YOUR PROGRESS. “Only” lost 0.5 lb this week? GO YOU! Gained 1 lb over vacation as opposed to your usual 5+ lbs? YES GIRL! No longer out of breath when you go up the stairs? CELEBRATE! Small progress adds up to BIG progress. But you will never see the long-term progress if you duck out at the first sign of discouragement. This is your health journey. OWN IT.
