Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

I saw this quote the other day and I couldn’t help but smile and nod. “Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s more like a cha-cha”.  We like to post some sort of motivational quote on our white board at the studio and this is definitely one of my favorites! Since it is not directly correlated with fitness it got me thinking a lot about how many of us approach a lifestyle change. Whether it is a new job, moving to a new city, or starting a new fitness routine – it helps to be optimistic when entering into a new phase in our lives. And what better way to show your optimism by taking the little things in life and making them GREAT at every turn.

To make it simple, let’s take starting a new fitness routine for example. Say you have been on this great run – walk – jog kick and have seen some good results and now have that “itch” to do more. But, you are a little reluctant because you know that is requires change and you haven’t quite convinced yourself you are ready yet. Well my friend, that’s where the cha-cha comes in. Step 1, find a new fitness class. Step two, replace one bagged sugar/salty snack a day with a fruit or vegetable. AWESOME. Two steps forward, and it feels great! You rock out 3 classes in 1 week and end up finding a new veggie and hummus combo that satisfies your craving. But the following week you get overwhelmed at work and are unable to attend any classes, yet are still enjoying your healthy snacks. Well, my friend you just completed a lovely little mambo number– no matter WHAT your fitness level or experience is, we all do it. That is why we call it a lifestyle and we roll with the punches as they come along – modifying our steps to keep up with a new beat.

Next dance number. We take another step forward to committing to a monthly routine and give ourselves a “cheat” day once in a while so we can still feel confident and great about all the work we did, but are realistic with our goals. We’ve got some friends coming into town and there are some holidays around the corner and we want to live by “Pura Vida” so we plan and prepare our next steps. We will call this one the “ballroom”….one step forward and one to the side…we might end up a step back occasionally, but guess what – we are still dancing!

Now, don’t forget about the whole production. So many times we get caught up in reaching our goals that we forget why we even started! We get excited and jacked-up on the numbers and maybe go a little too hard too fast that we end up either injuring ourselves, getting burnt out or we encounter something that we cannot control. But, I am here to tell you that the show must go on, and sometimes we crash and burn, but the best part is – there is always going to be another song to dance to and maybe that tempo will match you better.

Here are some tips to keep your optimism high going into any lifestyle change:

Set goals: The first thing you should do is write down (somewhere, anywhere) what your “long-term” goal is and WHY you want to reach it. If you can’t write it down, think harder until you are able to express in words what you really want. This way when you take a few spins or steps backward, you can jump back in like you never skipped a beat.

Measure change: How will we know how close we are getting to our goal if we don’t measure our progress? Find something specific that you want to focus on (increasing endurance, completing projects on time, finding a new hobby etc…) and work on it! Every month or so – take a quantitative measurement of how well you are performing that task.

Mix it up: Sometimes we chose the wrong dance partner. Now, I am not giving relationship advice here! I mean that maybe we really loved this new running routine or fitness class but it isn’t really doing it for you after a few months. Try mixing it up! Find a new running route, try a different instructor or get a new workout buddy! Changing elements within your new lifestyle can make all the difference – it takes some fine tuning but you’ll find it.

Don’t be afraid to fall: If it were easy, everyone would do it! In order to reach your goals we need to step out of our comfort zone every once in a while. Try something new, you might surprise yourself on how hard, far and fast you can push yourself! A wise person once said “The one who falls and gets up is much stronger than the one who never fell”.

Still need a little extra motivation in your fitness journey? Reach out to the FitPro's at Pura today to schedule a complimentary consultation to find the program that fits YOUR lifestyle and goals! 813-501-2124 www.PuraCycling.com