POP your way through your day

POP through your day

“Look at those berries, they look so red, sweet, and delicious. I cannot wait until it is warm enough to go pick some.”

“What a crisp and clean salad that is, and whats that on top? Steak from the local butcher? Yum!.”

“I have not worked out consistently in years. This past month I worked out at least twice a week!”

“I am so proud of myself. Last month I could only do little tiny quarter push-ups but this month I am getting half way down!”

“I did it! I finally ran a mile. It has taken me 2 months of jogging and walking but I ran the WHOLE thing!”

“I had been eating ice cream every night, but this week, I only ate it two times this week, VICTORY!.”

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Trying to get in shape or lose weight can be trying. There is so much information about what to eat and what not to eat. There are days that you work out and feel like you are moving at the pace of  a snail. That your arms are as strong as gumby’s arms. You may be on your 5th try this year to lose weight. Might as well chalk it up to a loss, you already failed four times. This time, you will not fail. Why? I am going to teach you to fail forward.

Step #1. Learn from the last time you failed. Everyone fails, you are in good company. The difference between last time and this, use your failures as stepping stones to success. Think about the times you failed. Did you start out guns blazing, 110% and burn out? Did you get discouraged after comparing the starting point of your journey to someone else’s mid point? Did you restrict your diet so much that it led to binge eating? Write down the reasons why you believe you failed at your last attempt to achieve a healthy lifestyle. What were roadblocks you hit? What do you think could have changed this?

Step#2. Take action on the things you have written down. How can you change those roadblocks. What needs to be different in your life. Create action steps you will take. Put them on your to do list, weekly. Keep them on your to do list until they become a habit. It may include hitting the grocery store. Maybe prepping food for you busy week. Waking up an hour earlier because it is the only time you can workout. Finding someone to hold you accountable. Setting an alarm so you get up from your desk every hour. Write all of your actions items on your to do list. Schedule them into your day and cross them off. One day you will not know any different.

Step#3. To change your life you must change your mind. This is not a “diet” or a “thing you are doing” that will last 3 months. This is a lifestyle change. You are changing your life! You have to be ready for it, you have to change your mind to change your life. Otherwise, you will be in a constant battle with a strong-willed person, yourself. Odds are whichever thoughts are stronger, will win. Think like the person you want to be, think like the person you envision yourself being being in the future. Think like you are already there, that you have made it through the most difficult parts of your journey. There are times in life you hear the saying, “act like you have been there.” This is one of them. Do not let people judge you for where you are now. They have no idea that future you have. They have no idea how strong you are and what you are capable of doing. People look at you crazy when you say you’re going to lose 50 pounds, run a marathon, try out for a select team? Good, use it as fuel.

Step #4. This mind change, make it positive! POP your way through everyday. Use the power of positive thinking to your advantage. Those things you used to tell yourself when you tried to get healthy, flip them. Instead of, “I can’t eat bread. Bread is bad.” Think of the delicious things you can it. Find healthy foods that you love. They, are your new bread. Feeling negative about where you are at physically? Thought you would move along more quickly? Likely, you have made huge gains. Remind yourself of where you came from. What you are capable of that you were not one month ago, two months ago, and when you started. Write down your fitness milestones, your personal records. Your POP may be forced at first, but eventually it will become natural. You will realize what I realize, you are capable of so much more than you think.

Hold yourself accountable. Find a negative phrase that are common to your day. Write it down, get rid of it. Literally, trash it. Be accountable. Remember if you hit 80-90% of your nutrition and fitness plans you will accomplish your goals. Not sure what you’re doing? Well, thats what I am for! Happy POPing Hump day!