Where in the World do I begin?

Back in 2013 when I began my fitness journey, I was unhealthy and 3 sizes bigger than I am now. Maybe this isn’t your story or maybe it is — no matter where you are when you begin, the road that lies ahead can feel pretty scary.

People tell me all the time that they don’t know where to start, describing feeling lost. I get that. It doesn’t matter if your journey is a quest to lose pounds or a quest to reclaim your life. It can be very overwhelming to turn your life around. 

The answer is surprisingly simple … just take the first step. Seriously, put one foot in front of the other and begin. We all know what it takes to be healthier — eat better and move more. The internet is full of wisdom on the subject and we have more resources at our fingertips than ever. So it’s not lack of knowledge that’s the problem. Often it’s because we think it’ll require turning our lives upside down. Lives are changed one habit at a time…Here’s a few examples of what I’ve seen work. 

Change your mindset. Don’t get fit because you think you should. Or because you can’t stand the sight of your body. Get fit because you deserve to live a happy life. Get fit because it’s the best way to keep your body operating!Get fit because you love yourself, not because you think you aren’t good enough the way you are. 

Start where you are. If you’ve been inactive for quite some time, it’s time to accept that. Think about your GPS — you can’t get directions to where you’d like to go without entering your starting point. The same principle applies to your fitness journey. Know where that place is, be okay with it, and resolve to treat yourself better from here on out. No more denial!

Don’t try become someone you’re not. The path to being the best possible you doesn’t lead you to being someone else. Odds are, you’re not going to magically wake up one day and do a complete 180 with your life all at once. If you hate doing something, like running or cycling, don’t expect that success lies in your ability to become a runner or cyclist. Look for activities you already enjoy or have been interested in. Like to walk? Take up hiking. Like being around people? Take a group fitness class. 

Don’t wait for the “right time.” Many times I’ve heard people say that they’ll start once the kids are in school, the get a better job, spring comes, things calm down a bit, and blah, blah, blah… If you think this way, there may never be a “right time” and you’ll have spent your whole life waiting instead of living. We all know how time flies — before you know it, a week becomes a month and then another year has passed. Life’s too short to put yourself on hold. So, DO IT!

OK- so now you know where to start; questions is: WILL YOU?