TAKE THE WHEEL!
You may not know this but guess what, you’re the one in charge of your health and fitness journey. This is an empowering and often frightening concept to consider.
There is no one coming to slap food out of your hands, wake you up for the gym, or hold your hand when you’re uncertain of the future. The exciting thing? YOU get to do all of those things for yourself! So I want to encourage you this week to understand what the power you hold means and how you can take the wheel!
You’re responsible for your actions.
You get to make all of the choices about what you eat, how you move and the work you do on your mindset. All choices have consequences and they’re yours to shoulder. But not all consequences are bad! If you make healthy choices for yourself, you will get to reap the rewards of success!
You get to decide what is challenging.
We will often say “Start where you’re at but be sure to seek out challenges.” This is a double edged sword, as sometimes we will not challenge ourselves enough. Remember, it is up to you to decide what you can handle and what you need to dig deep into in order to push yourself forward. It is also important to remember that this allows you to truly have control of your level of challenge, no one else determines that, no internet based challenges set this up for you and no one gets to say you’re not trying hard enough. It takes stark honesty with yourself to determine if you are pushing hard enough. Do not be afraid to take an objective look at yourself and your actions.
You determine your goals.
No chart or formula can set goals for you. Only you can do this and oh man is it incredible! You get to set what your goal weight is when it comes to weight loss. You get to set what the measures of success are in this process. You may discover along the way that your body is healthy and active at a weight you did not expect. You may have had a goal in mind for years and when you reach it, you determine that you’re not done! I highlight this specifically because we often look at other people’s journeys on social media and feel that we must live up to their example when in reality you do that by reaching the places that ensure your health. Not all numbers will line up and that is ok!
You decide when it’s time for a break.
This one is something many people don’t think about when it comes to a long term weight loss journey. You do not have to grind 24/7 for years without ever giving yourself a break. Mentally this is just not sustainable for most people, nor their bodies! Realize that you can build in rest days from work outs and even maintenance level “diet breaks” as you feel they are needed. Again this goes back to the idea of responsibility. If you are being responsible for your physical, emotional and mental health, you need to be honest about your limits and continually assess when you’re approaching them. If you determine you need a break from the routine you have been following it doesn’t mean you give yourself a free for all period but instead take responsibility still for your choices and actions. It’s ok to decide when you are actively pursuing weight loss and when you are targeting maintenance, and no one else gets to choose when you do this.
You are the only one who can ask for help.
Perhaps the hardest part of being in charge of your health and fitness journey is realizing there are somethings that you cannot do alone, and to me that realization is where your power lies. Understanding the importance of accountability and support even when you are pursuing individual goals is truly a key to success. So when you do reach a place where you are stuck, assess your options and ask for help! There is no shame in this choice and in fact is often a truly masterful decision.
So there you have my thoughts on the considerations and responsibilities you hold as the person in the driver seat and behind the wheel of your journey. I hope you will look at these ideas and see the potential for success in your path instead of being discouraged or disempowered. It is truly up to you my friends!
