Have you ever noticed that you can always find a reason to put off until tomorrow what you can do today? This is especially true when it comes to starting a new healthy lifestyle. Maybe you have a girls’ trip, an anniversary to celebrate, a birthday party to attend, or it’s Wednesday and you’d rather wait until Monday to get healthy. Whatever excuse you use to rationalize putting off starting your new healthy lifestyle, I’m here to tell you to stop! There is absolutely no reason for you to delay your personal health and well-being. After all, today is the first day of the rest of your life!
Here are three tips to help you start your new healthy lifestyle today!
Tip #1: Be honest with yourself: Honesty is the best policy. If you fall into the “excuse maker” category, you need to own up to it if you have any hope of making a change. Once you can admit that you’re making excuses to delay your new healthy lifestyle, you can go ahead and do what you need to do to get started today!
Tip #2: Make a Plan: I’m a big fan of making a plan. If you have a plan in place, you’re one step ahead of the game in terms of beginning your personal quest for health and wellness. Your plan will need to address both exercise and nutrition. Designing a plan for yourself will create structure, build discipline, and lay the foundation for your new healthy lifestyle.
If you recently decided to start your new healthy lifestyle but have a trip with the girls planned, for example, don’t wait until you start over. Instead, start today and call the hotel ahead of time to see if they have a gym. If the answer is yes, you are all set. If the answer is no, ask if there is a gym nearby that they can recommend. Most gyms allow you to pay a visitor fee for the day. A park is also a great place to exercise. You can also bring an exercise video or DVD and work out in the comfort of your hotel room. A quick call to your hotel will provide you with all the information you need to make your exercise plan. You’ll most likely start your day early to accommodate your training, but think of all the energy you’ll have for the rest of the day!
The second part of your plan is related to nutrition. Most of the people tend to cast caution aside and go crazy in terms of food because they are on “vacation”. This can lead to a lot of guilt coming home and the dreaded task of shedding those extra pounds. Instead, make a plan to make smart food choices while you’re away. You might even want to pack some healthy snacks from home for your mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Most restaurants offer a variety of healthy options these days and you can always modify menu items in an effort to eat healthy. Most eating establishments are willing to grant your requests. Then, decide when, where, and how you’d like to enjoy your cheat meal during your trip. Not cheating on meals, not cheating on days, but cheating on food! You’ll feel so much better when you come home because you’ve practiced self-control!
Tip #3: Execute, Execute, Execute: There’s no point in having a plan if you don’t execute it. Make the decision to start your new healthy lifestyle today, make a plan, and then execute! Your body, mind and spirit will thank you!
Health and Success,
Alison
