Every single day is about choices. Do you choose to set the alarm for 5:30AM to go to the gym? Do you carve out ten minutes an evening to pack a healthy lunch for work the next day? Do you choose to set yourself up for failure?
One of the biggest things I’ve had to battle on my “get healthy” journey is being accountable for the choices I make. Is the last ten minutes of your tv show so important that you set yourself up for failure the next day? I already find staying committed to working out hard enough. Why set myself up to fail? I’ve learned time and time again that if I don’t get home from work and change into my gym clothes right away, going to the gym probably isn’t going to happen. Pre-planning sets myself up for success.
Here are my top 5 success set-ups;
1. Fill a 1 liter water bottle and leave it in the fridge before I go to bed. If my water bottle is full I have no excuse to drink sodas, excess coffee or snack because I’m thirsty. I keep this water bottle with me everywhere. Eighty percent of the time I’m thirsty, not actually hungry.
2. My gym clothes are set out in the same area so that they are visible when I wake up. I see them before I leave for work and first thing when I get home. It’s a brilliant reminder that the gym is still out there and the membership you pay monthly for isn’t going to use itself.
3. When I’m done eating dinner before I even put anything away I make my lunch for the next day. Left overs are usually healthier and much less expensive than going to some greasy fast food place to get a lunch. Eating wholesome food keeps my energy high and ensures there is mo caloric surprise at the end of the day.
4. I try and get my 8 hours of sleep. This one can be hard but I have learned to make my sleep non negotiable during the week days. My body needs 8 hours to run properly. Without sleep I swear I would have zero willpower. I don’t make any excuses and try to read before bed. It’s hard to unplug before I go to bed but it makes a huge difference in the quality of sleep I get.
5. Believe in yourself. I wish I had a button that slapped me every time I thought I couldn’t do something. I am trying to take the word “can’t” out of my vocabulary. Everything is possible. I take a lot of pride in knowing that I’m doing my best. Some things scare the crap out of me, but the only thing that holds you back is your mind. The body is a wonderful machine.
I still have totally crappy days where I eat to much or avoid exercise but when it happens I just remind myself my next choice is the opportunity to make a difference. Some people break weight loss down to day by day. I have to go choice by choice. It makes all the positive choices feel like small victories.
