If you’re on Twitter, maybe you’ve seen me tweet with the hashtag #fitluential, and maybe you wondered what that was. Fitfluential is a group of fitness fanatics working to spread a positive, healthy message year-round, and I am a Fitfluential Ambassador, which means I’m spreading the word about how awesome a healthy lifestyle can be.
I know lots of people wait until New Year’s to make resolutions to change, but you don’t have to wait! You can start today. Today, before the holidays are even over. So, here’s 7 tips that you can use today to get healthy.
1.No more excuses. Start right now. There’s no time like the present. You can start to change your life RIGHT NOW. Write down some healthy foods you’ll get on your next grocery store trip. Go take a walk. Look, you’re getting healthier already! Go look up gym memberships or exercise DVDs. (After you read this post, of course.)
2. Smart, measurable, actionable, realistic timely goals (S.M.A.R.T. goals) I wanted to lose 50 pounds in six months, which is theoretically possible if you 100% stick to plan, but I am also human. My trainer and I planned for this goal and then altered it a bit along the way. We took baseline measurements and a baseline weight and measured my success against that. He took actions to draw me up a plan that would get me to drop at least 30 pounds in six months.
3. Every step counts. Going from zero exercise to walking counts. Switching from white pasta to whole-wheat pasta counts. I didn’t go from couch to marathon immediately.
4. Don’t be afraid to try new things. You want your body to do things it’s never done before, you need to treat it diferently. Try kale. Try that class you’ve had your eye on at the gym. Who knows, you might surprise yourself–you might love it!
5. But do what works in your lifestyle. Healthy looks different for everyone else. Some people love Zumba, I’m not a fan. It’s okay. Maybe they don’t like running. Don’t make yourself do something you hate.
6. You will have to make sacrifices. When I was trying to lose weight, I had such a specific goal that I sacrificed a lot during that year. I sacrificed some time with friends in favor of trips to the gym. But good lord, was it worth it to wear a bikini in Aruba when I’d been dreading hiding under a big beach towel so nobody saw me.
7. Healthy food is about more than salad. My stomach is not a huge fan of salad, and I lost 50 pounds barely eating salad. It’s possible.
What tips would you give someone to get started right now? Or what’s kept you going on your healthy journey? What are your biggest hurdles to a healthy lifestyle?
great post!
Thank you. This is EXACTLY what I needed to read to. I’m finally over this week-long cold [which I’ve been using as an excuse to eat anything & everything!] so I’m really looking to get back in the habit.
Thanks, Theodora! I’ve been reading running blogs for a few months now–even tried running for a few weeks. Running feels like something I should be doing, so I’m making a goal of running a half marathon in 2012! Thanks for the pep talk.
My biggest tip is that one bad day (or even a bad meal) doesn’t mean you should throw the whole plan out the window. Bad meals/bad days happen and you have to be prepared to deal with them.
This is an amazing post! You sum it up perfectly. Thanks for the motivation 🙂
SO great. Not a fan of salad either! 🙂
My biggest hurdle is my boyfriend eating the good stuff and me eating the healthy stuff. haha. It makes me want to eat his and a lot of times I cave. Thankfully he doesn’t live with me so it’s not an everyday thing.
Great tips!
My tips would be to healthify the foods you do enjoy, and join a gym you truly love even if it’s a bit more than you’d like to pay. Spending an entra $20/month is worth it if you look forward to going there more than any other gym.
Go you! Great message. Everyone uses this time of year to say they will start later. Start now peeps! It’s possible. 🙂
Great tips! I especially like the note on salads. There are SO MANY filling & healthy meals that can support weighloss! I hate when people think that starving themselves is the only way to go.
I came to know of you through CNC – thought that you were always a “skinny minny” your story and approach is really inspiring and encouraging!!
You’re a total inspiration! Portion sizes and eating when I’m not hungry are my struggle.
Great tips! It also helps to have a strong support system [family and friends] who are there for you on your low days…
SMART is such a big one for me — especially the “realistic” portion. It’s so easy to get caught up in goals like “run a half marathon” or “lose 20 pounds” but none of that happens in a day. So for me, it’s “move for at least 30 minutes today” or “eat lots of vegetables today.”
great tips! congrats on being an ambassadoress!
Exactly the post I was looking for! You are amazing for sticking to your goal and for getting so fit in such a short time! I find that what motivates me to go to the gym and keep running are my personal trainer and my running buddies. It is always better to have someone who inspires you to push your limits and also keep you company! Thanks again for the motivational post!