These words are my three buzz words for success when it concerns getting and staying healthy for the long haul.
These word are not really super sexy words. Even when I wrote them, I was thinking, could I find an acronym or maybe I could look at adjectives in the dictionary for more FUN and CATCHY words. Maybe some rhyming words? But I got nothing...
hese words sound a bit boring, and who likes boring, not me. (yawning now)
But many times creating habits, the long haul, foreva, is not going to be all fun, sexy, and awesome all the time.
Sometimes the best journeys are the ones we have to really dig in, even when it isn’t super fun and exciting. Even when things don’t happen immediately. It doesn’t mean you won’t have enjoyment along the way. One of the big keys of being healthy and whole is enjoying this life, not dreading it. But there are days that CONSISTENT will mean exactly what it means. No spinning it, sometimes it’s just going to mean digging in with your head down and doing the work.
Let’s look at the first word SUSTAINABILITY when talking about a new eating plan or fitness habit.
- Can you do this forever?
- Can you keep a plan like the whole 30 for the long haul?
- Or are you going to do this for 30 days…count down the days until you are done and then go straight for the gluten filled cupcakes and fondue cheese, maybe even dipping your cupcake in fondue cheese just because the 30 days is up and you can. This could go for any diet, plan, or 30 day anything.
I am not knocking whole 30, as it was one of the things that catapulted me to being consistent for 3 years. It taught me I could go without certain things and not die. It taught me what my body could REALLY feel like when I put healthy whole foods in it.
But is it sustainable for me all the live long days? NO….
Can I prep, cook, research every day so I am whole 30 compliant? NO…
It’s not sustainable for me for the long haul, and that is how I look at things now. I want my health and wholeness to be a lifestyle, not a month thing that I continue to start over and over again. …but a version of “THAT” type of eating…the 30% fats, 30% healthy carbs, 40% protein is how I have eaten for 3 years. I have been CONSISTENT with that style and will be for life. It works for my goals to eat and live as healthy as I can so my body can perform the way I want it to.
Do I do resets, cleanses, whole 30 each month? No.
Because if I am keeping consistent and sustainable with a healthy LIFEstyle, then I don’t need to reset or cleanse. Will I fall off the wagon at some point, maybe-maybe circumstances in life will hinder me, who knows, but the way I am eating now is a lifestyle and not a plan for 30 days.
Use meal plans, whole 30ish things as tools to make a plan for you and then set something up for the long haul.
MODERATION:
One of the things I hear over and over as a health and wholeness coach.
- “I ate 5 cupcakes today, what is wrong with me?”
- I hadn’t had sugar in 3 months so I binged tonight and just sucked up the sugar bowl with a straw.” (ok, maybe not that exactly, but you get what I mean).
- “I already messed up by eating some pizza today, so I just said, screw it, and fell off the wagon the whole day!”
- “I did 20 extra minutes of cardio since I ate a piece of cake last night.”
MODERATION has been my joy word:
I don’t workout so I can eat crap all day. That was what I did 10 years ago. I am older now and that doesn’t work for my body anymore. And most importantly my goal back then wasn’t a healthy and whole life. It wasn't about taking care of my body, it was quite frankly to just look good.
I workout because I love feeling like an athlete, I eat healthy because it tastes better and I feel better when I do.
Moderation is my friend:
- Did I split a cupcake yesterday with my mom? Yes
- Did I eat 3 cupcakes? No
- Did I eat bad the rest of the day because I had half of a cupcake? No
- Do I feel deprived when it comes to eating? Never
- Do I get nervous before I go out to eat with friends, because I will be THAT girl, ordering something different, and won’t get to try my friend’s desserts? NEVER.
Moderation is key for me. I don’t really have cheat days anymore. I follow an 80%-20% rule. It works for me, it might not work for everyone, but I need my square of chocolate during the day, or my half of a donut on Saturdays. My goal is moderation and sustainability for the long haul.
- Do I say stay away from sugar most of the time? YES.
It makes us lethargic, gain weight, and is a big helper for some of the diseases we loathe.
- Am I going to tell my peeps to never have another gram of sugar in their life? NO, it’s not realistic.
- Am I going to tell you to be mindful and have moderation? YES
- Am I going to tell you to start making small daily choices to kick some of the bad habits out? YES
No, she took two simple daily choices and traded them for something else. Then she started to make other small, daily decisions. But these first two small choices helped kickstart her lifestyle of health and wholeness.
It takes time people….years of learning, trying, revamping. Trust the process.
CONSISTENCY:
Work your goals with this word in mind.
Maybe your goal is to lose weight before your high school reunion? Or run a marathon? Or not eat sugar for 30 days? You know I am a lover of goals. But what happens after the specific goal is met? Most people will say make a specific, attainable goal, yes do that, but also make a general-for life goal.
I not only want you to lose weight, run a marathon, but I want you to continue to run and continue to maintain a healthy weight for years and years, not just when the next beach vacation comes along or when you need a formal dress to fit into.
Find exercise you look forward to, with people you adore.
Find foods you love to eat and are easy to prep, and stay in it for the long haul. Not depriving yourself, but loving yourself and the others around you enough to stick with it.
Questions??? I am here for you.