I was reading the other day that 5% of our population in America makes fitness and health goals that they keep and adapt as part of their lifestyle. That means that 95% of people are making goals to change their lifestyle only to slip back into old habits and give up on their goals. Many excuses people tend to use are that they can’t afford healthy foods, trainer’s fees and gym memberships or that there isn’t the time for it in their busy schedules. In reality, we can’t afford NOT to invest in our health and we can’t pack our schedules so tight that we have no time to take care of ourselves.
Now to be a part of the 5% doesn’t mean that you have to be perfectly fit and follow a strict flawless diet, it means that most of the time, you practice some of the following rules.
- People in that 5% typically keep track or are intentional about watching what foods they eat. They are aware of what types of foods and the balance that is needed to keep their bodies functioning efficiently and feeling good.
- They often share with others their lifestyle goals and the importance of being healthy, asking for support of those around them.
- They allow for setbacks and failure. Those who are in this 5% are choosing a lifestyle, not merely picking a goal with an end date in mind. It is the difference between a marathon and a sprint that we have all heard referred to so often. So, in this long journey, we are going to have times when our eating habits aren’t the best or we take some time off of exercising, but it doesn’t mean that we have given up, it is just a setback and it is part of the process. Additionally a setback isn’t something that should make us feel guilty. We are surrounded with too many messages of how we don’t measure up, we don’t need to perpetuate those messages. Accept fluctuations for what they are and move on.
- People in the 5% also find happiness in life. Take time to look around you at those who you are in company with. Are they generally happy and positive people? Being in the presence of happy people really is contagious.
- People in this 5% find ways to exercise doing something that they enjoy. There is no sense in pushing your body to do something that isn’t fun and fulfilling because not only are you going to dislike it, it also isn’t something that you’ll stick with.
- Finally, make little changes at a time. Being extreme in your health goals only leads to deprivation, frustration and eventually failure. Choose one goal or habit to adopt at a time and when that feels stable, add something else in.
Life is too short to be part of the 95%, I hope you find ways to be a part of the healthy minority and start to tip the scales in our favor.
Happy Day,
Vicky Krick
Personal Trainer & Bootcamp Instructor