by | Jan 31, 2014 | Consistency
Consistency is something that we talk a lot about here at Eat More 2 Weigh Less.
But what exactly is consistency? Is it never missing a workout? Eating exactly the same number of calories or foods day in and day out? Never having a treat or a low day?
Websters defines consistency as conformity in the application of something, typically that which is necessary for the sake of logic, accuracy, or fairness. It lists a number of synonyms including uniformity, constancy, evenness. In other words, it’s maintaining a sense of constant balance in your life.
But in many circumstances, when we approach our fitness and nutrition goals, we define consistency in terms of perfect adherence to a set of rules or guidelines that we feel will bring about positive changes in our health and fitness. Often times these rules are not ones that are even practical for us. The diet industry is alive and well, and particularly as women, we are constantly bombarded with a stream of messages about the “right” way to lose weight. Many of these rules are incredibly restrictive and so limiting that by nature, they make it nearly impossible to be consistent from the very beginning.
Instead of striving for perfection, strive to be even and constant. This is less about achieving perfection in balancing calories in versus calories out and more about making sure to appropriately fuel your workouts with foods that make you feel great. It is less about sticking to a prescribed list of “acceptable foods” and more about staying the course. We all have good days and days we wish were better. But if you are frequently alternating between “falling off the wagon” and “needing to get back on track”, chances are you are not remaining consistent.
If you find that you are consistently struggling to be consistent, it may be appropriate to take a deeper look at the reasons why..
Find a Way of Eating that Works for YOU!
If you are struggling to follow your plan, or experiencing much temptation to binge eat, it is likely that your way of eating is simply not working for you. There are a number of popular eating plans out there-clean eating, paleo, vegan, vegetarianism, etc. Each of these approaches has strengths and weaknesses, but its important to remember that no eating plan is perfect. Nor is it set in stone! Even if an eating plan were nutritionally perfect, if it is unsustainable over the long-term, it doesn’t do much good. At EM2WL, we emphasize finding what way of eating works for you. Unless you have an actual physical intolerance, there is no reason why any food (including gluten, red meat, bacon, dairy, and even sugar!) cannot be incorporated into a plan that helps you to see the results you desire.
Instead of thinking about perfectly adhering to someone else’s way of eating, think about the foods that you enjoy eating, make you feel great, and fuel your body’s needs. There may be foods that you will include less frequently (ahem, ice cream) when you are focusing on fat loss, but you should be able to have quite a bit of freedom with your food choices. Find a plan that allows YOU to be consistent with your unique personality, schedule, and likes and dislikes.
Do workouts you enjoy!
Consistency in the gym is important in order to reach your fitness goals. If you dread every workout, chances are you won’t get to the gym as often as you need to in order to maximize results. Don’t ever feel obligated to do something you hate in the name of fitness. Your workouts should be enjoyable! If you are bored with the treadmill, try kettlebells or a group fitness class. If you have a hard time getting your strength training sessions done, schedule a session with a personal trainer for some ideas how to mix it up.
Workout consistency is crucial. But insert some fun. If you dread EVERY workout, you won’t exercise as often as you need to maximize results
Are you planning ahead or planning to fail?
Ever heard the saying, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail?” It’s at least partially true. You will have a far easier time sticking to your plan if you spend some time over the weekend thinking ahead to the obstacles you may face in the week ahead. If you know you have a busy work week ahead, plan to use your crock-pot or make a few freezer meals over the weekend. If you know getting to the gym might be a challenge, have some basic equipment at home so you can squeeze in a living-room workout if you need to. A little planning ahead can make all the difference in the world!
Be patient with yourself.
Be careful that you are not confusing consistency with perfection. Make sure that small slip-ups do not turn into giant disasters by getting back on track right away. Give yourself grace to be human. Staying the course over the long run will yield far better results than micro-managing every minute detail. Looking back, you’ll be so glad you did!
Photos courtesy of marin, marcus of freedigitalphotos.net
Becca is a busy wife and homeschooling mother to five children ages 5 to 13. About three years ago, she embarked on a journey to health and fitness that resulted in the loss of approximately 100 pounds. Today, she is a competitive powerlifter and strongwoman who loves ice cream and deadlifts. As an ISSA certified personal trainer, she is passionate about helping women to get started on a lifestyle of strength and fitness.
by EM2WL | Jan 29, 2014 | Metabolism Reset, Stress
You’ve made the plunge into a metabolic reset, and you’re determined to stick it out as long as it takes.
You are no longer restricting foods or food groups but learning how to include some new foods into your healthy eating plan. You love the freedom of some extra food. You can go out to eat or enjoy a piece of birthday cake, guilt free. You have more energy, you’re sleeping better at night, and are killing it in the gym. You are prepared to put in the time, so that you can attain your fitness goals without sacrificing your life
But sometimes, you may feel so out of control, and it scares you!
You may not understand why you are feeling this way. After all, while you were restricting your calories, you hardly ever felt hunger. You may feel tempted to go back to restricting calories.
What’s going on?
First of all, know that this has happened to just about anyone who has walked down this road. You are not alone, and experiencing these symptoms does not mean that you are undisciplined or lazy.
Experiencing hunger is a GOOD thing. Hunger and fullness are our body’s ways to control our dietary intake. Both undereating and overeating have a detrimental effect on our metabolisms.
Two hormones that help us understand what is going on here are leptin (a hormone w
hich promotes a feeling of satiety and fullness) and ghrelin (a hormone which promotes a feeling of hunger). In those with healthy metabolisms, these hormones alert us to eat an appropriate number of calories. Leptin also alerts the thyroid that there is enough stored fat for survival, so it is safe to burn stored fat. In response to a restrictive diet, leptin levels decrease or the body becomes resistant to leptin. As a result, metabolic rate decreases, body fat is stored, and appetite increases. On the other hand, ghrelin alerts your body to eat and drink by causing a feeling of hunger. Ghrelin also signals the body to hold onto fats rather than burning tem off. Under stressful circumstances (i.e., lack of sleep, emotional stress, restrictive dieting, overexercise, etc.), ghrelin increases and leptin decreases. Under these circumstances, you may find it difficult to feel satisfied, no matter how much you eat.
One purpose of a metabolic reset is normalizing hormone levels so they do the jobs they were intended to do. A common symptom of those who are undereating is the loss of the hunger sensation. This is a natural response to a lowered metabolic rate as the body adapts to an insufficient amount of calories. The return of the sensation of hunger and fullness are good things. Learning to honor those feelings is a big step in having a healthy and balanced approach to fueling your body. A primary goal of your metabolism reset should be listening to and honoring what your body is trying to tell you! Eventually, learning to honor these hunger and fullness cues will be responsible for your long-term success.
(NOTE: It is important to stress that we do recommend accurate calorie counting during a metabolism reset, since dieting has likely made it difficult to recognize these physical cues. “Listening to your body” during a metabolism reset can be tricky, since many chronic dieters will intuitively eat 1200 or fewer calories. It is important to reacquaint the body with an appropriate number of calories first, paying attention to these cues in the process. )
(To print this poster, click the image for link to a downloadable PDF version)
Others will experience a loss of control as they start re-introducing some “forbidden foods” back into their diets. After declaring these items “off limits” or “cheats” for months, you may feel like you just cannot stop eating them. This is usually a psychological issue. We usually want what we tell ourselves we cannot have! By allowing all foods back into your diet, you will likely find that you no longer feel the need to overeat these foods. There is a learning curve there, however, so proceed with caution and give yourself time and lots of second chances.
Your metabolism reset should not be a stressful time. Relax and look at this as a time to set yourself up for future success, while allowing yourself to recover from the damage done by excessive dieting. Here’s a few tips to make the most of this time and stay sane:
1. Stress Less.
Stress causes a hormonal response in our bodies that causes an elevation in cortisol levels. A catabolic hormone, increased levels of cortisol will make it difficult to lose fat and gain muscle. It is definitely within your best interest to de-stress! If you are approaching this process with constant stressing about how much weight you are going to gain, how tight your jeans are, etc., you are probably sabotaging yourself from the very beginning. Find ways to manage the stress in your life, and do not allow your reset to become yet another stressor. Journal, pray, catch up with an old friend. Take a bubble bath or a long, relaxing walk.
2. Increase calories slowly.
By increasing intake slowly and steadily, you will likely experience less bloating and discomfort along the way and allow your body to slowly adjust to a higher caloric intake. This also reduces the likelihood of a sudden, shocking weight gain.
3. Honor your hunger.
If you find yourself extremely hungry, eat, even if it means you will end up over your calories for the day. Try to focus on whole foods that are nourishing. If this means that you go over your recommended calories a day or two, don’t stress over it. Making sure that you are full and satiated will prevent future binges.
4. Eat more fats.
Healthy fats have a number of health benefits. One gram of fat is equivalent to 9 calories, versus 4 calories per gram of protein or carbohydrate. Eating a diet higher in fats will allow you to meet your calorie quota without feeling overly stuffed from a huge quantity of low-calorie foods. Fats also promote a feeling of satiety which usually prevent overeating. Good sources include coconut oil, whole eggs, dark chocolate (our favorite!), raw almonds, and avocado.
5. Introduce new foods slowly.
At EM2WL, we don’t generally recommend restricting foods (animal proteins, gluten, dairy, etc.) unless there is a medical reason. If you are new to this process, you may be excited about the possibilities of eating “forbidden foods” once again. As you introduce foods back into your diet that you may have been eliminating, you may want to monitor your body’s response very carefully. You may find that you feel out of control when you introduce ice cream back into your diet after months of pronouncing this an “off-limit” food, you can’t seem to stop eating it. Subconsciously, you may be approaching this food with a “feast or famine” attitude. You may be tempted to conclude that that you just can’t handle ice cream. Give yourself time to adjust to foods that feel uncomfortable. Chances are when you tell yourself you can have ice cream as often as possible, you will no longer feel the need to overeat it. We recommend adding such foods slowly to monitor your body’s reaction.
6. Eat small and frequent meals
Dividing up your calories over 5-6 small meals will allow you to never be waiting too long before your next meal of snack. That way, if you get hungry, you will can have a small something without feeling like you are blowing your whole plan. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Some of our favorite go-to’s are Greek yogurt, raw nuts, protein shakes or bars, beef jerky, or cheese and crackers. For best results, make sure to include a balanced combination of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates at each meal or snack. Making sure that you are satisfied throughout the day will go a long way in preventing binges.
7. Stay off the scale
D
uring a metabolism reset, while you are increasing calories to a reasonable level, you should expect to see a temporary increase on the scale as your body adjusts to a higher volume of food. This weight is very rarely fat. Typically, the scale increase can be blamed on water retention. In some cases, the increase on the scale may be due to repairing of tissue damage resulting from very low calorie diets. Being overly focused on this number can be very discouraging. Understand that you may see a weight gain during this process, but that you are setting yourself up for future successes. If you mentally cannot handle seeing this number, it may be best to hide the scale for awhile.
8. Forgive yourself, and don’t try to “undo” the damage.
If you slip up and binge unintentionally, don’t stress about it. Acknowledge what has happened, and move on. Stressing over what cannot be undone is only going to compound the problem. Think about what might be done differently in the future and come up with your plan of attack, but understand that you are probably not bingeing because you are weak and undisciplined, just hungry. Be gentle with yourself during this process, and give yourself grace and compassion.
Trying to “earn back” calories you’ve overeaten by doing extra workouts or eating a bit less the next day may seem like a great idea. But it gets you into a vicious cycle of overeating, overexercising, and an obsession with trying to get the numbers just right. Remember, the cortisol response to excessive exercise often makes it more difficult, not easier, to control the weight gain and get back on the path to losing fat.
9. Have a strong support system.
Explain to those close to you what you are doing and why. Hopefully this will help them to be more understanding of what you are doing. Realize, however, that there will be those who don’t understand or agree with your plan of attack, and that is perfectly okay. Check out our forums to connect with those who are at all different stages in this process. You will be able to find someone to commiserate with, encourage you, or help you work through the many questions that seem to pop up along the way.
10. Be patient and trust the process!
Above all, enjoy this time of nourishing your body and being kind to yourself. If you stick with it, this will prepare you for a lifetime of success!
If you missed them, be sure to check out the other articles in this series:
Take it Slow
How Much Cardio?
Becca is a busy wife and homeschooling mother to five children ages 7 to 15. About five years ago, she embarked on a journey to health and fitness that resulted in the loss of approximately 100 pounds. Today, she is a competitive powerlifter and strongwoman who loves ice cream and deadlifts. As an ISSA certified personal trainer, she is passionate about helping women to get started on a lifestyle of strength and fitness.
by EM2WL | Jan 27, 2014 | Consistency, Fat Loss / Cutting, Motivation, Nutrition, Self Acceptance
Many people start their new year off strong, dedicated to the goals they set. In the beginning, when your willpower is strong, it’s easy to make those changes for a happier, healthier and more active version of yourself.
But let’s face it. Life is very rarely a smooth journey. If you live in the real world, there are plenty of road blocks and obstacles along the way. How you approach difficulty is going to make a huge difference in where you are in regards to your fitness goals a month, six months, or a year from now.
Some obstacles are foreseeable. For these, it’s important to have a plan of attack. What will your biggest obstacle be? Do you struggle to find time to get in a workout? Is it difficult for you to remain consistent with your eating? Are you challenged to get enough sleep? Think about your options and write down a concrete plan in your fitness journal. You may decide to wake up early to make it to the gym before the day’s obligations overwhelm you, or spend a Sunday afternoon prepping food for the week ahead. Decide to set yourself up for success by coming up with a concrete plan that will carry you through those times when willpower is fading fast.
1. Redefine healthy eating.
At EM2WL, we emphasize not viewing your life as being “on track” and “off track.” One of the greatest added benefits of fueling to lose is that you are taking in sufficient calories so you can plan for that piece of birthday cake or special date-night dinner. Special treats can and should be incorporated into any healthy eating plan. Rethink “healthy!” Your healthy eating plan should be the one that will help you to reach your goals, taking into account the challenges and obstacles that you face. Taking in sufficient calories to support your activity level and planning for consistency should be a major consideration.
We are inundated with messages and lists of foods that are “good” and “bad.” Let’s be realistic though, no one can exist forever on a diet of coconut oil, kale, and chicken breast. Your healthy eating plan should be such that it accommodates real life-birthdays, holidays, date nights. Food is a part of many of our celebrations and should be enjoyed (in moderation, of course)!
It requires a major shift in your mental paradigm to accept that things we’ve labeled “bad”-things like sugar, carbs, and gluten can be a part of eating for your goals. Instead of focusing on eating less (or eliminating) “off-limits” foods, focus on eating more wholesome, nutrient-dense foods and allow yourself a treat when you genuinely want it.
2. Forgive yourself!
Everyone who has been successful at making health and fitness a lifestyle knows that they can’t be perfect all the time. There will be times you overdo it on sweets, or miss one too many workouts. Do not beat yourself up! If you feel like you’ve veered off track, determine to just move on right from where you are. One or two days that are less-than-perfect are not going to spoil your long-term success, but don’t let a couple bad days turn into a week or a month. There is no reason to stress out over choices you’ve made that are in the past, or attempt to undo the damage. Instead, review your fitness goals and your motivation for making this change. Revisit your plan and stick to it. Is there something you could do differently in the future to prevent future slip-ups? Look at these slip-ups as learning experiences to prepare you for the obstacles and challenges you will run into in the future.
3. Strive for progress, not perfection.
Perfection can be the enemy of progress. Many people look at making healthy changes with an all-or-nothing approach. Too often, a minor slip-up can lead to an all-out binge as you figure, “Oh well, I’ve already blown it.” Perfect adherence to your plan is nearly impossible. Instead, strive to make progress each day. In the end, you will find that small changes are more sustainable over the long-term. Consistency is essential for success.
4. Look at slip-ups as learning experiences.
Slip-ups can be a great learning tool! Not every slip-up can be prevented, and sometimes you truly need to just put the past in the past and move on. But you may be able to look at a situation and come up with a future plan of attack. Are you more prone to binge on sweets when you are overtired? Make it a point to turn off the TV an hour earlier so you can get adequate rest. Lacking motivation after work to make it to the gym? Consider waking up early to get your workout in first thing in the morning. Struggling to make healthy choices on your lunch break? Spend a Sunday afternoon doing some food prep so you can have some easy grab-and-go choices.
5. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
In our fast-paced society, its tempting to want to see quick results. Remember that you are creating healthy habits that will change your lifestyle. Be patient with yourself and be committed to trusting the process! This doesn’t happen overnight. Just keep moving forward, and you will be amazed when you look back and discover the healthy habits you have established are about as second-nature as brushing your teeth!
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Becca is a busy wife and homeschooling mother to five children ages 5 to 13. About three years ago, she embarked on a journey to health and fitness that resulted in the loss of approximately 100 pounds. Today, she is a competitive powerlifter and strongwoman who loves ice cream and deadlifts. As an ISSA certified personal trainer, she is passionate about helping women to get started on a lifestyle of strength and fitness.
by Trish Adams | Jan 24, 2014 | Motivation
By now, you’ve gone through the process of setting goals, evaluating whether each is realistic, then splitting them up into doable chunks and are ready to focus on making it happen. Here are some things to consider over the coming months on doing just that.
Accountability
If you struggle with executing the plan you set forth, consider getting an accountability partner. An accountability partner is someone that you trust to hold you to the standards that you set for yourself. Having someone who cares about your success and will tell you when you are not staying the course, may help you to stay on track with your goals.
One goal at a time
If you have numerous goals for 2014, consider limiting how many you tackle at the same time. For example, if an overall goal is to improve your health by exercising more and eating better, consider improving one meal like breakfast consistently for a few weeks before moving on to lunch or dinner. By tackling just one task at a time,you will be able to focus all your energy and efforts in one area. Eventually that task becomes a habit requiring less effort. While it may seem like building habits one at a time will take forever to get you to your goal, statistics show that your success rate skyrockets when working on one new habit at a time. So, don’t rush it.
Focus on the little things
While your outcome goal is important, focus your daily efforts on the behaviors you outlined to reach your goal. Take a heads-down, foot-in-front-of-the-other approach, checking in every so often to make sure you are progressing toward your goal. Stay focused on the steps not the outcome.
Tackling limiting factors
A limiting factor is anything that is going to get in the way of your progress. Identify any limiting factors you may have and come up with a plan how to overcome them. If you know checking your weight frequently will have an impact on how you feel and sticking with your plan, put that scale away. If you are looking to improve nutrition, but travel for work, a limiting factor might be access to nutritious meals. Perhaps scouting out restaurants in advance or staying at hotels which provide a kitchenette might be one way to remove this limiting factor.
1-2-3 Go!
This one goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. In order to reach your goals, you have to get started on them! Many times we’ll put off starting something until a particular event or even just the start of the week. One that I hear often is joining a gym after losing a certain amount of weight first. Say what? Don’t get me wrong, I understand how intimidating the gym environment can be. However, this is about you and no one else. Don’t put off the start date…start now!!
Stay encouraged
Over the year you may find that your progress has stalled. This doesn’t mean your plan is not working, but may simply mean you need an adjustment. Don’t panic. Don’t freak out. Evaluate what you’ve been doing and see what may need tweaking. Resist the urge to change too much at once as you won’t know what may get you progressing again. If needed, ask someone who may have an expertise in the area you’re trying to accomplish.
Along the way you will make mistakes and that’s fine. With each bump in the road you gain a little more experience. Pace yourself and keep moving forward. We’re rooting for you!
photo credit stockimages, stuart miles,
by EM2WL | Jan 22, 2014 | Consistency
Thirteen years ago, my husband and I had a new home built in Phoenix, AZ. It was during the massive real estate boom on the West Coast and — as first time buyers — we were able to get in it for practically nothing. The home was triple the size, yet the mortgage was less than rent for the 800 sq ft apartment we’d previously lived in. By that time, the housing market for that area was a well oiled machine: every new home was built in a subdivision, fully equipped with it’s own school, park, community gathering area, the works. The homes took absolutely no time to put up, either. From the initial viewing of the model home to closing and having key in hand, took all of three months. The first day we put the key in the door and turned the knob, we felt that we’d “arrived.” The home was gorgeous, and we lived it up: entertaining and redecorating constantly. I lived in my enormous kitchen – going through every page in every cookbook – and even enrolled in an Interior Design course. We were young, in love, and finally living the American Dream.
Then things took a turn.
Through a series of unfortunate events, 10 years ago, we found ourselves moving back to my dear hubby’s (DH’s) hometown in VA. We’d sold our beautiful new home and barely broke even. We had pretty much sold (or had repossessed) every thing that we owned.
Our view on ALL sides of our “new” home in VA :-/
With what little was left, we packed up the kids and dog in a U-haul, and took the three day drive from the West to the East Coast. We arrived in VA without a dollar to our name, no vehicle, and no home. About 15 minutes out of the city, we received a call from my Father-in-Law, about a friend who had just moved his wife’s Grandmother into a retirement home, and was looking to put her home up for rent. The home was at best, a “fixer upper,” and at worst, un-liveable, but his wife cherished and wanted to keep it. Knowing how much work the home needed (and how little money we had) the friend worked out a deal with us for super cheap rent, plus labor. His plan was to fix the home up, and eventually get a “real” paying renter in, but at least give us time to find a leg to stand on. The home was an absolute wreck, but so was our life, and we recognized that the opportunity was a once in a lifetime chance for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we’d created.
We met the guy at the house with our U-haul, and “moved in” that same day. Everything from the truck went into a garage area, except a mattress that we put down in the one, non-condemned room of the house, where we all slept for weeks. Eventually I pulled a card table out and put it in that same room. That table is where we ate all of our meals, the boys (6 and 16) did their school work (we homeschool), and family puzzles (the home was VERY old, and we were still broke, so no internet/cable connections, etc). I cooked everything in the microwave because there was no stove, all the food stayed in boxes, because the cabinets were uninhabitable. DH would work all day, then come home and we’d all work on the house.
Years & countless tree removals later
We worked on the basics first: bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen. Bit by bit we got rooms of the house to a point that we could actually use them, and the boys got to move into their bedrooms. We were able to stop sharing one bathroom. Every wall in the house got repainted. Flooring was replaced. Kitchen cabinets were replaced with ones that could actually be held responsible for holding food and dishes. An old stove was located and put into good use. It wasn’t Better Homes and Gardens, but we had a place to live that didn’t (completely) creep us out anymore, and was actually starting to grow on us.
As we continued to make improvements to the home (at the landlords expense), the value of the home began to rise…and so did the cost of our rent. DHs income had stabilized a bit, so we went with the flow, because we knew that the home really was worth more than we’d been paying. We’d come to love the home as our own, and found ourselves doing things to spruce it up even further, just because we began to take pride in seeing all of our blood sweat and tears take shape in the form of what was becoming a beautiful home. One day the landlord and his wife stopped by to take a look at the home, and the wife, seeing it for the first time in the two years that we’d been in it, burst into tears. She could not believe the transformation that had been done, and the care that had gone into the home, and asked if we would please buy the home. She had been dead set on not selling her precious memories of her Grandmother, but she felt that we loved it as much as she did, and she didn’t want to see anyone else live in it. One year later we purchased it.
Outdoor eating area – The new view :D
Eight years have since passed and DH now owns his own construction company, and we are doing rather well, financially. We’ve continued to make renovations to our home, mostly aesthetic and “fine-tuning” now, as the home is more than liveable. We’ve purchased all new appliances, gutted every bathroom, added a massive screened deck (more like a second family room), and that garage that once held every item that we owned, became my new gym (Kiki’s cave :D). Yay!
I.ADORE.MY.HOME. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. It’s not brand new like the home I was in 10 years ago, but it’s more “home” to us than that one ever was. Because of all of the effort that we’ve put into it, it’s ours. Bit by bit, one step at a time, for hours, days, weeks, months, and eventually YEARS. It has become more than we ever dreamed it would be. There was no specific moment that it happened, not one stroke of paint, or plank of wood, or piece of crown molding that caused the transformation. But years, of consistent love and care for something that we felt blessed to be a caretaker of from day one of our “new beginning.”
True transformation MUST be mental, FIRST.
Garage/room that once held all of my belongings
Change is not always fun. In fact, depending on what brings you to the change, it can be down right humbling. Many of us come to EM2WL feeling completely broken. Unfortunate events (perpetual dieting/excessive exercising) have put us in a position that may seem bleak. We’ve hit a plateau (often literally), come to a fork in the road (“there’s gotta be a better way”), or possibly have completely crashed and are starting from scratch (regained all the weight back…again). Whatever the case, when we face the reality of choosing the EM2WL lifestyle, it can almost seem like that day my family arrived at our “new” home. Facing the truth of where our “methods” (albeit well-meaning) have led us, can be cruel. However, staring the results of our decisions in the eye, we have two choices: decide to step up to the challenge of making it right, or sit, pout, reminisce, and wish that we could turn back the hands of time…
Either way, the time will pass.
Step up to the challenge. Make things right. Love yourself enough to make the best use of the body that you have NOW. It may not be perfect…or the way that it used to be…now…or ever. But it can be better, and serve you and your family in more meaningful ways than the old version of you ever did. You can be stronger, more confident, and more amazing than you were before.
You will likely realize, just as I did with my home and my physique, that you love it even MORE.
Don’t allow yourself to linger too long on what “was” or how you “used” to look. You may be blocking something even better from emerging. Bit by bit. Day by day. Put in the work. Stay consistent. Live your life. You have the time (even if you think you don’t – you do). Weeks, months, and years will continue to go by, and one day you will look in that mirror. And the woman looking back at YOU will burst into tears at the TRUE transformation that has happened.
Kiki’s Cave! The final (for now) renovation. (Still the room that holds all of my belongings :P )
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