YOU HAVE TO CHANGE TO CHANGE

We can all get stuck in a rut, feel funky, or backslide on our health and fitness programs.  Burnout and frustration are top reasons for giving up and falling into old habits and it is at that point where we can dig our heels in complete rebellion turning our noses up at the changes that need to happen to live a healthy lifestyle. The truth within each of us paints a different picture and honestly, we all want to be healthy and look the part but to really be healthy and feel healthy, you have to change to experience a change.  That is the truth with all things in life: change requires change.  If we are unhappy with our health, our body, our jobs, where we are in life, people in our life, our spiritual life, our emotional self and the list does go on and on, a deliberate choice to change to change needs to happen.  





Sometimes it is a difficult process to implement the necessary changes and our rebel self can surface and try to sabotage our attempts to do something great, and for the general populous succeeds unfortunately.  Getting mad about it will not bring about what needs to be done, but taking a personal inventory, making a promise to ourselves to change, and following through with that change is what will make the difference in our lives.  I suppose if the anger was channeled into the positive and motivates the change, then getting mad could be an OK thing.  However, I have seen anger turn into bitterness, which can lead to frustration and giving up all together.  Change takes a choice, takes patience and not perfection.  As we strive to change our health and fitness, it is important to realize that it will be a journey and a challenge.  Remember, that challenges in life are what change us and that becomes the learning tool of becoming a healthy person physically and emotionally.






I like that saying that goes “Do what you have always done and you will get what you have always gotten” because it rings true to what life and being healthy is all about.  If we do not change what we do, we will remain the same in our states of unhappiness, unhealthiness, depression, stressed out situations, and emotional wreckage. It is time to get out that paper and pen and start dissecting our lives and owning the unhealthy parts so that we can figure out what needs to be done to change each area. Are you unhealthy, unhappy, stressed, depressed, anxious, or angry and whatever question you want to add? Why and what needs to be done to change that? The goal for each of us is to implement the changes that will create the healthy changes that will last a lifetime.  I find that once health is made a priority and the body starts feeling better, it is easier to move forward and make other changes as our bodies are better able to deal with stress and emotional situations.  Let’s make the change to change not only a “have to” but a “want to” for a happier you and a healthier life. 

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Darla Leal, Fit at 50
 Orange Photography 2014


IT’S ONLY FIVE POUNDS…

How many times do we justify being unhealthy with the “it’s only” intro.  Whether it’s only five pounds, two cookies, a bag of chips, one alcoholic drink, or one missed workout, it is easy to get hooked into the trap of “it’s only”.  What happens more than not is “it’s only” turns into a daily use of trying to get away with something that leads us in the opposite direction of our goals.  The five pounds turns into ten, the two cookies turns into five, one missed workout turns into several and you get the picture that is painted with two innocent words.



The “it’s only” dilemma can hit at any time, but I find it creeps back into the picture once results from following a great nutrition and fitness program have been achieved.  Further, I have seen it completely snowball into a return back into old unhealthy eating patterns and sedentary lifestyle.  The two words are not as innocent as one might believe and especially if an inner strength to follow through on the one time “it’s only” behavior is not fully obtained.  For example, let’s look at the time it takes to break the cycle of sugar craving which is generally two weeks to twenty one days, and hypothetically use a person that is two days shy of that goal and of all days, the “it’s only” word comes to mind and tongue as a store bought processed cookie is consumed.  Now, I am all about moderation and do not get me wrong on this, however, when it comes to not fully adopting a healthy lifestyle, this time of weakness can derail all the effort put into those days of breaking a sugar craving cycle. 

Personally, why risk the goals for “it’s only” and especially if there is a struggle of inability to resist unhealthy processed food? There is no denying that two innocent words can take a person from success to digress in short order, and within a few weeks, that person stands in shock and asking “how did this happen?”.  It happened because “it’s only” became the tool that was used more consistently than the healthy choices.  Pay attention to that inner voice that is talking and especially as unhealthy food choices and bailing on workouts are happening.  Also, check your friends and family and listen to what they are saying as well…they can be the worst “it’s only” culprits as you strive to reach your health and fitness goals.  The more we are aware of the two words that draw us backward and how we use them to justify unhealthy choices, the better we will be able to stand up against the negative impact “it’s only” can have on our bodies and overall health.    

Want to promote your business through low cost Ad Space or a fun Giveaway with Stay Healthy Fitness? Check out my pages for Ad Space or Host a Giveaway and I look forward to assisting you!



I dedicate this Blog to my fabulous husband and celebrating our wedding anniversary over this past weekend.  I "Love You Forever and a Day"! 
Happy Anniversary to my forever friend and husband




DON'T MISS MY FREE UPDATES
Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button at the right to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares!





Stay Healthy!
Darla

FIGHT FRUSTRATION WITH MOTIVATION


I know in the midst of frustration it is hard to be motivated, especially when results are not happening as fast as we may want them to.  Sometimes the feelings move past frustration straight into “pissed off” and angry about not losing the weight, gaining the muscle, losing the inches, or just feeling right out BLAH about it all.  This is the time giving up may enter our brain, “what’s the use” dominates our thought processes, and “I might as well go back to eating the crap anyway” defeatist attitude comes calling with a vengeance.  Before all that mental non-game takes completely over, consider fighting the frustration with motivation.



We are all fighting for our health and best self each and every day.  Health is a process of small steps taken over time that provide big results.  Just know that each positive change to improve our health IS improving our health.  That does not get lost and our bodies know that something good is happening, even when we are unable to see it.  It is during times of the unseen that we must have faith in the process and be motivated by the good being done to become a healthy person. Throwing in the towel and going back to the old habits that created nothing but unhappiness and frustration in the first place does nothing for me or you except rob us of all the effort accomplished so far.  This is not the time to quit, but to stand strong in your efforts, and kick frustration to the curb with motivation.  



Fighting the frustration with motivation will require an inner strength that all of us possess, and it will be a choice to love ourselves at this moment no matter what a scale says.  It will require a celebration of that healthy meal, that one workout, a daily goal achieved, that completed food journal, or whatever has been the most difficult struggle that was finally accomplished today.  Having a positive attitude will fight off the frustration one motivation at a time, and eventually and with patience and a consistent habit of healthy eating and exercise, results will happen.  If we begin to focus not so much on the goal, but what can be achieved daily to be a healthy person the tendency to become frustrated is also minimized, and replaced with feeling motivated.  It is at that point, the stress of trying so hard is superseded by an inner peace of doing our best each day.  When relaxation and motivation take over our thought process of becoming fit and healthy, it all just seems to fall into place, and adopting that healthy lifestyle feels like it just flows as natural as breathing. 



Want to promote your business through low cost Ad Space or a fun Giveaway with Stay Healthy Fitness? Check out my pages for Ad Space or Host a Giveaway and I look forward to assisting you!




DON'T MISS MY FREE UPDATES
Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button at the right to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares!


Stay Healthy!
Darla