Where to Start?

You want to make big changes, but you don't know where to start.....

Did you set some new intentions for yourself and your fitness or nutrition for the new year? If you did, you are not alone. Lots of people use this time of year to commit to a healthy lifestyle but don’t know where to start. The answer is simpler than you might expect. The perfect place to start, is right where you are.

You don’t have to go 0-100. If you have not seen the inside of a fitness studio or gym in years, don’t try and commit to 7 days a week. Try to work in 1-2 workouts per week until that feels easy and then add on. If you eat out 5 days a week, drink soda and have trouble passing up the chocolates on your co-worker’s desk, asking your body to turn off those cravings and dive deep into a super strict diet plan is setting yourself up to quit.

I like to tell my clients that if you want to run a marathon, the first step is literally, the first step. I’m not telling you to give up on a big goal, I’m just encouraging you to be realistic about how to reach it. Write down the goal and then take some time for self-reflection. Here are some questions to start with.

Why do you want this?

How much time do you have to give?

What do you need to set aside in order to make this happen?

What roadblocks do you foresee trying to hold you back and how can you overcome them?

Do you have help or support?

If you truly ask and answer these questions a plan will start to develop.

Maybe you want to get in better physical shape so you can keep up with busy kids or grandkids but you really have not been active for years. What is reasonable to start? Maybe finding time to walk or ride a bike a few days a week or trying out one of our great classes at root like yoga or rootcamp.

Do you feel lost when you walk into a gym? Seek out a trainer to talk to or try a group class where you will have great direction and can enjoy the social aspect of working out alongside others who may share some of the same goals.

If your roadblocks are time, write out your schedule and see where you can find 30-60 minutes to set aside for yourself. Many of us waste that much time on social media or some sort of screen time a day. What if you unplug, and instead, used that time to make steps toward your goals.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that change is supposed to be quick and easy. Coming out of the gate too fast or too strong can lead to frustration, exhaustion, injury or just plain fizzling out. Lifestyle changes are the ones that will stick with you and show real results, but it’s a process. A process that takes time and commitment and sacrifice. But it’s worth it. You can’t get to the finish line if you never take that first step! If you are ready to go but still feeling lost as to exactly where to start, come in and see us and let us help you feel good and live better.