Thank you @finishline for sponsoring this post and allowing me to share some of my favorite things: sweat and shoes <3
We’re on the brink of a New Year-- it’s an exciting time filled with clean slates and fresh starts. If there is one thing I get weary of hearing it’s that all of the sudden these “magical days” in between Christmas and New Year’s are spent ambitiously planning all the ways we will “improve.” Improve our organization, our diets, our bank accounts, our vacations, our exercise habits, our relationships, nothing is safe from our self-improvement plans! There’s nothing wrong with renewed commitment to your goals, but do take a minute and remind yourself of the things you accomplished and stuck with in 2019 as well.
Now that you’ve done that, if you still have the desire to take your fitness to the next level, here are some very simple and very effective ways to jumpstart:
DON’T BE AN ISLAND- We might prefer to be ON a tropical island during the Winter, but what I mean is have a support system. Have people who have heard your goals, who will remind you of them when the motivation fades and who will provide accountability! We are MUCH more likely to stick with a plan when there are more voices in the conversation! When your mind tells you, “skip your workout and sleep in again tomorrow,” but you know all the people who are going to complete the Tighter Together workout tomorrow-- the positive peer pressure gets you up!
LEARN FOOD: This is the missing piece for 9/10 clients who come to me seeking direction. There is truly no secret when it comes to nutrition-- but there is science! When we are inconsistent with our diets and go through phases of “being good” and “being off track” we are setting ourselves up for failure. When a person learns that there is balance to be had in the variety of foods that they choose while still totalling their INDIVIDUAL needs of carbs, fats and proteins, freedom is found and results follow. I highly recommend the Tighter Together challenge as it provides the tools to macro count, a customized count for you and also an amazing community to share recipes, tracking tips and accountability. Macro counting is like learning to read-- once you do, you will never “not” read again. It’s automatic and an absolute game-changer.
MAKE IT FUN- It won’t be easy--the good intentions will remain, but the willpower might fade. This is when you need to have something to keep you incentivised. The Tighter Together weekly giveaways have this covered with lots of items ranging from new running shoes, to bike desks, to gym bags, to headphones, to supplements and clothing! It could be a new pair of running shoes after the 5k you’ve been training for or a pedicure after losing 10 lbs, but give yourself some built in benchmarks along the way and celebrate them! I’m personally a sucker for the running shoes and have found some of my current favorites on Finish Line-- they’re selection is unmatched! I’m often asked about my favorite versatile shoes to do both circuits and running-- here they are!
I personally love the Adidas ultraboost for the versatility of being able to perform circuits that included weights and plyometrics while also having the freedom to jump on the treadmill for a few miles without having to change shoes!
STOP WISHING - This one might come across a little harsh, but please know my heart behind it. There is never going to be a “better” time to make changes. There is no secret or genetic lottery that keeps you from improving YOU. There is no way to see the results you could have in 5 months without starting today and then repeating tomorrow and next week…..
No amount of money can purchase results that are sustainable, but bypasshard work--so don’t look for that path of least resistance. Tighter Together is not easy, but perfection is not required to see amazing changes. You will have tools, friendships, workouts and personalized nutrition plan to continue long after 30 days. For many people, it’s the jumpstart that they need in order to prove to themselves that they are capable of incredible change.
The great thing about FinishLine is the assortment of colors they always have in my favorite brands— I have my eyes on the RED ones next!
