Manic Monday - Quotes to Live By

If you have ever set goals for a healthier life or physical improvements, you are well aware of the basic necessary choices you have to make with proper nutrition and exercise. And in the next few weeks I will focus on those particular areas of healthy lifestyle requirements. Until then, whatever goals you have set for an improved healthy lifestyle, remember the mental focus has to be accomplished first. This includes a deep thought process that allows you to prepare for an important journey. Just like preparing for a long trip, you must plan. If you've ever planned for a trip, you know the time that goes into planning, booking, arranging, and packing for your trip. The same goes for this type of journey. You know your destination (your goal), now you have to establish a way to get there (a way to exercise and eat right) , you have to book it ( for example, becoming a MVP Fitness Center Member), you have to schedule your exercise times, you have to get your kitchen set up with proper food, and finally you have to choose to move forward and begin this journey. I have three amazing quotes for you to ponder and help with your journey preparation. These are quotes I have used in my profession several times because they seem to resonate well with regards to lifestyle change. "You can wish for it OR you can go out and make it happen." This is a great statement to ponder if you fall victim to "quick fixes" or if you a person who have a hard time with change. "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." I love this quote! You can make all of the goals you want BUT if you don't have a motivational factor behind your goal, chances are high that you will fail at reaching your goal. A great example of having a motivational factor behind a goal is the person who just received a poor report of high blood pressure and cholesterol. This person has 90 days to try and bring their blood pressure and cholesterol down otherwise prescription drugs will be needed. I have seen this happen many times. Some of my most motivated clients were ones who absolutely did not want to be on prescription drugs for the rest of their lives. That was enough motivation to make their goal of a healthier life happen. Habit is another important factor to establish a new way of life. Several studies state that it takes approximately 30-35 days of repetition to establish a habit. Of course it will be hard for someone to wake up an hour earlier to implement exercise into their busy day especially if they are not a morning person. However, it takes change to make change and by making a true effort to wake up earlier for several weeks, one will surely realize that it does become easier in time. Just give it a true chance! A true month of a chance! Same goes with the diet. Give a true month of time to eliminating soda or daily junk food. After a month's time, you will feel better and see great results. This in itself will give you motivation to reach more goals!! "Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment." Think about this one. YOU ARE IN CONTROL of your choices. You! You are the one who talks yourself into avoiding the gym. You are the one who justifies eating half of the pizza and bag of M&M's (I use that example because that was exactly what I would eat). YOU have to create a discipline that works for you. Creating a discipline might even include the support and resources of others until you build that discipline. For example, discipline includes accountability and responsibility. If your weakness is accountably, then enlist the help of a friend or a personal trainer. Establishing a small network of lifestyle buddies helps too! It's really neat to see camaraderie form when members at the gym begin realizing that they are all there for a reason: improving their health. And that camaraderie begins to keep people accountable. If you aren't visiting MVP for awhile, people will begin to take notice and when they see you.....you will be asked where you have been. Take a little time and really think about these quotes. Establish thoughts that resonate with you and your journey. In closing, I want to share one of my favorite quotes with you. It's a verse from the Bible: "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." Ephesians 4:23. Renew your attitude and your heart. If your heart is right, so will be your attitude. And if your attitude is right, so will be your choices. Have a GREAT week and enjoy your blessings!

Rachel Zimmerman, Certified Personal Trainer and Life Coach

ACE/NSCA

Wife, Mother, and Friend