I hesitate to say this out loud, but I think I’m finally out of my year long rut. That hole was deep and dark, but I have to say, there was always a light at the end of the tunnel. Not once did I have thoughts of giving up on myself. I just didn’t quite know how or where to start.
But now that I have my mojo back and I’ve been able to restart my engine, I want to share these nine tips to help others who may find themselves in the same situation.
Tip 1: Think Long And Hard About Why You Want This
For me, I realized that I don’t want to live my life on the sidelines. I’m an active person. I enjoy being outdoors and being “one with nature”, and I’m not ready to give that up. I’m not going to let this weight keep me from being me, so it has to GO…and I am bound and determined to make that happen!
Tip 2: Set A Doable Goal (one that you absolutely can achieve)
For over a year I’ve been plagued with back and knee pain, which has prevented me from doing many of the things I enjoy. I found myself doing absolutely nothing until I sat down one day over the summer to write down all of the things I COULD do. I came up with 39 things, from which I picked ONE and got started. My one goal was to track my eating using MyFitnessPal…Everyday…. and I’ve done so now for 41 days straight!
Tip 3: Get Inspired (sometimes you’ve got to encourage yourself)
Inspiration is all over. Books, blogs, podcasts, IG pics, Facebook posts, you name it. Yesterday I shared 11 ways to create daily motivation and I do all of the things on that list. Here lately, there is one particular podcast that I absolutely LOVE, and that is Primal Potential, with Elizabeth Benton. She has inspired me so much. I listen to her almost everyday! She’s lost 170 lbs. and she knows her stuff! Because she’s been where I am, I can relate to her and her approach. She is definitely my numero uno go to source for inspiration.
Tip 4: Take a Hike (or at least a walk. The journey of 1000 miles begins with taking the first step)
This one is a little challenging for me right now, with my back and knee pain, however I’m working to find my sweet spot. I’m working on finding that time of day when I can hit the treadmill or pavement before the daily back pain sets in. I do know that my limit at the moment is 20 minutes, and that’s okay. Something beats nothing any day!
Tip 5: Revisit Your Food Journal (you did keep one at one time didn’t you?)
This is a biggie. I can’t tell you how much it has helped me to review my past food journals and even now, my daily entries in MyFitnessPal to see what I’ve eaten, how it has affected my body, what type of results did eating a certain way yield? I especially take note of the weeks where my weight loss has been 3 to 5 lbs. That’s the weekly menu I want to follow for sure!
Tip 6: Take One Tiny Step (there, that wasn’t too bad, was it?)
The first step is ALWAYS the hardest, but as the little Christmas song says, “you put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door”. And that is the goal right? To walk right out the door to the gym or around the corner. Once you get started the rest is a piece of cake, right!?
Tip 7: Make Yourself Accountable To Someone Other Than Yourself
That’s what this blog is for me…a way to stay accountable to myself while sharing with others. I’ve also been more active in my Facebook group, which has truly been instrumental in keeping me going. Knowing that others are watching, waiting, listening and following is a good way to stay on track.
Tip 8: Take A Picture Of Yourself
Pictures are a wonderful way to track your success. As the saying goes, it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. We are so accustomed to seeing ourselves everyday and sometimes it’s hard to see the changes your body is going through. But with pictures, as they say…pictures don’t lie. So snap away. A good tale tale is to take pictures of yourself for every 10 lbs loss. You’ll be sure to see yourself dwindling away…in a good way of course!
Tip 9: Breathe And Stop Stressing!
Oh my gosh, this one is key. Sometimes we can think ourselves silly. We become overwhelmed and paralyzed with fear, doubt, impatience, shame, guilt…you name it. In those instances, the best thing to do is STOP! Pause for a moment or two to gather your thoughts. Take deep cleansing breaths and trust yourself to know what is the next best thing for YOU to do for yourself! Take another deep breath and then just do it!!
In Conclusion: We all fall into a rut. The key is not to stay there and for God’s sake, stop digging.
Your Turn To Share
What tips can you offer someone who is in a rut and can’t seem to get started? What strategies have worked for you?