Stir Up Your Hopes

Let a brand new year stir up your hopes and dreams.  Many make resolutions to eat healthier, exercise regularly, lose weight.  In short – change their lifestyles to become closer to what God intends for them. So, let’s use this extra motivation to set some new goals for a brand new year.

A New Vision

Habbakuk 2:2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Amplified

If you’ve set resolutions and goals in the past that didn’t “take”, here are a few do’s and don’ts that can be a big help.

Don’t:  Set unrealistic goals that are only achievable for a short time.

Exercise Goal: 

Unrealistic – I will work out every day!  Did you know that thousands upon thousands join a gym in January, but statistically, 67% of people who join, never even use their membership, and those who do only go for 90 days!

Realistic:  A better and more beneficial approach is a  steady persistence that lasts. For example, a plan to walk ten to twenty minutes every day, or even three times a week to get started. Or, a good DVD with a fun and effective fitness routine will provide long-lasting results. (See Fabufit 201) John and I love going to Crossfit two mornings a week as well as Ballroom Dancing two or three times a week.

Tip: In the beginning of a fitness journey, you may feel like you are rolling a boulder up a hill. You put in lots of work and you actually see no payoff. At least it doesn’t look like there is any payoff; but I can promise you, you will reach the top and begin losing at a faster rate with time.

Weight Loss Goal:

Unrealistic – I will lose 10 pounds a month by summer! To do this, you’ll be doing a fad diet.  Many of them will give you great results for a few months if you can stick with the crazy diets, but the pounds will come back on as soon as you start eating again. This yo-yo effect on your body is harmful and not healthy. And let’s face it, not only will the pounds you have lost come back on, but more pounds with it.

Realistic –

I will start eating healthy foods, managing the debit foods, and pre-measuring my daily water. My goal will be to lose inches and drop a size or two by summer. See yourself with some toned fabulous looking muscles and all of your clothes feeling so loose.

Inches versus scales

Tip:  Weigh and measure and then DON’T step on the scales for 30 days. As you become more active and begin to drink more water, your muscles will retain water. Bob Greene in his book The Total Body Makover, explains that as we become more active the more glycogen muscles retain. Thus, the more water they hold, this water weight gain will cover up the body fat losses. If you don’t know what is going on, you will easily get discouraged and quit. Knowledge brings motivation. In a few weeks you will begin to see fat loss. This is part of charging up your metabolism which will ultimately lead to increased fat-burning power.

The first weeks of this journey will be a test of your will. Will you trust that you are doing the right thing and ignore the scales?

Getting Healthy & Fit:

Don’t:  Be overwhelmed by all that needs to be done in order to get and stay healthy & fit.

Do: Take it one step at a time. Remember that the way to eat an elephant is just one bite at a time.  This often missed principle is the key to success: “It is the little things that make the big difference.”

We can take baby steps doing little things that will accomplish major results. Let’s change our mindset to progress and not perfection, from quantum leaps to baby steps.   In order to do this, most of us will need to learn to capture our thoughts and change channels. Wrong thoughts of “I can’t”, “It’s way too hard,” and “Maybe it’s not really worth it” can steal our energy and our health.

Together, let’s make a decision to “take every thought captive,” to be positive, steady and persevere throughout the new year.

To help you on your path for a Fabulously Fit Life in 2016, join our online Team Fabulous composed of Christian women, who will support, challenge and hold you accountable.  Our first 2016 Team course begins in a few weeks and all team members come free. Together, we can succeed! To Join, click here.