New Year. Same Me.

As the new year came around, I contemplated what it meant. We are constantly setting goals based on someone else's timelines.

New Year's Goals!

Summertime Body!

But, why?

Why do we need to wait for someone else's set times to improve ourselves into a better version of us? These timelines are constricting what we could become by allowing us to make excuses to put it off.

So, why can't I start today? What is wrong with today that makes it so I shouldn't make that one healthier choice?

I know a lot of it can be overwhelming. But, think about it. What goals do we usually set, especially at a new year?

LOSE WEIGHT!

Great. That's a very broad goal. What does it actually mean? Well, depending on where you currently are in your existing lifestyle, this could be overwhelming.

To lose weight usually means a complete lifestyle change. Diet. Exercise. More water. More sleep.

You need to know your body enough to understand cravings vs dehydration. You need to become aware of your comfort and coping foods. And, most importantly, you need to understand that there is no one perfect diet out there. #sorrynotsorry

After almost 2 years of committing to a complete overhaul of my eating habits and exercise choices, I am fairly decent at understanding what it is that my body wants and needs. I have struggled. I have fallen off the wagon. I have failed. I have gotten back up. I have re-evaluated what I'm trying to do more than once. What has helped me the most? A group of supportive people who understand that none of us are perfect, and you will undoubtedly fail.

But, we pick each other up. We share our stories. We find what works for us. We explain that what once worked probably no longer does. We talk about our goals. And we support and push each other.

Depending on your personality, you might need the competition of being "the best". Or you might just need someone to tell you to get off your ass and do it. Or you might just need to go with your own flow and move because it feels good. It's all ok.

Now, let's talk about one of the big pain points that people like to leave out. Our mental health. Holy guacamole does that play a part in all of this. That little voice that reminds us "You're too fat. You're too out of shape. You're too busy. You're a failure. You'll never succeed." Oh my lanta. It's a killer.

That is where daily goals come in. Maybe your health journey starts with "Today I will drink 40 oz of water and walk for 10 minutes." Your next goal can be to add in an extra vegetable with dinner. And then you can up your water. Then increase your walking breaks. If you miss one, OH WELL. Do what you can. If you get sick, FINE. Get yourself healthy. Drink extra water that day to make up for missing out on some moving around. Stand up. Stretch. Shake the skin off your bones like a dog. Just anything to remind your body that it's alive.

So, in short. What I want to say is, don't make such broad goals without a plan. It's perfectly fine to say, "My end goal is to lose weight and be healthier and stronger." But then you need to back it up with, "To reach my end goal, I plan to increase my water intake for 2 weeks. After that, I will add in light exercise for 2 weeks. Then I will start balancing my diet with more fruits and vegetables."

The key is to keep going. A goal to be healthy is never-ending. We all want to live a long time, so why not make our elder years more enjoyable by taking care of the vessel we will still have when there are no longer so many things holding us back?

Go out there. Conquer your world. Even if that just means doing one squat.