#I've been actively making healthier choices for myself! I've been trying to be more disciplined which isn't always easy!

[justapieceintheirgames]

I'm halfway to my goal weight!!! 🥳🥳🥳

#I totally understand why some people may feel uncomfy reading these kinds of posts so I'll be sure to tag this for that crowd buuuut #I've been actively making healthier choices for myself! I've been trying to be more disciplined which isn't always easy! #I've been putting in effort and now I'm seeing the results! And I deserve to celebrate that! #My goal weight = my pre-pandemic weight + like 1-2kg because I actually felt and looked much better after gaining some weight (initially) #but then we were in lockdown for almost 2 years straight and things kinda spiraled HAHA #I finally look more like myself again and I'm very excited going forward because my goal after reaching my goal weight is to then try and #build some muscles! 😼 and I actually feel like I can do it now! I've proven to myself that I can if I just believe in myself and try! #also getting a Fitbit was such a game changer lol #100% worth the investment if you're wondering #btw I started my journey in September so it will probably take me another 6 months but slow and steady wins the race ok 😤 #the time will pass anyway! :') #and tbf I only go to the gym once a week for 2 hours atm 💀 but even that is something I honestly never thought I'd have the guts to do #idk WHY I was so intimidated to go lol bc I even made a new friend there 😭 #anyway so much about the future feels scary and out of control when I actually think about it for more than 5 minutes #so it's great to feel in control of something? something important! #now if I could just...conquer my irrevocable sleeping schedule 💀 I'd be unstoppable lmao #speaking of which goodbye it's nearly 7AM aka time to lie in bed and think of tristamp lore that makes me feel anything but normal #until I pass out...I should read the manga 🤔 #this is derailing quite quickly OJSJJS #weight mention #weight ment tw #ask to tag #personal #damn that's a lot of tags...I haven't made a personal post in a while here though! I missed my internet diary :')

[fatgalfitness]

So last time I talked about how I don't do new years resolutions, but if they serve you, I fully support them. The problem with them usually, though, is they aren't plans. They're vague wishes that we hope will come true just because it's a new year.

What's that saying? Oh I looked it up...a goal without a plan is just a wish. So yeah. 😂

Anyway. If your new years resolution is health-related, it will not succeed without a plan. If you want to lose weight, you have to figure out HOW you're going to do that. Rather than say, I want to lose 50 pounds, break it down into smaller steps. Why do I have 50 pounds to lose? Am I eating out too much? Drinking too much soda? Not moving my body enough? "Lose 50 pounds" breaks down into several smaller, attainable goals. It could be, drink 1 soda instead of 5. Walk around the block once a day. Cook 2 dinners at home.

In public health (well in every discipline really) we talk about SMART goals. Is this turning into a public health lecture? Maybe a little bit...but it's important.

SMART:

Specific: not just "eat healthier" - eat 1 salad a day

Measurable: not "be more active" - walk around the block once a day

Attainable: losing 50 pounds in a month isn't attainable, at least not in a healthy way. Think about goals that make sense for YOU. Drinking one less soda a day is attainable if you're currently drinking 5.

Realistic: setting your sights too high or low will only discourage you. Going from couch-bound to gym queen isn't going to happen overnight. Set goals you can achieve so they motivate you to keep going

Timebound: set timely expectations. This way you can measure your progress over time, see your progress, and stay motivated to keep going.

(your SMART definitions may vary...but they all have the same general basis)

So how do you even get started? Sit down with yourself and consider what you want to accomplish to be your best self. It doesn't have to be weight, diet, or fitness related. It can be ANYTHING: Mending relationships, setting boundaries, being in nature more...whatever it is that makes you feel more like you.

This can still feel overwhelming, so once I have my goals set, and I've broken them down into smaller, manageable pieces, I take it one healthy choice at a time.

I mean that. Each day, each moment, is a chance to choose what's best for you. And each healthy choice should push you forward into the next one.

Today, I didn't want to get out of bed. Because reasons, I wasn't going to be able to go into the gym today. So I signed up for the Virtual class. But my alarm went off and all I could think was, I could just sleep in. I could just NOT do it.

But I got up. Healthy choice #1.

Disclaimer: sometimes, staying in bed IS the healthier choice. If lack of sleep, or illness, or whatever means you need rest, follow your body's cue. Your gains aren't made or lost in a day.

So now that I'm up, I'll get on the zoom. I'll do the workout. I'll add a 25# weight vest because Steph is a monster. I'll enjoy myself. Healthy choice #2.

Let the momentum of your choices propel you forward to keep it up. Now, I'm going to make myself a healthy breakfast, and spend some quiet time with my happy lamp before I have to start work. I'll drink my water throughout the day, and continue consciously choosing things that serve me best.

This is how we build habits and the lives and bodies we want for ourselves.

But what happens when the healthy choices aren't made? When we say, I just can't do it, and sleep through the workout, or eat cheese fries for breakfast, or push ourselves so hard we get sick?

We pick ourselves up on the next one, and we move forward.

Cause here's the beautiful thing: one choice, or even a series of choices, doesn't make or break you. Just like eating a salad once doesn't suddenly give you a six pack, eating cheese fries for breakfast once doesn't undo the progress you've made.

It's making these choices over and over, ignoring what our bodies and minds truly need, that derails us.

In our society, it's easier to NOT try. We can hole up in our houses, order doordash, turn on an endless loop of Netflix, and let the lives we wanted for ourselves fizzle out.

But that's not really a life, is it? Sure, I'm going to have days that that's all I do. And that's okay. But weeks on end don't serve me and the life I actually want for myself.

(if you're isolating and feel like you can't pull yourself out of the doordash Netflix hole, I encourage you to speak to a professional. Better help and talk space are both virtual Counseling options, and the national help lines are available 24/7. I've been in that hole, and it takes courage, and help from others, to come out of it. I've spoken very openly on this blog about my mental health, and I'm happy to talk to you and help you find resources)

So this ended up A LOT longer than I had planned, but I think it's so important to understand that healthy, full lives don't just magically happen. They take work, and choosing yourself over again every single day.

So onward, my friends. What healthy choices will you make for yourself today?

#fat gal fitness #exercise #goals #SMART goals #new years resolutions #choose yourself