A New Year- A Time for Reflection and a Time for Fresh Starts!
As I reflect on 2023, I am certainly grateful for the opportunity to be a part the amazing wellness movement that the LIFT Wellness Center has brought to our community. We have been going strong for 11 years now and that would not be possible without the tremendous support from our members and the dedication of our staff. I am so grateful for such a diverse group of members who continue to choose LIFT as their place to strengthen their bodies and minds. It is truly special to see so many people from so many different walks of life, different ages, and different goals coming together and finding common ground in simply trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
I am also extremely thankful for a top notch leadership team, Syrena Flowers, Membership and Marketing Manager; Kent Schott, Fitness Manager; Andrea Lindsey, LIFT Weight Management Manager; Rachel Royer, Group Fitness Coordinator; Ashton Cornelison, Exercise is Medicine Coordinator; Jennifer Hale, Billing Coordinator; and Allison Haynes, Dietitian, all dedicated servant leaders who continue to juggle many tasks while ensuring that our frontline staff and our members have what they need to be successful. Our amazing team of pool, group fitness, member services, childcare, cleaning, personal training, weight management are simply the best, enthusiastically working together to make LIFT the best it can be for our members.
If you are reading this newsletter, you are one of many who prioritize your health, knowing that good health habits can help set you up for success in all areas of life. I want to encourage you, no matter if you are just beginning your healthy lifestyle journey, you’ve been at it for years, or maybe you’ve just been away for a while and you are starting fresh… you can make healthy habits that can last a lifetime. As someone who began a lifestyle of healthy living in my early twenties and continues to strive to do so in my fifties, I would like to share some thoughts on what has helped me through the years.
Adaptability- Life can and will throw you curveballs. Unexpected life events, both good and bad, can sabotage our goals if we don’t choose to adapt. A life event could be something as simple as an unplanned work meeting, feeling a bit under the weather, or a vacation. These things will happen. It is okay if you have to shorten your workout if you are short on time, reduce the intensity if you aren’t feeling the best, or do a different type of physical activity when you are on vacation. The important thing is to do SOMETHING. For me, a shoulder replacement a few years ago could have easily sent me into a downward fitness spiral, but instead I chose to focus my energy on my rehab. During that time, I also adapted by walking for cardio and when released by my surgeon, I rode my bike trainer inside using one arm. I also continued to lift weights, using machines and performing lifts with one arm that I could safely do. These adaptations not only helped me physically, but they allowed me to mentally stay in the game and retain my exercise habits.
Not relying on will power or ‘feeling motivated”- Will power is simply the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. While will-power can be strengthened and certainly should be practiced in order to develop resilience, it can become depleted, especially when we are tired, hungry, or stressed. Those things can also cause our inner-feelings of motivation to wane at times. For me, it is much more difficult to get out in the early morning hours to run when it is dark and the temperatures are freezing. If I relied on being motivated, I would just sit on the couch and drink coffee instead. Sometimes I do give in and continue sitting on the couch..but, I adapt and take my clothes to work so I can either hop on the treadmill or get outside during my lunch break to get my run in. Did I mention relying on will power when hungry? DO NOT count on that. This is where planning and controlling the environment come into play. Plan meals and snacks and don’t skip them so that you always have something healthy to eat AND so that you do not allow yourself to get too hungry. Don’t keep the high calorie, junk foods in your environment- at home or at work. Again, if you are too hungry, too stressed, or too tired, that unhealthy option will be pretty desirable and it’s better just to eliminate that option all together.
Consistency- Consistency in your habits will get you where you want to be every time. Remember that when you make a plan, whether it be to exercise one day a week or five, 30 minutes per day or one hour per day, be consistent in that plan. Don’t wait for motivation, some days you won’t be motivated at all. Be adaptable. If you can’t make a group exercise class, get outside and walk. If you can’t make an hour happen, make 30 minutes happen. If you don’t make 30 minutes happen, make 15 minutes happen. Doing something is better than nothing. If you don’t make it happen for a full week, don’t stay on that train. Jump off and get on the consistency train the next week.
Make a commitment to yourself that when the initial excitement of the new year wears off, when you lose your motivation, or when life happens, you will adapt and be consistent. I promise it is much easier to never stop than it is to keep starting over. You will be glad you did. The only workout I have ever regretted is the one that I didn’t do!
Wishing you success for a healthy 2024 and thank you for being a part of the LIFT family!
Miki Martin, PT
Director LIFT Wellness Center
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