Do You Struggle With Compliance to Your Wellness Routine?

If you struggle with making healthy choices every day, you are in good company. I have been personal training, health Coaching, administering corporate wellness programs, and teaching Injury prevention programs, for more years then I wish to disclose to you, because you might tell me it’s time to retire. I am not quite ready for that yet, give me your ear for a few more years.  Without a doubt the hardest part of adherence to a wellness program is longevity. Many people have great intentions, but fall by the wayside after a few months or weeks. They fail to incorporate it into their lifestyle, rather they see it as a short term commitment.

I work every day with helping people change behavior, behavior that have become habitual in their lives.  They truly want to change an unhealthy behavior, but lack the strategy to do so. Believe me behavior change is hard, but it is not impossible! It’s extremely important to have a strategy for changing unhealthy behaviors.  You must anticipate roadblocks and have a plan when that happens. That is why health coaching is working to help individuals change unhealthy behaviors. They are coaching them through the process.

Try reframing your thoughts about wellness, it’s not about giving up a bunch of stuff it’s just about replacing an unhealthy habit with a healthy one. Habits will become your lifestyle.

Here are some reasons unhealthy behaviors creep back in:

•          Life is busy-Many times it is much easier to go through the fast food line then to head home to fix a nutritious meal.  How about food prepping on the weekends to save time and money while also enjoying a nutritious meal. It requires a well thought out grocery list and time set aside on the weekend to fix the meals. How about crock pot meals. I think crock pots were invented just for me. I throw in a bunch of veggies, some meat, and broth before work delicious soup awaits me upon return.  Also did you know you can prepare sweet potatoes in the crock pot, they are wonderful!

•          Failure to plan to plan ahead- Pack your clothes the night before to head to the gym right after work or walk on your lunch break.  Do not wait until you get home to make the decision to work out, too many other things will via for your attention.  Mike and I used to pack our tennis shoes and walk when the girls played volleyball and ran track. There was a lot of down time so we took advantage of it.

•          No social support-If you want to get better at a certain skill, you hang around people that have mastered that skill.  You ask them to mentor you and hold you accountable that works with wellness as well. Elicit the support of your family and friends, or make new friends if need be.

•          Work place toxicity-Stay out of the break room if it is filled with donuts and M and M’s! Enough said. Don’t be pressured by your coworkers.

•          Guilt drives your decisions- It is self-defeating to assume just because you blew it at one meal, or for one day that the next day does not matter. You feel guilty (that’s normal), reframe your thinking, and get back on track the next day. Use the 80/20 rule.  80 percent of the time you hit the mark, 20% of the time you blow it.

•          Poorly informed about nutritional choices-Know what you are eating, avoiding empty calories and processed foods. Seek a professional to help you learn more.

•          Trying to compete with others- Do what is best for you!!  If you love to walk, walk, you don’t have to run and marathon to be fit and well. Understand your body and set goals you can live with (literally).

Give yourself some grace, some forgiveness. Do not give up on your quest for wellness. It will come over time, if you set your mind on moving through the obstacles.  It will be worth it because your quality of life will be superb and you can help someone else be well.

See you in the gym!!