Steps 5-7

Each week I will elaborate on one of seven steps that I have taken to begin transforming myself into the healthy and fit person that I want to be.  Click here to view the 7 steps (Havi’s 7).

Even though I started out with the intention of posting a new step each week, I feel that the remaining steps are straight forward and that there’s no need to drag them out across multiple weeks.

5.  Share your journey.

There are a few reasons why I believe this is important to achieving your health and fitness goals.  The first is that I believe this will make you more accountable.  If others know about your goals and your plans to reach them, you will be more likely to stick to them.  If I tell my brother that I’m sticking to 3-500 calories per meal, what do you think I might order if we go out to Portillo’s for lunch?  I can guarantee you that I’m not going to order the beef sandwich with some cheese fries.  No, I’m going to order a salad.  Or let’s say I’m really craving those cheese fries, hopefully he would help discourage me from doing so.  You’ve got friends and family around you that want to see you healthy and happy, let them be there for you.

The other reason for this is that as you start to show signs of progress toward your goals people are going to take notice.  They’re going to know that you’re working on your health and will most likely compliment you along the way.  There really is no greater feeling in the world than an unprompted compliment.  Those compliments will really go a long way to helping you stay motivated on your journey.

6.  Help others with their goals.

This is another way to keep you motivated and there really isn’t too much to it.  The idea behind it is that as you’re encouraging others to reach their goals, you’ll also be putting pressure on yourself to reach your goals.  As I said in the initial post, if you’re telling your friend to get off the couch and push play on that P90X DVD you can’t really sit there and watch a reality show.  You’re going to have to get up and get your workout done too.  Furthermore, you’re going to be building up a support group along the way that’s going to help you when you need it.  As Zig Ziglar says that, “You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want.”

7.  Have fun!!!

If you’re not having fun, if you’re not enjoying yourself it’s going to be hard to stick to your program.  Whatever fitness program your doing should be enjoyable, and if it’s not switch it up or at least try and find some friends you can do it with.  Another alternative would be to find a fitness coach that’s energetic that you like.  Find something that you like and stick with it!  This applies to eating healthy too.  Find recipes that are healthy, but also taste good or are fun to prepare.  If you like to grill, find recipes that fit your diet that use a grill.  If you like to bake, find good recipes that involve baking.