April 2023: Strip out the Junk

Spring is in the air, and if you’re anything like me you’re starting to do some spring cleaning around the house and yard.  It always feels so good to have things tidied up after the winter.  While we’re cleaning up the house, let’s also talk about cleaning up what we’re putting into our bodies….and cleaning out the old ideas that we hold in our minds and that hold us back.  

This month I want to talk about stripping the junk out of our daily lives.  When we think about stripping out the junk in our lives you may have immediately gone to the importance of stripping out junk food, and that is certainly a good thing to look to strip out, but I’m also talking about stripping out junk in terms of anything that creates an obstacle along your health & fitness journey.  This could also include what you focus on with your thoughts & beliefs, which can have a major influence on your confidence, mindset and motivation.

Food is definitely an important “junk” consideration that is well worth reducing or eliminating from our diet, and certainly worth talking a bit about.  Have you ever noticed that foods that aren't exactly “good” for you seem to taste amazing? 

It’s kind of like Mother Nature is playing a practical joke… but there are a few reasons this happens.

1. Many “crave-worthy” foods are loaded with sugar, salt, fat, and empty calories.
   
   
2. Our brains are hardwired to crave tasty, high-energy (aka high-calorie) foods because they help us survive when food is scarce. (Except for most of us, food isn’t scarce anymore — so we have to be careful not to overeat these foods.)
   
   
3. Manufacturers spend a LOT of time and money making these foods as delicious as possible – and also on ads to entice us. It's no surprise that some of these foods are hard to resist!​​​

​So if you find yourself craving these foods, that’s by design! 

I’m sharing this with you because I believe knowledge is power — and keeping this in mind helps me keep my own food choices in check!

According to the National Academy of Sciences, people eat too many calories, saturated fats, and added sugars; too much sodium; and not enough vitamin D, calcium, potassium, or fiber, and here’s the big kicker: the top causes of death (heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer, etc.) are strongly associated with our food choices, making the elimination or reduction of these foods a real priority for the sake of our long term health.

​But….with that said, if we continue to struggle with our overall mindset and motivation, making adjustments to what we are eating can be that much more challenging.  So let’s talk a bit about changing our mindset first so that we can be better prepared to tackle all aspects of our health & fitness with greater confidence and chances for success.

​The first thing that we need to embrace is the reality that making changes in our lifestyle is going to be hard….but it will also be worth it. 

The hard changes that we choose to make are always worth it.  Things like taking time to unplug, getting our head’s right on a regular basis by taking time to disconnect from the stress of the world around us, choosing healthier options at snack or mealtime, building a regular routine for getting active, and getting to bed on time each night.  

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​On the other hand, there are also hard things that we DON’T choose and don’t move us forward - things like frequent doctor appointments to manage chronic health conditions, struggling to go up the stairs without feeling winded, being unable to keep up with our kids or feeling confident engaging in active social engagements like going out for a hike with friends on a beautiful spring day.
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My point is that there is so much more to gain by putting in the effort to change things that will make our lives better because no matter how we look at it our choices will be hard. The question is, are you choosing to tackle the hard things that will make a difference in your life or are you coping with hard things that only create extra challenges and limitations in your life?

So how to get started? 
Here’s a simple 3 step process that I think can get you on the right track:

Step 1:  Get real about what’s holding you back.  Get out a pen and piece of paper and WRITE THEM DOWN.  Before you get started know that this list that you’re about to create is for your eyes only.  Really allow yourself to be honest with yourself and do a little brain dump of all of the possible things that are holding you back….with HONESTY.

Step 2:  Identify Common Themes.  For example, are you noticing that not having enough time is a common theme?  Or maybe challenges with mindset or motivation, confidence, support or accountability.  Understanding the common themes that are present for you is a place to start.
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Step 3:  Now it’s time to get into problem-solving mode and TAKE ACTION.

• Don’t have support? Find it! Think of the health/fitness-minded people in your circle and enlist them, search for an online community, and/or work with a coach (a real game changer).         Click here to schedule a no obligation call to see how we can help! ❤️ 
• Not enough time? Get creative. Find ways to sneak fitness/health into the spare moments of your life. We can help you figure this out too.  Our clients in general spend only 4-hours per week on their health and fitness and that INCLUDES meal prepping for the week.
• Mindset issues? Surround yourself with motivation – read self-development books, watch inspiring YouTube videos, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and keep a journal to track your progress. This is a HUGE area where we can help as well!

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​I came across a quote the other day that really inspired me as I started my business 4 years ago,  and I hope it inspires you too.  It can feel really scary to make changes in our life, and the reality is that there’s never a perfect time to get started at making changes to our overall lifestyle, but if you keep on waiting for the perfect time you will likely be stuck forever. 

​Furthermore, if you continue to wait for the stars to align you’re only robbing yourself of how you would feel if you started right now.

​Let’s make this springtime season all about cleaning out the junk in ALL aspects of our lives.  You’ve got this!  And don’t forget.  If you need a little help, we’re here for you!