What you would tell your friend?
Pretend you and your good friend are catching up.
Your friend tells you how much they want to lose some extra pounds, get stronger, and feel better.
They ask what you think of intermittent fasting, fat freezing, extreme dieting and super intense exercise.
You tell them how you try to get your steps in every day, eat your veggies, drink your water, and do 2-3 workouts with your hyper trainer on the Zoom.
The Friend explains they WANT to exercise and eat right, but they don’t have ANY time (even though they just told you about their new Netflix show and a post on Facebook)
Then they tell you their challenges… not enough sleep, serious stress at work or home, being surrounded by overweight, unhealthy co-workers and family members, low back and shoulder pain… or how sweating messes up their eyebrows.
So what advice would you give your friend?
Honestly, think about this for a few minutes.
1st, notice that we are much better at giving those we care about advice versus giving ourselves advice.
2nd, Notice that you probably told your friend to not go for any extreme quick fixes. You might’ve told them to be kinder to themselves, to break their goals down into baby steps, and to get some help.
Remember, I have had this conversation over 1,000 times with people as a fitness professional for over 30 years.
Hopefully I told them to take it one day at a time.
To start where they are.
To keep it simple and just add a little movement at a time.
I probably reminded them to start drinking more water, work on getting more sleep, and to start with basic simple food planning.
Maybe I reminded them to shut down their own negative voice and the voices of negative people around them.
I possibly suggested keeping their fitness fun and finding a way to be accountable with a coach, a class, or goal setting.
Think about what you would tell your friend.
NOW…..tell it to YOURSELF. OVER and over and over again until is sinks in.
Keep believing in yourself and keep taking daily action.
