I'm sure you've heard this saying before, "Fitness is a journey."
Shoot, you've probably heard me say it before! 🤷🏼♀️
It's a popular saying because, well, it's true. We would all like fitness to be something that happens over night, but if you've ever set out to be the fittest version of yourself, you know that's just unrealistic. Becoming "fit" and creating a lifestyle that involves a love and discipline for fitness takes TIME. A lot of time. Creating a habit alone can take anywhere from 18-254 days, with the average amount of time for a behavior to become automatic landing at 66 days. So don't get down on yourself when you try out a new fitness routine for a few weeks and it just doesn't stick. If being fit and healthy are goals you have for yourself, you need to understand that you are committing to this transformation as a LONG-TERM process. But don't let that discourage you from starting out, to get to day 254, you have to start at Day 1. Consistency over time is what will give you the results and the healthy lifestyle you crave.
One of the very first programs I did that involved weight-lifting was Beachbody's 21 Day Fix Extreme. I remember buying a pair of 8lb dumbbells to use as my heavy set (so funny now that I squat and deadlift more than my own body weight). I bought this program because I was looking for a quick fix to get the body I had alway wanted. And she was promising it to me in just 21 days! I remember being REALLY challenged by this workout, so challenged that I almost quit. After completing the first workout I sat on my floor and cried. This type of workout was something new and different and it HURT and I was exhausted after only 30 minutes. I didn't believe I could do it, not even for a short 21 days.
But I didn't give up. I kept pushing through. Taking the program one workout at a time until I had finished it. I can't say that I achieved my ideal body in those 21 days, but it did get me closer. I started to see some definition in my arms and legs and started to really think about weight lifting as a means to get the "toned" look I desired. So I repeated the program.
And I got a little closer to my goal.
Then I did another program,
And got a little closer to my goal.
I have repeated this process for YEARS to get to where I am today. I learned to love fitness so much along the way that I chose to make it my career. My fitness journey has been "in progress" for over 21 years, and I'm just now getting to the look I've always wanted. Now that I'm here I've set new goals for myself; and that's why becoming fit and healthy really is a journey. A journey during which you learn, adjust, grow, and evolve as you move through it. My health goals for myself when I was 25 are not the same as my goals for myself now, and I'm sure my goals at 45 will differ greatly as well.
The point is, I never gave up during my journey. From Day 1 until now I haven't allowed myself to quit caring about my well being. Yes, I've taken time off from working out. Yes, I've had days I didn't feel motivated to move. And yes, I've had times since the beginning that I was not in my best of shape. But I STILL didn't quit.
Every year I go back to that 21 Day Fix Extreme program and do it again. It's amazing to me how far I've come over the years. And I no longer cry after a good leg day. 😃
So the next time you're eager to give up after giving it a solid effort for 2 weeks, take a minute to reframe your mindset. As humans we become overwhelmed when the "big picture" is too much to handle, so break it down it to smaller more achievable goals. For me, that was taking it one day, one workout, at a time.
Now get out there and get started! "Stop saying tomorrow, when you're only promised today." - Autumn Calabrese 21 Day Fix Extreme creator
Love,
Rachel
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