Let’s take a break from the cold weather and holiday talk and think about spring and summer. Going to the beach, barbeques, green grass and blooming flowers, swimming at the pool, long sunny days. Just thinking about it can be a momentary mental vacation from the cold and dark months ahead, but are you going to be ready when it’s time to put on that bathing suit? It may feel like winter will last forever, but now is the time to start thinking about where you want to be when summer comes around. Some of you may even be taking a tropical vacation in the coming months, so instead of dreading the moment you peel off your winter layers, make a plan and look forward with confidence.
Even if you lose just half a pound each week, by the time June arrives you will have lost over 12 pounds. It may not seem like a lot, but even the smallest things you do now will add up. The consistency you cultivate will help you when you weigh in this weekend and also in the future. It’s all about consistency. When the warmer weather comes around and it’s time to bring back the shorts and t-shirts, sticking to your weight loss plan will make sure you are ready. A balanced routine will work when you give it time. The last thing you want to do is go on some kind of crash diet or spiral into stress eating when you approach the time you had planned to reach your goal. Having a healthy breakfast, going to the gym even when you really didn’t want to, ordering a salad when you really wanted a burger or taking the stairs instead of the elevator may seem trivial, but they are what will take you across the finish line in the end.
It may be a tough battle to lose a little one week and gain a little another week, but thinking about the big picture can really help give the day-to-day effort more meaning. Think about where you were when you started. Think about all the good weeks you have had. Even if you just started today, remember that you can’t climb this mountain overnight. It takes time, which you have plenty of in the winter before summer arrives. Having the right mindset can ensure you have good weeks ahead. The same way you look forward to a cheat day each week, look forward to the summer after a long and challenging winter.
2015 is going to be the summer you work hard for, and the summer you deserve to feel fit and comfortable.
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018
