Self Improvement

You have surely seen my blog posts on self evaluation, self worth, regrowth vs reset, and New Year New Start. Each of those is meant to motivate us or give us a way to move forward.

My Platform

I have been very pensive about the platform I have to share my journey with others. My goal is to lead by example. I don’t do this to show off “how awesome I am.” I share all sides of my journey– success and failure– to share why this lifestyle, why my life choices are worth it to me. My hope is that by reading my blog posts it somehow inspires you to be strong to make any sort of improvement. Your journey does not have to look like mine. What matters is that you are living for your family, that you are living your “best life” as they say.

Today, this article is dedicated to self improvement of the physical self. I am going to lay everything bare to you. Not only is this article meant to motivate you, but my honesty leads to accountability. I am doing this physical improvement for many reasons, and I ask you to journey with me.

My Rollercoaster

I had no problem in my younger years staying at 100-110 lbs. I got married and for some reason made some poor dieting choices. Yes, folks I got up to 198 lbs. It was such an ugly time for me. I began to diet and exercise and got down to about 160 lbs. I got pregnant, back up to 200 the day I gave birth. Lost down to 157 lbs. Got pregnant again….back to 200. Back down to 147.

This fall, after camping season was over, I made some poor dieting choices again. I got back up to 171 lbs. I weighed myself and said, “NO. THIS NEEDS TO STOP BEFORE I GO TO FAR.”

Let’s Be Real

I am 30 years old with rheumatoid arthritis. I wear many hats as a wife, mother, caregiver. Wouldn’t this all be easier if I was fit? Maybe my back wouldn’t hurt so much. Maybe I would have more endurance to do 50 flights of stairs a day (taking care of my husband who likes to be down in the man cave, to chasing my 2 and 4 year old around between the main-floor and upstairs.) So, in other words, I am not exaggerating when I say that I often times go up or down 50 flights of stairs on an average day.

Then, something even darker hit me. What happens when my husband is back in a wheelchair? What happens when his health inevitably degrades back to that point due to the lingering problems of his severe injuries. My husband admits that this household is 90% me and 10% him. He helps where he can. When this happens, should I not be at my best?

Your Motivation

Alright, now I opened my book of secrets. Lets talk about your motivation to change your physical self. Now, this post is honestly not directed at those who have nailed their diet and exercise and are at the peak fitness of their whole life. This is for people with room to improve.

So, today, I ask you to ask yourself the following. If you want, you can answer these questions

• What could I do if I was fit? What will motivate me?
• How would I feel if I made healthier choices when it comes to food?

To make this more than a resolution, write down your motivation and your goals. Then, execute.

Clear Goals

Here are my goals. This year, in 2019, I am going to lose 41 pounds. Not only that, I am also going to be FIT! I am going to gain a full understanding of nutrition and how it plays a role in the way my body feels, the way my joints feel. I am going to be able to keep up with my kids and caregiving with ease despite my challenges.

How

Having a goal is half the battle. Lets now talk about how we will get there. Share your how in the comments below.

How will I accomplish my goals? What is my idea of self improvement? I am committing to myself, to working out at the gym 3-4 times a week, to meeting my calorie goals all while making healthy choices, and to drinking 72-96 oz of water every day.

Down in the comments, talk about your journey to self improvement and how physical improvement would change your life for the better. Talk about your goals and aspirations and how you will attain them.