Last month I put out a request to my website members and followers on social media. I asked women to email me and let me know, what were the biggest obstacles that they came up against trying to lose weight and get fit in recent years?
The results were surprising and not so surprising.
I put the request out there, because I wanted to know how I could best serve the women I work with. Just like me, you all have busy lifestyles. Working full time outside the home or inside home, taking partner's into consideration, taking care of your kids, shopping, cooking, laundry, taxi service, commuter, mother, daughter, friend, wife/partner, accountant, teacher, nurse, lover etc. etc. It's exhausting just typing that and somewhere in there should be nutritionist and fitness bunny!
Not surprising, was the number one issue that was evident in all the emails. The number one obstacle revealed by 99% of all emails received was 'finding time to workout/go to the gym'. You are busy every day, all day. By the time you have the dinner done, kids off to swimming, football, drama or whatever their extra curricular activities, home and bed, there is no time left in the day. Kids nowadays are involved in so much and your life has become a treadmill of drop offs and pick ups. I bet you wonder what you did with all your time before motherhood! Time is a first world problem. There just never seems to be enough time!
The MOST surprising issue revealed by the emails, is just how low we rank ourselves in our list of priorities. We are burnt out, exhausted and not performing at peak levels because we don't value our own well being. Take stock of all you do. If a friend was overwhelmed and exhausted and came to confide in you, what would you say to her? 'Something's gotta give here!'. There comes a point where you have to be your own best friend.
Sit down, take a moment and figure out what is most important to you, for you. If you want to lose weight, make a list of the obstacles that you are encountering at present to achieve that and think about how you might overcome that. For example, if you are in the habit of eating meals in your work canteen that are high in fats and carbs, is it possible to bring your lunch into work instead, or do they have a healthier option? If you want to lose weight than make it a priority. Look at the problems and find the solutions. There is always a solution.
If you want to get out to classes in the evening, but can't find the time because of all the activities your kids are involved in and your hubby has committed to 5 a side or whatever it is he is into, what can you do? You may just have to have a frank discussion with your other half and find a schedule that works for you both. If he has football Monday, you get Tuesday for your class and so on. Could you do a car pool with one of the other parents to free up some time, by taking turns in doing the football run etc. We tend to take on everything and don't delegate because we think we should be doing it all.
From the women who emailed me, it was pretty clear, they have goals they would like to achieve. It seems to me, we need to find the balance between taking care of ourselves and taking care of everyone and everything else. From my experience of working with women, the minute they decide what they want to do and commit to it, they find a way of making it happen. It just needs to become a priority to you and it should be, we only have one chance at life and we want a long, healthy and happy one!
If you would like to discuss what is holding you back and how best to move forward email info@fitnessatthebodyshaper.com and schedule a PT call today.
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