Turn your Rut into Results!

       Every now and then we hit a wall in our quest to be healthy. It happens. It actually happens a lot which is why a lot of people give up or ride the never ending roller coaster of weight on, weight off. It also happens to EVERYONE. Even the fitness models that cover the likes of "Oxygen" and "Women's Health" magazines have those days, weeks, or months when their motivation is shot and the fall into a "rut". It happens to everyone and for a lot of reasons. Here are a few and how you can combat them.


       You may be feeling unmotivated because you have stopped seeing the rapid results you saw when you first started working out and eating clean. When you first begin to eat clean and exercise you deliver the biggest wake up call to your body and it responds by rapidly trying to adapt to keep up with you. This is especially true if you went from being completely sedentary to active, or from fast food and soda to clean eating and water. It's awesome watching this huge transformation, pounds melt away and muscles develop, energy increases, and self-confidence rises. Big results keeps us excited about our quest and keeps us focused on our goal. When you don't see huge changes in your body anymore it's easy to get discouraged, but also easy to fix and find your motivation again. 


       You may not be getting big results anymore simply because your body is bored. If you haven't changed your routine in a while, your body also will not change. You see, your body only changes (adapts) when you push it beyond what it's used to. Try this:
              -Replace the exercises you do with new ones. I like the book I reviewed earlier in my blog, "The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises" to help me find different ways to work body parts. As an example, for four weeks I might use the same basic three exercises to work out my triceps. After four weeks I open my book and find three different ways to work out my triceps and do those for the next four weeks, and so on. 
              -Try increasing the weight you lift. 
              - Take a break from weight lifting all together and try taking some exercise classes (Zumba, spinning). Get some fun exercise DVD's (how about one of those DVD's that work you out while you learn latin dances? I have one, I tried it, I had a lot of fun, but won't be doing it in public anytime soon, lol). 
              - If you are a person that primarily does cardio, add weight training. If you primary do weight training, add more cardio. 
              - In some cases, you may be over-training. Take a week off but make sure you start again the next week.
              - evaluate your diet. There may be a vice you have had a hard time giving up that might tip the scales in your favor again. I personally struggle with my love of red wine. I don't know if I will ever give it up completely (yes I do, I won't). However, I know that when I want to kick a few pounds and see some new results, it's as easy as avoiding red wine for a while. 


       Everyone faces challenges in our personal lives that just deflate us. Maybe you've experienced a loss or are down because someone you love is hurting. I can tell you, having experienced this recently, that it is hard to focus on fitness when you'd rather curl up in a ball. I think the most important thing to do at times like this is just get your self through "the door". I mean literally walk (or crawl) through the door into your workout space. I think you will find that once you get in the gym, and start moving a bit, you will feel a little better and will have some success. It's important to keep those appointments you made with yourself to workout. The more workout appointments you miss, the harder it is to get back into a routine. You may not have your best workout when you feel this way but you will have done something. Sometimes I use what's bothering me as motivation in my work outs.... kinda like "Rocky" lol...


       Then there is the dreaded injury that might be zapping your motivation or discouraging you. I have had some problems here, as many have. I got banged up from time to time in my old profession and many times found myself unable to workout the way I had been. Talk to your doctor and find out what you can do safely and do it. If you hurt your upper body, maybe you can still work out your lower body or visa versa. Just try to keep doing what you CAN do to keep yourself going in the right direction. You will feel better if you don't allow yourself to give up completely. Give your injured part adequate time to heal so your recovery isn't any longer than it needs to be, but keep doing what you can safely do. Find the silver lining... maybe the cast on your leg is a good excuse to work on the biceps you always wanted. Maybe an injury means you can't work out at all. This may be a good time to research new clean eating recipes or take a few healthy cooking classes, or read my blog :). There is usually some way you can stay on track. 


        Sometimes we just get bored or lose interest in being healthy for reasons we can't put our fingers on. Many people have a love/hate relationship with healthy living (especially exercise) so it makes sense that the way to get out of a healthy living rut might be the same as getting out of a romantic rut...you gotta spice things up! Making things new and exciting again always rekindles our motivation. Find new fun ways to exercise. Maybe take on a new sport, try outdoor activities, get a workout partner, change gyms, get some new workout gear, take some healthy cooking classes, attend a seminar, or try a health spa retreat. The important thing is to give yourself variety :) 


Maybe you have ways of dealing with your healthy living ruts. I'd love to hear them!

I’m not perfect…I’m just trying to figure out this whole health thing, just like you. Thanks for letting me share my experiences with you J   

Please consult your doctor before beginning or changing your diet and exercise regimen.