“No matter what I do, I just cannot lose weight.”
“I just can’t gain muscle.”
“I’ll never achieve my health goals.”
Have you ever felt like this? You’re not alone.
In fact, you’re in the company of the majority.
Most people struggle with their fitness and nutrition goals for various reasons, and there’s one obstacle we need to be honest about:
It’s hard.
We just don’t talk about this enough.
We joke about being “permanently tired” as adults, but the joke is only kind of funny because it’s true for most of us.
Demanding schedules packed with work, family and other commitments often cause us to put self-care goals at the bottom of the list. Many people just feel like they are out of time and energy, so they struggle to prioritize fitness and nutrition goals that are important to them.
And—for real—it’s not easy to grocery shop, meal prep and exercise. In fact, it kind of sucks at times.
Working out and planning to eat well extend the seemingly endless list of stuff you have to do. “Easy” is visiting the drivethru or hitting the snooze button, but that sucks way more in the long run because self-care is too important to put off. Many people find this out the hard way.
The goal has to be this: Accept that it’s hard to pursue your goals, but do it anyway.
Here’s how.
Make Space
You have to get organized to start.
I know your schedule is packed, but with a little planning you can create the time you need to prep your food and get some fitness in. The initial startup period is going to feel daunting, but after you set a plan and get into a routine, I promise that everything will become smoother.
Here’s a hack: Most people can look at their screen time and realize they have more time than they thought they did. I scroll, too. But sometimes I look at my screen time total and realize I could have spent the time better. Could you trade 20 minutes on Instagram for a workout or a healthy meal?
Look at your schedule and figure out what your week looks like with work and social events. Do you have commitments that will require snacks and meals on the run? How often? Make a grocery list that accounts for your busy days.
Next, pick a day when you can shop for groceries and do some meal prepping. This should be in advance of the chaos of the week. If you carve out time to prepare the food you have in the house, you won’t have to scramble on days when your schedule is packed.
Last, figure out when you can fit in some fitness. Here’s the truth: Even twice a week will do. You don’t need 90 minutes four times a week.
You might have to set the alarm 20 minutes earlier and just do some squats in your PJs. But that is so much better than skipping a workout altogether.
As clichéd as it sounds, make some space and just start. On days when you are very busy, remember your goals and just do something. Something—any movement—is better than nothing, and I guarantee you’ll feel better if you build a little movement into a busy day.
Acknowledge Your Challenges—Then Succeed in Spite of Them
Everyone is busy. Everyone is tired. People who take care of themselves have challenges that are identical to people who don’t work out and eat well. Busy people can still find a way in spite of their challenges.
Start here: Remember that being busy is not a badge of honor, especially if you’re burning out. If you’re too busy to care about your nutrition and your fitness, you’re likely going to tank at some point. Don’t wait to get there. Make space today.
You might need to set some boundaries and have some difficult conversations—with yourself and others. But if you do this once, the next time will be easier. Soon, you will be a person who can say “no” to things that don’t serve you and things that keep you from accomplishing your goals.
Will you miss the occasional workout to help a friend or family member out now and then? Yes.
But that’s not the same as running yourself ragged to make everyone else around you happy and always putting yourself last.
Be generous with your time—but only after you’ve set aside just enough for yourself. Your goals are important, and you’ll have more for others if you take care of yourself first.
Keep It Simple and Get Help
There are no secret ways to lose fat faster, gain more muscle or feel way better overnight.
If you keep looking for magic fixes, you’re going to fail.
The basics are the key to progress—working out regularly and preparing healthy meals as often as possible. Just accept that it will be hard to start, but it doesn’t have to be complex.
And remember you will still have hard days even after things get easier. But as you gain momentum, you’ll realize you are a person who can do hard things and overcome challenges. I love it when I see this transformation in my clients.
Here’s where I come in: The No. 1 reason people hire a fitness and nutrition coach is because they need a clear plan and accountability.
I will set you up with a plan that removes all the guesswork. Instead of “what should I do in my workout?” it’s “I know exactly what to do for 30 minutes today.” We’ll make sure you always know exactly how to move toward your goals.
And then I’ll help you stick to the plan.
Especially when it’s hard!
To talk to me about a plan, send me message at [email protected] .
