Are you rocking your health goals this year? If not, no worries, today is a new day!

2022 is nearly over. It’s time to take an honest look at a few areas of health and life. You’re brave. You can do this.

We can’t make any changes until we know where we are now. This is a powerful step and you are ready to make it.

Let’s go, my friend.

In review of your life and health to this point, how do you rate the following on a scale from 1-10 (1 is no where close to where you want to be and 10 is exactly where you want to be):

👉 1. Movement/Exercise
(Ex: 1- I hate the gym and moving hurts!)
(Ex: 10- I am a rockstar and hit the gym or workout at home every day! I feel great!)

👉 2. Nutrition
(Ex: 1- I’m just too busy and tired to cook! I get takeout almost every night.)
(Ex: 10- I eat all my greens and all the smoothies. I feel amazing my health is top priority.)

👉 3. Hydration
(Ex: 1- I’m lucky if I sneak in one cup of water between the pots of coffee that I’m chugging. )
(Ex: 10- I drink my body weight in ounces every single day. My skin is so soft and headaches are a thing of the past!)

4. 👉 Stress Management
(Ex: 1- I feel overwhelmed and defeated everyday. I go and go and go and feel like I have nothing to show for it at the end of the day.)
(Ex: 10- I have a plan and I know exactly what needs to be done daily. I feel at ease through my day and unexpected things do not throw me off my path.)

👉 5. Motivation
(Ex: 1- I can barely get out of bed. This is all so hard and overwhelming.)
(Ex: 10- I am ready for anything. I have my plans and goals and I get after them every single day. Nothing and no-one can stop me.)

Rate these areas now.

Obviously, the examples above are extremes. Where do you find yourself? Closer to 1 or closer to 10?

By the way, this is not the time to beat yourself up if you are not where you want to be. That will only keep you stuck. The past is over and you can only move forward from NOW.

Now that you’ve been brutally honest with yourself… go back and fix those numbers if you weren’t.

Once you know where you are, you can decide where you want to be. Then you can make a plan to get there.

Look at your ratings again.

Here’s the key: your daily actions determine the numbers you got above.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

We are what we repeatedly do. Many of us look at the ones who rated a 10 on those areas above and we think they are naturally gifted or that everything is just easier for them. There are genetic factors at play and the way that we grew up is a factor as well. However, at the end of the day, everyday, our daily actions determine those numbers above.

Why is it SO hard to change our habits?

Do you sometimes feel that someone has taken over your body and sabotaged your healthy efforts? I know I have!

There is also a lot tied into your identity: meaning, who you think you are is who you are. Here’s a blog post from last year on this subject. It’s worth the reread.

Now that we know where we are, what now?

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing with you how you can increase those 5 areas every single day. And, how it doesn’t have to be so hard. In fact, simple wins, every single time.

For now, you know where you are. Take time time with your journal and write where you’d like to be at this time next year. Be realistic and specific with each of the 5 areas.

I’d love to hear what you come up with. Reply and let me know how this exercise felt for you. No judgement here. Ever.

For this week, focus on drinking more water. Excuses I hear on the daily: I don’t like water. I am too busy. I just can’t. It’s too hard.

Instead of giving into these, get a water bottle, fill it up. As the cool water slides down your throat take a minute and think about those in other countries who literally drink from dirt puddles. We are incredibly blessed to have readily available clean water. Drink it. Stop all the excuses and do it. At first, adding more water is hard. Because your body is in dehydration mode and no longer craving it. Once you start drinking more, you’ll become more thirsty and it won’t be so hard. Add a glass of water before meals. Just this trick alone will have you eating less as well.

Ok, get after it. This is your one precious and beautiful life. Don’t waste a second.

Sending love your way,

Rachel

P.S. If you want in on a beta health program that will begin in early January, I am opening 6 spots. We will work together to increase all 5 areas of your life: lose weight and love our bodies. The best part is that we dive deep into what’s been holding you back and install health habits that you love so that it’s not hard and simply a part of who you are! Don’t let another year go by without getting it together. Reply here and we can chat about your goals and plans.

P.P.S. Did you know that my 14th year anniversary as a personal trainer is coming up in 2 weeks!? Some of you have been with me since the beginning! It was even before leggings were a staple at the gym!