Sometimes the hardest part of losing weight or achieving a fitness goal is starting. The end goal seems so far away and unattainable that you’re often overwhelmed and you’re done before you start.
You go to the gym for a few weeks, try to eat healthy, but when you don’t see immediate results you get discouraged and oftentimes give up. This happens to so many people. Which is why you see the gyms full of people the first few weeks of January, but by the end of February all the New Year’s resolutions seem to lose importance.
I’ve seen many people have great success with their health and fitness goals. I’ve also witnessed a lot of people fail and give up. A common practice among the successful is that they set small, measurable goals. Most of us have an end goal in mind when we set out on a new health and fitness program. I like to set goals that are progressively harder to hit, so that I am continually progressing, improving, and challenging myself.
When I set out to prepare for a bodybuilding competition, I have an obvious end goal in mind, but it’s a long journey and in order to assure that I am on track I have small measurable goals that I set along the way. I have a goal of losing at least .5% body fat each week. Some weeks I’ll lose a full 1%, others maybe just .2% but the average is around .5%, and as long as I’m doing that then I know I’ll be ready.
Set out to go down a dress or pant size in the first month, or to lose 1–2 lbs. a week. If you have a week that you don’t lose any weight, don’t let that discourage you. Just keep going! The body is very finicky when it comes to weight loss. We’ve all seen The Biggest Loser on television, and most of the time when a contestant loses a lot of weight one week, they lose a lot less the next. Don’t get discouraged, don’t let a bad day or a bad week stop your journey.
Take one day at a time. Make today a great day; eat healthy, exercise, and take your MonaVie products. Don't look at the entire month or what obstacles you may have in a week; just get through today. You can have one perfect day. You can eat healthy and exercise one day! If you take it one day at a time, those days add up to a week, a month, and suddenly you look back and those perfect days have added up to a healthier, happier you.
Make your health a priority! Eat for purpose, and not always for pleasure. Enjoy a treat here and there but don’t make it a part of your everyday life. It will take some adjusting and some planning, but don’t let anything hold you back. Run 10 minutes today. Tomorrow run 12. Every time you go to the restroom do ten triceps dips on the side of the tub, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do ten sit-ups while you’re waiting for the microwave. Use a RVL shake for breakfast or lunch instead of that bagel or greasy burger.
“No one ever excused themselves to success.”
—David Del Dotto
Start NOW. Get up and do it now. Today at lunch, take 10 minutes and start! You will never regret it if you do, but you will always regret it if you don't. No more excuses!
Use MonaVie products to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. The RVL category of products is designed to help you manage your weight and achieve your goals. Now, go get started—today!
About the Authors: Jeff Later is MonaVie’s Manager of Product Discovery and an avid national-level bodybuilder. Shawn Talbott is MonaVie’s Vice President of Product Innovation & Education and an avid ultramarathoner and Ironman triathlete. They both use MonaVie’s RVL HDH Pro 10 bars as a regular part of their workouts and nutrition regimens.
