I recently finished my second Whole30 and am in the reintroduction of foods phase. Basically, you continue eating Whole30-style and reintroduce one food group at a time for a few days to see how you feel. This ends up meaning a lot more than 30 days of this restricted eating. And today, I feel like I’m living on the edge. You feel me?
The upside of Whole30 is that it helps me learn more about how my body reacts to certain foods, but geez, is it hard. Like, I would pay $20 for a Reese pumpkin hard. So this post is definitely what I needed to think about today. One of my favorite motivational speakers, Zig Ziglar, said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” I needed to bathe in these tips a few times today, and maybe you do too.
- Review your vision board.
Well, make one first. Whether it’s an old-school poster board or a Pinterest board, make sure you have a vision board that is full of motivational quotes and verses, pictures, and most importantly, a reminder of why you are getting healthy in the first place. Remembering your “why” will keep you going on the hardest of days. - Set a micro goal.
If your goal is to lose 25 lbs, don’t wait until you hit the big 2-5 to celebrate. That’s a big goal that may take you a while to achieve, so set a micro goal of 5 lbs at a time and celebrate every time you lose another 5. It’s easy to forget to pat yourself on the back along the way. - Reach out for help.
Whether it’s someone getting healthy alongside you or a person who is simply cheering you on, reach out to someone who can encourage you when you need it. We all need encouragement sometimes, but if you’re like me, you hate to “bother” people. But when roles are reversed, I’m honored to speak life into my friends on their journey. - Push “play” on that playlist or podcast.
If you are motivated by music, create a playlist with songs that pick you up and re-energize you. If you like motivational messages, save a podcast to listen to when you are struggling. - Try something new.
Maybe you just need a change of pace to breathe new life into your goal. Try making a new recipe or do a new type of workout to add some fun into the process. - Change strategies.
Rather than quit trying completely, maybe you just need a new approach. If you’ve been a faithful calorie counter but are getting bored, try Paleo for a week. If you are a gym rat but find you’re dreading your workout time, take it outside with a hike or jog. - Remember how far you’ve come.
Try this visual trick: pick up a dumbbell that weighs the same amount as what you have already lost. Those pounds feel very impressive when you hold them in your hand.
Anyone else with me in struggling to keep going sometimes? Our buddy Paul encourages us to “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) How do you keep going when the harvest seems far away?