Progress...Not Perfection!

I walked two miles on Sunday. Yay me!! This is a really big deal, and I'll share why for those who may not know. I had surgery for osteomyelitis in my femur on July 6, and have been full weight-bearing for less than a month. I got to thinking, as I took my carefully controlled, measured steps, that everything in health and fitness is subjective. Yes, we can count steps, log miles, track measurements, time runs, etc...but the absolute awesomeness of any of it is completely individual. We can not measure ourselves against others...or even against our own standards and expectations.

Our bodies are ever-changing. A workout that is fairly routine most days may be extremely difficult on others. A healthy snack that satisfies a craving regularly may not hit the spot on any given day. A diet that makes you feel healthy and energetic now may not work for you a year from now.

We tend to spend a large chunk of time and effort in the pursuit of the perfect diet and fitness plan to achieve our image of "perfect health". I'm going to let you in on a secret (Shhh...don't tell!)...it does not exist!!

My own journey has gone something like this: I started from a place of eating nothing but fast food and products that came in a bag or box with directions and an ingredient label a paragraph long. I've been active my entire life, but was still 40 lbs overweight and suffered from numerous health issues. During my time at IIN, I got my diet to about 70% whole foods (most often organic) and 30% "garbage in a box". And I wasn't losing weight!! The Plexus supplements that I use and sell helped me to lose 12 lbs in three months on this diet, and also improved some of the annoying issues I had. This January, I ditched gluten entirely. My weight loss sits at 35 lbs total. In a year. This might not sound very impressive, but here's the thing...I was not "dieting" and, because of my leg, I could not exercise and only worked off and on at my active job (I've been at least partial non-weight bearing for a total of about 8 months over the last 2.5 years). And you know what else...everyone of those annoying to sometimes debilitating health issues is gone!

The first step is to tune into your body. It's trying to tell you something, but chances are you've been too busy dieting and exercising to notice. Slow down, and pay attention. And realize that "weight loss" is not the goal. Health is...and the weight loss is a side effect. Try something, and give it time to work. Each day you exercise, give yourself credit and appreciate the body that stepped up to the demand. Each healthy meal that you eat, appreciate the nourishment it provides. Each effort you make, appreciate the progress you are making toward health. It doesn't have to happen overnight.

If you're ready to make a change, but don't know where to start...or you want some guidance along the way, let's chat!

Yours, in Health and Happiness,

Rachel