"A year from now you will wish you had started today"

"A year from now you will wish you had started today"

When it comes to challenges and change people often get motivated and say "ok, starting tomorrow I will..."  and guess what... mostly "tomorrow" never comes.

A good example is the unpublished post dated 20-08-2013 called "THE CHANGE chocoholic to gymaholic" I found under drafts of this very blog. Seeing as I only truly committed to making a real change in April of 2014, I think it's clear that getting into the right mindset is half the battle won.

If you're at all into motivational quotes you'll know these ones:

"Yesterday you said tomorrow"

"Tomorrow starts today"

"Do it now, sometimes "later" becomes NEVER"

and one of my favorites

"You don't have to be great to start but you have to start to be great!"

Well, I started (eventually) and when I saw that "a year from now" quote it felt good. The first time I read it I felt guilty because I'd started and stopped over and over again. But this time I found my balance. It's over 2 years later and besides a few bumps along the way I feel like I'm still on track. I want to get fitter, stronger, more toned and agile. There are skills I want to master, distances I want to cover and challenges I want to meet. My healthy lifestyle has become the norm and what I am doing is sustainable. Today (to my delight) I feel the same sort of urge to exercise and reach my goals as I did before I got injured, so I think that's amazing. Also note that is doesn't mean I'm 100% happy with the way I look, but my focus has shifted rather to what I can do and how I feel when I'm doing it. I'm healthier, I don't get sick as often as I use to, I can do so much more than I use to and I have the energy to do it. I'm happy.

Here's some free advise ;)

Take those dreaded before (progress) photos (often the motivation we need is seeing where we've come from).

Start today! and just keep swimming.

Keep at it. Results aren't immediate,  and it's important to realize that often quick results don't last.

Choose a realistic path. Set a goal and work to it at a pace that suits you.

Eating right is the answer to weight loss. Exercise speeds up the process, makes you happy and improves your health. (Food and Chocolate use to make me happy, it still does, but now the endorphins I get from exercise substitute those I use to get from what I eat and I'm healthier and happier in my own skin)

Cheat every now and then, this will stop you from falling off of the wagon all together (it makes what we do sustainable).

Embrace the haters (it's usually those who are envious that have something nasty to say, their comments mean you're doing something right).
Take your progress photos, my gran always said "the mirror doesn't lie".
More often than not, you look good when you feel good!
The number on the scale is bad measure of progress, especially if you're building muscle.
(Our unhealthy obsession with the number the scale gives us is silly, there are so many other facters to consider)

There will be days that you just don't want to anymore

There will be days that you get injured but 

ALWAYS COME BACK. (Consistency is key)

A healthy lifestyle, getting lean and fit is like eating an elephant, it seems impossible, but if you take "one bite at a time" you will eventually be able to eat the entire elephant.

Obviously I mean this figuratively.. this is a saying I grew up with. The lesson is that when you break down a seemingly impossible task, plan and deal with it bit by bit it will be possible. 

"It always seems impossible until it's done" Nelson Mandela

I have found my balance, a recipe to my happiness. I am a foodie, a chocoholic and love to do nothing at times. But I am also sporty, competitive, adventurous and body conscious. This way I get to be a version of myself that I'm happy with.