We don’t always need to do MORE of something. We can learn, adjust, and adapt things to our life and do it all better and STILL get to where we are going!
I have always tried to strive to create and keep my life enjoyable. If I didn’t like how things were going, I changed them. My weight was always my biggest obstacle and one I could never seem to change or fix. When I was at my most desperate and heaviest at 196 lbs and nearing pre-diabetes, I knew I needed something to work. I didn’t know what that would be but knew I needed something I could do for life to get off the diet merry go round I had been on for decades. I made three rules. My rules evolved from where all other diets failed me. These rules were that I wasn’t going to be hungry, I had to enjoy it, and it had to be sustainable. Thankfully, doing Keto Made Simple worked for me and fit all my rules where even internet keto had failed. (see my Resources, if you are curious).
As I have learned so much and crafted a completely new lifestyle for myself and one that revolves around staying healthy and fit, I have since adapted these rules to apply to this lifestyle with food and with fitness. These rules are:
Keep it simple.
Keep it enjoyable.
Keep it sustainable.
I find if I don’t revolve most of what I do around this, it is not likely I will stick with it for the long haul when things get challenging. Some things we have to do no matter what, I am not talking about those things. I am talking about keeping things in my life realistic & manageable because when you do and start with small changes, over time you will look back and see the simple, small and hopefully enjoyable things you were able to sustain over time not only brought you to your goal, but all those small things added up to something big.
The ideal routine we create for ourselves is unique to each of us because we are all unique, our lives are unique, our goals are unique. It doesn’t have to be complicated, time consuming or difficult. Just start doing something and adjust as you go. The most important thing is that it is sustainable for life and that you enjoy it.
This applies to a vast array of things in our lives and with our goals. Some people like to cook, others don’t. Some like to exercise, others don’t. I love that doing keto this way is quite adaptable to both sustainably and enjoyment. Some of us are super busy with lots “on our plate” and some maybe less. For example, although I am busy, I am retired from teaching for now. At one time, I worked two jobs. My goals were to lose weight, get fit, and feed my family in a healthy way. I had to craft my food and fitness routines around these goals and adjust things to various stages of my life to make it work.
Having lofty goals and excellent or even big visions are great, but they do have to be realistic and achievable. Sometimes its easier to focus on what IS manageable and before you know it, you’ve reached your goal! If I thought somehow losing 70 lbs was insurmountable because I had to do this or that a certain way and I didn’t like or it seemed too hard or complicated, or I had too many events in the way (birthdays, anniversaries, vacays), I wouldn’t even start. The same is true for my fitness. I wanted to be lean, more muscular and strong. I had no idea how to do this. It seemed hard. It seemed complicated. I couldn’t do a sit up or a push up. I didn’t have lots of time. When I was 196 lbs, it seemed more impossible than ever before because I was at my heaviest and “sickest”.
Once I lost some weight and felt better, I just decided to just do something. For me, it was “Jennifer, just move today.” I kept my expectations simple. I didn’t focus on massive goals or what I couldn’t do, but what COULD I do. I just started doing something and adjusted as I went along. It all began with short, enjoyable walks. Now I have fun kickboxing, swimming, running, and lifting weights to protect my bones and muscles. I do a little something every day not because it is necessary but because I enjoy it.
Crafting a routine with my food and fitness that reaches my goals to be healthy, stronger, functional and more fit as I am aging is always the goal. Keeping it simple, enjoyable, and sustainable is too.
One doesn’t have to do more. Just do better. 🌸
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