The infamous but: “I want to be healthy but…”

At the end of the day, most people would agree that they like the idea of being healthy and care to be healthier, but they don’t necessarily like what it takes to actually lead a healthier life. So that’s what it remains – a mere idea.

Why, though? Why does that idea repeatedly get left as a contrived daydream and not end up materializing and blossoming into the exciting, renewed reality that it can be? Especially since a majority of American’s want to lose weight, as countless surveys verify, what is it that makes “being healthy” so difficult and seemingly unachievable? So much so that leaving the potential untapped and realm of possibilities behind somehow seems like the favorable, more appealing option.

Aside from our instinctive draw to comfort zones and being the easier, more convenient choice, the complex reasoning can be summed up by these 6 general factors:

1. Viewing “healthy” as a destination or end goal
2. Go big or go home philosophy leads to secondary routes being downplayed or overlooked
3. Mentality and perspective
4. Waiting for it all to just happen or *click*
5. Misconceptions, justifications, and endless excuses
6. Lacking prioritization and desire

The good news, though, is that with reframing, these same six factors can be transformed into the ones that put you on the path to enhancing your health, wellness, and quality of life. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons, right?

Being healthy doesn’t have a destination or proverbial end goal

It’s not a tangible achievement such as graduating college, fitting into a certain clothing size, or saving up to purchase a dream car. That’s why you see it referred to as a health, fitness, or nutrition journey and not a road trip or vacation – it’s a continual process free from a set end point.

Frequently fluctuating, the journey is truly a lifestyle where bloopers and missteps are not only bound to happen, but they’re embraced. And they’re able to be welcomed because there is no ticking time clock; so the experience, personal development, wisdom, and benefits to be gained along the way are both priceless and limitless. It’s without that predetermined finish line that your intentional decisions and healthier habits can morph into a way of life, and not just something you do whenever you’re feeling particularly motivated.

Understandably so, it can feel daunting and discouraging to contemplate how the path – although pressure-free – is never-ending. To combat any overwhelming thoughts, assess and perhaps adjust your point of view. We are all constantly evolving. On top of daily occurrences that present opportunities for growth, our circumstances, environment, and selves are always changing as well. So if we’re continuously adapting, learning, and growing in other corners of life, we shouldn’t expect our health and wellness to be any different.

Bigger isn’t always better

Speaking of possible scenarios, each day renders fresh opportunities to build and better yourself – take advantage of that. E.g., trying a new form of exercise (YouTube is a great place to start), ordering grilled chicken instead of fried at lunch, waking up 15 minutes earlier to meditate or prepared a balanced breakfast, or subbing Zevia for soda (10/10 recommend the ginger root and cream soda).

There’s more success to be found in making modest, manageable modifications and taking it one day at a time than doing a complete, cold turkey overhaul. Focus on gently nudging yourself out of your comfort zone and building enough self-awareness to question your habitual thoughts and behaviors.

Change your environment, change your reality. But what about your mentality?

Being inclined to recognizing these micro instances as windows of improvement can be as – if not more – impactful than all of your endeavors combined. Or to put it another way, our mindset is the most powerful tool we possess.

More than merely influential, your perspective is ultimately the lens through which you perceive the world. And on a smaller scale, how you view your own journey. Take the wording of “I have to work out” vs. “I get to work out” for example: you don’t have to move your body, you get to move your body. Another illustration is your regard towards your body. Is it something you scrutinize, wish to alter, and will finally be happy with once you get *there* (such as reach a particular milestone or obtain your dream body image)? Or is it something you appreciate and want to fine-tune and take care of because it enables you to do what you love? Basically, is your body viewed as a blessing or a curse?

Being mindful of your attitude and cultivating your mentality is vital when it comes to leading a healthier life. With the capacity to be even more consequential than your actions, the mindset you encompass plays a direct role in your enjoyment of the present and the process, how you gauge your success and progress, and your outlook on what’s to come.

Waiting for it to just click

Although social media may depict otherwise, especially with side by side pictures and minute long transformation videos, it’s pertinent to realize that this is a gradual lifestyle shift that doesn’t come with an expedited shipping option.

In the span of a year, some may make substantial headway with their physique while the strides of others are more intrinsic than extrinsic. But that doesn’t diminish the value and triumph of non-physical advances. That is to say a person who has had breakthroughs with their previously poor body image has equal reason to pat themselves on the back as a person who has lost a certain amount of weight. Same goes for the individual that’s finally reached optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels without medication and the other that’s worked zealously to develop more positive self-talk and self-esteem.

Time is not of the essence, either. Imagine one person is performing box jumps flawlessly and a few boxes down is another person doing them, only they’re fumbling a bit more. But they practice diligently and with time, can box jump just as flawlessly. In the end, both can properly and impeccably box jump. Or let’s say you and your friend want to do 10 full, unassisted pull-ups. Your friend is able to in 2 months, but it takes you 6 months to do all 10 consecutively. Is the person who could already box jump more qualified or capable than the other? Is your friend superior to you? The success is synonymous and the timeframe irrelevant. What matters most is that everyone did it and no one gave up on themselves.

There will be people who make more progress than you and people who will make less; people who will accomplish goals (possibly similar to your own) swiftly and people who will do so more slowly. Some build muscle rapidly while it takes years for others (like myself). Progress proceeds at our own pace. Nevertheless, physical progress isn’t a reflection of all progress – it’s just a small fraction, which is why it’s pivotal to compare your journey to none other than your own!

By now, it’s pretty evident that it does take time and doesn’t happen overnight or magically fall into place. But once you accept that it will require time, effort, and grit, that’s when real reform will start to occur.

With time comes impatience …and other gremlins

Why are habits that last still so hard to establish, even with the help of minor, realistic revisions?

During this period of grinding day in and day out (and maybe not covering as much ground as one might prefer) comes a heighted susceptibility to impatience and comparison. “Another day of looking the same, when am I ever going to notice a difference in how my body? How do they look like that and I don’t? What am I doing wrong?” And when the door opens to those two, rationalizations – the rhyme or reason for those nagging questions – usually aren’t far behind.

Giving yourself grace is a necessity and finding the “why” or root cause of those lingering questions can quiet them and provide a sense comfort. But the issues arise when those plausible justifications and rationales blur into excuses, such as these ever so popular ones:

• I’ll start Monday *or some point in the near future*
• I’m way, way too busy
• Pass, eating healthy doesn’t taste good and I want to actually enjoy what I eat
• The holidays are coming up, I’ll just wait ‘til after
• It’s too expensive
• Cooking takes too long
• I don’t know how

Every one of those above statements are excuses that can be negated (and are at the tail end of this blog). Rather than poring over and picking apart each one, let’s take the same approach as the nagging questions: determining the origin of the excuse.

Most stem from misconceptions and mindset. A common misconception, “I want to actually enjoy my food” is a largely misunderstood notion that healthy food and tasty food are mutually exclusive, meaning that you can have one or the other, but not both – food that’s healthy and tasty – at the same time. And to articulate how excuses can derive from frame of mind, think about “I don’t know how to…” that was previously mentioned; at some point, we all didn’t know how to do a skill that we are proficient at or have committed to muscle memory.

Do you know of anyone that seems to have it all figured out? Someone that juggles it all, seamlessly and breezily: commitments, responsibilities, relationships, social life, self-care, ample sleep, adventures, tribulations, you name it. Has anyone come to mind? How in the world do they do it, let alone with such poise? The explanation is simple, really. You make time for who and want you want.

One of the most universal and overused excuses of all time is busyness, or being “too busy” (aren’t we all?). To not beat around the bush, putting off and procrastinating on being healthier is essentially saying you either are too busy or don’t care enough to prioritize your health, body, and future. That is not meant to be harsh, although it may come off that way, rather a truthful, crucial reality to come to terms with.

Prioritization

Weekly TV shows, nail appointments, regular get-togethers with friends, eyelash fills – what ritual or activity do you regularly do?

If something is important to you, you’ll find a way to fit it into your agenda. No matter how busy or chaotic a person’s schedule may be, they will make time for what’s significant to them.

So the person who seems to do it all and then some? They’re able to because they have clear-cut priorities that are in line with their goals. Or in other words, they know what’s important to them. Their goals and what needs to be done to achieve them are a top priority. They’re aware of the behind the scenes sacrifices they’ll probably need to make along the way, but they’re willing to do so because they define, prioritize, and value their hopes, desires, and wildest dreams.

How bad do you want it?

This is really what it all boils down to: how bad do you want to improve your health?

And WHY. Why do you want to eat well or be active? If the answer pertains to outward appearance, such as to look good, the chances of falling off the bandwagon increase. Aesthetics and external images don’t last forever and instantaneous results aren’t probable, which makes motivation and willpower all the more likely to fizzle out if physical aspects are the primary driving force.

But if the “why” is to wean off of high blood pressure or insulin medications, nourish and nurture your body, set an example for family and future kids, run or walk around town without shortness of breath, or in hopes of avoiding medical conditions that hold you back from living fully – those motives fuel a purpose much more profound and meaningful than to look a certain way. Those are what will inspire you to consistently make choices that push you closer to your dreams and goals. And a deeply-rooted “why” will encourage you to persist in the midst of trying, testing times – your “why” (or “why’s”) will keep your fire lit.

The stronger and more specific your “why”, the better.

To recap:

1. Being healthy isn’t a destination or end goal
2. Strengthen your brain game – cultivate an open, opportunistic mindset and perspective
3. Find joy in the little things: cherish the process and celebrate all growth and any movement forward
4. Justify reasonably, but cut the excuses and misconceptions
5. Identify your goals and what’s imperative to you, then prioritize accordingly
6. Be honest with yourself about why and how badly you want it

In 2013, 7 of the 10 leading causes of death could have been prevented with nutrition and physical activity. Take a moment to allow the magnitude of that to sink in. Slight, conscious changes and swaps made incrementally could amount to a longer, more healthful time here on earth. Which could mean less spent on preventable medical conditions (and accompanying bills) and more time and energy to do what you love with the people you love.

If you take but one thing from this article, let it be the considerable impact that can be found in aligning your priorities and fostering a positive mindset.

As promised

Each one of the aforementioned excuses can be refuted, and are below. This is not to haughtily prove a point, but to show the relevance in questioning your beliefs and inner dialogue.

• I’ll start Monday –> I can start today by committing to one tiny act, like drinking an extra bottle of water
• I’m too busy -> My daily routine is indicative of what I place the most importance on, so based on a typical day, what seems to be essential to me? How can I reshape or refine my day?
• Healthy food tastes bad -> Healthier food can and should be enjoyed (and it can taste like the “real deal”)
• It’s expensive -> It can add up, but you don’t need to take every supplement, you can work out at home or outside, and there are plenty of ways to save on groceries (link how to save on groceries blog)
• Cooking and meal prepping takes forever -> If I go into the kitchen with a plan and stick to simple recipes, I can be efficient with my time
• I don’t know how -> I don’t know how, but I’m open to learning