Have You Fallen Off?

It happens to all of us.  We get on a roll, we have forward momentum, we get results, and then life pops up and throws us a curve ball.  Before we know it, we migrate back to our former ways.

I spent most of July renovating a home for my family.  At the end of the renovation, we packed, moved over, unpacked, decorated, and 40 days after we purchased the home, the project was pretty much complete (and I was beat!)  My husband's a Realtor and I run the general contracting side of our building and renovating business (www.dmirish.com).  When I'm in house mode, I'm in purpose, meaning that's what I feel I was created to do....build and fix up houses!

However, it used to be that housing overtook my life.  It was my focus and my love for it that actually got my physical health into some pretty bad habits.  I was SO focused on house stuff, I was not making me a priority at all.  On a positive note, in the slow of the housing market, I put myself on "the list" and became my own "before and after" project and started Fit Gal.  New habits and passions were born and I'm so thankful for those planted seeds and new lifestyle that evolved.

During the renovation I was very active lifting heavy equipment, landscaping, loading, etc.  I actually lost weight and my body responded very nicely to the routine change.  I also tried very hard to eat 75-80% clean as opposed to the 90-95% I usually hit.  Boy, emotional/stress cravings and eating hits you HARD at all hours of the day!   I saw it starting to happen again though.  My motivation for fitness started to slow, my old eating habits were knocking at the door, and I was okay with getting five or less hours of sleep night after night.  Warning!  Be aware they're there and do not let those old habits enter back in!

When school started up last week and our "normal" started to reappear, I happily got myself back on a rhythm!  I was tracking in My Fitness Pal.  I was getting more sleep at night (AKA, shutting it all down earlier), and I was back in the gym and on a routine.  Housing is still there and projects are still in process, but I've inserted balance into this lifestyle now!

So if you've found yourself getting off your fitness rhythm and you're realizing that old habits are chasing you around, all you have to do is stop, acknowledge them, and make a plan to START fresh.  Put into motion to take it one step, one day at a time and get back on track.  It's not easy at first, but you'll eventually recall that fitness routine you fell in love with and you'll be back to the old (new) you again!

BUT...if you have not identified that your old ways are back and don't recognize that maybe they're creeping back into your lifestyle, you might be headed to a danger zone.  All it takes to stop an old habit from reappearing is an awareness, an acknowledgement, a plan, and a change.  One step, one day at a time, Fit Gals and Guys!