It could be a New Year’s resolution, reaching a milestone age, attaining a revenge body or just wanting to cultivate a healthier lifestyle but whatever the reason may be, we often find ourselves grappling with a new workout program.  We usually start off strong.  We get the gym membership and set up personal training classes.  We hit the stores to get trendy workout clothes and we pull out that old pair of jeans we keep around for motivation.  Before long, determination gives way to doubt and we find ourselves slipping back into our sedentary lives, each time feeling a little more disappointed in our inability to keep the ball rolling.

I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter how many times you have to get the ball rolling, don’t ever stop.

  Ideally you’d want to start a workout plan, coupled with a cleaner way of eating, and stick to it, but it isn’t always so black and white. Sometimes, we just don’t have the luxury of being able to fall into a rhythm right away.  We have work schedules that vary, children’s extra curricular schedules that vary more than our own, vacations, holidays and the list goes on.  The main thing we mustn’t lose sight of is the fact that whether or not we didn’t stick to our plan…WE STARTED.

Give yourself a little credit for even hatching the idea to start something new.  The first step in tackling any problem is first admitting that there is a problem to be tackled. Denial doesn’t help anyone change the status quo; it only reinforces the status quo.  So at the very least, you’ve acknowledged that there is a need for you to establish a workout regiment, and that counts for something.

The next logical step for you to take is to reevaluate these attempts to start your workout plan and pinpoint where you went wrong.  I’m sure by now, you’ve figured that out on your own.  Your reason may be different from the next person’s so developing a plan of action will be situation-specific.  One thing I want this post to do is to repair your confidence if you’ve gotten to a point where you’re about to throw the towel in, or perhaps you’ve thrown it in already.

Today, if there’s even an ounce of you that still wants to develop a consistent workout plan, get that ball rolling again!  Cut yourself some slack and don’t think about the times that working out just didn’t work out (pun completely intended).  I’ve had so many skeptical people around me that I had to learn to be my own champion.  We are accustomed to giving credit to everyone but ourselves.  Let’s not do that anymore, and let me be the first to tell you, YOU CAN DO THIS!

I want you to start with a clean slate.  Identify what you want to get out of your new workout plan, and put those reasons in the driver’s seat.  Figure out where your plan went awry last time and come up with a strategy to troubleshoot these issues if you find yourself slipping again.  I want you to realize that working out doesn’t only mean strengthening our bodies; it also means conditioning our minds.  There is no better time to start than right now.  Today is the day where we learn to give ourselves a pat on the back for getting the ball rolling, and cheer ourselves on until we manage to keep it rolling!