For some, fitness is an all or nothing scenario. Every bite they put in their mouth has to be perfectly planned and healthy. They have to get a full three or five miles in for a run or it "didn't count." I applaud anyone that this type of scenario works for, but I am SOOOOOO not that way. Maybe that is the reason I lose weight slowly and still haven't broken my desired pace of a 45 minute 5k. But I also know I won't last more than a few days if I try to be so incredibly drastic in all of my food and fitness goals. I'm much more likely to stick with things if I know that I can occasionally have some of my favorite treats (like ice cream or chicken wings). It is important, though, to be mindful of those things. If I choose to make a less then favorable food choice I still log it into MyFitnessPal. Sometimes I cringe when I see the nutritional content in my daily food log, but it is a good reminder about why I shouldn't make it a regular choice.
I also think it is important to remember that the little things matter and count towards your overall fitness journey as well. I had to work from 9:45 until 8:00 today. It is epically crappy outside, so there was no way I was going to wander the streets of downtown Pittsburgh to help achieve my goal of one intentional mile per day. So do you know what I did? I started my Garmin in indoor walk mode and wandered the halls of the Benedum Center basement until my watch buzzed that I had reached a mile. Was it a fast mile? Nope. It took almost 18 minutes. But a mile is a mile. And it is one mile closer to a healthier me then I would have been if I just sat at my desk playing on my phone.
The other thing that I did today may seem small to many, but it was huge for me. I'm working on kicking my Diet Pepsi habit. I've done it before, so I know I can do it again. I've definitely cut way back, but I often find that it creeps back in. Today I have been Diet Pepsi free. I still needed caffeine, though. And the artificial sweeteners, sugar or other things that we often put in coffee can be just as bad as if I had simply had a Diet Pepsi. So today I tried something that I honestly had never done before. It might sound like a simple thing, but I had a coffee with no cream or sugar added. Just a plain Keurig K Cup of coffee (in my super fun "mom fuel" mug that my Sister in Law Carolyn bought me for Christmas). I do have to admit it was a flavored pod, so I wasn't drinking straight black coffee, but it was still an improvement from my usual way that I get a hit of caffeine.
I guess what I'm trying to say in probably a lot more words than are necessary is that small changes are important in our fitness journeys. Little things can make a big difference in our overall success. Don't overlook the simple things you can do to help make a difference towards a healthier you. Take time to recognize and celebrate the small victories that you have along the way. Because those small victories eventually add up and help you reach and maintain your goals.
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