It’s very easy to lose focus during the holidays with all the hustle and bustle that goes on. As you check off your list of gifts for your loved ones, don’t forget to add yourself and your goals to the top of the list!
I decided over the summer to ‘gift myself a new body for my birthday in December’ (as I like to put it) and finally mark off one of my bucket list items: a fitness competition. For the past five months, I prioritized my health and fitness goals and had an incredible fitness transformation! I’ve lost over 30 lbs and 16% body fat and am just a few days away from my first competition! I’ve learned a lot throughout the process, so here are some key things you need to know to reach your body goals!
Be consistent and patient.
Consistency and patience is the key formula to accomplishing your goals. Results and success don’t happen overnight. Many of us have experienced this during our natural hair journey. Think about where you started and how beautiful and healthy your curls are now!
Fitness transformations happen in increments, so you won’t see your first BIG change until weeks 4-6 if you stick to your plan. So trust the process, stick to your routine and take things one day at a time. If you fall off one day, shake it off and restart again in the morning! Do not sulk at the fact that you veered off the plan. Small changes done consistently over time will lead to big changes, so don’t give up! The longer you stick with it, the more results you’ll see and you’ll be one step closer to your overall goal. Learn how to manage your time wisely so you can schedule all workouts and everything else you have going on in your life, NO EXCUSES!
You can’t outwork a bad diet.
We’ve all heard the saying “abs are made in the kitchen”, and that is as straightforward as it gets! It doesn’t matter how much cardio or working out you do if you aren’t fueling your body with the proper nutrients. You’d be surprised how many foods are marketed as ‘healthy’ but aren’t so healthy after all once you read the nutrition labels. Make it a point to look at nutrition labels and understand serving sizes.
Watch out for added sugars or food with high-fat contents that provide empty calories. In order to lose weight you have to be in a caloric deficit, (burn more calories than you eat in a day). Opt for meals that are high in protein and low in fat if your goal is to lose fat and build or maintain your muscle. Adding cardio and heavy-weight training to your regimen will help you achieve that goal. My current regimen includes two 30-60 minute cardio sessions (which are a mix of steady state cardio or HIIT cardio) along with heavy weight training (where I train each body part at least twice a week). If you stick to a good workout routine and a clean diet, you are guaranteed to see results.
Stay motivated.
We all lack motivation sometimes! My trick to combat the days when I’m feeling lazy or low on energy is to call up a friend to go work out or run with me. You’d be surprised how much energy we get surrounding ourselves with like-minded people that have the same goals! I also reflect on my journey and how far I’ve come by looking at old progress pictures and creating a side-by-side comparison with my current physique to see how all my hard work has paid off. So make sure you take PLENTY of pictures throughout your journey!
You can also create an energizing playlist, or hang up different motivational quotes throughout your house that are visible for you to see when you find yourself slumping into the couch. Remember the reason WHY you embarked on the journey. My absolute favorite thing to do is create a new challenge for the week or month to switch it up and keep things exciting. For example, I might randomly sign up to run a 10k that’s going on that month or challenge myself to see if I can do more miles than the month before. You can also create a friendly challenge or bet with your friends to keep it exciting and give you some accountability.
Keep things simple.
Keeping things simple has been one of the key components to my success, including my meal recipes and how I’ve been managing my hair! Low manipulation and protective styles have been my best friend throughout this journey. I’ll typically have my hair in a bun, braid, or ponytail when working out and will make sure I moisturize throughout the week. Thirsty Curls by Uncle Funky’s Daughter is a quick and convenient product I use to give my hair a quick boost of moisture. I co-wash when needed with the Bye-Bye Buildup Cleansing Conditioner throughout the week to gently cleanse my hair from all the sweating. Two flat twists done with the Supercurl Miracle Moisture Creme is my go-to style. Especially if I have plans to go out because I can wear the twists to the gym and then unravel and fluff my hair to reveal a big, fluffy twist out!
You got this!
Don’t forget about YOU this holiday season and buckle down and get started toward your body goals as you head into this new year. Stay strong, consistent, and patient, and just take it one day and one workout at a time, you got this!
xoxo
Michelle Chea (@naturallychea)
1 comment
Just what I needed to see and read this morning. Thank You!!