As the new year approaches, many of us find ourselves bombarded with a myriad of messages urging a complete lifestyle overhaul. However, at the “Be Where You Are Today” podcast, hosted by Amy and Vivian, we delve into a different perspective. Rather than subscribing to the overwhelming marketing noise of quick fixes and extreme regimens, we explore sustainable, enjoyable paths to health and wellness.
Understanding the New Year Noise
The season of New Year’s resolutions is synonymous with flashy marketing campaigns that promise miraculous transformations. These can often lead to overwhelming expectations and pressures, as noted by Amy and Vivian. The promises of achieving ‘the body of your dreams’ through restrictive and extreme programs often result in short-term gains that aren’t sustainable in the long run.
Vivian highlights the resurgence of rigid diet cultures that, while promising quick results, often lead to a cycle of starting and stopping, feeling demoralized, and pushing oneself towards unattainable ideals. There’s a move observed towards quick fixes that come with expiration dates—75 days hard, specific food plans, and so forth. The key question we need to ask ourselves here is, “Can I do this sustainably?”
The Power of Sustainable Habits Over Flashy Trends
Steering away from such fleeting trends, Amy and Vivian propose focusing on sustainable habits. These are routines that one can envision not just for the next few months but across years to come. It’s about building a lifestyle that smoothly integrates into your daily rhythm, rather than a disruptive, imposing plan you dread to follow.
The fundamental shift should be away from avoidance strategies (“don’t eat this, never skip workouts”) to approach-based strategies. For instance, instead of focusing on what foods to avoid, consider how you can include more nutrient-dense choices into your meals.
Their body-positive approach encourages embracing fitness and nutrition in ways that are enjoyable and adaptable to one’s lifestyle, embedding it into the routine without it feeling like a punitive measure for past choices.
Modeling Your Ideal Day
Vivian introduces a practical strategy for implementing these changes – envisioning your ideal day versus your realistic day. While it’s beneficial to outline what a perfect health-focused day might look like, it’s equally important to anticipate real-world interruptions. Here lies the essence of planning – adapting your goals to fit into reality, maintaining consistency amidst life’s unpredictability.
This can include writing down what an ideal day looks like for you in terms of meals, workouts, and general routine, and then mapping out what usually disrupts this day. It’s about creating backup plans for when things don’t go as expected.
Cultivating Community Support
Amy and Vivian also emphasize the importance of community support. Engaging with a supportive community, like the Body Fit Athletic Club, provides a space to share experiences, seek advice, and find motivation. Your fitness and nutrition journey shouldn’t be a solo endeavor; a community amplifies support and accountability.
The Reward of Short-Term Wins
While long-term goals are important, Amy suggests also focusing on short-term wins. Recognizing the immediate benefits of a workout, like increased energy or improved mood, can serve as powerful motivation. Celebrating these daily achievements can help maintain momentum and foster a positive mindset.
You Do You
Rather than being drawn into the noise of New Year’s resolutions, Amy and Vivian invite us to focus on creating sustainable routines that suit our individual lifestyles. Instead of “New Year, New You”, adopt the mantra “New Year, Do You.” Embrace where you are today and carve a path that aligns with who you are and the goals you cherish, for the long term. By grounding our health and wellness journeys in reality, supporting ourselves with community, and aiming for consistency over intensity, we set ourselves up for genuine, lasting progress.
Remember, it’s a long-term journey, and each step you take is a step toward becoming the best version of yourself. So, as we step into another year, stay clear of the noise, and focus on what truly matters: you being the best you.
Want to hear more? Check out this podcast and all the other episodes on the Be Where You Are Today podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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