When your destination seems far…take baby steps

Most astute personal trainers learn that many if not most individuals are not immediately compliant. They may be ready to show up at a gym session they’ve paid for, but not to give up their fast food lunches or to carry out extra sessions on their own.

The fact is, people usually go through several runs at a goal (like losing pounds or giving up a vice) before they’re successful.

For example, the average smoker tries to quit nearly 11 times over a period of 18 years before finally breaking the habit, according to a 1998 study. While experts on nicotine addiction formerly recommended going “cold turkey,” they now seem to suggest it can work better if smokers taper off their habit. (Hence, the pharmaceutical drugs that help you kick the habit while allowing you to light up from time to time.)  

Stop the yoyo

If you’re anywhere near my age, you may have tried several times over your lifetime to shape up or shed pounds. Each time, you may have thought you were ready. Probably, you learned that old habits die hard!

An overly aggressive launch into new lifestyle habits can end up in burnout, fast! I know this firsthand.

That, I’m convinced, is what most diet and health book authors don’t “get.”

Most people are just not ready, willing, or able to dive into the deep water. And shouldn’t!

Currently, two out of three Americans are overweight or obese. This, despite scores of health and fitness books on bookstore shelves that claim to have the answers to America’s obesity problem.

Why?

My strong opinion…where midlife women are concerned, these programs simply require too much reading and lifestyle remaking to get the average, overwhelmed, overextended woman to change her ways.

In striving to be “comprehensive,” they fail.

Offering lengthy lists of exercises, supplements, diet phases, and food rules is misguided and ineffective. Most of these books—many written by MDs and PhDs—are intimidating. They require heavy reading just to get the gist of the program; multistep processes, phases and protocols; expensive supplements, lab tests and doctor visits.

No wonder so many women are inactive! Being healthy and fit is seen as a giant undertaking! What time-crunched midlife woman has the energy?

Start at the beginning

First, tap into what motivates YOU.

You might be driven to improve your health for any number of reasons—to enjoy the years ahead, to improve your stamina so you can continue to work and support yourself and your family, to be able to care for someone who really needs your help, and to avoid catastrophic medical bills—or debilitating disease or death.

Take it slow, but take a step.

Once you realize you have a burning interest in staying healthy, you’re likely to stay on course.

So, think. What motivates you? What keeps you up at night? What secret stress is at the back of your mind, nagging at you?

Then, act on it. Refuse to sit still while the negative forces of aging act upon your body, mind and soul.

Baby steps work. A walk. A nourishing homemade soup. A salad. A few pushups or stretches at the end of the day.

Recognize each baby step you take! Write it down in a notebook or on a calendar. 

Every positive thing you’ve done today for your health. And don’t underestimate yourself. “Sharing a laugh with my honey” goes on my list for today.  

Finally, build on these positive actions. Keep taking those baby steps forward and you will make progress.