Getting healthy and making healthy choices really needs to be a lifestyle change for me. Old habits are hard to break, but if I can create new, healthier habits and take the long and slow road to a healthier lifestyle, I believe that I can be successful.
Two years ago, I embarked on a “Getting Healthy Together” journey, and many of you enjoyed reading my posts along the way. After six months in, I’m not sure what happened, but I gradually fell out of the new habits that I had created for myself and slowly fell back into the less healthy lifestyle.
A year and a half later, I find myself here again, wanting to make those good choices for myself, to commit to a healthier lifestyle. This desire and choice is not only for me, but it is also for my children and for my family. I want to be that role model for my children, demonstrating everything that I teach them about. I want them to see me making healthy choices for my body. I know how much our children look up to us and how they will often follow by example and right now, I am not as proud of the example that I am setting as I would like to be.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely unhealthy! I do have some good habits that I am proud of like:
- drinking mostly water
- eating some fruits and vegetables
During the process of typing these goals out, I already feel a sense of commitment to my journey to get healthier. I encourage you to take this step with me!
Keep it simple.
Write down your health goals for 2014 to start.
Write down your health goals for 2014 to start.
I have no excuse, so I have decided to join GoodLife Fitness at my local Superstore. It is a woman’s only gym which makes me feel very comfortable.
Sometimes it is really hard to get over that initial hump that stops us from taking that final step to getting healthier. GoodLife Fitness and SportChek have made it easier by creating the “Your Better Starts Here Challenge” in order to help you take the proper steps forward and to get you through that first difficult month of January and stick to them.
The first step is to set your goals.
Will you join me?
GoodLife Fitness will be giving weekly challenges and a check list to inspire you in 2014!
Best of all you can WIN up $10,000 in prizes from GoodLife Fitness and SportChek!
To complete your entry and attain ballot(s) you will be required to complete a challenge by clicking a checkbox (“Chek List Submission”), and/or submitting a written submission (“Written Submission”) and/or photograph (“Photograph Submission) illustrating how you plan to attain Your Better in 2013.
To enter Week 2 of the challenge or read the rules and regulations, please click here.
When I went into GoodLife Fitness a few weeks ago to “test the waters” as to whether or not it was a place that I could join, I was welcomed warmly by the staff and was immediately put at ease (yes, I was shaking in my boots, literally). The woman who greeted me spent well over half an hour with me, giving me a tour, teaching me about their club and asking me questions to ensure that my experience there would be tailored to me as much as possible. It was very clear to me that the staff at GoodLife Fitness truly cares, and their 7 core values truly did shine through!
GoodLife’s 7 Core Values:
caring
trust
integrity
happiness
peak attitude
passion
personal fitness
I mentioned above that I was shaking in my boots. I am not kidding, I was VERY nervous walking into a gym as it truly was a step out of my comfort zone. Despite my obvious “out of shape” status and the fact that I was a gym newbie, I was put at ease immediately and felt that I was welcome there, regardless of my shape, size or ability level. More than anything, that was what put me over the edge to decide to join the gym. It was at that moment that I realized that I could do this. Everyone starts somewhere. At that moment, I made the decision that a gym membership was what I wanted for Christmas. This was going to be a gift for myself, and it is a gift that keeps on giving.
My plan is to take baby steps. I am going to ease myself into my new routine. I have learned from my past experiences that when I jump in head first and try to make too many changes too quickly that they don’t last.
Prize: 1 month membership to GoodLife Fitness,
a gym bag, a water bottle and a t-shirt
NOTE: Selected winner will be notified via email on February 1st, 2014, they MUST respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be selected.
Disclosure: Although this post has been generously sponsored by GoodLife Fitness, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect GoodLife Fitness.
Setting goals is great in all areas of your life 🙂 I’m drinking more water too… it’s helping my sinuses a lot!
You are absolutely right! Water is good for sure – hmmmm….maybe it will help my sinuses too! Hope so 🙂 Thanks for your comment, Heather.
Eating less after dinner is a huge one for me! I went to GoodLife Fitness for several years and I too found the staff helpful and welcoming. I need to get back into the club right away! Great contest to inspire us too!
Good luck with your fitness journey for this year. I am pretty much trying to do the same thing in my lifestyle this year. We’ll see how well it goes. Kind of hard when you’re the only one in the house cooking healthy and eating less. My hubs is definitely not on board with me, he loves his carbs and rich food 🙁
Congrats on getting started! You are brave and you can do it!!
I’m drinking water with lemon, lime and cucumber slices in it now! Mint is good in water too, just couldn’t find any at the grocery store on the weekend.
I need to stop eating AFTER dinner 🙂
Thank you – feeling brave as I walk out the door RIGHT NOW to my first class!
I have a lemon/orange/grapefruit/strawberry infused concoction going on today 🙂 I LOVE mint too!
I just did exactly what you are talking about, and went to a class at GoodLife – my first time in a gym in 2 years! Feeling pretty good – I don’t know why I procrastinated so long. Looking forward to feeling better in 2014. Good luck with your goals!
I wish we had a GoodFit in our small town, they sound like a great facility. My downside is remembering to drink water. That is my BIG goal this year. I am sure if I can meet my 8 per day I would be feeling much better.
Awesome! You should be very proud of yourself – what class did you take?
That is too bad – are there any dvds that you would consider doing instead? Water is so important and easily forgotten – I’m trying so hard to drink my 8 and so far I have done pretty well.
Get an app such as MyFitnessPal to monitor your calorie intake
My tip is to drink lots of water to stay hydrated!
Great tip! I am using that app and LOVE it!
Staying hydrated is SO important!
Controlled breathing is important for all exercise, be it cardio or strength training
My fitness tip is to write everything you eat down so you can be accoutable
I like the idea to go skating with the family. This is something I want to do this week.
I like that they have many women only areas.
I have joined a Women only gym, it definitely helps me feel more comfortable in a place where I already feel a bit uneasy and out of place!
Once extra curricular activities wrap up this month, our new one is family skating each week after school! GREAT exercise.
I am learning this! Yesterday, I took a BodyFlow class at GoodLife and was learning just how important the breathing aspect is during the exercise.
I use a food app on my phone to track the food i eat!
fitness pal is a great way to track activity and calories
Snowshoeing is a great way to get fit in the winter.
Great way to keep yourself accountable!
I love Fitness Pal!
I agree! Me too 🙂
Would love to try this out!
Start slow, going to fast won’t make it enjoyable for you!
GREAT tip! I fully agree and that is what I am trying to do, but when you are keen and motivated, it is hard to pace yourself sometimes.
drink lots of water and don’t start out to fast!
Achieving a fitness goal is possible if you just take one baby step each day and not give up when you dont see immediate results.
My fitness tip is to keep hydrated throughout the day to flush out toxins. This will also get you ready for your workout!
GREAT tip, Bev! How much do you drink a day?
My fitness tip is to drink Whey protein to feed your muscles.
I learned that you will need to keep drinking water to make sure you stay hydrate
Great tip, Stephanie – what is your favourite brand?
I learned that I am probably not drinking enough water, especially during the dryness of winter.
I’m glad that you learned something and wish you luck at fixing this for your health 🙂
Start out gently so you don’t hurt yourself and then give up!
I fully agree with this one 🙂
My fitness tip is to grab a friend to work out with so that you can both motivate each other!