Getting out of your Fat Funk

I think it's safe to say we have all been here. You fall off. You have a baby. You lose your job. You stop caring. You get too comfortable. There's always a reason why. And that reason isn't an excuse, but it is the best thing to recognize when getting out of your fat funk. 

I've fallen into this trap plenty of times. I lost my grandma, quit my job, moved to a new home, and totaled my car all within a few short weeks of each other. I had plenty of excuses to put the gym aside, and eat whatever the hell I wanted. And I did. But after a month of beginning to feel sluggish, gaining weight, having poor self-esteem, bad skin, not enough sleep, I had had enough. As a certified personal trainer and nutritionist, I knew exactly what I had to do to get back to my old self. But that almost made it worse. Every time I would eat poorly, I would hear my own conscious saying "You know that isn't doing anything good for you, right?". I became my own worst enemy, constantly playing this tug of war with what I wanted vs. what my body really needed. But when you get to the point where you have had enough, there's a few things to recognize before you can get back on that fit journey. Making a new plan doesn't have to be scary. In fact, it should be looked at as exciting, knowing you're coming out of the funk. Here's a few important things to keep in mind;

​Realizing it's okay that you fell off 
Finding a plan that works for you
Planning meals you actually enjoy 
Figuring out what exercises work for you 
Doing things you enjoy / excite you 
Get enough sleep
Drink enough water
Eating every couple of hours
Make it effortless 

The minute it feels like a chore, is the minute you will quit on yourself. So make sure you're setting yourself up for success and not failure. When you go food shopping, avoid the junk. Buy foods you know you actually like eating, not because it's something you "should" eat. When you start your fitness journey, take a class you are interested in. Forcing yourself to do something you hate, isn't going to get you there any quicker. When you make it easy, it won't feel like a change. It'll feel natural, as it should be a lifestyle change not just another diet. 

My biggest tip of advice: Don't be so hard on yourself. We all have our down times. Don't judge yourself on how you acted during those moments, but how you learn to pick yourself up again after.