*23 minutes into a diet* – I can’t live like this. 

Sound familiar?

If you’re a rare but pretty awesome breed of human who enjoys following a strict diet plan / exercise regime and are in it for the long-term, it will work and you will see sustainable results. For the rest of us who are used to DIET being an acronym for “Did I Eat That?” maintain our phenomenal respect for the former but need to find something else that works just for us.

Imagine being exactly where you’ve always wanted to be, feeling so strong and in control, knowing 100% that things will never go backwards again. Feels pretty good right?

The mind and body are best friends and share all their secrets. Coming between them would create two very enthusiastic thumbs down. To help them receive equal attention you will need to tune into what makes you spark. Notice how I said “spark” and not what makes you “happy”. Happiness is not what you should strive for. It’s a fantastic thing to want but you can choose to be happy right now in this very moment irrespective of what is going on around you. Instead, ask yourself what you need to do with your life right now that will fulfil you and create long-term positive change. This may not sound as sexy as a new CrossFit WOD + fitspo squat pics, but you’re a grown-ass person who needs to understand it’s importance anyway.

Why? To be able to throw away the anger management brochures you’ve collected over the years and allow the person you are on the inside shape what you do and who you want to become.

How? Let’s figure it out together.

We all have the ability to create healthy habits

Your wellness workout starts with your mind, continues with your body and ends with long-term satisfaction.

Intrinsic motivation is the source of your internal drives; your wants and needs. However, sometimes wanting to do something is not enough and we need to prepare for the moments that override motivation and hold you back.

Not wanting to do something and doing it anyway is discipline. Discipline will help cultivate sustainable positive change and is the most beneficial tool you can possess. Discipline involves carefully selecting your goals and taking steps each day to give yourself the best possible chance of achieving them.

Morning Routine

Goal-setting and preparation are key to achieving success.

Exercising control at the start of the day is critical to achieving better results. Adopting this kind of attitude will help to set the tone for your whole day, keeping you focused and committed.

My morning routine keeps me sharp and focused and involves the following:

1. Make bed
2. 5-10 squats / pushups
3. Hydrate then make coffee
4. 5 minute journal; set an intention for your day and plan one thing that you know will lift you up
5. Mind strengthening games i.e Lumosity, Fit Brains, or Brainwell
6. Meditate – I use Headspace

Throughout your day, always remain focused on fuelling your body and soul correctly with proper nutrition and a healthy, positive mindset.

Sometimes we spend so much time asking others what we should do and forget the world’s best advisor is you! Listen to what your body is telling you, write any feedback down so you remember what worked for you and what didn’t, then adapt accordingly.

Fall in love with the process

Allow yourself to feel the benefits along the way.

Naughty Necessities

Everybody needs a moment or two of indulgence. It’s a method of keeping your new health plan sustainable so you don’t feel like you’re missing out. When you’re a few weeks deep you may not even want to have a little yummy cheat treat. But in case those cravings hit I have listed a few of my personal favs.

Nut butter: For an absolutely INCREDIBLE wholesome creamy nut butter made only from roasted nuts and sea salt you guys should get your hands on some Pip&Nut. They have a really fun website and lots of recipes to choose from! I like putting a little scoop on an apple!

Chocolatey delights: Chocolate Snakaroons are seriously good. Dairy-free, gluten free, raw, vegan, no preservatives, clean ingredients… Should I keep going?!? Okay, it’s a a serious bite of coconut and cocoa that’s all I’m saying. It’s my go-to treat and you can easily buy them on Amazon.

Ice cream: I nearly died when I found this. SO Delicious make a cashew milk based ice-cream that literally comes in every flavour you could possibly want. My fav is the salted caramel or chocolate cookies and cream.

Lastly, end each day with:

“I am grateful for…” or “3 amazing things that happened today”

Here’s what I think. Wherever we go, there are always things we can complain about. If we have full time jobs/family commitments/life admin, we complain we don’t have time to hit the gym or eat as well as we would like. If we reduce our commitments, we complain that the lack of routine is screwing us around.

Here’s how it’s relevant. Entitlement precludes gratitude; people are often humbled through expressions of gratitude because it’s taking a moment to recognise that the world doesn’t actually owe us anything. How often do we all judge a situation based on the way we think it should be, instead of how it actually is? Feeling grateful can reset our preconceived notions around how we think we world needs to be and offers sincere reflection instead. It guides an ongoing appreciation so we never lose sight of how incredibly fortunate we are and helps us to fall in love with “the process” when working towards our long-term goals.

“We craft our spiritual strength through physical exercise, and our physical hardiness through mental practice (“mens sana in corpore sano” – sound mind in a strong body). Nobody is born with a steel backbone. We have to forge that ourselves.” – Ryan Holiday