Getting Fit, And Making Change

by Kris Pitcher

It can be a little intimidating to look at "fit" people and try to envision yourself in their shoes. Where do you start? How do you begin?

Here we all are saying, "Don't worry, you'll fit right in!" Honestly, I just talked to a guy this week who said he had to get in shape before calling my husband to set him up on a basic weight program. He said the last trainer nearly killed him!

Even though I explained that wasn't Jacques' style, he still insisted he needed a few weeks to get in better shape first. And it dawned on me, he was walking first. Change is hard. Where do you start?

Lots of us just spin in that cycle of questioning. Where do I start? We never find the right answer, and as such...never begin to make change. But I'm here to help you find that answer. Are you ready?

Here's where you start. You start by deciding it's important for you to start. Sounds simple. Making healthy steps toward change must begin internally. It has to be your choice. And how do you choose?

You choose by deciding it's important. We make time for the things which are important to us. We make choices around our values. Do you value your health? Make the choice. Ok? Now what?

Make small changes. If you were to look at me on stage you might think, "Wow! That could never be me!" But I don't lose 15 pounds in one week. I lose that fat slowly, over time. It happens by lots of SMALL changes. It doesn't happen by one big change.

It happens over 16, or 18, or 20 weeks! That's a long time. But it's a lot of very small change. Very. Small. So, you're change is the same. Small. What healthy choices will you make? Walk 3 times a week. Perfect. Small change.

Take your lunch every day. Great! Begin the day with breakfast. Excellent choice! Make sure you eat protein at every meal. Good idea! Drink water instead of caloric beverages. Perfect! All of those small steps add up. They add up to real change.

Change doesn't happen over night. It happens over time. And how LONG will it take? It takes as long as you want it to work. Want to be successful at managing your weight over a lifetime? Guess what? You will make smart choices and be active your entire life. That's just how it works.

You have to walk before you run. By that, I mean making small steps to add up to the big change. The perceived "big change" you see in others is really just a series of small steps. Now it's time for you to take yours. What will they be? They're all going to add up...to change.