Happy Spring!
Tomorrow is the first official day of spring. Thank GOD!
I’m in such a winter rut…with food, exercise, clothes. Even my body care products are beginning to bore me. (What can I say? I’m a girl.)
Getting stuck in a rut – especially when you’re trying to lose weight or shape up – can be a serious motivation killer. Add the last gasps of winter to the mix, and you’re pretty much guaranteed not to make much progress.
Here are a few signs that you might be in a rut…and some ideas for getting out of it.
- Your workouts feel like a chore. If you don’t feel at least a little energized after a workout, you’re either stuck in a routine that no longer serves your body (or your fitness goals), you’re “overtraining,” or you’re just bored. Your body is no dummy – it will adjust to pretty much anything you throw at it. If you do the same type of exercise for too long, it essentially “stops working”…physically and psychologically. You hit a plateau with weight loss or body toning goals, get frustrated, and lose all motivation to keep going. (Sound familiar?) Add something new to your routine – a strength training class or some yoga if you’re a cardio fiend, for example – or take a break from exercise for a few days. You’d be amazed what a fresh routine can do for your body and your mind.
- You’re hungry all the time. Okay, so there are lots of reasons for hunger; but I find that if I eat the same thing for too long, it’s no longer as satisfying as it used to be and I begin to crave different foods. Our nutrition needs change with age, activity level, even seasons. And while I have no scientific proof of it, I believe that listening to cravings and experimenting consistently is the only way to eat what’s best for your body RIGHT NOW. Try adding in some spring veggies (check this chart to see what’s in season near you). Or consider doing a “cleaning up for spring” diet overhaul by adding some of these naturally cleansing foods to your meal planning, one new one each week.
- You feel grumpy or unsatisfied. (A lot.) Human beings are strange creatures: we both fear and crave change. Even if you like the security of a routine, I encourage you to break out of it every once in a while. Feed your intrinsic need for variety, creativity, joy, and exploration. Change is motivating, even if you didn’t know you wanted it. Here’s an exercise to help you identify some areas of your life that might need a little attention or change right now. Pick an area to focus on this week and see what opens up to you.
Bottom line? If you’re no longer getting the results you want, try something different! (If you’re in a rut that you’ve tried to get out of unsuccessfully, give me a shout. I’d be happy to help you navigate your experimentation process to find what works for you.)
Tell me in the comments: Where are you stuck in a rut right now? What could you do to mix things up, feel more satisfied, and start getting results again?
P.S. If one of your spring goals is to lose weight (or maintain your healthy weight), don’t miss my FREE webinar on March 28th. Register here for “How To Lose Weight By Living More (and Eating More!).” I’d love to have you!
xoxo,
