Everything is better with a friend. Friends give us a support system and give us someone to share our thoughts and feelings with... Why not incorporate friends into the positive changes we are making?
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
Think about a typical Friday night or any night you go out with friends. Doesn't food usually play a prominent role in your night out? With that thought, I want you to share your life changes with a friend. Either have them as a support system for you, or as an even better option, invite them to share in your changes with you. That way, when you go out to eat or when you are having a moment where you want to give up on your new habits, you will always have somebody by your side to support you. Plus, by sharing positive habits with someone you care about, you are helping them to live a healthier life!
Fitness Challenge:
Sticking with the friend concept-- find a workout buddy or an accountability partner! Pick someone who is on the same fitness level as you-- or find a trainer to push you to your limits. Whatever it takes for you to stick to the challenges and permanently change your life! Plus, having a friend at the gym with you will allow you to do exercises (especially free-weights) that you might not want to try on your own. If you are on a trail or at a park, having someone with you gives you someone to talk to and adds in a, "safety in numbers," concept. Talk to someone you can count on--and whose company you enjoy-- and ask them to hold you accountable to your lifestyle changes! In doing so, you will improve their quality of life, too!
Out of Your Comfort Zone:
Is there a co-worker or a neighbor that always does small things to make your job or time at home more enjoyable? Maybe there is a local restaurant or coffee shop that you always go to because one specific employee always takes the time to give you great service. Whatever it is, there is somebody in your life who goes out of their way for you... and today, I want you to recognize it! My suggestion is to write a card-- to either be hand delivered or sent in the mail-- to thank them. It can be as short as a couple of sentences, but just let them know that their good deeds or hard work doesn't go unnoticed!
Side Note-- For my entire life, my friends have always laughed at me for the amount of cards I write. At any given time, I have stationary. Thank you cards, thinking of you cards, miss you cards, just because cards, etc... anything you can think of, I have probably written cards for it. But, do they appreciate the cards I write? Absolutely... and the same goes for when they write a card or send a note to me... it is always appreciated. Sometimes the small things make the biggest difference.
Change Your Thinking:
Have you noticed that all the challenges are meant to be on-going and not simply a one-time thing? I don't want you to eat healthy or exercise for one day... I don't want you to be a positive influence for one day and then give up. I don't want you to notice the good things about yourself for one day and then the next go back to picking yourself apart. No-- these challenges are meant to change your LIFESTYLE, not simply change your day.
It is great to have a short-term goal, but then what happens when that goal is met? Do you go back to what you were previously doing and then eventually find yourself starting the goal over again? That's why changing your lifestyle is even more important that setting a short-term goal... You have to have direction or something to aim for after your goal is reached!
From here on out, a diet is simply what we put into our bodies and NOT something we GO ON. We no longer, "go on a diet." We change our diet... that way, we can meet our goals AND not fall back to where we originally were.
From here on out-- every positive change we make-- is a LIFESTYLE. Nutrition, fitness and encouraging ourselves and others are all part of our lifestyles-- something that we make a habit of and stick to long-term.
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