November Is the Your Month to Get Back in Shape
Time seems to accelerate once the holiday season begins. Most of us cram a huge number of activities and social events into our calendars in a short period of time.
Now more than ever, you may struggle to manage your weight and your workouts. Be honest though. You’re always busy! Why question your will to commit to exercise now? Busy people get the job done!
We all want to be fit but we can’t quite seem to make it happen. The truth is, getting in shape takes time, commitment, consistency and a lot of hard work. It can only be improved minimally from day to day and to create a significant amount of improvement it can take months or even years.
The gym is a selfish time because naturally it’s for yourself. It’s okay! It’s time to make choices that are going to be best for you and your well-being. It does not mean you’re being selfish or even rude. It means you know your value and respect yourself enough to take care of your body, mind and soul.
There is never a good time to let your health slide. November is as good a time as any to make your physical well-being a priority. Here are a few strategies to help start this month off on the right foot. 
Make Fitness More Social
It can be tough to stick with your exercise program. Especially if you’re doing it all on your own! Find an exercise partner – co-worker, friend, significant other, roommate – to help you stay motivated. Once you have a workout companion be creative and make your workouts fun. If you’re out of ideas, try something new like a group fitness class. This is a great way to share time with others and get a great workout in without having to plan ahead. It’s also a great way to avoid focusing on how tired, sweaty and bored you are.
Only Change One Thing at a Time
Becoming fit requires adopting several new habits. This is why we call it a “lifestyle change.” However, to ensure your success, I suggest that you adopt one new habit at a time. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Once this has become a habit, choose another thing to fix.
Make it a Priority
If you’re going to be successful in this area of your life, it has to be a priority. If you don’t have the time, you’ll have to create the space in your life to make it happen. Once it becomes part of your every day routine you won’t even have to think about it. 
Find a Way to Enjoy It
Keeping up with your fitness routine is going to be a lot easier if you enjoy the activity. Whether it’s Zumba, racquetball, indoor soccer, swimming or hiking, pick something that you won’t dread doing! When you enjoy an activity, you’ll look forward to it.
Take the First Step
The most important thing is to just get started. Pack your bag and head to the gym. Throw on your shoes and go for a walk. Decide to skip the donut and have an apple instead. All roads leading to better health and fitness require simple decisions like these.
Don’t Skip Workouts
After a long day at work, it’s really easy to skip a trip to the gym. However, with the holiday season upon us, it’s more important than ever to get your workouts in. Making it to the gym regularly will help reduce holiday stress, give you more energy throughout the day and help keep your weight in check.
Don’t Cheat
Just when you think you’ve made it to the bottom of your Halloween candy stash, Thanksgiving hits you smack in the face. Food-related gatherings make it easy to over indulge. Cheat meals quickly turn into cheat days and before you know it you’ve fallen off the weight loss wagon. 
Leave the Doggie Bag Behind
Learn to say no to the doggie bag! Portion sizes at restaurants are always too big! We always end up coming home with containers of leftover food. When we go to friend and family gatherings, they want to be hospitable and send us home with leftovers. Having extra food in the house will only tempt you to overeat. Saying no is okay. Just be honest and explain that you are trying to be better at practicing healthy eating habits.
Set Realistic Fitness Goals
Fitness goals are an essential part of your wellness journey. Setting goals helps you hold yourself accountable, shows yourself what you are capable of and can also help you push through the more difficult moments to make a longer-lasting change. Keep a journal to track your progress and be sure to reward yourself for each accomplishment no matter how small.
Let It Go
We all slip up from to time to time. Skipped workouts, too many cheat meals and moments of disregard to our health happen to us all. They are not at all indicative of how the future will play out. If you have a bad day or even a bad week, don’t give up! Wake up the next morning and try again.
In Conclusion:
The time you take for yourself to exercise and eat right is an investment! You are investing time now in order to gain extra years later. Making yourself a priority is not rude or selfish. It’s necessary.
A season of good health is what you really deserve. This November, focus on developing and maintaining healthy habits. There’s no better time to get started than now. Good luck to you!
I have been a personal trainer for over eighteen years and I absolutely love what I do. I honestly feel that I have one of the best jobs out there! The most rewarding part of my profession is helping one of my clients succeed at reaching their personal fitness goals. Making a difference in someone’s life makes it all worthwhile. I am currently certified by the National Sports Conditioning Association, Apex Fitness Group, and the International Sports Science Association.
