​Sometimes you just have to show up. It is not about being perfect.  It is not about getting everything right.  Just show up.  Be present in your moment.  You may not feel like working out or following your meal plan but it does not matter how you feel just show up anyway.   The reason is when you are present you don’t worry about how you feel about working out because you are actually working out.  Next time you don’t feel like doing something just show up in the moment and watch all the negative thoughts about what you were going to do fade away.  

We get in our own way.  We are the reason we don’t reach the goals we set out to accomplish and the crazy thing is we know it.  We spend so much energy feeding all that we do “wrong” that we never actually do anything “right”  We create a world full of shame and doubt and we don’t know how to free ourselves from it.  So we sit in our shame, feeling pitiful and we feed ourselves junk to numb our hearts.  

I have done more harm to myself than anyone else has.  I allowed myself to live in a state where I didn’t view myself worthy of happiness and love.  Because I didn’t hold myself in a high regard I didn’t care what I put in my body.  I didn’t care if I quit on a workout plan.  What was the point?  I was going to fail anyway.  But one day I decided I wanted to rewrite my narrative.  It was not about creating myself to be someone I am not; which is what I was doing.  I was tired of shaming myself into doing right because it made me want to do the opposite every time.  I decided I would not put that kind of pressure on myself to follow some plan perfectly.  I would choose every day, every moment to show up.  To make it a point to be aware of the moment I was in.  Not judging if something was right or wrong but rather doing what was required in that moment.  I had to stop viewing working out and eat a more balanced meal plan in a negative way.  I was only doing those things because I thought I had to.  So instead of thinking negatively about it I just stopped thinking period and I just showed up.  I did the push-ups, I ate the oatmeal and I moved on.  

My point is, don’t look at the mountain you need to climb, just look at the next step you have to take.  Just show up and before you know it you will be at the top.  

Getting in shape can be overwhelming.  You see where you are and how far you need to go to get to where you want to be.  Don’t let your eyes look too far ahead.  Don’t hold yourself up to a standard you have yet to experience.  Just take one step at a time.  Even if you are afraid or insecure take a step.  It does not matter how you feel as long as you don’t let your feelings keep you from moving forward.  Just take one step at a time.  

One meal adjustment at a time.  
One cardio workout at a time.  
One lap around the track at a time.

Every step you take is one step closer to your goals.  You may want to do 3 workouts in a day to speed up your progress but you can’t do them at the same time you have to do one before you can do three.  Some times we can be so ambitious that it distracts from taking simple actions towards our goals.  Your dream house is not built in a day.  It takes many actions before a house can be completed.  Even when it is built there requires maintenance to sustain it.  Meaning when you reach your goals you don’t stop you create new ones.  If we take one action at a time we can focus all our energy on it and we will feel more motivated to take the next step.  

Today take one step towards your fitness goals and share your step with someone else.  You never know how it may motivate them to take a step as well.    

Whatever you are doing is working.  Really it is.  Many times when we are on our fitness journey we get discouraged by the lack of results.  We have changed our diets.  We have started exercising and we feel good about the work we put in.  Though we have made changes we don't see changes to our body.  It sucks to put so much time and energy into your new lifestyle and have meager results.  But the truth is whatever you are doing is working.  The key is to stop looking for immediate results.  Stop measuring yourself to an image of perfection.  Where you are now is all that matters.  The 5 push-ups you can do now is just as effective as the 50 push-ups you will be able to do in the future.  You are on a journey, not a destination.  Meaning you are not meant to stay where you are.  Measuring every good and bad thing you do only prevent you from moving forward.  Whatever the numbers are, they are.  The numbers don't define you or the work you have put in.  Don't be motivated by the scale when the scale only works when you are on it.  Meaning it is only valuable when you use it.  You make things valuable.  You make things important.  So every action you take is working because of you.  

The other day I planted seeds in my garden and I could not wait for the plants to grow.  When I read the label it said the plant would not reach maturity for 200 days.  I am not very patient I don't want to wait 200 days to appreciate the plants.  But that is what I have to do if I want them to grow to maturity.  My job is not to wait for them to grow my job is to water the soil and give the seeds what they need as they grow through the process.  Today some of the plants have broken through the ground, while others still have not.  I am happy for the growth but I am also not discouraged by the seeds that have not.  The point is what I am doing is working.  Regardless if I see it or not my work is not in vain.  

Keep working on your mind and body.  You may be sore.  You may be tired.  You may feel insecure.  But know that your effort today is not in vain.  You are the person you long to be.  A seed is already the plant in seed form.  You are already the person you want to be you are just changing forms.  Your workouts, your dietary choices are all working to shed the person you have been and reveal the person you are.  Keep doing what you are doing.  It's working.