2010 - Year of the Tigress

Hello blog readers and belated Happy New Year! I hope that this blog posting finds you still revved up and eager about what awaits in the new decade!

A TON to catch up on, and I promise not to make a long blog post. I do however, promise to blog once per week. I have blocked it off in my calendar for Tuesday mornings. Speaking of time blocking, below are my “Top 10 Tips for Becoming More Active”

1. Make time for yourself. Schedule time for your workouts, calendar Outlook reminders for stretching, or water, or mindfulness breaks. Put as much priority on doing things for yourself as you do in carving out time for others.
2. Set SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Acceptable (to YOU), Realistic, and set to a Timeframe. Write down HOW much of WHAT you’ll achieve by WHEN.
3. Find an accountability partner. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends/relatives/coworkers. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how many people are in your corner. And, you never know, others might share the same goals.
4. Plan ahead – meal planning, packing clothes for workouts, how you’ll handle challenges, how you’ll reward yourself. This goes hand in hand with number 1 on the list. Failing to plan is planning to fail. By planning, you’ll cut down the challenges and barriers that get in the way of achieving your goal. Reward yourself. You might think achieving your goal weight is going to be reward enough…but, celebrate and acknowledge your journey along the way. Find ways to reward yourself. They don’t have to be expensive: quiet time, reading, taking a long bath, watching your favorite TV show or a movie, knitting, catching up with a friend. Treat yourself.
5. Invest in a good pair of workout shoes. These are your foundation AND the only piece of equipment you TRULY need.
6. Walk, walk, walk. Do it for exercise. Do it to get around. The more you consciously walk throughout the day, the more you bring lifestyle change into your daily being.
7. Track/Journal: what you eat AND your activity. Just like your bank account. Know what you’re fueling your body with and how much. It’s also fun to look back on your activity to see how far you’ve come!
8. Find activities that bring you joy & are fun. Try new things! It doesn’t even have to be structured. For example, just turning on your music and dancing is fun. Sign up for a class you’ve always wanted to try; or buy a new workout DVD. Explore new territory. Variety is the spice of life.
9. Make it fun for the whole family. Don’t feel guilty by taking time away from the fam; include them in your routine. Go for a walk, a hike, dance, play fun games, stretch.
10. Don’t wait until Monday. No excuses. No prolonging being off the wagon. Get right back up on your horse and start your streak anew!

This is your year! Use these tips and your own to develop your strategies for making yourself the best tigress you can be!