Be Kind to Yourself 

Be kind to yourself when you are getting back to fitness.

Whether you’ve taken an extended break, a vacation, or coming back from illness you will be much more successful if you take your damned time. Do less than what you think in less days than what you think. You are going to be sore, and you will only set yourself back in recovery. The starting point depends on where you left off and how long you’ve been away. It’s different for everyone.

Training is a marathon, not a sprint. What’s the rush? If you are looking for fast fitness you can expect your motivation to fade as quickly as your results. It’s hard to think of a long term commitment to fitness, but it will go a long way in keeping you feeling better and living longer. Fitness is worth its weight in gold, but it’s not a pill that you can take. It’s an everyday thing.

You need to establish a routine that will work for you and your family. Establish your BAM (bare ass minimums) and start there. If you can fit in more, great, but do your minimum. Long lasting results are achieved over time and they are lost when you stop doing what you did to get there. Consistency is key, but your enjoyment will be the biggest predictor of success. It is necessary to fall in love with the process. Let your habits grow on you slowly over time and try to find joy in performing them.

If you love what you do there is no stopping your consistency and success. It’s that time of the year where you may be setting goals. I encourage you to challenge yourself with goals that might be on the border of what you think you can achieve. Make a plan and build slowly from your BAM.