Well, let’s be real for a sec – getting healthy isn’t always glamorous – like the Insta reels you see of the perfect bodies effortlessly flowing through the hardest exercises!
The reality is some days you feel like a badass and other days you feel like a baby deer trying to do burpees.
You know, it’s kind of like training a puppy. Stay with me for a minute, now….I’ll explain…
As someone who has trained hundreds of clients and is now currently training my 15th pup (more on this later)I have noticed some pretty hilarious parallels.
So, whether you are working on your fitness/health goals or just trying to keep your four-legged friend from peeing in the house – here is a little insight as to how the struggle is the same:
CONSISTENCY IS KEY – it’s annoying and tedious but it’s true.
I had an epiphany today while training Rocket (affectionately named after our favorite H-Town Ballers) – training a puppy takes consistent positive reinforcement, keeping a diligent schedule and encouraging repetitive effective behaviors.
You know, they don’t just magically learn to sit – but after 34 treats and an equal number of commands, they understand and comply.
Fitness is the same – It’s about consistency. It’s not the one salad you eat each week trying to undo the weekend of burgers and beers. It’s not one trip to the gym that does the trick.
Consistency is where the magic happens – in fitness and in potty training the pup.
ACCIDENT?? Clean it up and move on – no need to rub your (or their nose in it).
Some days your puppy is gonna sh*t in the house. Some days you are gonna eat a sleeve of Oreos.
Neither of these spell failure – it just means you’re human (or a puppy).
Wallowing in it does no good. Shake it off, clean it up, and keep going. No guilt.
It always seemed so counterproductive to replay the details of a food indiscretion – to what end??
You’ll need POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT – for both of you.
Puppies thrive on praise! “Good Boy!! YES! You did it. Good Job!” Every time they do what you want them to do – every time – let them know that you are proud of them. Dogs are hard-wired to make you happy. You are their master – they want to work hard for you!
Every time YOU show up for yourself – you meal prep, you get to the gym, you say “no” to the office donuts – give yourself some love!
In our VIP program, we recommend our clients to create a Reward List – This list has to be at least 10 things they want to reward themselves with that do not include food or drink. Surprisingly enough (or maybe not) this is hard for a lot of people.
This list does not have to consist of stuff that costs money – it could – but not necessary.
Things like:
- An hour of uninterrupted time to read or listen to a podcast
- Girl time with your besties to watch the latest episode of RHONY
- The Lululemon tank that you would never just go out and buy for yourself
- A set schedule for a massage each month
We ask our clients to pick something off their Reward list when they verbalize being proud of themselves, or express how great they are feeling, or when the scale moves in the direction they were hoping for.
SLEEP IS MAGIC!
Ever been around a tired puppy – a sleep deprived dog can be snappy and aggressive. Lord knows I can be the same way!!
When you prioritize a sleep schedule for yourself, you’ll see better muscle recovery, decreased physical stress, improved metabolism and mental clarity.
Get that puppy on the same sleep schedule that you’ll be on – if not , you’ll find that you both might be barking at strangers!
The BEST PART – The results are subtle, almost undetected – UNTIL THEY AREN’T.
You’ll think it’s all bullshit – is this even working??? You might even be ready to quit –
Until the puppy sits without being asked.
Until the jeans zip just a little easier.
Until the puppy asks you to go outside.
Until you are feeling more energetic.
It’s never about being perfect. The journey is about progress and learning your way to success.
Day by day – Step by step.
Before you know it, things fall right into place – and not by accident – because of your diligence, your hard work, your attention, your decisions, your actions.
Having a tribe (or a pack) makes everything better.
COMMUNITY is everything!
After his first puppy check-up, our Vet gave us a Socialization Checklist for our little man. The list asked us to introduce him to new people, take him to new places and expose him to new adventures – all in hopes to raise a well-behaved dog that can go places, do things and not ruin experiences with “bad dog” behavior.
The community of people you surround yourself with when trying to construct your healthy habit checklist is crazy important. Find a Coach, like-minded people to hang out with, connect with fellow gym goers and have them help you stay accountable. When you have other people who respect your quest, understand your plight and build you up (instead of tempt and guilt you) could definitely be a determining factor in your overall success.
We aren’t over here expecting you to have it all figured out –
Getting healthy is about showing up, being patient, controlling chaos and sometimes cleaning up the mess you made. Whether you are chasing specific goals or chasing a sock-stealing puppy, just know that you are probably doing better than you think you are.
Give yourself grace. Stay the course.
Now go drink your water and check on the dog!
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