Repeat After Me: I Can Do This

Raise your hand if you made some goal/resolution/mental note to be better about going to the gym, eating less sugar, and/or not having to be rolled out of 2016 like Violet from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory!

You too?

I started mine in August of 2015 (full disclosure: I did commit to kicking my own butt 6 or 7 days a week, and say sayonara to a lot of delicious things, but I did it with some rather vain intentions. I wasn't in love with how I looked, and I wanted to look better for...not just myself.) This was before deciding to compete in Miss Vermont. This was two months after joining Pure Barre. And this was almost three months into a very long summer. But you know what? I did it.

I go the gym at least five days a week. Do I aim for seven? Heck yes I do. But I leave room for migraines, and weddings, and for argument's sake, a social life. I prep my lunches and dinners. I don't buy fancy coffee during the work week. I have maybe two drinks a week.

So, I'm all for big healthy/work hard/commit yourself resolutions. I know they can work. But I also know you have to want to work for them. They aren't kidding when they say you need to build these habits just like you need to break the habit of running to Starbucks every Friday, and getting drinks every Saturday, and getting take-out on Thursdays, and not going to the gym because it's Monday.

You are just as capable of going to the gym every Monday, as you are of skipping the gym every Monday.


If you want it, and you are willing to take the time and work for it - I don't want to get too preachy here - but shit y'all, it changes everything. If you are willing to change your worst habits to work yourself into someone stronger, someone healthier, someone happier - you can actually do just about anything.

And, there is a super high chance that no one will roll your-big-blueberry-self out of this year.

I know it's not always easy. I've post-pageant binged. I've been convinced that I was too fat to even be at the gym. I've been in that place where it is so much easier to embrace the grilled cheese and the Netflix binge. I've said, oh I was good this week, I can eat that. But really, don't reward yourself with food, you're not a dog. 

I get all of that.

But that voice that rationalizes half of a large pizza, and taking a month or six off from the gym, is usually the same voice that is telling you that you don't look good enough, or you shouldn't wear that, or you should feel guilty for eating that.

And that's some bullshit.


What I am saying is, if you're even thinking about it - if you are even entertaining the idea of trying to tackle a fitness/health/kick-your-own-butt kind of goal - I'm saying it's doable. I'm saying don't let a February slump mean that you give up for the rest of the year. I'm saying take the time for it, make a plan for it, and stop putting it off.

I committed to myself in August, and I can't say enough good things about how critical it is to encourage yourself, and to devote your time, and your genuine effort, into your own well-being. This is learned behavior. You learn to appreciate the body you're working on. You learn to accept what you see in the mirror, instead of diminish or demean it. You learn that what you eat, and what you do, isn't about anyone else - it's about you, and only you, and how it serves you, and allows you become the person you want to be.

There is going to be 100,000 posts, articles, infographics, tweets, vlogs, and what-have-yous on this topic all month. I get that. And I think if you want to read them all, you should. But more importantly, figure out what you want for yourself. And where you what you want to see in yourself in six weeks, four months, or a year. And dammit, work for it.


Tell someone about your goals. Get someone to hold you accountable to your own actions.

Plan your meals. Schedule your workouts. Break out the running leggings. Print some workouts from Pinterest. Bring your best friend to the gym. Watch The Biggest Loser. Buy a new swimsuit. Whatever it is that you aren't doing right now that you know is going to motivate you, go do it.

Go be better. Go work harder. Go get. it.

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