Not necessarily the heading you would think of for a nutrition post, eh? But, go with me for a second, will you? If you have stumbled upon this page, today, I don’t for one second think it was by accident. I think you found this particular article because you’re in need of some encouragement and maybe that firm kick in the tush to get you started.

In my devotional for today, the topic of “going out on a limb” and “relinquishing this tendency to play it safe” was in full force. Now, if you’re anything like me (and most of the human race) we enjoy being comfortable. We enjoy cozy couches, warm blankets when it is cold out and air conditioning when it’s hot. Fabric softeners and ice & water dispensed straight from our fridge doors are our jam. Drive thru points for nearly anything and everything we can think of–shoot we can order all of the things from our smart devices with literally the push of a button. However, when we are no longer willing to step out of our comfort zones, we inevitably remain the same. Limiting our growth. Limiting our potential. Limiting our progress. This concept is true in all areas, not just within the confines of health, nutrition, and fitness. We have to be comfortable with the idea of getting uncomfortable.

How does this concept apply to the subject of nutrition? Well, we are all about to be inundated with spam emails, radio commercials, podcast ads, social media sponsored posts, and the like regarding how to “get healthy in the New Year.” You and I are going to have to weed through the nonsense of quick fix potions, concoctions, pills, wraps and shakes being pushed by celebrities, family and friends all claiming they’ll get you to where you want to be in literally “no time fast.” Ya’ll, I am here to tell you that this simply is not true. There are no quick fixes. There are no gimmicks on the market that will get you where you want to be faster and for the long haul than hard work and consistency. I’m not saying every day and every decision made will be painful to the point of wanting to throw in the towel, however, when it comes to changing behavior patterns which have been ingrained in ourselves for who knows how long….we are going to have to get comfortable with the idea of getting uncomfortable–for a short period of time anyway.

So, before the onslaught of New Year’s Resolution questions start being asked of you, why not outline some easy and realistic tasks you can implement today:

• Hydration–1/2 bodyweight in ounces of water/day (goal being 1 gallon/day) **yes if this is new(er) to you then you’ll initially need to be near a ladies/gents, but eventually your body does get used to the larger amount of water and the urge isn’t nearly as intense.
• Leans and Greens at every meal–lean protein and green vegetables at every meal; keep yourself satiated and getting all the vitamins and minerals
• Move–at least 30min/day move your body in a way that YOU enjoy
• Sleep–strive to get 7-9hrs of quality sleep each night
• Mindset–set your mind’s focus and intention for the day (however that looks to you: devotional, meditation, journaling, music, prayer, etc.)

Implementing some or all of these items may cause you to be uncomfortable at first, if this is new to you; however, oftentimes we do our best growth, maturation, and change when slightly uncomfortable. So, here’s to us being comfortable getting uncomfortable and no longer playing it safe!

Until next time,

-E