Here is something funny… this post is going up late on Tuesday evening even though I had full intentions of posting it bright and early on Monday AM. My goal was for you to see these ten steps to get back on track before your holiday weekend ended. Butttt, getting back on track isn’t always easy. It happens to me, you, all of us! If you’re feeling that this past long, holiday weekend has gotten the best of you, shake it off and get ready for ten simple steps to slide right back into your regular routine!
STEP 1: MEMORIES
Here was some of my 4th of July weekend zip lining in Austin, TX
STEP 2: PEN + PAPER PLANS
The night before it’s “back to work/school/real life” or first thing that morning, I put plans down in black and white. If you’re not someone who writes stuff down, I highly suggest you try it out. It’s old school, but seeing what you want to accomplish written out creates a spark of momentum. For that balanced start, I suggest making 2 plans in 3 categories: nutrition, fitness + personal. For the plans, I have suggestions, but feel free to personalize as you see fit.
STEP 3: NATURAL ENERGY
Yes, caffeine is part of our 10 step program haha;) Seriously though… you may notice yourself dragging a bit the day after. Instead of fighting it, call on caffeine from natural sources to get yourself going. Swing by the coffee shop on the way to work or brew yourself some morning tea. Here’s my personal trick…. instead of one huge shot of caffeine first thing in the AM, I opt for 2 cups of tea (one in the early morning and one in the early afternoon) for a more steady energy boost. Bonus points if you use that post-workout endorphin rush for an added dose of natural energy!
STEP 4: NUTRITION – LOAD UP ON THE LIQUIDS
Like really load up on those liquids. Personally, I try to drink my body weight in of water each day (it sounds like a lot but I’ve learned to be liquid lover). Two main reasons for this…. 1) The foods we’ve been snacking on all weekend or vacation long are often high in sodium and our bodies’ response to that is to hold onto water to help dilute that sodium concentration =bloating By focusing on the fluids, we can help reduce the bloat. 2) do you find that after a weekend of food, you’re ravenous?! Keep cravings at bay by ensuring you’re fully hydrated!
STEP 5: NUTRITION – PROTEIN PREP
YES, it would be amazing if after a long, holiday weekend, we could spend a few hours prepping for the week. If you’re anything like me, that’s literally the last thing on your list (if it even makes the list at all). Instead, I opt for the protein prep. It takes all of an hour and consists of cooking at least 3 types of protein: making hard boiled eggs, baking chicken, grilling burgers, browning ground turkey, sauteeing fish <-just to mention a few options! These protein options will form the foundation for your weekly meals, making it easier to pull the rest together.
STEP 6: FITNESS – WEIGHTS
Hit the weights! With all the glycogen stored in our muscles after a weekend filled with food, we can put it to good use through weight training. Muscle glycogen is made up of ingested carbohydrates that our bodies did not need as energy in the moment so they were converted and stored as fuel for future use. Now, they will serve as great energy and we can burn them up!
STEP 7: FITNESS – ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDY
#LGAccountability – luckily for us, we have at our fingertips accountability buddies 24/7 through the LG Community. When we need support the most, we often don’t ask for it. However, by staying active with the friendships we’ve formed in the community, the process of getting back on track becomes not only easier but also more enjoyable. Support and be supported by your LG Sisters simply by staying in touch!
STEP 8: PERSONAL – PLAN FOR FUN
There’s nothing worse than coming down from that wonderful weekend high. We don’t need to! If you’re feeling high on life, allow that to stay. Make some other plans for fun so you have something to look forward to! Schedule a dinner date with your girlfriend mid week or make a mani appointment with your mom. Schedule something – big or small – to keep your spirits high.
STEP 9: PERSONAL – ORGANIZATION = OUTSTANDING
I read in a book that when your environment is organized, your life affairs tend to be more on track and when your life feels disorganized, your surroundings reflect that as well. When I first read this, I skimmed right over that discussion only to realize it was so applicable in my life. When I have 1298409384 work tasks and feel like a scatterbrain, my house is an absolute disaster. On the contrary, when my desk is organized and my home is tidy, I am efficient and productive. Take some time to tidy up and organize where you can so you can feel that same order inside.
STEP 10: ACCOUNTABILITY / GO WITH THE FLOW BALANCE
So, there’s this balance between being personally accountable for our destiny and going with the flow. By being accountable, I’m talking about knowing that your results and your life circumstances are dependent upon you. If you set a goal, you’re going to have to hustle at times to make things happen. There are going to be moments where it’s not always fun or easy, but that’s what makes things worthwhile. At the same time, there’s a bit of going with the flow that allows us to feel peace in our minds. Maybe you slip up or perhaps your hard work doesn’t pan out… go with the flow and allow life to naturally redirect your path.
The balance between those two things is where I’ve found personally found a whole lot of happiness and fulfillment. In terms of these ten steps, this balance often comes from giving yourself a dose of reality and assuming responsibility (“Lauren, you set a goal of sticking to the Summer Fitcation Challenge workouts at 6 days per week… you will wake up for the early AM workout”) and not feeling guilty or upset if I slip up (using the prior example- let’s say I sleep through my alarm and only have 30 minutes to get in a 50 minute workouts. I will do the most I can in those 30 minutes). Find the balance that works best for you!
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