The Missing Piece of My Self Care Routine

I've always been good at noticing when I start to go a little off the rails, mentally. I'm pretty in tune with my emotional needs, and it doesn't take long for me to figure out when I need to pull my crap together and get down and dirty with self care. I'll lock in on the crazy and get myself back on track with some quiet reading, catching up with a friend or completely binge watching some show that my husband claims he doesn't like, but ends up becoming fully invested in. After neglecting myself until I was well into my 30's, I am quite good at identifying when I need to step into my most fulfilled self. It almost always involves cheese and wine. I've got it down!

However, where I completely fail myself is, not surprisingly, where many of us struggle. Taking care of my physical well being. I'm decent with nutrition, in that I know what my body needs and why it needs it. I just get SUPER lazy if I don't completely plan and prep it. 

Moving my body, unless it's on a trail, in a kayak or on the dance floor, just hasn't been a priority, or even a necessity, if I'm being honest and solely focusing on my weight. Until a few years ago, weight has increased and decreased and for the most part, I've always been happy with that aspect. So moving my body...nope. I'm not interested. I also live in the bowels of hell where temperatures are over 100 during the year, and your girl gets cranky when the sweat starts rolling. 

So after quarantine, when the weight started adding up, and my general health was taking a giant hit, I started to take notice. There was a difference in my mood, my body, and my motivation. My energy was definitely changing, so I went through all the things we often do when we want to make some health changes.

I made all the best intentions, every Sunday night, and even better excuses every Monday. Tell me I'm not alone.

Then, I found a magical little unicorn, called an accountability coach, and I almost instantly knew this was something I would respond well to. However, I wasn't prepared for how effective it would actually be. Sometimes the simple reminder to EAT THE FOOD is all I needed to light the fire and fuel myself. Like so many of you, busy with kids, families and careers, half the day can pass before I realize I haven't eaten a meal. We all know where that leads. 11pm cheese binges at the fridge, anyone?

Having a coach has helped remind me that I HAVE TO PRIORITIZE MYSELF throughout the day. You know, the sort of prioritizing that I constantly talk about with our self care? It doesn't stop there!

My accountability coach sends texts to remind me to eat, hydrate and move my body all while praising me when I need it and reminding me that my physical and nutritional journey is a lifestyle and will never been "fixed" by a diet. She is quick to push me, but also reminds me to give myself grace, talks me through my lows and celebrates my highs. 

Hiring an accountability coach for your physical well-being can be a great way to prioritize self-care and finally meet your fitness goals. They can kick start your motivation, offer guidance, and support to help you stay on track with your exercise and nutrition habits.

Here are some ways an accountability coach can help you with your physical well-being:

1. Increased motivation: An accountability coach can provide you with the motivation you need to keep going when you're feeling discouraged or unmotivated. They can help you set achievable goals and create a plan to reach them, which can be SUPER motivating.

2. Personalized support: An accountability coach can provide you with personalized support and guidance that is tailored to your individual needs and goals. They can help you identify areas where you may be struggling and provide strategies to help you overcome those obstacles. 

3. Consistency: One of the biggest challenges in maintaining a fitness routine is staying consistent. An accountability coach can help you establish a consistent routine and then help you stick to it. Hence, the title...accountability coach. 

4. Knowledge and expertise: An accountability coach has the knowledge and expertise to help you achieve your fitness goals in a safe and effective way. They can provide you with information on proper nutrition, exercise techniques, and other strategies to improve your physical well-being, plus they are able to answer questions as they pop up along your journey and give you feedback to help you stay focused and moving forward!

5. Improved overall health: By prioritizing your physical well-being, you can improve your overall health and well-being. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and improve your mental health. Pair this up with self care for your mental health and YOU'RE THE TOTAL PACKAGE!
   
   Hiring an accountability coach can be a great way to prioritize self-care and achieve your fitness goals. With personalized support, guidance, and motivation, you can make significant progress in your physical well-being and improve your overall health and well-being.

If you're interested in learning more about what an accountability coach is and if it might be right for you I encourage you to check out my own personal magical unicorn, Ashley Carlotta, of Better Health By Accountability.

I'll officially be adding "diet culture dropout" to the ever growing list of things I've decided to quit. 

Hustle culture dropout.

Diet culture dropout.

What's next?