How Much Is Too Much?

How many of you started your fitness journey this January? Technically, I didn’t JUST start mine, but I’ve been really putting my the most effort toward this area of life. To be honest, it’s not THAT difficult (to me). However, I’ve come to this place where I’m forgiving myself a bit too much. When it comes to grace in this sense, HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Let me put things into perspective.

When we talk about grace we usually use this term when we’re talking about giving someone room to grow, learn or change in some way. We know that fitness takes a LOT of discipline, especially when you have aggressive or somewhat difficult goals. I won’t share what mine are, but just know it’s going to be a challenge especially considering the deadline I’ve given myself to accomplish it. ALLOWING MYSELF TO EAT FAST FOOD TWICE A WEEK IS NOT GOING TO GET ME THERE. I had to be really real with myself just now about what EYE am doing that’s going to hinder me. I went to McDonalds yesterday and while I didn’t get a drink like I would in the past, I still had fries and I know that doesn’t sound like the end of the world, but seriously. All I want to do with this journey is master discipline and accountability. I know for a fact this will bleed into other areas of my life.

I didn’t want this post to be super long, I just wanted to share how I was feeling, and a little bit of my progress at the beginning of this new lifestyle. I want to remember that grace is not just something I get to cash in when I’m feeling guilty. I need to be real with myself and honest about what it is I’m doing that’s holding me back. I know I’m capable of meeting my goal so let’s do it and stop playing.

I want to end this post on a great note. I have been doing 16:8 intermittent fasting for the past three weeks and I can proudly say that I truly have been consistent. Although I have had challenges not eating after my chosen hour (usually between 8 and 9 PM because sometimes I start my fast an hour or so early). In addition to fasting, I have genuinely become invested in counting my calories, the amount of miles I walk, and doing cardio every single day. I know. Who am I? I feel really good and this has honestly become another method of self-care. The reason I started doing this in the first place was because I value what my faith says about my body serving as a place for The Holy Spirit to live. I am at my best when I am focused, and healthy, and I think we can all attest to that. If you value something, you take care of it. I’ve become more aware of how I feel before and after I eat, workout or even pray. They give me the same satisfaction and that speaks volumes to me. It lets me know that what I’m doing is fulfilling me in the ways they’re supposed, and that is everything.

Anyway, if you’ve started a fitness journey, or any kind of journey whose purpose is to better yourself, keep going. Don’t give up because it seems challenging, or you failed one test. You have so many more to go that you can excel at, which will ultimately help you transcend that one mess-up. You got this baby! WE GOT THIS!

xoxo, richelle k.