Power of Consistency

So this article might offend some of you. It might make some angry. But I have to say it. The reason why there aren’t more millionaires, more great businesses, happy marriages, more well­behaved kids, and more people in shape all boils down to one thing.

Consistency. 

If you’re not consistently working to improve yourself, consistently working to grow your business or get better at what you do or consistently eating healthy and exercising, you’re moving backwards. Let's be honest, these days most people have the attention span of a flee.

To achieve anything great requires a commitment to consistency in order to see that vision of greatness come to life.

I can’t tell you the number of times I speak to people who want to lose weight and get in shape. And guess what their number one challenge is?

Sticking to a regimen.

Or in other words consistency.

To be consistent, you have to take the long view. You have to see the forest for the trees. You have to be able to get over the little hurdles and setbacks and know that you are on a journey that most likely won’t happen overnight. Greatness is a process.

Weight loss is a process.

Learning to eat healthy is a process.

Putting your needs first is. a. process.

Communicating well with your partner is a process.

And all of these things can lead to an incredible outcome whether it be making more money, being in a great relationship or wearing a two piece at the beach, but they are require consistency in action and effort.

And the truth of the matter is, when you really REALLY want something, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it. (iPhone 6s anyone?)

So if you’re having a hard time being consistent with anything in your life, question your motivation. How badly do you want it?

Because the truth is most people think they want to lose weight more than anything. I ask them if they are sure they really want it. And they implore me that YES! They really really want to lose weight.

And sometimes I tell them, that’s not the truth. The truth is that they REALLY want something more. They want the cookies more. The fried foods more. The gummy bears more.

Because when you really want something, you will move through hell or high water to get it. You will scrimp and save. You will do what it takes and will do it consistently until you get it.

So what do you really want?

Your friendly neighborhood cellulite fighter,
Aja

P.S. As a special gift to HWHN readers, I want to help you be more consistent when it comes to your workout regimen, so I’m giving away a copy of my 7 Best At Home Workouts. Grab your copy today by clicking this link: Aja’s 7 At Home workouts
www.ajadavis.com

10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Working Out

So, my daughter, just home from vacation, comes out of her room and states loudly “I’m fat” not with tears, but with sort of a grin. She knows she’s beautiful and has an inner confidence, that I certainly did not have as a 13-year-old, but this statement concerns me and I laid awake that night wondering how to address it.

 

I am a fit mom who instilled health and wellness in my daily mothering. Yet the truth is this: My daughter looks nothing like me; her body is long and curvy, completely unlike my shorter, more muscular physique. Nor does she share “the eye of the tiger” that I was born with. I love to exercise and have used it as a stress release since I was a young girl, walking on my hands and cartwheeling through my younger days. I loved to move and still do. She wants no part of that!

 

So even though she doesn’t share my “tiger spirit,” there are things I still want her to know about why working out matters and why being fit and connected to your body is key to having an amazing life, not just to look good, but to feel strong and confident in who you are and how you show up in the world.

 

1. Being strong is the bomb. What I learned is when I connect to my strength, my fear diminishes and my confidence rises. You will feel more joy and less inclined to take crap from people that want to push you around. 

 

2. Self-efficacy is key. Your need for approval from peers becomes less important. You will be more inclined to celebrate your uniqueness, your beauty, brilliance and strength. This is what you want to reflect, not your fear and phobias. You will attract people who like you for who you are, not for what you have.

 

3. Exercise boosts confidence. Even when we don’t feel like it, the benefits of exercise are huge! Being fit makes me smile more, I feel more alive, and want to connect more with others. The same will be true with you. Trust me! Being fit and vital is contagious.

 

4. Nature rules! Ever feel totally bummed out and trapped in the house? Cranky from too much screen time. Nature rules! The crunch of the leaves, the smell of grass, and the crisp, cool air all brings us to deeper connection to who we are. Moving our bodies outside connects to our source, our inner knowing of what is right, true and unique for each of us.

 

5. You really discover who you are by meeting and pushing through challenges. “I can’t do it.” Lifting weights brings me to places that are ugly and scary. Moving through resistance teaches me that I am more than my thoughts and my fears. I can do more than I thought. Often, things that I thought weren’t even possible.  Fitness pushes you to places where faith takes over and fear fades. This is what I call a peak experience. This is REAL.

 

6. Your choices become clearer. Exercise clears your head and silences unnecessary noise. The doubters and haters in your life shrink to zero. You’ve got no time for that! Making a decision about something? Oftentimes we can work out a strategy through the systematic approach of working out. Clarity is powerful.

 

7. Just sayin’ no to what doesn’t feel right. Being strong allows you to have the strength and confidence to say “no.” This is a powerful word. Embrace it. Get comfortable using it against unwanted sexual advances, peer pressure or anything else that puts you out of integrity for who you are. You rock. “No” is good. It lets people know you are not to be messed with.

 

8. People who care about their bodies and being fit are way cooler. Fit people are, in general, more positive. And who doesn’t want to be around positive people? If you are negative, you attract negativity. It’s hard to be crabby when you are experiencing a boost of endorphins post workout. And the positive effect lasts hours. Share in the good vibes!

 

9. You dream bigger. Pushing through limitations helps you see yourself as the amazing person you came here to be. We are all here to be unique and serve the world in our own way. Dreaming bigger means you can help more people. Don’t waste time trying to be smaller than who you know you are!

 

10. You feel beautiful. Strong is beautiful. Confidence is beautiful. Smart is beautiful. Courageous is beautiful. “Beauty is only skin deep” is actually a lie. Beauty is not just your hair, your hips, your eyes. Beauty is also your inner qualities and how you make others feel. By celebrating yourself, you bring more beauty to the world.

 

This is what I want my daughter to know:  that by caring for her body, she is showing the world that she matters, that she has a voice, and with her strength and beauty from within, she has the power to change the world.

 

And so do you!

About the author: 

Kate McKay is a speaker, coach, fitness guru, entrepreneur and author whose passion is to spread her message of living a life of abundance. She founded Gold Siena/Gold Party New England and Kate McKay, headquartered in Newburyport, Mass. Kate has a single goal in life: to inspire others to live the most abundant life possible by helping them tap into their inner strengths. Ms. McKay offers her wisdom through her "Living Sexy" series of books as well as personal speaking engagements.

Extend Your Summer Glow

Summer's end is upon us.

Are you wondering how to capture summer in a bottle so the essence of it can stay with you?

Well here are the top three ways to improve your healthy beyond summer.

1. Make sure to get VITAMIN D. Many women have a deficient amount of vitamin D and don't even know it. Part of the reason you feel more energetic in the summer is because your skin is absorbing vitamin D, however-- after summer-- you must eat foods that continue to give powerful vitamin nutrients.

2. Eat local, fresh, seasonal foods. During the summer you may be more inclined to eat seasonally and may be tempted to abandon this as cold weather sets in...but I encourage you not to neglect seasonal eating. It's a critical component of creating healthy life.

3. And join me on an upcoming webinar to learn the ONE simple, healthy habit that will make a difference in extending your summer glow.

About the author: Tosh Patterson is CEO of Be Well, Eat Well, Live Well, a company dedicated to helping busy women lead healthy lives and get S.K.I.N.N.Y. ® Tosh worked hard to climb the corporate ladder but left her health neglected along the way, resulting in a 300 pound body. While on her healthy journey, Tosh began to inspire others towards wellness. Tosh is now known as The Healthinista, not because she’s a size 4, but because she lost 70 pounds and continues to strive forward. Her goal is to help women of all types snatch back their lives and win back their bodies.

Connect with Tosh and learn more about Extend Your Summer Glow at http://www.toshpatterson.com/summerglow/