𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲.

⁣⁣So when someone says to me they aren’t able to focus on going all in with their health and fitness right now, I totally get it. ⁣⁣

First: Weight loss isn’t even the goal for every person, but for me and my life journey so far — I’ve spent more time being overweight or obese than I have being at a “normal” weight, so most years I have focused on weight loss. ⁣⁣

Last year was one of those years where it wasn’t about weight loss. I had grand plans for 2019 and then my husband was offered a job in a new state. We had to get our house ready to sell while he was living M-F in that new city. We emptied our house, got it on the market, I moved an hour away with my two preschoolers and our dog, and our house sat empty for 8 months. ⁣⁣

That summer my father had a scary incident while I was visiting and it resulted in some tough decisions. We feared for his life, and while he pulled through, we decided it was time to get him full-time nursing care in a home. Dementia (and other health problems) is not something I would wish on anyone.

⁣⁣Oh and after 7 months living apart from my husband and touring 70+ houses, we finally bought a new home to reunite our family just before the holidays… like the week of Thanksgiving. ⁣⁣

Then add in the stress of carrying two mortgages for 5 months — it was quite a freaking year.

⁣⁣I did what I could. I showed up to my workouts 85% of the time or better. I showed up with my nutrition about 65% of the time. I wasn’t sleeping. I was stressed all the time. I was depressed for maybe the first time in my life. I was struggling, burnt out, and emotionally drained.

⁣⁣I survived 2019. That was about it. And I’m okay with that.

⁣⁣So when people tell me they just can’t add one more thing to their life right now, I completely get that. But what I can promise you is I will meet you where you are when you are ready.

⁣⁣It’s not a race. It’s not a competition. None of us are on the same journey. But I also believe that all of us are capable of thriving when we take the time to work on our best selves (which comes in a variety of ways). ⁣That HEALTH is worth the investment of time and energy when you’re able to. ⁣

For me 2020, hasn’t been nearly what 2019 was. I have been able to sleep, recharge, focus on nutrition, and string a few programs together.

⁣⁣It took giving myself GRACE to face how far off track I’d gotten, and took GRIT to start climbing the mountain before me. ⁣⁣

I share all this to let you know that if I can do it, so can you. You probably won’t be 100% ready at first and that is okay. (I mean I *started* focusing after the pandemic hit and when we were very much facing the unknown.) But we CAN do this together. So when you are tired, uncomfortable, or just ready to move on from this covid season and narrative, and you know you could use someone in your corner, I’m here. ⁣