Simplicity– the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.

Considering the meaning of the word, it tends to feel like a loaded word. This word is one I ponder from time to time, whether it relates to my own life, the exercises I show a client or what a client thinks their goals should be. I say should because some people under estimate the work required while others over estimate the difficulty of tasks I’ve assigned them.

I would be lying to you if I said that being healthy and reaching your fitness goals is simple. Now don’t get me wrong, it is a simple concept, eat right, exercise, both simple concepts. It’s the execution of these concepts that can be anything but simple.

Take it all one step at a time. Ease into the changes. Eating right is definitely not simple when you have been eating a certain way for 10, 20, 30 years. That said it doesn’t have to be impossible. Start small. Pick one thing, and work on that one thing for a month. For example:

Month 1: Breakfast. You hate it, don’t have time for it. Change that, even if it means simply taking time to sit and eat a banana.

Month 2: Water. Alright you have breakfast under control, you actually look forward to it. Now you need to up your water intake. Start with an extra glass at lunch and work your way up.

These things don’t have to be unclimbable mountains. I have never once told a client they needed to change everything all at once.

The same technique goes for building exercise into your life. The ideal is to do something active every day, but again start small. Set aside 30 minutes a day, 2-3 times a week. Also don’t be afraid to ask for help, we as trainers are here to help.

If you’ve done any type of goal setting in the past you may have seen the SMART Goals acronym floating around. This is a way for you to simplify your goals into easy, chewable bites.

S– Specific

M-Measurable

A-Attainable

R-Realistic

T-Time Sensitive

Be specific, what do you want to change? Measurable doesn’t just mean weight, maybe it’s simply how you feel. Attainable, in other words keep it simple. Be realistic, you won’t drop 15 pounds in a month and you won’t be able to run a marathon overnight. Set up a time line, as I mentioned break it down, month to month. After 12 months you’d be amazed at the strides you’ve made.

Simplicity isn’t just a nice concept, it is something we can achieve, one step, one day, one goal at a time. Keep pushing.

-Candace & Cortney