How Belief And Action Work Together To Help You Accomplish Your Goals

shutterstock_271205993 - Weight Loss Goals That Work - Jennifer Ledford

Goal setting is an interesting thing.  For some people it’s very methodical.  From the outside looking in, it can almost seem like they march right down the field of life crossing goals off their list as if it’s a simple trip to the grocery store.  While there’s always a backstory to anyone’s success, it’s important to take note of the basic principles that contribute to successfully accomplishing one’s goals.

When it comes to accomplishing goals, it’s imperative that you believe you can succeed.  Belief helps you expect a positive outcome which affects your thoughts, your words, and your actions.

One of the best examples of people that maintain high levels of belief they can and will succeed are professional athletes.  If you had a chance to watch the Super Bowl and any of the pregame interviews with the players, you may have noticed that they all demonstrated a high level of belief when it came to achieving the end goal of winning.  Not one of those players goes into the game expecting less than a win.  They know that only one team will take home the trophy but they all take on a “losing is not an option” attitude.  At the end of the game one team does take home the trophy and the other team has had one heck of a season. Both come out big winners.

One of the biggest reasons the players in the Super Bowl are able to believe they can win is because they have won games in the past.  Most people have a hard time believing they can achieve a goal that seems miles away from where they’re at.  Or, maybe they’ve had some success but never quite reached the end goal.  An example of this would be losing weight and keeping it off for good.  Based on my own personal experience, I can promise you that past failures by no means dictate your future.  However, they can get in the way when it comes to believing you can achieve your goals.

This is why it’s recommended that you pursue your goals one step at a time and keep them realistic.  With any new goal you’re going to have to step into some unchartered territory.  If you start with activities you believe you can implement right away and stick to, it’s going to be much easier to believe you can reach the finish line.  For every small step forward you take, additional confidence and belief is being built and the goal begins to seem less overwhelming.

While belief is one of the most critical components of success, belief alone, without action, will not take you very far.  Achieving goals requires taking the necessary steps to reach your goal along with staying consistent with the activities that will contribute to positive results.  This is why it’s very important that you set realistic goals based on your ability and  the time you can commit.

Fortunately time and ability are flexible.  You can always learn new skills and improve your ability.  And, you can always reevaluate how you are spending your time and make adjustments based on your current priorities.  I recommend getting started with one to two things you know you can implement right away and as you progress you will figure out what works with your schedule and which activities are giving you the best results .  What’s most important is that you are moving forward toward the goal.  Your journey is personal so avoid comparing yourself to others and their pace.  Focus on your own personal success.

When you believe you can succeed and make time to take the necessary steps to get you closer to your goal, you will be amazed with your results.

Here’s to total success in every area of your life!

With love,
Jennifer Ledford

The Backbone of a Successful Weight Loss Plan

Successful Weight Loss PlanIt’s no secret that diet and exercise are two of the most important things you can maintain when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off for good.  The formula is simple but, for some, can be hard to maintain.

After twenty seven years in the fitness industry I’ve learned that one of the number one reasons people have trouble losing weight is a lack of consistency.  The reasons that cause people to be inconsistent can vary.  One of the more common reasons is a lack of structure with their time.  Time is fluid and will always find a place to go.  So if it’s not assigned to the tasks that help you reach your goals, it can slip away from you quickly, making it very difficult to add something new like exercise and/or meal planning.

In today’s four minute video I share how structure combined with consistency can help you lose weight.  I also offer valuable tips on how to organize your time and create more structure in your week.

the backbone of a Successful Weight Loss Plan

Structure and consistency are the backbone of a successful weight loss plan and any other goals you’ve set in your life.  When you organize your time and stay consistent with the tasks that get you closer to the finish line, you’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve.

Here’s to a happy, healthy, and productive week!

Shared with love,
Jennifer Ledford

Why Variety In Your Diet Matters When It Comes To Your Health

Healthy Delight

It seems like every month there’s a new “it” food that’s being promoted in the marketplace for health purposes.  While the food being promoted is usually full of potential health benefits,  there is no such thing as one “halo food” that will solve all of our health and/or weight issues.

When it comes to connecting food and your health, diversity is important.  Each nutrient contributes to the overall function of your body and if one nutrient is missing, it doesn’t function  as well as it could.

It’s easy to get into a routine eating the same foods often.  Things like busy schedules and taste preferences can be a factor.  However, minimal food variation can cause you to miss out on some important nutrients that your body needs to help you age gracefully and combat disease.  The key to a balanced diet is eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables combined with good protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

When adding variety to your diet, try choosing recipes that include multiple fruits and vegetables as well as interesting spices all in the same dish.  Make a side salad to go with the meal.  The more color on your plate, the better.  The colors of plants contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that can help boost the immune system and protect against oxidative stress.  Spices used in small quantities can play an important role in boosting your immune system as well.

Nutritional experts recommend that we eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day.  The majority of adult Americans eat less than two of each daily.  That statistic reveals that most people could be increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables considerably.

Adding more fruits, veggies, and  interesting spices to your diet is one of the best ways to add more variety to your plate and increase the nutritional value of a meal.

Here are some examples of foods that offer not just variety but great health benefits:

  • Tomatoes, watermelon, carrots, mangoes, lemons, pineapple, broccoli, arugula, blueberries, plums, grapes, blackberries, garlic, and onions are all fruits and vegetables that are known to have protective and healing qualities.
  • Arugula, watercress, and kale all contain a phytonutrient that suppresses cancer-cell growth.
  • Spinach, asparagus, beets, lentils, and fish have B vitamins essential to the repair of DNA.
  • Yellowfin tuna, sardines, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, sauerkraut, pickled beets (raw unpasteurized), turmeric, star anise, and fennel seed are all foods that can help stimulate and protect the immune system.

If meal planning is new for you and your spice rack is pretty basic then start with one new recipe per week.  Stick to the simpler recipes in the beginning and I recommend you avoid picking anything that takes longer than thirty minutes on your busier days.  Over time you will build up a collection of nutrient-dense recipes and a diverse spice rack.  When I sit down and lay out our family’s weekly meal plan, I’ll mix things up by choosing different cuisines like Italian, French, American, Indian, Moroccan, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Spanish, and Thai.  Any recipe that goes over as a big hit is saved and if it wasn’t popular, it doesn’t get repeated.

Eating healthy doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have perfect health; however, I believe you are better equipped to fight off disease and maintain your weight when you do.  I also believe that balance is very important so make sure you are enjoying the foods you eat and having fun.  Self control is a good thing, an overly restrictive diet that causes stress in your life is not.  Balance is always important when it comes to long-term success.

To your health!
Jennifer Ledford