Can you feel it in the air?  The change of season and all that it brings.  I personally am happy to say goodbye to summer this year and hello to my favorite time of year in Columbus.  It's much easier to walk and run outside without the heat and humidity and the parks are gorgeous.

 

How did your summer go?  Did you hope to eat a lot of salads and fresh fruit and end up eating burgers and potato salad?  Were you hoping to "get on track" this summer?  Did you?  If you did, great!  Renew your commitment to keep it going.  If you didn't, it's in the past.  Let it go and let's move on.  Repeat after me: "I'm moving forward."

 

It's a good time to renew.  If you are bored with your exercise, try something new.  Add something new to your arsenal and switch things up a bit.  If you are sick of your normal foods, don't buy the same things out of habit.  Get some new ideas from Cooking Light or The Eat Clean cookbooks and try something different.

 

Don't make a September resolution about all the things you are going to change, eliminate, or lose.  Start adding.  Add some veggies to your day.  Add water.  Add a new exercise.  Add 10 minutes to your walks.  Add fish once a week.  Add some healthy fats.  Add more rest.  Add 2 minutes of stretching.  Add, add, add.

 

It has never worked for me to focus on restriction.  As soon as I try to not eat sugar, all I want is Krispy Kreme.  As soon as I try to cut calories, all I want to do is eat a Chipotle burrito.  I am rebellious and resistant.  What I have found that works is to fill myself up with all the healthy stuff I want so that I am full, nourished and satisfied.  Once I have that good feeling about myself and my healthier choices, I tend to not obsess about the other stuff and it falls away more easily.

 

Then I screw up, refocus, let it go, and move forward.  Again and again and again.  Repeat after me: "Progress, not perfection."   Now get moving!