How to finally get fit and stay fit?

This is something digital nomads would quite often seek. I have seen it a lot - the desire to change the relationship with physical exercise, movement, eating. And there are so many ways to approach this and so many ways to achieve this. There is no silver bullet of course.

I am not a physical trainer or a nutritionist - so how could this be approached from a positive psychology coaching perspective? Perhaps by first asking bigger questions and taking a longer term view (not something we normally do, I know).

How would you define being fit? How would you feel and why do you want this? How will you achieve it? It is important to make "getting fit" as a goal more concrete and clear. There are certainly so many ways of getting and keeping fit. The array of physical activities is so vast and great!

I would say that most importantly a decision has to be made - "I am a fit and healthy person". This decision has to be reaffirmed consistently, this has to become your identity, not something you do occasionally. The environment has to be supportive, some activities and places probably need to be left out.

Most of us have a favourite sport or a hobby so it is worth pursuing that - this has to bring joy! This also enable setting goals - like running 10k, half-marathon or why not Ironman! But that is just a goal - the identity of a healthy and fit person has to remain even after the goal is achieved. Setting goals is super important but the magic is in the process - in who you become as a result of hard training.

And what will you do when the going gets tough? Because it will. Some days you will feel tired, it will be rainy outside, you will have a mountain of other obligations. Perfect conditions will not exist every day. Motivation runs out. They say it is lonely at the top and that is not true only for elite athletes. Making a sustainable change in fitness requires daily work. Making a change is HARD and that should not be overlooked. But not making a change is hard too.

In coaching we can unpack a lot of this - coaching can provide accountability, we can tackle beliefs holding you back and we can celebrate the victories!

If this resonates, do email me at laatsingmar@gmail.com or share it to someone who needs it. Thank you.