I know how it is. Between work and family life, the responsibilities just pile up, leaving little time for personal health and wellness, and plenty of time to make excuses. As an entrepreneur with a business that is growing rapidly (which is a great thing!), I’ve noticed that the increased responsibility has made it difficult to keep my waistline from growing (which is not a great thing!). I found myself clocking in at 222 pounds a couple months ago, the heaviest I’ve ever weighed in my life. I needed to make a change.

And that’s when I enlisted the support of the ShowerPill Army to join me in a 30-day fitness/nutrition challenge, with the goal of committing to physical activity for 30 days straight. I set out to lose 20 pounds, which meant not only consistent workouts, but also a clean diet. I am proud to say that I completed the challenge and managed to drop 16 pounds (not too bad for a month’s work).

Along this health and wellness journey, I learned four things that I believe can assist anyone trying to lose weight:

1. Consistency:
Just like anything else in life, consistency is one of the most important components of progress. Make a schedule and stick to it. If exercise is scheduled, there is a higher probability that “something else” won’t come up and prevent you from working

2. Accountability:
Enlist a friend, partner or group that will encourage and count on you to remain consistent. It’s a lot easier to quit on yourself than it is to quit on someone else. It’s human nature. I don’t necessarily understand it, but it’s true.

3. Diet:
You make gains in the gym and you make losses through nutrition. Pick a healthy eating plan that works for your lifestyle. As long as you are getting all of your recommended nutrients and are burning more calories than you are putting in your body, you WILL lose weight. 

4. Have Fun:
It makes no sense to join a gym or choose a style of exercise that you don’t find fun. You enjoy what is fun. So if you enjoy your workout, there is a higher probability that you will work out more.

Although reaching your fitness goals is not rocket science, it is, in fact, a science. Equal parts psychological and physiological. And remember: nothing tastes as good as fit feels.

Check out my before and after pics. Proof!

Good luck and may the force be with you!