What You DON'T Need
Let’s be honest, we are constantly flooded with noise and advice from experts, gurus, and influencers telling us alllllll the things we “should” be doing. It has us “shoulding’ all over ourselves. So instead of “shoulding” on you, in this episode I’m going to do things a little differently today. It may be a little counterintuitive, but I’m going to tell you a few of the things you DON’T need in order to be successful and make big strides in your health journey.
In this episode, we’ll chat about:
Ways to bootstrap your health journey without spending money
4 things that you DON’T need to make big strides forward
The one thing you DO need to be successful
When I first started my health journey, I was a bootstrapper. I wasn’t at a place where I was ready to financially invest in all the things, BUT I decided that I was ready to start feeling better in my skin. Instead of letting my lack of extra disposable income hold me back from taking action, I charged ahead by taking advantage of all the free resources accessible to me.
If I can be successful without investing in all the fancy things, I believe that you can too. The only thing getting in the way of you starting today for free is you.
Here are a few things you don’t need.
YOU DON’T NEED: fancy gym membership or equipment
In fact, if you are someone that hates going to the gym or are intimidated to show up, STOP buying gym memberships. You’re wasting your money on something you’re not going to use and it’s only going to make you feel more shame. Meet yourself where you’re at and find something else that works for you with what you have.
I knew when I started my health journey that my motivation would drastically decrease if I had to leave the house. I was embarrassed to workout in front of other people and the idea of going to a crowded gym full of fit people felt mortifying. So, I met myself where I was at and started with free YouTube dance workouts in my living room. All I needed was the internet and space to move. Done √
Eventually, I invested in a $2 set of five-pound dumbbells from my local Goodwill and a $10 yoga mat from Amazon. A few months into my fitness journey, my neighbor gave me a basic hand-me-down stationary bike that I still have and use to this very day.
As of today, three years into my health journey, I STILL don’t have a gym membership. I still use the same equipment that I started with along with an added set of kettlebells, jump rope, and a punching bag. And y’all… I’ve lost over 100 pounds. Stop making excuses for your fitness and meet yourself where you’re at with what you have.
YOU DON’T NEED: a new diet plan, shakes, pills, or expensive “health” foods
I used to believe that getting healthy would be SO much easier if someone just mailed me the foods I should eat. The problem is that, well, for starters, those programs are extremely expensive. Not to mention that having your food mailed to you doesn’t actually teach you how to mindfully fuel your body in the real world.
Eating healthier also doesn’t have to mean spending an arm and a leg on fancy “health” foods. Whether you like your produce fresh, frozen, or canned - whether you prefer organic or conventionally grown - whether you prefer to shop at your local health food store or Walmart - buy foods that you enjoy, that make your body feel good, that also fit into your budget.
Let’s be real, so many labels on foods that make them more expensive don’t actually mean anything, it’s just marketing. Let’s get rid of all the food shaming and fuel your body with whatever makes sense for your lifestyle.
YOU DON’T NEED: everyone in your house to get on board with your lifestyle changes
Other people don’t have to buy into your dreams for you to make them a reality. Stop letting other people’s choices be the reason that you don’t choose better for yourself. That’s not on them, that’s on you.
You get to decide what foods go into your mouth. You get to choose how to mindfully fuel your body regardless of what your husband is eating, or your kids are eating, or your best friend is eating across the table from you. This is YOUR life, YOUR body. How you treat it is 100% on you.
If you want to influence the other people in your life to make more mindful choices too, don’t force them into it. That has to be a choice they make for themselves. The best thing you can do to positively influence the people you love around you is to simply be an example of what that looks like next to them. When the tide rises, all ships rise with it. Focus on yourself and be the rising tide.
YOU DON’T NEED: a coach or membership community like Climb
This might seem silly, as though I’m trying to sell you on NOT joining my membership community (which is pretty kick-ass, if I do say so myself). But the truth is that you don’t need me. When I started my journey, I couldn’t afford a coach or program like Climb, but that didn’t stop me from finding mentors and coaches that could support me for free.
I became an avid listener of podcasts, just like this one, that were available to listen to for free. I curated my social media feed with accounts and messages that supported and encouraged me. Even though these coaches, experts, and influencers has no idea who I was and I wasn’t hitting “buy” on any of their programs, I became their student and they became my mentors. You can create mentors with the content that you consume and find resources to coach yourself without having to spend money.
You don’t need me, and you don’t need Climb. BUT, if that is the support that you’re ready to invest in, you can learn more and join here: https://www.coachkiahcommunity.com/climb-membership
So, what do you need?
You need to take OWNERSHIP of your life, that’s it.
If it was YOUR choices that got you here, then it has to be YOUR choices that get you somewhere else.
If health is a priority for you, then the way you spend your time and your money should be a reflection of that. How you spend your time is a CHOICE. If your schedule is filled with scrolling through social media, bingeing Netflix shows, or distracting yourself from what you want, then it’s time to get honest with yourself about what really matters most and take ownership of what you’re prioritizing in your life.
YOU DON’T NEED ME to succeed. Quite frankly, you don’t need anyone or anything.
What you need today is to make a choice. And you get to decide, is my next choice going to get me one step closer to my goals, or one step further away from them?
I believe in your friends, get out of your own way and start taking action!
All my love, Coach Kiah
P.S. If you’re ready to escape diet culture to rebuild your confidence and live the healthy life you want without the fad diets, gimmicks, or restriction… Join Climb - the monthly membership for women ready to stop dieting and start loving the life they live. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.
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