Where do I begin in practicing a healthier lifestyle?

I’m not surprised people feel overwhelmed with their health and fitness intentions. We are saturated with information and often conflicting therefore confuses us in which direction to move forward. 

One of the main reasons I created Moncur Health was to encourage people to consider themselves as unique in terms of their personal wellness and find a realistic practice that works for them and their circumstances. 

Here are my top tips to consider when beginning or adapting your health practice. 

1. Ask yourself the reason for your intent to begin/adapt your health practice? Is it because of health problems, weight issues, stress, hit a plateau, tasked with menopause, post pregnancy, ageing? There are a hundred of reasons but understanding your own “why” will help build the foundation for your health practice.
2. Be mindful who’s advice you’re taking, we are surrounded by insightful and productive content but also content that is full of nonsense.
3. Be realistic and patient with your intentions, a slow process is usually a healthy process that leads to long term and manageable results.
4. Stay in your lane. Everyone has different physical abilities, different mental health barriers, different health issues, different circumstances, different financial situations etc. Each person’s wellness journey must suit their own lifestyle for a realistic and achievable long-term practice.
5. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on becoming a healthier version of yourself.
6. Remain private and do it for yourself. You have nothing to prove to anyone.
7. Acknowledge that there will be days and circumstances that will take you off track. Vacations, heavy workloads, feeling unwell, parenting responsibilities etc are all part of life, therefore adaptability is essential for a long-standing relationship with your wellness.
8. Experiment – Do you prefer exercising morning or evening, do you prefer indoor or outdoor, alone or group classes?  Could prepping your meals in advance make things easier? How many hours of sleep does your body need for optimal performance?
9. Find what movement brings you joy – Strength training, yoga, swimming, team sports, hiking, mountain biking, rugby, dancing, martial arts, the list is endless…
10. Plan in advance – Pack your exercise bag the night before, download a podcast in advance, charge your headphones, fill your water bottle, book a session, plan a route, prepare your snacks! 
11. Quitting means starting again. Rather, accept there will be hurdles and detours but keep moving forward and experimenting with the joys of wellness.