Running fashionably late Reader, but on my way!”

Friends get this text from me often. Inevitably, I try to do "all the things" for all the reasons, and occasionally my body battery runs out sooner than I'd like.

Limited capacity is real!

Many of us have limited capacity to do everything on the to-do list compared to when we were in our 20s and 30s - including what we want to do for our health.

Despite good intentions, dropping the ball on behavior-based health goals is easy.

Not because you didn't try hard enough or didn't want to achieve them.

Because your body's battery has less capacity thanks to hormone fluctuations during perimenopause.

Here's a conversation I had with a client "Jill" (not her real name) recently.
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Jill: after the holidays I decided to be more intentional with my food choices and I want to move my body more. So, I just started.

Me: Oh! Say more!

Jill: I realized I don't eat enough protein at breakfast and lunch. I started adding hemp seeds to my oatmeal and smoothies for breakfast and I add more supporting characters of protein at lunch in a salad or grain bowl.

I've also been more consistent with movement, walking most days, and mountain biking on the weekends.

Me: awesome! How's your energy?

Jill: I feel great about the small changes I've made! But I still have limited capacity and energy to do everything I want to do for my health.

So, I decided to be more intentional with how I spend the limited energy I have. I want to move my body. I want to cook more. Now I need to figure out what other balls need to drop so I have the time and energy for movement and cooking.

Me: amazing! You experienced the snowball effect. Start with a simple goal (to eat more protein), be consistent with it, and then feel motivated to add another goal (to move more.)​
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It's easy to sit in the contemplation stage of change - knowing what you want to do, but not doing it yet. Then one day…

You take a step forward. You do the behavior-based goal. You do it again the next day. Eventually, you're like a snowball rolling downhill picking up speed as you go!

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Have you been consistent with your behavior-based goals, [NAME]?

What’s the capacity of your body battery these days?

Stay compassionately curious here! Don’t get judgy or you’ll sabotage your efforts.
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Watch this video for 3 unexpected ways to increase your capacity and meet your health goals (15 minutes).

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Give it a try!

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1. Shift your mindset to compassionate curiosity instead of self-judgment.

2. Practice not perfection

3. Simplify to amplify” your behaviors

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That's all it takes to start your snowball effect with your health goals!

If you feel fried these days. Cut yourself some slack.

Slack cutting doesn’t mean you give up on your health goals. It means being strategic to work with the capacity you have.

It’s okay to work smarter, not harder – especially in life after 40. Your snowball will start rolling eventually. You've got this!

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Have a great weekend savoring food and your body!

Amanda

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PS: Have you been consistent with your behavior-based goals? What’s the capacity of your body battery these days? Limited capacity is real! Watch this video for 3 tips to increase your energy to do "all the things" and meet your health goals.

Based on the blog post: 3 Unexpected Ways to Reach Your Health Goals after 40​