What Difference Can 90 Days Make?

I don’t know about you, but I love seeing results. When I do something really hard that takes a lot of work/energy/concentration, I want to be able to know it was worth it, and I want to know it right this very second. (I’d prefer to see results yesterday, but immediately would work.) You may not know this, but if you are pretty out of shape and have 60 extra pounds to drop, it doesn’t matter how hard you work in one day, you won’t see the results in the mirror after you shower. You have to keep working hard. Every. Single. Day.

This is where I have trouble. In our world of drive-up fast food, get it from the internet right now, you don’t have to wait for anything ever, I want to do my 30 minute work out, and look amazing the next day. When it doesn’t happen that way, or even after five days, or twelve days, I get frustrated and quit. At that point, I return to loathing myself for giving up again, and so the cycle goes.

I’m ready to break the cycle. I don’t think God wants me to be trapped in this prison I’ve made of myself where it’s hard to breathe, and I have trouble playing with my kids and my dogs, and lack motivation in general. I’ve chosen a 90 day exercise program that I can keep up with. It isn’t so challenging that I pray to die so I can be done with it, but it makes me work hard and push to get through.

I’m going to do all 90 days of this program, take a daily multi-vitamin, and use a healthy meal replacement protein smoothie. I won’t guarantee that my diet will change completely right away, but I’m making a conscious effort to buy more fruit and vegetables, and eat fewer processed foods. I may grumble, and I know I’ll be in pain some days (Today, for instance.), but I’m going to have faith that in three months, I will be able to see changes in my body, in my attitude, in my self-esteem. Then, I will choose a bigger goal, something that really pushes my limits. Maybe I will start running again. Maybe I will finally make it through a Jillian Michaels video (without crying like a baby). I don’t know for sure yet. All I know is that I need to do this. My family deserves it. My body deserves it. (Besides, my closet is dying for some cute clothes!!)

What difference can 90 days make in your health? I challenge you to choose a path, whether it be healthier eating, an exercise program, or something else, and keep at it for 90 days. Take a couple of pictures of yourself today (and maybe some measurements), repeat in 30, 60, and 90 days, and see just what you can do. We won’t see results tomorrow, but I hear that good things happen when you persevere.