Some might think achieving fitness goals is easy breezy. One just needs to get up, stop being lazy and, as Nike’s tagline goes, “just do it”. What these people don’t realize is that it can be most difficult and exhausting to do at times. Struggling with shortness of breath, having to cut sets short, and dealing with cramping muscles makes one want to give it all up the next day. However, some fitness enthusiasts like Michelle Paulsen find ways to make sure they stay on top of their game, no matter what they might be going through.
Growing up, Michelle was a multi-sport athlete, so the concept of fitness and athleticism were a part of her life early on. With that much athletic history, one might assume her journey toward maintaining health and fitness should be a cakewalk for her. Unluckily, it was just the opposite. Born with Bertolotti’s syndrome, which caused severe chronic lower back pain due to an abnormal fusion in her lower vertebrae, Michelle had several setbacks before being able to achieve her fitness goals.
Like a lot of people who fell prey to this notion, Michelle also tried to starve herself in order to get the “perfect body”. This resulted in her suffering from an eating disorder which took her six years to recover from. So yes, it wasn’t easy at all for her. However, her passion, persistence, and resilience gave her the strength to not just survive but thrive.
The fitness coach has shared tips and secrets that kept her going to achieve her goals. You can use these tips to level up your game as well.
Never give up
Sometimes, you’re at a point in your life where you’re lost, directionless with no clue what to do next. It’s at this point three words that can help make all the difference: “never give up.”. Working out on your fitness, as mentioned above, can be incredibly exhausting and overwhelming at first. But once you tell yourself that this tiredness is worth it because you aren’t giving up on your body and yourself, it becomes easier to move forward.
Do not give in to emotions
Having excellent control over emotions can go a long way to helping you succeed in any field. Overly emotional people can feel deeply and too much, and while that is not a bad thing, it can sometimes cloud your judgment from making the right decision. However, it is essential to not let your emotions rule your head too much, lest they hamper your journey towards achieving your fitness goals.
Start by making small, achievable goals
This tip may prove beneficial particularly to beginners who are just starting out in exercising and working out. It’s a golden rule to always start anything by going slow and then gradually increasing your pace. So, when you’ve just started working out, you need to set small achievable tasks for yourself. Staying in the gym all day until you’ve all but passed out of exhaustion simply won’t work.
Michelle Paulsen’s life serves as a proof of how these tips work. Having fought Bertolotti’s syndrome which left her with chronic pain due to an abnormal fusion in her lower vertebrae, Michelle’s determination, strategic planning, and resilience toward her fitness goals proved to be stronger than the disease she was fighting with. Now she serves as a renowned fitness trainer and health coach, having done plenty of transformations and working with a wide demographic of clients. Do follow her on Instagram to know more.
