I don’t know how many of you are football fans, but in a house of boys, in Michigan, when it’s football season - it’s always on here.

And if you caught the end of the Michigan vs. Western Michigan game last week, you know how quickly the tide can turn.

If you didn’t, allow me a tiny bit of backstory…

Western Michigan, the huge underdog, had dominated much of the game. Michigan had one final drive to try to pull off the win, and on what appeared to be the last play of the game, Michigan's quarterback, Bryce Underwood, threw a Hail Mary that fell incomplete.

The clock showed zero.  Western Michigan had won. 

Except…they hadn’t.

After a replay review, officials determined that the clock had been off by one second. Michigan got another shot - and this time, they completed the Hail Mary for the touchdown and won the game 13 - 12.

Talk about a gut punch.

I felt terrible for the Western Michigan players. They had played an incredible game, were seconds away from one of the biggest upsets in the program’s history, and then watched the whole thing seemingly disappear.

But then, later in the week, my husband shared a few quotes from Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor. 

And instead of feeling sorry for them, I felt inspired. 

Because his attitude was remarkable.

He could have blamed the officials.

He could have talked about the unfairness of the situation.

He could have spent the week replaying that final second over and over again.

And honestly? Who could have blamed him?

Instead, he said: 

“If we make the mistake of making an excuse, it allows us to be bitter instead of getting better.”

That stopped me.

Bitter instead of better.

Isn’t that a choice we all face sometimes?

Not necessarily because we are choosing to be negative or difficult. But because something happens that feels unfair.

A doctor doesn’t have the answers we hoped for.

Your body isn't responding the way you think it should.

You didn't get the promotion.

Someone else got the opportunity you wanted.

You worked hard and the scale didn't move.

You did “everything right” and still ended up dealing with something you never asked for.

And it is incredibly easy to get stuck asking:

Why me?

Whose fault is this?

Why isn't this easier?

Why can't things just go the way they are supposed to?

Sometimes those are completely legitimate questions.

But if we stay there too long, they don't actually help us move forward.  They turn our attention toward what we cannot control.  And that is where the victim trap can sneak in.

Now, before anyone gets upset with me over the word “victim,” let me explain what I mean.

There are absolutely situations where people are victims of things they did not cause and could not control. I'm not talking about blaming people for circumstances that genuinely aren't their fault. 

I'm talking about what happens AFTER something difficult happens.

Though we may not get to choose what happens to us… we often get to choose what we do next.  And that choice can change the trajectory.

Your attitude doesn't change reality. It changes your response to reality.

There is actually some interesting science behind this.

Research consistently finds relationships between optimism, expectations, self-efficacy and health behaviors. A 2026 meta-analysis found that positive expectations, particularly optimism and hope, were significantly associated with healthier behaviors.

And another large meta-analysis recently looked at more than 200 experimental tests and found that interventions that changed attitudes and self-efficacy produced changes in health intentions and, importantly, actual health behaviors.

Beyond that, research on optimism and physical health has found an association between greater optimism and better physical health outcomes.

Notice what I said there:

Association.

This doesn't mean that if you just “think positive,” you will never get sick, never struggle and never experience setbacks.

That isn't how life works.

Optimism isn't denial.

It isn't pretending everything is wonderful when it isn't.

And it definitely isn't putting a cute inspirational quote over a very real problem and calling it fixed.

Instead, I think healthy optimism looks more like this:

This happened. 

I don't like it. 

I may not understand it. 

But what can I do from here?

That is a very different question.

I have had to practice this myself.

For example, I could be bitter that my doctor doesn't know how to help me with all of the changes that came with menopause.

I could blame her.

Or I could blame the medical school she attended.

Or the general lack of menopause education in traditional medical training.

Or the medical system, western societal stigmas surrounding it...

Or any number of other things.

And honestly, there are some very real problems with how menopause has historically been taught and treated.

But none of that gets me closer to feeling better.

So instead, I've spent the last several years learning.

I've been taking coursework to better understand how menopause changes hormones, how those changes can affect the body, and how nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and, when appropriate, supplementation or medical treatment can support health during this transition.

I'm not saying I should have to become my own doctor.

I'm saying I decided that being frustrated wasn't going to be my only strategy.

I could either spend my energy being angry about what I wasn't getting… or use that energy to learn what I could do next.

And that choice has made a huge difference.

Just this morning, I read about an 82-year-old man who deadlifts more than 400 pounds.

Now, I realize that sentence probably got your attention.

It certainly got mine.

This 82-year-old man began strength training in his early 70s after being diagnosed with mild osteoporosis and sarcopenia.

When he started at his local strength program for seniors, he weighed around 154 pounds and could reportedly deadlifted  only 65 pounds his first session.

He began training consistently with a trainer three days a week.  And now, years later, the article stated that he deadlifted 455 pounds.

But the part that really caught my attention wasn't the number on the bar. It was what happened between those two numbers.

He didn't look at osteoporosis and sarcopenia and say, “Well, I guess this is just what happens when you get old.”

He did something about it.

He trained.

He learned.

He progressed.

He kept showing up.

And his body responded.

That is the part I wish more people understood about health.

Your current circumstances are information. They are not necessarily your final outcome.

Maybe you have lost muscle.

Maybe your bones aren't as strong as you'd like.

Maybe your energy has tanked.

Maybe your hormones are changing.

Maybe you've gained weight.

Maybe your joints hurt.

Maybe you've tried to change your habits a dozen times and haven't been able to make them stick.

Those things matter.

But they don't automatically tell you what is possible next.

So how do we actually change our attitude?

This is where I think we sometimes make behavior change harder than it needs to be.

We wait to feel motivated.

We wait to feel positive.

We wait hoping we will naturally become the person who makes better choices.

But attitude is something we can practice.

It starts with intention.

Then practice.

Then repetition.

And yes…sometimes failing miserably and trying again.

This is actually one of the reasons I built the “Align & Stabilize Framework” into my online program, The Revitalize Method™.

Because I don't believe lasting change happens by simply knowing what you should do.

We have to connect attitude and action.

First, we align, our thoughts, expectations, priorities and choices, with where we want to go.

Then we stabilize - with the habits, strategies and consistent actions that help us actually get there.

You can have the best intentions in the world, but if your actions don't support them, nothing changes.

And you can take action all day long, but if your mindset is constantly telling you that you can't, shouldn't, or won't succeed, eventually that becomes exhausting, too.

Alignment gives your actions direction.

Action gives your intentions traction.

So what does that look like in real life?

1. Separate the facts from the story.

The fact might be: I gained 10 pounds.

The story might be: I have no discipline. I'll never lose it. My metabolism is broken. I'm getting old.

Those are not the same thing.

Start with what you actually know.  Then ask: What am I assuming?

2. Ask, What is within my control?

You may not control your diagnosis.

You may not control another person's behavior.

You may not control what your doctor knows.

You may not control the scale from one day to the next.

But you can often control the next meal.

The next workout.

The phone call.

The question you ask.

The appointment you make.

The decision to go for a walk instead of staying on the couch.

Small things count.

3. Replace Why is this happening to me? with What can I learn from this?

This one can be uncomfortable.

But it moves you from helplessness toward curiosity.

And curiosity creates options.

4. Look for evidence that you can change.

This is especially important when your brain is telling you that you've “always been this way.”

Think back.

When have you done something hard?

When have you made a change?

When have you stuck with something longer than you thought you could?

Those experiences are evidence.

Use them.

5. Focus on the next step, not the entire staircase.

You don't have to figure out how you're going to lose 30 pounds.

You don't have to know how you're going to become stronger six months from now.

You don't have to solve your entire health situation today.

You just need to figure out what comes next.

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

Because that is how change actually happens.

Get better, not bitter.

I don't know what is going on in your life right now.

Maybe things are going beautifully.

Maybe you're in the middle of a season that feels incredibly unfair.

Maybe you're somewhere in between.

But whatever you're facing, I hope you remember the lesson Lance Taylor gave his football team:

Don't let an excuse become a place to live.

You can acknowledge that something wasn't fair.

You can be disappointed.

You can be angry.

You can grieve what you hoped would happen.

And then…

You can decide what you're going to do next.

Because your attitude won't magically change the circumstances.

But it can change your response. And your response determines your next action. 

And your next action... repeated over time, can change an awful lot!

That's really what I mean when I talk about “Align & Stabilize.”

Align your attitude with what matters and where you want to go.

Then stabilize that alignment through action.

Not perfectly.

Not all at once.

But consistently.

So this week, when something doesn't go the way you wanted, pause before you ask:

Why me?

Try asking:

Okay. This is where I am. What can I do from here?

Then take the next step.

And the next.

And the next.

We're not trying to create a perfect life.

We're learning how to create a better response to, and a better outcome for, the life we're given.

Keep Shining, 

Kim

Labor Day is tomorrow.   And it has always struck me as a little bit funny.

Not the idea that we should honor those who labor and work. We absolutely should! Many of us couldn’t feed, clothe or shelter ourselves without working, and our society certainly wouldn’t function without a workforce.

But the timing?

That part makes me smile.

Labor Day marks the end of summer - a season when instead of “laboring” many of us have taken time off of work, done a bit of extra celebrating, traveled, stayed up later, relaxed, and generally stepped outside our normal routines.  

And now? We head into fall.

Back to school. 

Back to work. 

Back to schedules. 

Back to routines.

Back to the grind, so to speak.

But maybe there’s actually something pretty wise about this seasonal rhythm - because there are distinct seasons for momentum and seasons for maintenance.

Spring and fall tend to be natural times for establishing routines, building momentum and creating a strong baseline.

Summer and winter often pull us in a different direction. They give us opportunities for celebration, adventure, travel, rest and connection.

And this applies to so much more than our calendars.

It applies to our work.

Our homes.

Our relationships.

Our health and fitness.

Even our personal care rituals.

We tend to think that if we get “off track,” we’ve failed somehow.

We were doing so well...

And then vacation happened.

Or school let out for summer.

Or work got crazy.

Or the holidays came.

Or life simply… happened.

So we start over.

Again.

And again.

And again.

But what if instead of thinking of this as constantly getting on and off the wagon, we thought of it as an "ebb and flow"? A pendulum swinging one direction, and then inevitably back the other.

Athletes understand this - They don't train at maximum intensity every day, forever. They have training cycles. 

They push. 

They build. 

They recover. 

They maintain. 

And then they build again.

Farmers understand this too - They rotate crops and allow fields to rest and regenerate so the soil can continue producing year after year.

Even performers and musicians understand there is rhythm - There are seasons of intense practice and preparation, followed by seasons of performing, seasons of recovery, and then back into seasons of steady skill maintenance.

The goal isn't to be at maximum effort all the time.

The goal is to create a pattern - one that can continue.

And I think this is an important concept when it comes to our health.

Because the amount of effort it takes to create a change isn't necessarily the same amount of effort it takes to maintain that change.

Think about weight loss.

Building muscle.

Improving your strength.

Improving your cardiovascular fitness.

Improving your bloodwork.

Creating better sleep habits.

Building a healthier relationship with food.

Those things usually require some intentionality and consistency.

And to achieve that, you need a season where you are more focused.

You prioritize your workouts.

You plan your meals.

You get serious about your sleep.

You make some changes that may require a little more effort than you're accustomed to giving.

And honestly?

For me, knowing that incredibly focused season has an end makes it so much easier to hit it hard.  I certainly don't want to live at 100% effort, 100% of the time, forever and ever until the end.

That's a pretty scary commitment.

But give me a season?

I can do a season.

And then comes maintenance.

The work doesn't disappear, but the intensity can change.  You don't necessarily need to keep pushing harder and harder to hold onto what you've built.

You need to keep showing up.

You need a baseline.

You need habits that support the gains you've made.

And when you're ready for another season of growth?

You build again.

That, to me, is a much more sustainable way to approach health.

Not perfection.

Not constant intensity.

Not starting over every time life disrupts your routine.

A rhythm.

A season of pushing forward.

A season of maintaining.

A season of rest.

And then another opportunity to grow.

So as Labor Day weekend comes to a close and we head into fall...

Maybe instead of asking yourself:

How do I get back on track?

Ask yourself:

What season am I entering?

Maybe this is your season to build strength.

Maybe it's time to focus on nutrition and create some momentum with your weight.

Maybe you've already made some wonderful changes and your job right now is simply to maintain them.

Maybe you need a season of rebuilding your energy and taking better care of yourself.

There isn't one right answer.

And your season doesn't need to look like anyone else's.

The Revitalize Method is built around this same idea: looking at the whole picture - movement, nutrition, mindset and lifestyle - and creating the right balance of effort and support for where you are now.

Because your health isn't a 12-week project.

It's something you get to build, maintain, adjust and grow into through all the different seasons of your life.

So as we head into fall, don't worry about doing everything.

Choose what matters most - for this season.

And if you're not sure what that should look like, or how much commitment is actually right for you right now - reach out. I'd be happy to help you design a season of commitment that moves you forward - without requiring you to live at 100% forever.

Because sustainable doesn't mean you never push.

It means you know when to push, when to maintain, and when to let yourself breathe.

Happy Labor Day and here's to your next season!

xoxo, 

Kim

I recently read an article that promised to give seven strategies for managing anger.

And honestly? I was intrigued.

Because let's face it… Sometimes it doesn't take much.

One more email.

One more person asking, “Mom, where is my…?”

One more thing added to the schedule.

The dog needs out.

Someone forgot something.

Your coffee is cold.

You haven't eaten since breakfast.

You slept terribly.

And suddenly, the tiny little thing that normally wouldn't bother you becomes the thing that sends you over the edge.

SNAP!

And then you think, “Where the heck did THAT come from?”

The article was geared toward women, particularly women who may be navigating the hormonal shifts of midlife, and it made some really good points about how overstimulation, lack of self-care and the pace of modern life can add up.

But here's where I got a little frustrated.

The article was supposed to give seven strategies to help, but after the first few, the categories weren't really laid out clearly or explained in much detail.

So I started thinking about it...

And I decided to take the ideas that resonated with me, expand on them, and create my own seven categories of things I believe can help us to not only manage anger and reactivity, but also create a much better internal environment for everyday life.

Because as I was reading the article, here's what really struck me:

The things that help us manage anger are also the things that help us become more “regulated and resourced.”

That's the state where we have more capacity to think clearly.

To make better decisions

Stay motivated.

Learn.

Be creative.

Handle the unexpected. 

Problem-solve.

Be optimistic and actually work toward our goals.

In other words…

It's the state where we're much better equipped to “show up for our own lives.”

So here's my strategy list.

1. Sleep

This one isn't glamorous.  It's not a fancy supplement, a new workout or a 47-step morning routine.

It's sleep.

When you're exhausted, everything feels harder.  Your patience gets shorter. Your cravings can get louder. Your ability to handle stress gets smaller.

And that tiny inconvenience?

Suddenly it feels like a personal attack from the universe.

Sleep is foundational.

So rather than simply saying, “I need to sleep more,” create a boundary around it.

What time do you need to start winding down?

What can you stop doing at night?

What could you move off your plate?

What would make getting to bed 30 minutes earlier more realistic?

Sometimes taking care of yourself starts with saying:

Nope. I'm going to bed.

2. Time Alone for Quiet & Grounding

This one is HUGE.

And I don't mean scrolling your phone while sitting in the bathroom.  (Although…I’m not judging. 😂)

I mean actual time where you aren't taking in someone else's thoughts, opinions, notifications, news or entertainment.

No podcast.

No social media.

No email.

Not even a book.

Just some time to be, with yourself.

This is the piece I think we often underestimate.  Because when you're constantly consuming information and responding to everyone else's needs, you don't have much opportunity to hear your own thoughts.

Time alone creates space for quiet.

Which in turn creates an opportunity for grounding.

Go outside.

Take a walk without your earbuds.

Sit on the porch with your coffee.

Look at the trees.

Breathe.

Notice what you hear.

Notice what you feel.

Take time to process and sometimes the answer you’ve been trying to force simply show up when you finally stop feeding your brain more information.

The clarity you've been looking for might not require another podcast, book, expert or Google search.

Sometimes it requires “less input.”

3. Movement

Exercise isn't just about burning calories, changing your body or checking something off your list.

Movement changes how you feel.

It helps reduce stress, improve energy, build strength and it gives your brain a much-needed shift - endorphins are powerful medicine!

And that medicine doesn't require an hour at the gym.

Just a quick walk.

Ten minutes of strength training.

Mobility.

Dancing in your kitchen.

Whatever gets you moving.

The goal isn't punishment.

It's creating a body and nervous system that are better equipped to handle your life.

4. Nutrition

This is another one that seems ridiculously simple, and yet it is so easy to let everything else happen first.

The meeting happens.

The kids happen.

The errands happen.

The emails happen.

And suddenly it's 2:00 PM and you're standing in the kitchen thinking, “I wonder if three handfuls of almonds counts as lunch?”

Your body needs consistent fuel.

Protein.

Fiber.

Whole foods.

Enough food.

Hydration.

The basics matter.

And one of the best things you can do is make good nutrition the thing that happens no matter what else does.

Not perfect nutrition.

Whatever else happens on top of it that day…

A drink with friends

A slice of birthday cake

The date night fancy dinner

Etc..

Just consistently put the good things in first and make sure you are nourishing yourself.

5. Planning & Organization

This was one of my favorite ideas from the article!  

Having a system to catch and automate all that external busy work that creates a mental load is invaluable. 

Instead of keeping everything on a giant mental, ore even physical to-do list, use your calendar.

If something needs to happen Thursday at 2:00, put it on your calendar.

Then let it go until Thursday at 2:00.

Because your brain doesn't need to spend the next three days reminding you:

Don't forget to call the dentist.

Don't forget to order the thing.

Don't forget to send that email.

Don't forget…

Put it somewhere you trust.

Your calendar becomes the external brain.

And your brain gets to do something much more useful.

Like think.

Create.

Problem solve.

Or remember where you put your keys.

6. Clear Communication & Boundaries

Sometimes the answer isn't doing more.

Sometimes it's communicating better.

One of the principles Steven Covey made famous is:

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

I love this because good communication isn't just about making sure your needs are heard. It's also about making sure you understand what the other person needs, expects or is trying to communicate.

So often, frustration and resentment come from assumptions.

You think they know what you need.

They think you know what they need.

Nobody actually says it out loud.

And then everyone gets frustrated when things don't go the way they expected.

Sometimes a simple conversation can prevent a whole lot of unnecessary stress:

What do you need from me?

Here's what I need from you.

Can we talk about how we're going to handle this?

I thought you meant ___.

Oh! That's not what I meant at all.

Clear communication creates clarity.

And clarity makes it much easier for everyone to work together, solve problems and move through life without constantly stepping on each other's toes.

But communication also means being willing to voice what you need.

I can't take that on right now.

I need some time to think about it.

I can help, but not today.

I need you to handle this.

I need some quiet time when I get home.

Your needs matter too.

Boundaries aren't about keeping people out or making everyone else accommodate you. They're about being honest about what you can give, what you need, and what works for you. 

Because when you consistently say yes when you mean no…

Eventually your nervous system may decide to say NO for you.

And it may use a slightly louder voice.

Good communication and healthy boundaries create clarity and understanding that everyone has a better chance of getting their needs met—and things simply go more smoothly.

7. Community & Support

And finally…

We aren't meant to do all of this alone.

We need people.

People who listen.

People who encourage us.

People who make us laugh.

People who remind us who we are when we're tired and have temporarily forgotten.

Support isn't weakness.

It's part of being human.

And in our increasingly technical, increasingly isolated world, we tend to forget…

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is sit down with someone who makes you feel safe enough to exhale.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the part I really want you to take away today….

Sleep.

Take time alone, let the world become quiet and listen to your own thoughts.

Use movement and nutrition to your advantage.

Plan ahead and only keep the important things on your plate.

Listen, communicate and spend time connecting with others.

These aren't simply strategies for preventing yourself from snapping at the person who left the empty toilet paper roll on the holder.

They're strategies for creating capacity.

Capacity to think.

Capacity to respond instead of react.

Capacity to stay motivated.

Capacity to learn.

Capacity to handle stress.

Capacity to make better choices.

Capacity to pursue the things you say you want.

In other words…

Capacity to actually live the life you're trying so hard to create.

This is a big part of what we work on inside the “Align & Stabilize” pillar of The Revitalize Method ™. Because getting healthier isn't just about what happens during your workout.

It's about creating the foundation that allows you to consistently take care of yourself in the middle of your actual life.

Not your imaginary life where everyone cooperates, nobody needs anything from you, and dinner magically appears on the table.

Your real life.

The busy one.

The messy one.

The one where things don't always go according to plan.

So here's what I'd love for you to do this week:

Don't try to overhaul everything.

Pick ONE of these seven areas that could use a little more attention.

Maybe it's getting to bed earlier.

Maybe it's scheduling time alone.

Maybe it's putting your workouts on the calendar.

Maybe it's making sure protein and a real meal happen before you get to the point of eating the children's leftover crackers.

Maybe it's finally having the conversation you've been avoiding.

Maybe it's simply putting your phone down and sitting quietly for ten minutes.

Start there.

Because taking care of yourself isn't selfish.

And it isn't something you earn after everything else is done.

It is part of what makes everything else possible.

Keep Shining,

Kim

Bodies in motion tend to stay in motion, and bodies at rest… 

Well, they tend to stay at rest.

But knowing this, how can we use it to our advantage? 

This subject has actually come up recently in several family conversations.

If you could live in a place where you could be more active, wouldn’t you?  It sounds almost silly when you say it out loud.  Of course we would choose the place that makes it easier to move.

But we don’t always think about that when we’re making decisions about where we live, what kind of career we pursue, how we spend our weekends - or even where we go on vacation.  Instead, our thoughts are led by security, finance, social circles, etc.

Now, sometimes the choice to stop moving is intentional… A vacation may be exactly what we need when we want to do absolutely nothing but rest and recharge.

But other times, we unintentionally create environments that make movement harder.

We drive instead of walk.

We sit for hours at a time.

We park in the closest, most convenient spot.

We choose the easier, more convenient option over and over again.

And eventually, being inactive becomes the easier choice.

The interesting thing is that this law of physics becomes even more important as we get older.

Because the more active we stay, the longer we tend to stay active - and the better quality of life we have.

And I don’t mean that you have to be doing intense workouts every day.

I mean - keep moving your body in whatever way makes sense for you today.

Because life happens.

You get sick.

You get injured.

Your schedule gets crazy.

Your energy tanks.

You have responsibilities and obligations that simply have to come first some days.

There are absolutely times when rest is the right answer.

But there are also times when we can find a workaround instead of letting a barrier become a permanent stop sign.

One of the ways I think about this when I’m sick is by asking myself:

What percentage of 100 do I feel like today?

If I’m feeling like a 40%, I’m not going to expect myself to perform at 100%.  I won't expect myself to do anything but load up on hot tea and grab a box of Kleenex.

But when I get back to around 70%, I might start moving at about 70% of my normal.

Maybe that means:

Restorative yoga

Tai chi

Mobility work

A leisurely walk

Something that gets me moving without asking my body to do more than it’s ready for

And that transition back into movement can be so much easier than going from completely sedentary to trying to jump right back into your normal routine.

The same idea applies when you’re injured.

Let’s say you hurt your elbow.

Your elbow may need rest, rehabilitation and time to heal.

But does that mean your entire body needs to stop moving?

Not necessarily.

You can still train your legs.

You can work on your core.

You can maintain your cardiovascular endurance.

You can work on mobility in other areas of your body.

You may need to modify what you’re doing, but modification isn't the same thing as stopping.

It is still movement.

Traveling?  Modify your workout to fit in a suitcase.

Been away for a while? Modify the way you start back up.

And this is one of the reasons I believe movement is a choice we have to keep choosing throughout our lives.

Not because we should constantly be pushing ourselves.

Not because rest is bad.

And definitely not because we should ignore pain, illness or legitimate limitations.

But because staying in motion helps us keep the ability to stay in motion.

Think about that for a minute.

The goal isn't simply to be fit today.

The goal is to maintain the strength, mobility, balance, endurance and confidence that allow you to continue doing the things you love tomorrow… and five, ten and twenty five years from now.

That’s one of the things I teach inside The Revitalize Method™.

We don’t just talk about workouts.

We work on learning how to make choices that keep you moving - even when life doesn't go exactly according to plan.

Because there will always be obstacles.

There will be busy seasons.

There will be vacations.

There will be illnesses and injuries.

There will be days when you have 100% to give and days when you have 50%.

The goal isn't to eliminate those days.

The goal is to learn how to keep moving forward through them.

So this week, I want you to look around at your own life.

Where are you making movement easier?

And where might you be unintentionally making it harder?

Maybe it's time to park a little farther away.

Take the stairs.

Go for a 10-minute walk after dinner.

Get up from your desk every hour.

Choose a vacation that gives you opportunities to explore on foot.

Or simply ask yourself, “What movement can I do today?”

Because bodies in motion tend to stay in motion.

And sometimes the best thing we can do for our future selves is simply...

Keep moving.

xoxo,

Kim

Have you ever stopped to think about what support really means?

We talk about support all the time when it comes to reaching our health and fitness goals.

We talk about accountability.

We talk about motivation.

We talk about having people who cheer us on.

But I think we often gloss over what true support actually looks like.

Support isn't just having someone say, “I'm proud of you!” or “You've got this!”

Those things are wonderful.

But true support is help.

Support is something, or someone, that makes reaching your goal a little bit easier.  Somthing that takes some of the mental, physical or emotional load off your shoulders.

I recently hired a virtual assistant and operations person to help with some of the administrative tasks in my business and create more streamlined back-end systems, and I was immediately reminded how important support is.

My goal is to help more people.

But getting there requires a LOT of things to happen behind the scenes.

Details to track. 

Tasks that need to get done. 

Systems to build.

Deadlines to remember.

And honestly, I didn't realize just how much mental space all of that was taking up until someone else started helping me carry it.

There is something incredibly freeing about knowing that someone else is helping make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

I'm still responsible for my business.

I'm still working toward the same goals.

But I don't have to carry all of it by myself.

That's support.

And it made me think about how often we expect ourselves to accomplish our health goals while carrying the entire load ourselves, too.

Think about why so many families eventually move back closer to “home.”

It's not just because they love being near family - though we do love them.

It's because help matters.

Grandparents who can pick up the kids.

A sibling who can help when things get crazy.

Someone who can pitch in on a week when you're stretched thin.

There really is a reason they say:

It takes a village.

So what if you had a village supporting your health?

What might that look like?

Maybe it's a friend who wants to go for a walk or a bike ride with you instead of always meeting for dinner and drinks.

A family member who is willing to pick up the kids on Tuesday nights so you can stop at the gym on your way home from work.

Your spouse agreeing that you're not going to keep the sweets in the house while you're working toward your weight-loss goal.

Asking someone else to help with dinner or dishes one night a week so you have the energy to take care of yourself.

And maybe, true support can happen by simply being bold enough to say to the people around you…

“This goal is important to me because… And here's a way you can help.”

There's also another kind of support that we too often forget about.

The support we give ourselves.

How are you supporting your body to help accomplish your health goals?

Are you drinking enough water?

Feeding it the nutrients it needs to help your brain think clearly, your muscles build and recover, and your joints move better?

Giving your body the building blocks it needs to actually make the changes you're asking it to make?

Because we can't expect our bodies to continually perform, adapt, recover and change if we're not giving them the internal support they need to do it.

Sometimes that support can be external too.

Maybe it's wearing compression socks when you know you'll be on your feet all day.

Using a foam roller or getting a massage when you've overworked your body - before you're so stiff and sore that you can barely move.

Still committing to movement, but choosing mobility work instead of pushing through a tough workout because your body is telling you it needs something different today.

Support doesn't always mean doing more.

Sometimes support means making things easier.

That's one of the ideas behind the “Nourish & Energize” pillar of my online program The Revitalize Method™.

It's not simply about what or how much you eat.

It's about asking:

"What can I do so that I have the energy, and my body has the tools, to support my goals? How can I help make it easier to keep moving toward them - physically, mentally and emotionally?"

So this week, I'd love for you to think about support a little differently.

Look around you and note - 

Where are you already being supported?

Who is helping make your life, or your health goals, a little easier?

Take a moment to be grateful.

Thank them for that support.

And then ask yourself -

Where could I use a little more help?

Maybe there's something you've been carrying alone that you don't actually have to.

Maybe it's time to ask for help.

Because you don't have to do everything yourself.

And sometimes the next step toward your goal isn't finding more motivation, more discipline or more willpower.

Sometimes it's simply finding more support.

And that might be the thing that makes the difference.

I can sometimes “geek out” about exercise.

Not the kind of "geek out" like one of my dear friends in college who laughed so hard they ended up curled into a ball on the floor for 30 minutes holding their stomach in hysterics. 

I mean the more nerdy kind of geeking out...the kind where you disappear down a rabbit hole until you've learned every last bit of information possible about a subject simply because it's fascinating!

That's probably why I earned my youth exercise certification when my boys were still in elementary school. It's why, when a client mentions their knee has been stiff, you'll find me the following week testing out the new exercises on myself that I've been researching to understand the exact muscles they target, how they move the joint, and how effective they really are. 

It's also why so much of my continuing education over the last few years has focused on menopause, integrating the pelvic floor with strength training, bone density, and healthy aging.

If it's relevant and it helps solve a problem, I'm all in.

That's my "geek out" level.

The truth is, not everyone gets that excited about exercise, nutrition, or taking care of their health.

But everyone gets that excited about something...

Maybe it's your family. Your career. Gardening. Traveling. Photography. Volunteering. Building a business. Creating art. Learning. Being outdoors. Watching your grandchildren grow up.

We all have something that lights us up.

Sometimes, though, life gets noisy.

Deadlines.

Appointments.

Social media.

Laundry.

Emails.

An endless list of things demanding our attention.

With enough distractions, it's easy to lose sight of the deeper reason behind why we're working so hard in the first place.

And that's exactly why I believe "discovering your why" is one of the most powerful things you can do - not just for your life, but for your health.

Because health isn't the destination.

It's the vehicle.

The stronger, healthier, and more energetic you are, the more fully you can live the life that's important to you.

Good health gives you the energy to chase toddlers around the yard...or hike a mountain you've always wanted to climb.

It helps you stay mentally sharp at work.

It gives you confidence to say yes to new experiences.

It allows you to travel and not worry if your body can keep up.

It lets you show up for the people you love.

Your workouts aren't really about your workouts.

Your nutrition isn't really about your nutrition.

They are investments in whatever matters most to you.

One of the pillars inside my program The Revitalize Method ™ is called Align & Stabilize, and that is exactly what we work on.  We spend time connecting healthy habits to the life you actually want to live - because lasting motivation rarely comes from the scale. It comes from purpose.

When your daily choices are connected to something meaningful, consistency becomes much easier.

So this week, I'll leave you with one simple question:

*”What's your why?”

What's the reason you want to be healthier?

I'd genuinely love to hear it.

Reply to this email and tell me what you're working toward.  Share it out loud with someone who's special to you as well.

You never know... your “Why” might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today

Keep Shining,

Kim