{Fit Inspiration} Lead By Example

By Kira O’Donnell

Have you ever found yourself trying to convince a friend, family member, or coworker to work out with you or eat healthier? Have you also noticed that many times it doesn’t work? I have. When something is working for us we want so badly for everyone else to try it and be successful too. Sometimes trying to push someone to do something is a big turn off for them though. I have actually noticed that it’s when I am not even trying that other people will follow my lead.

You never know who is watching you and who you may be influencing on a daily basis.

Take children for example, whether you have them or not I think most of us know that they are a sponge! Repeating words and behaviors that sometimes make us cringe. Don’t be fooled though. They see us doing the good as well.

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I remember babysitting a 5 year old not too long again when we sat down for a snack. I sat down to have my daily granny smith apple and she opened up her drawer in the kitchen designated for yummy snacks.  She came back to the table and pointed at my apple and said” I want one of those.”  I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t want to share my deliciousness but my parents taught me better than that 😉 haha If you eat healthy foods, your kids will most likely want what you are having as well.

Another example comes from a weekend long baseball tournament I worked a few months back. I, of course, packed a ginormous cooler of fat loss friendly meals and snacks so that I wouldn’t be tempted by the concession stand. I had quite a few people comment on the fact that my food looked so good compared to what their options were. (Fail to plan, plan to fail) On the last day of the tournament I decided that I wanted to enjoy a bag of peanut M&Ms. Well as I am sitting there eating them, 2 older gentlemen come up to me and say, “Hey! You have been eating healthy food all week. What are you doing with that candy?!” We all laughed as I explained that I enjoy some treats now and again too. The point is that other people noticed that I chose to bring my own healthy options and maybe that will inspire them to bring their own snacks next time.

One of our Bikini Boot Camp classes is held outdoors which means the kiddos can come.photo 2

My favorite part about this is that the kids that have come never want to sit and watch.They aredoing jumping jacks, running sprints, and one sweet little girl even has her own set of 1 lb weights now! Just think of the awesome memories that she will have of joining her mom for morning workouts at the park.

Other great ways to set a good example for the younger crowd is to go for daily walks instead of watching tv, sign your kids up for sports to get them active, and involving them in activities like fun runs for kids that are held at most adult road races.

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Something that I have noticed about working at a few different places in a small town is that I am bound to run into someone wherever I go. I have had clients sneaking a peak at my grocery cart and even come up to me at a restaurant to see what I’ve ordered. I am in no way saying that I am perfect (a few people have caught me at DQ or eating waffle fries at Chic Fila haha) but I try my hardest to set a good example just by the way I live.

 

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