Get a game plan for a healthier you
13th April 2010
Sticking to a healthy diet and lifestyle can be hard work, and it’s easy to slide into bad habits. Ever wish you had a coach by your side to keep you on track and inspire you to be your best? We’ve enlisted the support of Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans to help you get motivated and get results.
At Thompson’s, we’re proud to supply the Wallabies with the very best nutritional supplements to help them maintain and enhance their health, perform at their peak and stay on top of their game.
But of course, whether you’re a world-class rugby player or a lesser mortal like the rest of us, optimal health involves a lot more than taking supplements. It’s about eating a clean, nutritious diet, regularly participating in activities that make you feel on top of the world, and fostering a positive outlook. For the long haul.
What will it take to make a healthier you? We asked Wallabies Coach and Thompson’s Brand Ambassador Robbie Deans, and here’s what he said: “A clear and compelling goal. A can-do attitude. A commitment to making changes. And a game plan to guide you every step of the way.”
With over 30 years experience competing and coaching at an international level, there’s nobody better than Robbie to help you put together – and stick to – a game plan for a healthier you. We’re thrilled that he’s part of our team, and excited to be able to share his insights and enthusiasm with you through this ongoing series about staying motivated and improving your health.
Step 1: Set yourself a clear goal
So you want to be healthier, fitter or stronger.
Those are all nice ideals, but they’re also a little vague. How will you know when you get there?
Like any other journey, the most direct route to a healthier you should start with a destination in mind. Take some time now to identify the one or two health goals that you want to focus on, and be as specific as you can.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- I’m going to stop smoking once and for all
- I’m sick of being overweight. I’m going to get rid of this spare tyre
- I’m getting fit enough to participate in that fun run I’ve always wanted to do
Make it compelling
The examples above are clearer than the ones we started with, but are they compelling enough to pull you towards them on the days you can’t be bothered?
Robbie’s suggestion is that you formulate your health goals ‘First with your head, and then with your heart’.
In other words, attaching an emotional hook to your goal will make it more powerful, and increase your level of commitment to it. Try these examples on for size:
- I’m going to stop smoking so that I set a good example for the kids AND have the energy to play touch footy with them at the park
- I’m going to fit back into that outfit my partner loved me in on our honeymoon
- I’m getting fit enough to run in the Mother’s Day Classic in honour of my mum, and I’ll raise $300 for breast cancer research while I’m at it
Feel the difference? Not only are these goals more specific (you’ll definitely know when you’ve achieved them), but they also provide you with a more profound reason to stick to your game plan. In Robbie’s words, they help you ‘Aspire to something that has more meaning than winning or losing’.
The first step of many
Congratulations! If you’ve set yourself a goal and feel determined to achieve it, you’re already on your way to becoming a healthier you.
In the next article in this series, Robbie will help you develop your game plan. Til then, stay focused on the real reasons you want to make these changes in your life – the ones that talk to your heart.
