Why It's OK To Have Non-Negotiables

If you know anything about my strategy and beliefs in helping women reach their goals - you know I am NOT a fan of cookie cutter programs and workouts that many trainers believe are one-size-fits-all approaches.Truth is - we are all SO different - and need a little something different when it comes to reaching our goals and feeling our best.I truly believe that the only way to get REAL & LASTING results is rooted *knowing* yourself,  which is why when I onboard clients I want to know EVERYTHING about their lifestyle and preferences.For example - I recently took on a client who has to be at work at 5:30 am and cannot even bear the thought of eating anything before 7 am. Therefore - I am NOT about to be forcing this client to go against the way her body feels and force herself to eat when she simply can’t.While I feel that being open to changing our habits & making sacrifices to reach our goals is IMPORTANT,  there is a distinction between the discipline required to change AND going against what your body is telling you.Deciphering between the two can be a little tricky. Let me explain the difference...

Non-Negotiables vs. "I just don't wannas"

Non-Negtioables are things that you literally just cannot even fathom doing - even the thought of it makes you almost cringe.For example - some Non-Negotiables can be things like:

• Dreading going to the gym at 5 am
• Not being able to stand even the sight of broccoli
• Feeling sick if you eat anything before 7 am
• Feeling sluggish if you eat 1 hour before working out

"I just don't wannas" are things like:

• Hating all green vegetables
• Skipping your workouts because you "just don't feel like it"
• Not nailing your nutrition protocols because "things happened"

The difference between the Non-Negotiables and the "I just don't wannas" is that there are workarounds for the Non-Negotiables.Can't workout at 5 am? What about at 5 pm?Can't stand the sight of broccoli? What about asparagus?Feel sick if you eat before 7 am? Have breakfast at 9 or 10 am.Feel sluggish if you eat 1 hour before your workout? Eat 2 hours before.You can ALWAYS find an alternative and your Non-Negotiables will NOT keep you from making progress - so long as you commit to finding workarounds.The problem for many people lies in the fact that they get too comfortable with the "I just don't wannas" - and the more they give into these - the more off track they fall. 

You MUST honor your Non-Negotiables

I really really really believe that we've got to honor our Non-Negotiables. Non-Negotiables come from our inner voice - our intuition - and I've found that people who DO NOT honor their Non-Negotiables end up very disconnected from their body and intuition.Chances are - you have a good understanding of what your Non-Negotiables are and you shouldn't try to fight them! Knowing yourself is a beautiful thing - if you KNOW that eggs make you feel icky - it could be for good reason (maybe you have an egg intolerance of some kind?), if working out in the wee hours of the morning just isn't your thing - maybe your body's biorhythm doesn't perform well doing physical activity in the morning. My point is - knowing what your Non-Negotiables are is a HUGE strength - instead of trying to fight them - surrender to them and find your work arounds.And remember, there is a difference between the Non-Negotiables and the "I just don't wannas"... 

You've also got to train yourself to do the "I just don't wannas"

Have a weight loss goal? Want to drop a jean size or two? It's not going to be easy and you are not always going to "feel" like doing what you need to do to get there.In fact, the BIGGEST mindset shift that I always tell my clients is that they need to accept the fact that reaching their goals is going to be uncomfortable. Heck it's even going to be downright painful at times. Once you accept that the process will not be easy - you are more likely to step into the zone of relentless discipline and get the job done.Look - nothing in life that is worth it comes easily. We have to work for what we want - and that involves doing things we just don't want to do. On the other hand - it's perfectly OK and in my opinion HEALTHY to have Non-Negotiables - it shows that you know yourself well enough to honor your intuition and the feedback your body is giving you.I want to know - what is one of your Non-Negotiables that you won’t change to reach your goals? And what is your workaround for it? Comment below!