As we wrap up summer and head back into school days, the return to routine can be both amazing and jarring at the same time.

We talk a lot here about how maintaining healthy habits and progress over the summertime- simply maintaining-  is a win, and it is true! There are vacations, bbq’s, celebrations… all good things that tend to have a way of enticing us to loosen the reins on our nutrition, and skip a few extra workouts. This isn’t a bad thing- this is living life in community and relationship, and it is why we work hard the rest of time!

The Post-Summer Blues Are Real

…but let’s talk about that return to “the rest of the time.” The post-summer blues can be real! It can feel SO HARD. Even if we have maintained within a certain range, our workouts may feel extra hard as some endurance has been lost. Our jeans might be fitting a little tight as we’ve had a few more ice cream treats with the kids. Our bedtime probably needs some reigning in as we’ve stayed up later watching a new show with the hubby, or finishing that new book we picked up at the library. 

The Power of Three Days

There is something magical about the number 3 with macros. Setting your intention to just do the thing for three days after a season of leniency will set you on track and get all the good things moving again in the direction of your goals. 

Strive for…

• 3 workouts in a row– one each day to gain momentum. You can grab our free at home workouts HERE.
• 3 days of meals planned in advance– just enough to not feel overwhelmed. Use your Monthly Macro Meals to help you with this!
• 3 daily habits– the ones that make everything else easier. Pick three that you know you can achieve. i call these small wins, but they’ll still push you! For example: Get dressed and ready right after your workout, 100 oz of water, 10K steps.

This sets the tone and will help you to ease back into routine without the all or nothing pressure. By day four, you’re feeling the benefits AND it isn’t feeling so hard, which makes it encouraging to just keep going! 

The Three-Week Breakthrough

The three week mark is another one I like to use with my clients. It is true for workouts and it’s true for nutrition! Put in the work for three weeks– those three weeks may feel intensely hard and you’ll have to dig deep to keep doing the thing each day and putting in the reps. But then you hit the three week mark, and almost magically everything starts to feel a little easier, a little more habitual.

Progress Adds Up Like Compound Interest

The scale is coming down, your endurance and strength is building, your body composition is changing and showing in those progress photos and how your clothes fit, your energy is better…the list goes on and on!!!

Be Encouraged—You’ve Got This!

If you’re coming off of summer feeling a little overwhelmed by the work ahead of you as you strive for that routine again– be encouraged! Take it one day at a time and focus on putting in the reps, one day at a time. Let it build just like interest in your savings account, and watch the wins add up!