HAPPY NEW YEAR! Finally, we made it to 2021 and, now, let’s hope for nothing but health, happiness, positive vibes, and so much more! With it being the start of a brand new year, it is a clean slate to start anew – personally, professionally, physical, mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually, and so forth. My wish for you this year is to make a commitment to be the best version of your current self!
I am going to start from the beginning. While I mention this here and there – my plan is to incorporate more over these next 12 months – my background is in Exercise Science. Really, I live and breath health & wellness BUT it is not as strict as you may think.
I have been in the profession for what is going on 15 years – gosh, hard to believe. I hold a degree in Exercise Science, as well as a multitude of various fitness & nutrition certifications that correlate to the practice. I have worked, and been part of, pretty much everything and anything – a trainer in “big box gyms” and “boutique-style” settings, worked a bit in strength and conditioning, worked for another corporate wellness company doing everything from teaching group fitness classes, personal training, giving seminars, overseeing coaching operations, biometric screenings, etc.
In 2014, I decided to break out of the “working for someone else” bubble, and went into business with a colleague. This is when “2 Health Nuts” was born; an on-site, corporate health & wellness company that focuses on high-touch engagement in the areas of fitness, nutrition, and stress management. These include the implementation of signature on-site fitness classes, 1-on-1 and small group personal training, lunch and learns, lifestyle coaching, and so much more. FYI: Our brand new site just launched, mid-December! Definitely check it out!
It was at the end of 2014, beginning of 2015, that I was in the midst of a big shift. Personally, I was dealing with a, now, ex-husband who turned my life upside down, I was full steam ahead with trying to get my business up, and off, the ground, and I was feeling that my passion for my work was taking a bad turn. That year may have been right up there with 2020.
With everything going on in my life, work was my outlet but it was becoming, what I felt, was my evil step sister. While change was happening around me, I knew my mindset and attitude needed to change towards my work if I ever wanted it to succeed.
I started working with a business coach, moved to California for a bit, started my blog which was everything BUT fitness that I loved, and I just wanted to find myself again.
This was the start of my commitment to myself.
With this came a pivotal swing of how I started coaching clients, and how I perceived this idea of health & wellness. Actually, life in general. I will be completely honest when I say I did some crazy shit in my day with counting calories, excessive workouts, cheat days, etc. Oh, for another blog post.
Yes, this is all while I was fully invested in wanting to be a force to be reckon with in the industry.
What’s funny now? People know me more as “Janine Serio – Influencer” than “Janine Serio – Fitness & Nutrition Guru.” My wellness role keeps me (more) behind the scenes and, for right now, my gut continues to tell me this is where I need to be.
Yes, back to my “pivotal swing.” Instead of viewing fitness and nutrition as black & white, I started viewing it as “gray.” You start removing the mindset of “all or nothing,” and replace it with terms like “moderation,” although I really think that word is overused.
Food is not “good or bad;” it’s fuel! Yes, there are, of course, items that fuel you a whole heck of a lot better than others BUT, if you eat with enjoyment, and satisfaction, you will never have to worry! You will be happier, trust me!
Same rules apply with fitness! Working out every single day, for 60+ minutes, doing only cardio, or WHATEVER in excess is a hormonal nightmare. More is not better; BETTER IS BETTER. I don’t want to get too technical here because, again, I am trying to keep a healthy BALANCE between my blog and 2 Health Nuts, but the more you push, the more your body is going to push back.
Let’s apply this with how I started this blog post – making a commitment to living your best life in 2021. There is a saying that I love, and it is pretty simplistic – “progress over perfection.”
Perfection is a myth, and the more we try to attain, the more we start going in the wrong direction. Kind of like saying, the more money you make, the more you spend and more you want. It’s about finding that sweet spot; what makes you happy, fills your soul, has you leveling up every single day, and reminds you along that way that you are human. You make mistakes. And that is okay.
When we start letting go of expectations of “what should be,” or even how things are supposed to look, we free our minds of the negative energy and vibes. Our heart is fuller, we exude more positive “woo woo” into the universe, out creativity becomes that much greater, and, before we know it, everything we ever want starts to come towards us.
Make the commitment to yourself this year that the best version of YOU is that one that says I am who I am, and I do the best I can every single day. Some may come a little more put together than others, and that is f*%$ing awesome!
Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2021! Keep trusting the process, and making that commitment every day!
xoxo