How do we balance family, social life and work on top of fitness and wellness?

Truthfully, though easier said than done, it comes down to planning, accountability, time management and balance.

Balance: part 1

You can’t pour from an empty cup — the age-old cliché rings true for everybody, yet is so easily dismissed.

1, Only you know how busy you are; the limitations you have due to your work schedule, family obligations and social life. However, believe it or not, having a busy life is not unique to you. Wow, right? It is not an excuse to neglect yourself either.

Sit down, write out a schedule, co-ordinate with family and work schedules and hold yourself accountable to it.

2, Nowhere does it say you have to complete one hour of exercise or two hours, or even commit to training twice a day. If your schedule does not allow for this type of commitment, don’t force it. You’ll run the risk of burning out or simply giving up. It’s better to set achievable fitness and wellness goals. If on Mondays your entire schedule only allows for 30 minutes, then commit wholeheartedly to that 30 minutes, getting the most of the time allowed.

At the end of the day it matters not how bad you want to better your health but rather how hard you’re willing to work for it. Should you require a 5am session twice a week due to other obligations, then do it. You cannot get mad at the results you aren’t getting from the work you aren’t putting in.

It takes time and effort; manage it well.

3, Most importantly, do not punish yourself should you miss a workout due to other obligations. Life happens! Staying true to yourself, remembering to take care of yourself first (even if it comes off as selfish) will undoubtedly allow you to fully cater to every and anything else.

Balance: part 2

Balance looks different for everyone. What works for me may not work for you. During this lifestyle you may feel the pressure to eat clean 100 per cent of the time, never skip a workout, maintain a certain physique 12 months of the year plus more. Let’s be real here — it ain’t gonna happen! We are human after all. We have lives to live and enjoy fully, so let’s cut the crap.

So back to it then, balance! What does balance look like for me? Dre balances pizza and drinks on Friday evenings and a clean diet Saturday to Thursday (kale, sweet potato, chicken or salmon, broccoli, habanero BBQ almonds, grapefruits, bananas, Chobani ... yeah almost every week it looks the same. I’m a lazy chef). Some months I balance pizza every two weeks or three. Two sessions a day, five days a week and a Saturday group session with clients. Is this every month without fail? Nope! Am I completely hard on myself? Nope! Do I miss workouts? Yes! Does this mean that you can eat pizza every Friday and still manage weight loss maintenance? Nope (or maybe you can). We are all different. How your body reacts to certain foods is completely different to mine or anybody else’s. You must find what works for you. I’m a firm believer that we can eat healthy, remain active and still indulge in life’s awesomeness — once we have our balance figured out.

Conclusion (ish)

Still confused? Still wondering how you can figure out what works for you? Try a journal. Week to week, write down your obligations, family schedule, what you’ve been eating (play around with different indulgences), your workouts — maybe try two a day — water intake; if female, menstrual (cause let’s be real, it affects weight, water retention, mood, etc), stress levels, weight, measurements even take pictures, etc. Look back over your notes and see what you feel was the best week/month for you. How comfortable were you with your body, workouts, timing, etc. Note how certain foods made you feel, made you look. How certain workouts made you feel. Once you’ve played around with it, you should be able to find what your balance looks like.

Life is meant for living, enjoying, smiling, loving, improving, grinding and throwing weights around, LOL. Find your balance between managing your time well, committing to your schedule, holding yourself accountable and remembering that this is a journey not a destination. Enjoy it!

• Dre is a retired track and field athlete who is now a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict” with more than five years’ experience. She specialises in nutrition, weight and sprint training, operating out of HindsSight Fitness and Wellness at the Berkeley Cultural Centre. Contact her on: absbydre@gmail.com or 599-0412. Find her on both Facebook and Instagram under @Absbydre.