Tracy Anderson has spent decades helping women sculpt and perfect their bodies. Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna can both attest to the power of her workouts. But it’s not just the physical dedication that the fitness guru attributes to her success, it’s balance. As a working mother constantly under the public microscope, Tracy knows all too well how difficult it can be to find time for yourself when you have a demanding job, a family and a social life. We asked her to highlight the key things to bear in mind as we all try to stick to resolutions this new year.
Have a Truthful Conversation with Yourself
It’s imperative that you’re aware of how productive you’re really being. Write down exactly what you’re eating. If you put it in your mouth, it counts. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a handful of almonds! Same goes for your workouts. Wear a stopwatch and hit pause every time you take a break to check your phone or succumb to some other distraction. Finally, I’m sorry, but you have to step on the scale! You might be pissed off, but you have to know the facts. It then becomes your responsibility to properly digest the cut-and-dried information.
Be Optimistic
Know that the future is powered by you. You have to be optimistic and willing to be a stronger person after you assess where you are right now. Don’t self-sabotage by judging yourself. Take the information and remind yourself that it’s just a diagnosis and that you have the power to change it.
Hold Yourself Accountable
Forget juice cleanses and four-minute-a-day workouts, that’s not how you’re going to become an achiever. Instead, center on holding yourself accountable. It’s important to remember not to use other people as an excuse to not show up for yourself. This can be especially difficult for mothers, but you don’t want to look at your kids someday and think, “I didn’t achieve because you were holding me back.” You want to be able to look at your kids and say, “I gave to you, but I also showed up for myself, so I taught you how to show up for yourself.” My son is 16 and he’s proud that I work and workout. It’s not always easy. Sometimes there are tough conversations, but saying, “No, I can’t watch that movie with you because I have to answer emails or workout” is also a good way to teach your children cause and effect. In the end, there is no excuse not to take care of yourself.
Think Through the Consequences
When it comes to diet, being aware of what your body and emotions are telling you is key. Think through the consequences and set limits for yourself. Unless you’re incredibly vain, it’s impossible not to give into indulgences on occasion and that’s OK. Food is meant to be enjoyed and celebrated, so don’t punish yourself for loving great food. But when you indulge, do so mindfully. Yes, I love chocolate, but you’re never going to see me eating a bag of Double Stuffed Oreos; instead, I’ll go for something like a bag of dark chocolate covered almonds.
Don’t Focus on Others
In the end, we’re all just human and we all have the ability to achieve great things. If people spent less energy being obsessed with celebrities and looking at airbrushed photos and instead focused on finding worth in themselves, they’d see tremendous results. Believe in yourself and focus in on you. Don’t look in the mirror wishing you had XYZ person’s legs, instead look at yourself and assess where you have balance and where you have imbalance. How you talk to yourself on the most basic level and how you look at yourself in the mirror are incredibly important.
