Hello everyone and thanks for visiting our blog!  We have officially launched our website, so check it out at www.smartfitchicks.com.  We are so excited to start interacting with you, because ultimately you drive our content!  At any point, if you have ideas, suggestions, questions, comments, or just want to chat, we encourage you to get in touch with us through email at smartfitchicks@gmail.com or on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/smartfitchicks.

So to start, we thought it would be fun to do a little goal setting exercise.  Since it is the goal of Smart Fit Chicks to empower our users to “be the best version of you”, we’d like you to start thinking about a health related goal to set for yourself.  We’re going to start with some visualization.

When you think about your “best version of you”, what do you see?  Take some time here to think about these questions.  How do you feel?  How do you look?  What kinds of things are you doing regularly?  Who is in your best self vision?  What kinds of things or people are you surrounding yourself with?

We’re going to call this your “Best Self Vision” and we’ll be coming back to this frequently.  So, we’d encourage you to write it down.  We’d also recommend writing it in the present tense.  Research shows that with positive affirmations, writing them in the present tense is much more effective than the future tense.  So, instead of “I will be fit” you’ll write, “I am fit.”  Here are a couple suggestions for journaling.  Penzu has a free diary option.  Facebook also has a “Notes” app where you can journal and either leave it private, or publicize it so your friends can see (in the search bar, type notes and it’s the first thing to show up).  Finally, you can always go old school and keep a paper and pen journal.  That’s up to you, but either way, write it down!

So, over the next couple days, we want you to spend some time thinking about your “Best Self Vision.”  Answer those questions we listed above.  The more individualized you can make your vision, the better.  Then later this week, we’ll be posting about how to set SMART goals.

Need some ideas?  Below are examples of our “Best Self Visions.”

Chrissy:

“I am happy, healthy and fit.  I have a healthy, balanced relationship with food, where I use it to fuel my body.  I look fit and lean, like the girls on the cover of Oxygen magazine.  I feel strong when I lift weights and when I am pushing myself during cardio.  I workout 5-6 days a week, and also enjoy the days when I give my body a rest.  I bike most places instead of drive.  I surround myself with friends who value healthy living as well.  I keep my kitchen stocked with healthy foods.  I enjoy helping others to adopt healthy lifestyles as well.”

Kellie:

“The best version of me is happy and healthy. The best version of me is confident with every part of my body, soul, and mind. I feel empowered and full of life. I look strong. I look beautiful. I’m eating clean while allowing my self life’s simple pleasures (e.g.. Chocolate), without feeling any guilt. I’m surrounded by friends and loved ones who support me as I support them. I am happy.”