My husband and I just got back from an amazing ski vacation in Whistler, Canada this week!

While we had a fabulous time, I learned a few life lessons on my trip that can directly help you to lose weight, get fit, and reach any goal you set your mind on! Check out the lessons below:

1. TRUST YOURSELF

At times while we were skiing, I found myself second guessing my own skill levels. Physically, I am a good skier who can conquer anything on the mountain. Mentally, I kept freaking myself out that I was going to fall and injure myself. I learned that when I trusted myself, I conquered all of the runs we skied AND I had a blast doing it! 

2. MAKE A PLAN AND EXECUTE IT LIKE A BOSS

While skiing, we hit quite a few runs that were covered in moguls, or huge bumps of snow. I quickly learned that the safest, most efficient way to ski moguls WHILE having fun is to create a pathway in your mind through the moguls and just GO. If you start to change your mind or question your path, you end up skidding over the bumps... Which isn’t fun and puts you at risk to hurt yourself. Don’t second guess your actions or your goals. Create a path and give it 100%.

3. DON’T LET SETBACKS RUIN YOUR PROGRESS

No matter what types of goals you’re trying to achieve, it's inevitable... You’re going to face setbacks. While skiing, there were times we encountered rocks or small cliffs. There were other times where I skidded on ice and fell down. I knew going into this trip that we were skiing for 6 days, so the chances I fall at least once were pretty high. I could’ve easily given up when I fell, but I strapped my skis back on and kept going. If you prepare for setbacks, you’ll be more more likely to keep going when they happen. 

4. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY (AND YOUR GUT!)

On the second day of our trip, I got the stomach flu. Needless to say, I felt pretty crappy. However, I tried to convince myself that I could ski in the afternoon after being sick all morning... When the afternoon rolled around, I had to stop and listen to my body. I was exhausted, and as much as I wanted to ski, I knew my body was too tired to stay safe on the mountain. Have you ever felt that deep feeling inside your gut? Let that feeling (your intuition) guide you while making decisions about your goals.

5. FOCUS ON ONE STEP (OR TURN) AT A TIME

From the top of the peaks to the village at Whistler was over 5,000 vertical feet. That means that many of the ski runs from top to bottom were a few miles long. Every time we were at the peak and I thought of how far we had to ski to the bottom, I became overwhelmed. I found that I enjoy skiing SO much more when I focus on each turn (or step of the journey) as opposed to getting to the “finish line.” Whether your trying to lose 5 pounds or 50 pounds, break up your big, final goal into smaller, manageable tasks. You’ll be surprised at how much progress you can make when you focus on one step (or turn) at a time!

Whether you’re trying to get a promotion at work, slim down and tone up, meet that special someone, or run a half-marathon... I hope these tips and tricks help you stay motivated to achieve your goals!