Live a Healthy Lifestyle with Coach Cam

Another new month means it's time for a new set of goals. If last month did not go to plan, let’s use this month for a fresh start to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. We spoke with none other than Coach Cam, known on Instagram as @coachcamcamfit. She shares her insight into living a healthy lifestyle and helping others achieve their goals.

 

Cam says, “What inspires me is knowing that every day I wake up is a blessing and realizing that is truly a gift. I know this probably sounds cheesy to a lot of people, but this comes from my heart and soul...one of my greatest daily intentions is to leave a positive impact, even if it is just one person. If I can inspire at least one person to get back up again, to keep going, to love themselves a little more, to help them see how wonderful they are, to help them reignite their light, this is what fuels me daily!”

 

Cam provides workout guides, meal plans, and hype playlists perfect for anyone looking to start their fitness journey. Her authenticity and approach to living a balanced lifestyle are just a few of the reasons why we find Cam so inspiring. We will be sharing Cam’s fitness journey and how she implements healthy habits into her everyday routine and looks stylish doing it. 

 

   

Create Sustainable Habits

Cam has been an athlete her whole life, starting with soccer and basketball, then playing golf in high school where she was blessed with a full-ride golf scholarship to Jackson State University. But as most of us experience, life catches up, and we lose motivation to stay active.

 

“My healthy active lifestyle journey started about four years ago when I was a preschool teacher. I would come to work tired, exhausted, getting sick and my kids were running circles around me. As I reflected I realized that I wasn’t fueling my body properly (lots of greasy foods, mainly fast food because I was too lazy and didn’t make myself or my health a priority, plus diabetes and high blood pressure runs deep in my family). This put a decline in how I was showing up for myself, my kiddos, and in the world. It got so bad to the point where I decided enough was enough, I was tired of getting sick all the time, feeling sluggish, and not operating as my higher self.  I made a powerful decision to simply start, taking that first step, powerfully choosing to shift my old ways of being.”

 

Taking the time out of your day to move your body will help release those endorphins to cultivate positive energy. Of course, it can be difficult to find time in our busy schedules, but prioritizing movement in our daily routine is essential to our overall well-being. Over time, it will become second nature and something your body craves.

 

  

“I focused on the 24 hours I had in that present-day and everything I set out to accomplish that was supportive of my new health journey and goals.”

As the saying goes, it takes 21 days to form a new habit and 90 days to create a lifestyle. Over the years, Cam has transformed her lifestyle by forming new healthy habits that enhance her well-being. Cam says, “It wasn’t pretty at first but I set a goal and devised a blueprint that fit my schedule. I work out three to four times a week with body weight or weights and the rest of the days get active whether that’s biking, yoga, hiking, or running.” Create a routine that works for you so that you can continue it for years to come.

Morning Mantra

Every morning is an opportunity for a fresh start, and how you start your morning will set the tone for the rest of the day. Creating a morning routine that cultivates positive energy is the key to Cam’s optimistic attitude. 

 

Cam says, “I will start my morning off with some sort of personal development audiobook or podcast, my gratitude journal, some type of movement, tea, and a mini dance session. Winning the morning looks different for everyone. This helped me fill my love tank in overflow so that I could conquer the day wholeheartedly and allow that overflow to spill off into other areas of my life."

 

Small shifts in your daily routine can make all the difference in the long run. Rather than waking up and going straight to your device (we are all guilty of it), try a five-minute meditation or reciting daily affirmations. Writing out your goals and setting up a plan of action for your day is a great way to set yourself up for success.

 

Cam says, “Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged when we focus on the end goal (the bigger picture), but when we break it down into accomplishing those small daily wins, it builds up our confidence and gives us that momentum to carry on the next day. Focusing on the next 24 hours and so on, then by focusing on the daily, consistent tasks, you’ve accomplished the bigger goal! Whoop whoop!”

 

Focus on one task at a time, such as making your bed each morning, and then every task you complete will give you the sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue with the rest of your day.

“I started winning my mornings, pouring into myself first, really developing my mindset, heart set, soul set and health set first thing after I woke up before I went out into the world.”

 

Nourishing the Mind + Body

If you have been hesitant to start your fitness journey, here is your sign to get started today. And remember, it is just that, a journey, and it's yours to experience. Figure out what workouts you love, what food you enjoy, and what habits will benefit your well-being. Cam says, “I look at it more as living a healthy active lifestyle because it's FOR LIFE. I would say take it one day at a day time and know that with this journey will come many opportunities to give yourself a lot of grace!”

Enjoy the process, and the results, both mental and physical, will come. 

 

“Living a healthy active lifestyle is important because it affects how we operate and show up in the world. When we are properly fueled, filled, and full we are essentially complete!”

Cam shares her go-to meals on her Instagram and even has a meal guide for those of us who are lacking knowledge or inspiration of what to eat. Giving your body the proper fuel is essential to feel energized for your workouts. Cam says, “My favorite summer go-to treats are protein pancakes, sushi, eggs and rice, homemade smoothies, and chicken tacos!” You don’t have to give up your favorite foods when you’re living a healthy lifestyle. Instead, swap out less nutritious options for healthier alternatives.

Health and Fitness Routine

Being able to move our body is a gift, and we should take advantage of that every day we are able to. For Cam, staying active is all about finding what she enjoys to do and moving her body. That means: “running, kayaking, golfing without a cart, hiking, yoga, essentially anything that has to do with movement!”

You can find all of Cam's workouts on her Instagram @dappercoachcam. Her positive energy will be sure to motivate you to follow-along with her workouts and inspire you to get moving. Don't be afraid to lift weights and push yourself in the gym. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens.

Cam says, “My favorite type of workouts is generally mobility, circuit, and recently have incorporated running and sprint intervals in the mix. Running and I have a love-hate relationship and the long-distance pushes me past my comfort zone so I feel every time I'm consistently getting uncomfortable and getting better!”

Top Workout Songs:

• Paul Woolford "Looking For Me"
• Drake "Wants and Needs"
• J Cole " 100 mil"
• Teni "Askamaya"
• Drake "Solid"
• Internet Money "His & Hers"
• Timaya "The Mood"
• Fuse "All of You"
  

Cam’s playlist will be sure to hype you up for an amazing gym sesh, so throw on those headphones and get moving!

 

Look good, Feel Good

In addition to amazing fitness advice, Cam offers inspiring and uplifting posts that will brighten your day. And besides her infectious energy, Cam’s style is notably one of her best assets on the gram. When describing her style, Cam says, "I don't necessarily have a specific style because it is ever-evolving. Sometimes I’m feeling super dapper gentle Cams quarterly and sometimes I'm feeling some grunge or streetwear style, etc., and so whenever I get asked that question, I normally respond “simply Cam”.

 

This summer, you can catch Cam rocking chino shorts or pants with a henley, mandarin collar, polo, or oversized cut-off with some low-top sneakers or loafers. She says, "Definitely excited to bring out the swimmies and slightly oversize button-up shirts, and of course a wide brim!"

 

Cam's favorite Wander Hat Co brim is the Capitola in whiskey. If you check out her Instagram, chances are you won’t find Cam without one of her infamous hats. “The majority of my hats are from thrift stores or Southern Gents.” Cam’s go-to hat style is a wide brim fedora, she says, “I wear them with literally everything, even gym or athleisure wear.”

For active wear, Cam’s go-to workout brands are:

• H&M
• Old Navy
• Southern Gents
• Kirrin Finch
• Thrift stores
  

Positive Mindset

Showing up for yourself is just as important as showing up for others. When we nourish the mind and body we are able to show up each day with more energy and motivation to take on whatever comes our way. So be your own motivation and push yourself. You will be surprised with just how many wonderful things you are capable of. Your hard work will carry over into other areas of your life.

“That’s with anything in life, realizing that living a healthy active lifestyle isn’t just about physical results it’s about the inner workings of all of us: heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit.”

Check out Coach Cam on Instagram @coachcamcamfit for all the inspiration to start living a healthy lifestyle. She will be sure to set you up for success for the month of August and help you create habits you can take with for the rest of your fitness journey.