I spent it outside grilling, playing (aka watching) volleyball & watching/setting off fireworks with some of my favorite people!
I get quite a few emails asking me how I stay motivated. What keeps me going? What was that big push that caused me to turn my lifestyle around and start living in a healthy/fit way?
Well I can tell you one thing, there isn't just one way to reach your goals. Everyone is different and we all have to figure out what works for us as individuals. I would love to share some of the things that keep me motivated in hopes of inspiring some motivation for those of you who are looking for it!
via
The Feeling.When I am consistently working out and eating clean I feel 100 times better on the inside. Which translates to me looking better on the outside, too. As most of you know, I used to be overweight so I know what it feels like to eat what I want, when I want and to skimp on working out. Yeah it's more convenient to eat out instead of cooking and to skip the gym to go out (or lounge around on Pinterest...) but think about it...is it really worth it to skip out? NO. You're gonna beat yourself up for not getting a workout in or for scarfing down those fries and be worse off than when you started. When I'm eating clean & working out I have more energy, I'm not sluggish, I sleep better at night and BONUS: my skin looks better, too!
The Sense of Accomplishment.
I'm a type-A person so nothing beats knowing that I met or exceeded my goals. I'm one to challenge myself and to always strive for more. Your goals are just that, yours. They're not going to be the same as someone who is training for a triathlon or someone who is trying to lose their baby weight (unless you fall into one of those categories). Your goals are SO important. When you feel like you have the upper hand and you have control over your life, it's easier to push through and meet & exceed your goals :)
Be 100% There.
It's hard to give your all after you've worked or gone to school all day. Believe me, I know. But all it takes is commitment and planning...just like everything else in life that is worth anything. If you want something, you've got to be all in. That means eating well AND working out. To get the best results, you've got to do those things together. As far as working out goes, my friend Kelsey said this to me one time, "Disgusting for an hour. Dive for 23." I LOVE THAT. Remember something...you are WAY stronger than your cravings. And hello, you'll NEVER regret getting off your butt and getting your workout on. But you also have to make sure that you're revamping your lifestyle for YOU. Not because someone else thinks you need to but because you are ready to take hold of your life and be the very best that you can be.
You Only Get 1 Body.
So you better do all that you can to keep it up and running at its best for as long as you can, right?! From a spiritual sense, I view my body as my temple. When I wasn't happy with my body, it was hard for me to love myself. I didn't have any self confidence, and I hated when anyone looked at me. That made it really hard for me to branch out from my comfort zone and show love to people. And guess what? That's exactly what we are called to do...love people. This may not be the case for you, but it was really hard for me to love people when I had such a hard time loving myself. I knew that God loved me, but sharing His love with others was so hard for me, because I had no self confidence or sense of self worth. You feel me? Ever since I've been living a healthy lifestyle, I've taken many opportunities to encourage & love on people, because I feel good and love myself!
Make it your lifestyle.
"It's a lifestyle. Train like there's no finish line." AMEN to that. I've said this before, in my case, working out is like brushing my teeth or taking a shower...it's an essential part of my day. I schedule my workouts in advance so that I know what I need to do the next day. That makes it easier to mold it into my daily routine. I also keep a food & workout journal. It holds me accountable and also allows me to look back and see what is working the best for me! My friends expect me to bring my own food whenever we have get togethers or anything because I've made that my standard. I don't use every holiday/get together as a reason to "splurge." Don't get me wrong, if I want to eat something that I don't typically eat sometimes I'll do that. I just plan for it by working out a little bit longer than normal and by eating my other meals that day accordingly.
You CAN do this.
It's NOT going to be easy.
But it IS going to be worth it.
YOU ARE STRONG & BEAUTIFUL.
Don't you dare give up :)
If you have any questions about anything health/fitness related or you have a health/fitness post that you'd like to see me do you can send me an email, and I'll do my best to help you out!
Oh and the winner of the June giveaway is...
Congrats, Jenn :) You should be hearing from the giveaway contributors soon!lovelylittlethingsblog.com
