I would have to say that my motivation to workout started at a very young age. My parents kept me active. They put me in gymnastics, dance, volleyball, cheer leading, judo, etc. My mom was an aerobics instructor, so I would tag along with her from time to time and took aerobics classes with her in the mornings over the summer. My dad was and still is a judo instructor. I think I became active and remain active because my parents are. I've read that kids pick up what they see their parents doing. I hope this is true.
I try my hardest to instill a need to be fit and healthy in my children. I keep them active with dance, judo, wresting, t-ball, etc. It is important to me that they lead an active lifestyle. My hope is that they pick up on the workout bug.
I believe that my parents set the foundation for my need and desire to exercise. Now I am my own motivator. I convince myself to workout daily. Sometimes I'm not in the mood to work out.
Sometimes I have a hard time getting going and I don't have the best workout, but that happens. I figure you have to get past the bad workouts to kill the next workout.
and the 21-Day Fix. I'm excited to be leading my very first 21-Day Fix Challenge Group which I will also be participating in. I am also excited to be keeping myself accountable, to MOTIVATE others and to see the results of my efforts because HARD WORK DOES PAY OFF! Remember, this is not a diet, it is a LIFESTYLE!!!
Lately I have found that I have a lot on my mind. My family has experienced a very emotional loss and at the same time I have been dealing with my own stressors. What do you do to deal with your stress? I WORK OUT! For me, it's RADIO ON...WORLD OFF!
I find running to be the best way to clear my mind.
I turn my radio on loud and GO. Last week I ran 31 miles. This does not include judo, Insanity or other classes I take at the gym. For me, 31 miles is a little excessive, but I did it for my sanity. This is my time to think my day through or daydream about nothing important. I get my workout in. The harder I workout the better I feel when I'm done. I may start out agitated or frustrated. A hard workout where I am able to push myself leaves me with a clear mind and more level head.
Eating right also has a huge impact on how I feel. When I eat bad I feel bad and bloated. When I eat well I feel so much better and so much better about myself.
Exercising is the best way for me to start and end my day. Mind, body and spirit is very important. You need to find a way to balance these out. For me it's exercise. For you it might be something else.
My love affair with Shakeology continues. I really can't get enough of the stuff. I look forward to drinking it every morning. I LOVE finding new recipes and making a meal that is DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS. Over the past year I have really dedicated myself to being healthier and eating better. Diet is a huge weak point for me. I've learned that when you diet it doesn't have to taste bad. I LOVE food and I'm going to eat delicious food. I just try to make the right decisions. Instead of hamburger I eat ground turkey. Instead of brats I eat turkey Italian sausages. Every day I find new ideas that I want to try. Really looking for great recipes has allowed me to not feel like I am dieting.
Lately I've been huge on ground turkey.
I use it to make tacos and stuffed peppers. I also like to make pizza using Flatout bread and my favorite veggies. I always try to make extra so that I'll have something for lunch. Every day I make sure to pack my lunch and snacks for the day. This way I am accountable for what I eat and I can make sure what I eat is healthy. Whenever possible I will meal prep for the week.
I LOVE Shakeology because it has so many options. It is not only my breakfast, but my treat. I often use vanilla Shakeology because it can take on so many different flavors. I'm not huge on chocolate Shakeology but I keep it on hand to make protein stacks. Most recently I've been alternating between no-bake Shakeology protein balls (right) and banana Shakeology cookies. Things like this really help me curb my sweet tooth.
They way I look at it is make what you crave, but find the healthiest version of it. One thing to remember (at lease for me)...this is not a diet (IT IS A LIFESTYLE). This is something I try to instill in myself and my children.
One thing I've learned over time is that CONSISTENCY IS KEY!
I try to apply consistency throughout my life. YOU SHOULD TOO! I get up every morning and workout, drink shakeology every day for breakfast, go to work and end my day with another workout. Recently I read that you are supposed to eat good 80% of the time. I go for 100% and I'm satisfied with 90%.
Every morning my alarm goes off and I don't want to get up. Just when I consider going back to bed I remember why I do it every day (to stay in shape, to enjoy my appearance and to be healthy). So I get out of bed, brush my teeth and GET GOING! The hardest part is getting up. I start my workout groggy and end ENERGIZED.
If I oversleep and miss my morning workout it throws off my entire day. Typically I don't fall off of the workout wagon. The only thing that tends to slow me down is injury. At that point modifications are made and I KEEP GOING! Last year I broke my foot and worked out with an ortho shoe on. IF THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!!!
For me, my diet is where I can be inconsistent. I love sweets and sometimes I just can't help myself. At least I am able to realize when I get off track. At this point I do the 21-day fix and I'M BACK!
I hope that you are able to find consistency in your daily schedule. I hope that I am able to MOTIVATE you to be healthy and exercise. If we work together we can certainly SUCCEED:)
What is the hardest part of staying fit and healthy for you? Is it making time to work out? Is it diet? Is it injury? For me, it's certainly diet. I have no problem getting up early, staying up late, doing double workouts and really challenging myself. For me, it all comes down to food.
It took me until after I had children to get portion control down. I try my hardest to eat healthy and make better choices. I try to plan what I will eat for the entire week and meal prep to help keep me on track. In fact, I dedicate Sundays to meal prep.
On a meal prep day I'll make my lunch for the entire week and maybe two dinners. I package each lunch up individually. This way I can control the amount of food in each portion and it allows lunch to become a grab-and-go process.
I love sweets and this is really my downfall. Sometimes I just let myself have what I want. I figure I can have a little now or REALLY overdo it later. Other times I am able to replace the sweet with something that is also satisfying.
On days when I REALLY need a treat I'll blend:
8 oz of almond milk
1 scoop of vanilla Shakeology
1 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp of dark chocolate chips
Blended with ice
This is one of my go-to foods when I am having serious cravings. This is really a TREAT for me.
Whatever your vice may be, you need to recognize it and create a plan to deal with it. Once you have a plan you need to HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE. Remember that we are all human and getting off track is normal. Just realize when you are off track and redirect yourself on the right path.
You might notice that I post a lot of pics and receipts for Shakeology.
I really haven't been counting, but I guess I've been drinking Shakeology for about a year and a half. It really works for me. I am not a breakfast eater. In fact, the idea of eating in the morning makes me want to vomit. I can't eat, but I can stomach Shakeology.
It took me a lot of convincing to purchase Shakeology, but I've come to realize that IT REALLY IS COST EFFECTIVE. I drink it daily. It's full of vitamins and nutrients which would be far more expensive to purchase individually. For just over $4/serving I think it is incredibly worth it.
I have come across and come up with a lot of wonderful recipes which make me look forward to ENJOYING Shakeology daily.
Most recently I crossed paths with a cake batter recipe. It's:
8 oz of almond milk,
1 scoop of vanilla Shakeology
1 tbsp of fat free, sugar free Jello cheesecake mix
I combine all of my shakes with ice and blend.
The way I look at it, it's DELICIOUS and NUTRITIOUS. You could probably spend more on a meal. It's great as a meal replacement when you are on the run too. It's so easy for me to grab my shaker and an individual package of Shakeology. Whether I'm at home, at work, or out of town, I always make sure to get Shakeology in., You might want to consider it too.
If you have, please let me know what you think and share some of the recipes you use. If you'd like to learn more about Shakeology please message me or visit my web page.
I work out a lot. I get up early and I'm generally working out before I'm even awake.
Some workouts are better than others. Some days it is VERY difficult to get up. I do consider snoozing or sleeping in....but I RARELY let myself do this. Right when I start to consider skipping a workout I remember what I work out for (to stay healthy and fit).
I also remember how WONDERFUL and ENERGIZED I feel after a great workout. After this I'm ready to get the kids up, get them breakfast and off to school. Now I find that if I miss a morning workout I really feel off.
It is easy to skip a work out. In my past I would skip one workout and then another. Before I knew it I hadn't worked out in two weeks. I've learned that consistency is key. #1, find time to get the workout in. I really like T-25, 21-Day Fix and Insanity Max 30 because the workouts are 25-30 minutes. Who can't make time for that?
#2, be present for the workout. If you are going to make time for the workout you should give it your best efforts (best form and push yourself). Sometimes I find that I'm slacking mid-workout and I remind myself that I need to push myself to see and maintain the results of my efforts. I AM my personal MOTIVATOR and I hope that my drive to stay healthy and fit in some way moves you to get yourself/keep yourself on the right track.
I try my hardest to instill a need to be fit and healthy in my children. I keep them active with dance, judo, wresting, t-ball, etc. It is important to me that they lead an active lifestyle. My hope is that they pick up on the workout bug.
