Throughout my health journey, multiple people have asked me about my motivation to stick with this lifestyle so consistently. I did film a chatty video earlier this week discussing my changes (will be posted soon!). But there a few points I'd like to summarize in advance; there's so much I want to share with you and I'm doing my best to break all of my information up into smaller, digestible topics.
For those of you that don't know my background, I'll go over the basics:
Last September, for my birthday, I decided to finally jump in and change my life. I cut down on sugar and carbs, stopped drinking soda, and utilized my gym membership again. This was the first time I felt determined to make "healthy living" a permanent change rather than a "quick fix diet." My body responded really well to the nutrients I was fueling it with. I ended up losing roughly 47 pounds in 6 months. More importantly, I've never felt so good in my life. Mentally and physically, I am strong.
It was easy to stay motivated while seeing results and watching the pounds melt away. But once I hit my goal weight, I ended up having a stall in my workouts. I started making excuses every day to avoid training.
A handful of friends have come to me with this issue, saying that when they don't see progress, they fall off the wagon.
I figured I'd make a list of what gets me through these blah moments, because each hack has really helped keep me in check on this journey!
1. Discipline and self control.
I'm going to lay down some honesty on the table: Motivation is inconsistent. While there are a lot of helpful tips that I'm going to share in a moment, I wanted to start off with the most important point. Some days, you will not be able to get yourself into Beast Mode. You will want to be a couch potato. You will be tempted to binge eat. On these days, the key is to learn the difference between needing a rest day (your body might be exhausted and that's okay!) and being lazy. Tell yourself that this is part of your routine now. At the very least, stay hydrated and get yourself moving for 15 minutes. There are no excuses for skipping a quick 15 minute workout or stretching session!
2. Think of the internal reaction.
I know for a fact that if I give in and cheat with some donuts, I won't gain 5 pounds overnight unless it becomes a habit. However, giving in to sweets opens a dangerous binging window for me. So to turn me off to the donut, I envision what it will do to the inside of my body. I imagine how difficult it is for my stomach to digest it. I remind myself that the frosting has dairy and it will give me cramps. I think of the sugar irritating my skin. By the time I finish this little ritual, I don't want the donut and craving something wholesome.
3. Make your cheat meals worth it.
I work in a catering office, which means I'm constantly surrounded by temptation. I'll be offered a cake sample and almost give in because the craving is almost too painful. If I know I can't be satisfied with one of my healthy alternatives (for example: I mix pecans and sugar-free raspberry jam in a bowl with chopped strawberries for my sweet cravings), I make a deal internally: If I can turn down this sample now, I'll reward myself with one of my favorite cheats. Long story short, if you really can't help but cheat, make the cheat worth it and satisfying.
4. Pictures!
If you reach a plateau where you stop losing weight for a while, or you're like me and reach your goal weight, don't stop taking progress pictures. Now that I'm not watching the number on the scale go down, I use pictures to observe the changes in my muscles. I actually gained 2 pounds but look leaner than before; to me, that indicates I've gained muscle mass! Toning and muscle growth show more progress than the scale. Also take pictures of your skin along the journey! I wish I had done this from the beginning because my acne has cleared up more than I thought it would.
5. Consistency guarantees results.
You might feel discouraged due to results not happening as quickly as you want. Other people's progress might be faster. Instagram fitness models could be making you feel discouraged. But I promise you that if you're eating clean, staying active, and monitoring what your body is telling you, the results will come. It might take time, but this is a lifelong journey. Your body is meant to thrive and adapt; I promise that it will thank you soon. Do not stop.
6. Start over every day.
This has been my main mantra throughout the last few months. It applies to both mental and physical aspects of my healthy lifestyle. Life will give you amazing days and shitty days whether you like it or not. You're only human and sometimes you just have to give in. There's nothing shameful about feeling defeated and drained by the world. But remember that every morning brings a brand new day. Yesterday does not have to taint today. Wake up and manifest an amazing day and it's more likely to happen. Smash your workout right away and set yourself up for success. Make your favorite breakfast, have a hot cup of coffee, wake up early to cuddle your pet. Attack the universe with happy vibes, and it will return the favor.
Thank you so much for coming back to read my chat! My next task is to edit my "weight loss video" and get that live. But for now, it's about 70 degrees and sunny outside. I'm going to get some fresh air, and encourage you to do the same before Ohio decides it's time to snow again. Goodbye for now!
"It doesn't get easier...you just get stronger."