Finding your motivation

This week I have decided to dedicate my blog to being healthy!  Please notice I said healthy, not skinny.  Now I won't lie, being skinny is perk of being healthy and I have lost weight since I dedicated myself to being healthy but the way I feel about myself is way better than the inches I've lost. 

The first step to being healthy is finding your motivation. 

I feel like most people who get into a healthy phase (I say phase because it usually doesn't last..) fail because they make the mistake of having only one motivator. 

This motivator may be as simple as "to be skinny" or "that new bikini" - this phase doesn't last because every day is different!  Tomorrow may be cold and that bikini motivator is just not gonna cut it.  Or that pizza is just calling your name...

My secret is that my motivation is constantly changing.  Of course I have several things that motivate me to work out or to eat healthy but depending on the day, one motivator is stronger than the other.  My motivation even changes during my work out.

Here are some of the things that motivate me to work harder but find what works for you.

• Stress  There's nothing that makes me feel better after a long day than a good work out.  That ice cream or pizza or even those sweatpants can't beat the endorphins of a great workout.  Besides, you can pretend to kickbox all of the people you wished that you could have punched at work...
• Treat yourself  Find something that you really want to eat or to do and don't let yourself do it until you have worked out.  Now don't get too crazy here.  Every once in a while, you can treat yourself to a little ice cream but use healthy things as your treat, too.  I have an awesome protein that I only allow myself to drink after I work out.  Mixed with some water and a little almond milk, you've got a healthy "milkshake." 
• Hang up that bikini!  Seriously, some days my only motivation is that I want to look good.  I'm not ashamed to admit it - I hang that bikini near the TV while I do my at home workout.
• Hold yourself accountable   Use an app like MyFitnessPal. Document what you eat and your workout. We tend to lie to ourselves the most but if you force yourself to document what you put in or do to your body, you can't lie.
• Have an accountability partner   Chris and I not only encourage each other to eat healthy and to work out but we also hold each other accountable when we don't. But let's be real... we also takes breaks together. Sometimes we order pizza or we get ice cream but we limit it by holding each other accountable and encouraging each other to be healthy.
• Dedicate a gym space  I have an extra bedroom in my house that is dedicated to me.  It's not only my gym but my closet and dressing room.  I have a room dedicated to the things that make me feel good about me.  Surrounded by my cute shoes and clothes, how can I not be motivated to look good in them.  Even my vanity mirror serves a dual purpose as my gym mirror.  If a mirror doesn't motivate you.. I don't know what will. 
• Motivational phrases  I know it sounds simple but I hang motivational things in my gym room near my tv.  The picture below is simply fabric under plastic... that way I can change it up as my motivation changes.

• Have cute gym clothes  You dress cute to go to work, why would you not want to look cute while working out??  I work out alone at my house but having a cute outfit to put on is definitely a good motivator.  Instead of shoes, I treat myself  to a new sports bra every once in a while.  Who am I kidding?? I buy both! :)

But find your motivation and keep it going!  I promise, you will never feel better.