Wow... It Actually Works!

Although I'm not nearly the fitness buff I'd like to be, I really do enjoy reading about fitness, working out, and taking on new challenges.  I have a new found love for running and the way it makes me feel.  I am proud of myself for losing 45 pounds (27 pounds of baby weight + 18 pounds extra weight) since my daughter was born 15 1/2 months ago.  I was terrified of the weight I'd gain and how I would lose it all afterwards because I've always been one to so easily put on weight and not be able to get rid of it.

It's not always so easy to be motivated to get out there and run.  I also go to Zumba once or twice a week.  I'm not always in the mood to go to Zumba when I'd much rather spend the evening in my pajamas after a long day at work.  However, I read something a week or so ago that I had never really thought about before.  I've been trying this little tactic and let me tell you... it REALLY works!! 

I read in one of my Fitness magazines what to do for a little motivation when you know you've got to workout but aren't really in the mood.  This article (and I wish I could remember exactly where I read it because I definitely believe in giving credit where credit is due) said when you don't feel motivated to work out, to change into your workout clothes anyway and once you have your clothes on, your mindset changes and you get an urge to finish what you've started.

I have used this tip at least 3 times in the last week or so.  For instance, this morning I was expecting rain.  I didn't sleep the greatest last night (up every hour) and when my alarm went off, I contemplated just ignoring it.  But I got up, and my hopes of a downpour which would give me the chance to go back to bed for another half hour were diminished, when the ground was dry.  I decided to go ahead and get dressed.  Sure enough, once I was dressed, I figured, "Well, I'm dressed, might as well give it a go."  So with dark, stormy clouds above me and a chilly breeze, I ran a quick 1.71 miles to get home just before the skies opened up.  Just the act of getting dressed puts just the little bit of umph you need into your mind to get you moving. 

So the next time you know you really need to get yourself moving to go for that run or get to the gym, remember this little tip to get dressed into your workout clothes.  I bet it will give you the start you need!

Another thing I'd like to share with everyone is my love for Pinterest.  I plan to do a separate post soon all about Pinterest another day, but for right now, I'd like to say how much I appreciate the convenience of signing on to Pinterest from my IPad and pulling up my "Fitness" board and just randomly picking a workout to do.  Here are links to some of my favorite workouts that I've stored on Pinterest. 

Something else you might not be aware of, are the digital subscriptions you can get on your IPad to Fitness Magazine.  I love the digital version of the magazine and although it's free with my mailing subscription and I can get back issues prior to my subcription started which is great, but the cost of the digital subscription itself is not bad.  There are great videos of work outs that you can bookmark and go back to at least until the issue is no longer available on the tablet. 

Workouts I've tried/stored on Pinterest:

I did this ab workout last night and I was definitely a bit sore today!

Here also is the link for Fitness Magazine Workouts.  I really do love them all, and personally appreciate the fact that there are videos that accompany the workouts to ensure you're doing the moves correctly, rather than just reading and trying to figure out the move. 

Fitness Magazine Workouts

I hope I have given someone just the littlest bit of motivation to check out these workouts and to give you a bit of a jump start in these beginning summer days.  There's still plenty of time to get your body going in a healthier direction.  Even just a little bit here and there is better than doing absolutely nothing.  Happy Exercising! :-)

Shape Bikini Belly Bootcamp

Stronger Arms Workout - I do this one at least 3 times a week.

A Little Motivation Can Go a Long Way

It has been quite some time since I last wrote, however, I love writing and someone recently motivated me to start back up again.  I absolutely love reading positive and inspirational quotes.  I enjoy focusing on the good things going on and although there are some days where it can prove to be a big challenge to be so positive, there's always a fresh start waiting to try again.  I hope to begin writing again to send positive vibes back out into the universe for anyone to pick up and use for themselves! :-)

A month ago, a friend of mine was in a terrible car accident.  She spent two weeks in the hospital and two weeks in a rehabilitation center.  I recently visited her before she was sent home, and although she still has a LONG road to recovery, I am so proud of her for the progress she has made thus far.  She was zipping around in her wheelchair and the energy she put out was enlightening.  When I first heard about her accident, I was determined to help her get through the worst of this SOMEHOW, even in the littlest way.  I would send her positive text messages each day, and be there for her if she needed to cry or talk.  Most people in her situation would let it get the best of them. NOT Ashley.  Even when she was feeling her worst and in the beginning when she was in unbearable pain, she still fought through it all and would be able to turn her thoughts around the next day and focus on recovery.  In turn, Ashley motivated me to get moving and really focus on the next step of my goal to get fit.  I have been working out more, but finding it difficult to find the proper time of day to focus on workouts.  I realized after what my friend had been through that I really don't have room for excuses.  I have these legs that I can use and was not taking advantage of that.  In the past week, I have begun waking up at 5:30-5:45 and going for a morning run.  I am officially signed up for my first 5K which I will complete this Saturday, the 30th. 

I am currently in my best shape since my wedding almost 4 years ago and am determined to hit my mid thirties in even BETTER shape!  I plan to post workouts, quotes, food ideas, etc here moving forward, and I hope others will join me on my journey and I hope that if you are in need of some positive thoughts/vibes, you will be able to come here and walk away feeling a bit better.

Tonight I leave you with a quote I recently found and absolutely loved....  May you go to sleep tonight with sweet dreams and wake up tomorrow with a new positive outlook on the day ahead. 

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" -Lao Tzu