Don't Be Discouraged 

It's easy to be discouraged.  It's easy to look at all the areas that need work.  It's easy to point out all your flaws.  I could sit here and list all the things I don't like about my body (and the list would be long) but thinking like that is NEVER going to get me to where I want to be.  Negative self-talk will not make those flaws go away and it will not help me stay motivated.  I have met so many wonderful people who have shared their stories with me.  They have shared their struggles, their triumphs, their losses, and their goals.  It's amazing to meet so many people from so many different walks of life who all have a similar goal: to be their best self.  However, almost all of them tell me they will never get there because they "fell off the wagon."  This post is going to be all about learning that it's okay to have an off day or week but what isn't okay, is losing faith in yourself.

No matter how many times you feel like you're starting over, in reality you aren't.  You may have traveled this path a few times and have been derailed but each time you have gained more experience and more knowledge.  You have found what did and didn't work for you.  You never failed.  The fact that you are in the process of making a change and working toward your goals is an accomplishment in itself.  You have finally reached the point where you are no longer afraid, scared, or nervous.  You are no longer letting that fear dictate you and your actions.  You are finally listening to that inner voice of yours that's telling you "this is where we begin." I'm sure most of you have heard the famous quote said by Thomas Edison.  He was the first person to patent the commercially successful light bulb.  He said "I never failed, I just found 10,000 ways that won't work."  Sometimes before we find what works for us we must find all the ways it won't.  Sometimes we have to figure it out the hard way; we must find the answers within ourselves.  For example, I was told a million times that I was going to die if I didn't change my ways.  I was told that I needed to stop listening to my Eating Disorder.  My mom begged me to do it for her but the honest truth is that no one will change unless they truly want to.  It took me a while to listen to my inner-self but I finally did.  I finally took that step to become healthy, happy, better.  I'm not going to lie to you, it will be hard.  You will struggle but you will succeed!  I had days where I sat in my car before leaving the gym wondering if I worked hard enough, if I deserved to eat.  I stumbled up the hill quite a few times, I even fell down it (hitting every single rock and edge) BUT I never stopped.  I never lost sight of my goals, my dreams.

I was just recently asked how I keep going when I'm tired, stressed, sad, angry.  How do I keep going when it seems like the world around me is falling down.  For me I keep going because I love it.  I know that by stopping now or giving up will never get me to that final goal of mine.  Sure you're going to have plenty of days where you'll just want to pull the covers back over your head and disappear for a few days.  Shut everyone out and just sleep until the nightmare is over but you're better than that.  You deserve to be happy and healthy.  You deserve anything and everything you are willing to work for.  Don't stop just because you had a bad day, missed a meal, ate too many kit-kats, or woke up late.  There is always time to start again.  Here are a few of my tips for staying motivated:

1. MUSIC!! Music is a huge motivator for me.  I listen to all genres but I have recently been on a Rob Bailey kick.  He is awesome and if you haven't listened to him, you definitely should!

2. Set an alarm.  Alarms always work for me!  Pick a ringtone that's a little obnoxious so when it goes off you'll definitely hear it.  Also, I used to be awful at getting out of bed in the morning and used to hit the snooze button a million times so I put my alarm on the other side of the room so I HAD to get up to shut it off.

3. Pictures & motivational quotes.  I love quotes and I have a bunch written down in my phone and in my workout log.  Anytime I need a kick in the butt I just read one of my favorite quotes or look at one of my idols.  I think about Dana Linn Bailey and how hard she works every day and if she can do it I can do it.

4. Gym buddies.  I don't usually workout with a friend or trainer but the days where I'm having a hard time I just send a text to one of my friends or my coach and ask if they want to train together.  Gym buddies or personal trainers will be waiting for you at the gym so you can't let them down!

5. Short term & long term goals. Set short term and long term goals to help keep you accountable.  Short term goals can be simple like increasing weight on all your exercises or trying a new workout routine.  Long term goals are a little more specific like losing 10lbs by a certain date or fitting into your old pair of skinny jeans.  Make sure you give yourself a certain date to accomplish these goals.

6. Reward yourself.  Rewards shouldn't be food related.  They should be fun and things you can do to pamper yourself like a massage, a pedicure, a haircut, a new pair of shoes.  Little rewards through out the week will help motivate you to keep going!

7. Support systems.  Support systems are HUGE!! Everyone should have a few people who know about their goals, dreams, and fears so that when you do have a hard time you can go to him/her/them and talk about it.  Everyone needs a pep talk every now and then so make sure you have those people around you!

8. Meal prep.  Last tip that I have that is a MAJOR key to success especially when it comes to fitness, health and proper nutrition and that is...meal prep.  There are a million different ways to do this but what works best for me is cooking all my veggies, sources of protein, and carbs in bulk.  Then I measure/weigh all my food, label it, and put it in tupper ware.  I do about 3-4 days work of prepped meals and then do another 3.  This helps keep me on track and saves SO MUCH time!!  You don't have to be too "scientific" about it but make sure that when you are going to be gone for a few hours at a time that you have healthy meals and options. 

I hope all these tips and tricks will help you stay on track and stay motivated!  I know it can be challenging, scary, and at times over-whelming but I promise it will all be worth it.  Never let those fears get the best of you.  Never doubt yourself and never be afraid to try!  You can do anything you want as long as you have faith in yourself.  Stay strong & lift on!