Continuous Motivation

Everyone needs motivation to work out. At least, I do. When I started it was a giant SHOVE in the right direction to work out. Now, it's a gentle nudge and a reminder of how truly wonderful it feels to exercise.

This morning, I was laying in bed half awake and debating if I should get up to run. It's Monday and at 5:30am, it was still dark outside. I was warm and totally cozy in my bed, with my husband by my side and our little foster cat niece at my feet. It would have been EASY to hit the snooze button and enjoy that perfect comforting nest. Six months ago, I would have done just that. But now, even though I would never call myself "a runner" by any stretch of the imagination, I kind of love it. I love the solitude. I love listening to personal development books on Audible. I love the feeling of accomplishment just after sunrise.

I say I "kind of" love it, because running isn't easy. The last time I ran consistently, I was about 20 pounds lighter. Running came more easily. Now I feel like I'm back pedaling a little and trying to get on track. It's not easy or fun, but I love it.

After a few months of this, I can more easily motivate myself to exercise and eat healthier. Both are coming more naturally. What's a challenge for me now is motivation DURING a workout. For example, when Shaun T. has me jumping until I think the balls of my feet are actually screaming at me or when I'm at the bottom of a long, gradual hill on one of my runs, I need some encouragement. Here are a few things that sometimes work:

- "Only another 30 seconds of this (insert exercise here). You got this."
- "Just run to that light pole/mailbox/driveway." I set short goals to get to a bigger one.
- Focus on breathing. When I'm getting really winded, it's probably because I need to have a few focused, rhythmic breaths to set me straight. I did yoga for a few years and breathing almost always gets you on the right track.
- I sing. In my head of course, but I just sing a verse of whatever some comes to mind... it could be Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys or it could be Jesus Loves Me. Really, whatever gets me through that particular challenge.
- Clearing my head. This one is difficult because in the heat of the moment, all you can think about is the sweat faucet you have going on down your back or how much your muscles hurt. I try to clear my head and picture myself after I've reached my goals. I visualize what wearing (something super trendy) looking younger than I do and happy with myself. Sometimes I picture myself with Carrie Underwood's legs or Cameron Diaz's arms. I know, I should compare myself to others, but in the heat of the moment, I'm not really comparing myself.... I'm striving towards it. That's different, right? I'm gonna go with that.

What I'm looking for now are other tricks of the mind to set me straight-- strengthen my mind to help strengthen my body. I need to know what works for others. I've learned that I can't mindlessly jump in to something... I need to think on it. I know that weight loss isn't easy. Not only is it not easy, it's downright hard. This girl needs all the motivation I can get so my "during" mindset is just as solid as my "before."

Angel vs. Devil

It's Friday. And on Fridays there's nothing I love more than going home, slipping into something a little more comfortable (preferably something with an elastic waistband), pouring m'self a glass of wine and flipping on the ol' boob tube for several hours before I decide to call it a night.

NO MORE!

Tonight, I came home and ran 3 miles. And I actually ran it. I was a jiggly, sweaty mess the whole time, but I RAN IT. It was actually pretty awesome. Not because I had great form or ran super fast. Honestly, it was a slow jog and nothing about it was pretty. It was awesome because I do my best thinking when I run.

The things is, I actually enjoy running. I know... I'm a weirdo. Here's why:
- It clears my head and organizes my thoughts.
- It makes me feel GREAT-- if I'm feeling tired or my muscles are tight or I'm feeling a bit under the weather, running makes me feel better 100% of the time.
- The act of running makes me feel great, but finishing a run is even better. Every run is an accomplishment in itself.

Tonight's blog entry is about what went through my head during my run. Excuses. I can justify not working out all the time. I can justify eating out or eating unhealthy meals all the time. But why? None of that lines up with the goals I've set for myself! SO, I came up with a little list of excuses that I think are pretty common and some things you can do to mentally negate those. I bring you, the angel and devil on your shoulders...

Devil: "But I don't want to! The couch looks better"
Angel: Yes you do. An accurate list of things you don't want to do is: wear pants all summer again, stress out about an upcoming event because of how you look, dread shopping (especially the fitting room) and regret not taking this step towards your goal. Work your tushy off for 40-60 minutes and THEN sprawl on the coach like you've never sprawled before.

Devil: "I've had a hard day. I'm too tired for this"
Angel: You got this. You can OWN this workout. It's only a small percentage of your day. Knock it out now and you'll have plenty of time to sleep. In fact, you'll probably sleep better ater you work out.

Devil: "I don't have time to work on this today.. I've got a packed schedule!"

Angel: Really? Be a grown up. Plan ahead. And if you want this, you'll make time for it. Most of that stuff on your to do list today probably isn't for you... it's probably a list of things you are doing for other people. How are you supposed to become the best version of yourself if you never make time for yourself? Wake up a little early, squeeze in a lunch time workout, or make a hole in that schedule this evening. You CAN do this... you just have to be smart about this.

Devil: "Healthy food is so expensive."
Angel: Healthy food CAN be more expensive, but remember, healthy food has nourihment-- not empty calories. Look for sales, sneak veggies and tuna in with that mac and cheese instead of eating it by itself. Focus on protein and veggies. Get creative on how this can work for you instead of giving up and buying stock in Cheez-Its.

Look, I'm not saying my way is the best way for everyone, because it's not. It's the best way for this tight budget, busy schedule, on-the-go household and somehow, we make it work. I'm working on being creative with my diet AND my budget and that can get tricky. We're going to probably start couponing soon. I don't plan to be one of those crazy lady savers that hoard 10 dozen cans of tuna for the sake of saving a dime, but I will be using coupons in our favor and keeping an eye on sales. No excuses!

 

Why Shakeo?

I've spoken often about Shakeology and the wonderful effect it's had on my body and my life. Shakeology is a meal replacement shake you drink once a day to get best results. It comes in powder form and in many different flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Vegan Chocolate, Strawberry, Tropical Strawberry and Greenberry.

The benefits I've seen are pretty incredible. Personally, I've seen weight loss, appetite control and portion sizes have become a healthier size as a result. Just in the first month I drank it daily, I lost 7 pounds. I've seen my skin clear up (because honestly sometimes I think I have the face of a teenager) and my digestive system is more regular.

Shakeology is PACKED with nutrients and goodies. It's got protein, antioxidants and vitamins in it. It can help you lose weight, increase your energy throughout the day, increase digestive health and lower cholesterol. In the graphic I've posted here, you can see all the goodness that goes into it! On top of that, it's flavored. I always get vegan chocolate and now I crave it. Honestly... it's amazing.

When you order Shakeology, you receive 30 days worth of Shakeology recipes for the flavor you bought. This is specifically designed for you to stay on track and so you won't get bored. If THAT doesn't interest you, look to Pinterest for tons of Shakeology recipes including Cheesecake Shakeology, Peaches 'n' Cream Shakeology and Chocolate and Peanut Butter Shakeology Bites. Seriously, you cannot go wrong with this product.

I've had a lot of interest in Shakeology and then almost immediate hesitation when a person discovers how much money it costs monthly. I invite you to think about this a little further... how much are you spending on purchases that are putting you in an unhealthy state to begin with? Go ahead, take a look at your bank account and look at coffee runs, fast food stops and convenience store purchases. Funny how those last minute purchases are non negotiable, right? People snap at you like a rabid dog when you suggest their Starbucks habit is really costing them hundreds of dollars a year.

Ok, ok. I'm no math whiz, but let me break this down. Let's say you go out to eat every day. Daily Finance posted an article about the cost of eating out. It says the average meal costs $5 to $7 per person. You eat out for lunch every day while at work, because it's just "easier" and that's a cost of $25-$35 per week or $100 - $140 per month. If you eat out every work day in a year (there are 260 work days in a year) you could spend anywhere from $1,300 to $1,820 per year.

Now, if you sign up as a coach, you get a discount on all things Beachbody. This includes Shakeology. With the discount, you spend about $97 per month on Shakeology. It's recommended you drink it once a day, so that's about $3.23 per shake. If you buy Shakeology each month for a year, that totals to $1,164 per year... a savings of $136 to $656 PER YEAR.



A graphic from another coach that NAILS it!

I hope I haven't lost you with numbers. Numbers and math totally aren't my thing, so I glaze over a little bit when people talk like this, but this is important so LISTEN UP.

Lots of people had to give a little up to get a LOT back in return from something as wonderful as Shakeology. A popular Beachbody coach wrote a similar blog to this and did some guerilla research on her own Facebook page. There were 132 comments on that post, talking about the LITTLE habits people gave up so they could make a healthy switch to Shakeology in their lives. Here are a few of their answers that may give you some ideas...

See? Easy. I know, caffeine habits die hard, but you don't HAVE to give it up. Think smarter. Plan ahead! It's WAY cheaper in the long run, I promise. And, everyone once in awhile, have that Starbucks.

If the monetary savings aren't enough to get you going, let's think about your waistline. You know, the one you always complain about when swimsuit season comes close or there's any occasion to wear something strapless/sleeveless/short/backless? THAT ONE.  I found this handy little graphic on my Pinterest page.  It not only compares PRICE, but it compared the calorie count as well. I love greasy, salty French fries just as much as the next person, but I HATE how I feel after I eat them and I always regret the purchase.

If your goal is to shape up, live a healthier life and maybe lose a few pounds along the way, Shakeology is a great way to start. My sister drinks it regularly and her children (ages 3 and 22 months) love it as a snack too. She may or may not bribe them with it as a treat if they finish their dinner! HA! Shakeology is safe for breastfeeding and pregnant moms, it travels well and it's the BEST meal of the day. You can't go wrong!

I also realize I wrote Shakeology about 100 times in this post. Sorry I'm not sorry.





Day 2-- Snacks of Champions

This will be a short post because, like most people's Saturdays, today has been busy. The fella and I have been running around since 8am and we're currently on our way out the door to go hang out with friends tonight.

But first, a few words on snacks. Last night, Randy and I stayed in the house and rented a few movies. In my former life, we would have treated ourselves to sodas and made hot, buttered and delicious popcorn on the stove-- no microwave stuff in this house! I'm a sucker for popcorn!

Popcorn isn't the WORST snack in the world, but when you drench it with butter it salt--- not so much. Last night, we made a much smaller portion of popcorn, a tiny bit of butter and a shake of salt. I had an ice water with some lemon juice in it.

Tonight, we're heading to a game night with some of my oldest friends. We ALWAYS have a great time with these people! Everyone brings food and we tend to over indulge and "graze" over the food all night long. So, thinking ahead I made a bruschetta from scratch, which includes fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. I also made a creamy avocado dip with greek yogurt, not sour cream. It's always a huge hit. Head on over to my recipes section for these recipes!

The BIG Announcement!

I'm PUMPED to announce this to you, but I'm also pretty scared.

How's THAT for an opening, eh?  Today is August 1, 2014. This month I turn 29 and the beginning of the last year of my 20s. This could also be the last year I'm a childless woman... who knows. In many ways, this month marks a big transition point for me. August 2014 also marks the one year anniversary of me being a Beachbody Coach.

My life as a Beachbody coach can be summed up in one word: non-committal. I go through phases of major motivation and then, not so much. I don't see immediate results and get discouraged and give up for a bit only to start over with a jolt of energy. It's exhausting and it's not getting me anywhere near my goal!

 There are LOTS of Beachbody coaches, y'all... there's an entire network and when you join, you're connected to their social groups and circles and, well, it's intimidating. They are all in great shape and seem to really have nothing better to do than to work their business. Many of them don't work outside the home and have time to read personal development books and listen to team calls a few nights a week. THAT'S why they are intimidating and from where I sit, that's frustrating.

But then you take a closer look and most of these people stay home because they have kids. Busy ones. And they have time to read and listen to calls because they PLAN to do it. Vince Lombardi said, "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." Isn't it AMAZING that people can be successful if they had the ambition to be?

You see, as a kid I always visualized myself as an adult that would be comfortable financially and has the option of staying home with children, if I was blessed enough to have them. I visualized myself as being in shape and active. I visualized that I would be crazy about my husband and we'd go on frequent dates, travel often and entertain friends at our beautiful home.

It seems pretty simple, and maybe some of you are laughing thinking how ordinary that sounds. But aside from being crazy about my amazing husband, I don't have those other things. In fact, most people don't have those options at the ripe ol' age of 29. Some of them are attributed to financial constraints. Some are physical and some of them simply haven't come up in God's plan for me just yet.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted on my Facebook page that I had some "BIG NEWS" to share. I can't tell you how many people asked me about it privately-- they wondered if I was pregnant, or moving, or I had found a new job or going to some big destination spot. NOPE! The big announcement is:

< DRUMROLL PLEASE>

I'm going to be even better than I am right now at this time next year! <-- Cue crashing cymbals. I want my last year of my 20s to be transitional. Transitional to AWESOME. I'm tired of thinking that ONE DAY I'll fit into my college jeans again and ONE DAY I'll be financially able to book a girls weekend or buy my husband those amazing Steelers tickets. I want to be able to give and give generously to all the people can things I love.

 There are a few things I plan to do:

   - I plan to be in a better spot financially at this time next year. I won't bore you with the details of my financial state, but like any good ol' American college grad, I have a hefty amount of student loan debt I'd like to pay down off. My husband and I plan to buy a home (have I mentioned that I'm so over apartment living?) and I'd like to be able to pay the mortgage with what I earn with my business.  Additionally, I'd like to pay off my vehicle and my husband's.

   - I plan to be in better shape by my 30th birthday. Since I left college, I've worked in a couple of office jobs where I sit all day and become "exhausted" at the end of each day. I stopped exercising for a long time and my diet went out the window. It's all gonna change, folks. I want to make sure that I'm the best version of myself for my husband, my job and for my family. Most people I know actually gained weight after college-- they get busy with jobs, fall in love and gain that "I'm happy and in love" weight, and stop making time for regular exercise and healthy eating. I'm in the same boat. I'm ready to be a happy, healthy adult with a smaller waistline. WHO'S WITH ME!?

The master plan involves being all up in yo' face. Just kidding. But I do plan to blog each day...some of these may get a little boring, but I will be chronicling my journey to the good life. I will post quite a bit on Facebook (I even have my own coach page!) host Beachbody Challenge Groups. I will add more to my Beachbody Coach Pinterest page and maybe even go crazy and create a Coach Twitter Account. I have been pretty inspired by a few people's weight loss and fitness journeys and I'd like to be an inspiration. #FitAndFree

I will post recipes and workout updates. Hopefully what I post will be uplifting and positive everyday and just by reading it you'll be motivated to make some big changes in your own life. But, if you've ever tried hard to lose weight, you know that it can also sometimes be frustrating and discouraging, so you can probably expect some of that too. It will be REAL, that's for sure!

Additionally, I'll be posting some tips and conquered challenges when it comes to our debt-free goal. If you don't know where to begin with that or just like to read helpful tips, you can check that part out on the debt free tab.

In my early 20s, I celebrated my birthday month. It's still a running joke among a few friends that I would take every opportunity during the month of August to celebrate and enjoy life. Well, I've abandoned that somewhat childish practice only to now focus on a FULL YEAR. Ha! But instead of celebrating with happy hours, late nights and shopping, I'm celebrating with Shakeology, early mornings and debt pay off. You can't say I don't know how to party.

So there it is, welcome to my transitional year of awesome. It's not pregnancy news or new job news or anything like that. But in my mind this is putting the horse before the cart--where it should be and making some good lifestyle changes to set the tone for my 30s. It's an incredibly lofty, but achievable goal and I'm counting on all of you for motivation and encouragement.

 I'd love to work with you if you're in the same spot as I am and want to make a better future for yourself and your family. Or, if you AREN'T in the same spot but have some bigger goals for yourself. It's going to be an awesome year, friends.

Until tomorrow!!!
Love,
  Future skinny-jean wearin', debt-free Mrs. L.