I think encouragement and motivation comes differently from each individual, and feeling good about yourself comes from within your own mindset. It’s really easy for us to see our flaws and what we think we are doing wrong, but when you see how great you are, how far you have come, how hard you are trying (even if it’s only what you see as ever so slightly), that beats every downside that you see. I want you to try and see that. For one, you are trying. That matters. A lot of people say they want to be healthier or say they want to lose weight, and don’t act on that. You have put yourself into action and you can’t stop just because you are feeling down about yourself. Look into the mirror and see how great you are. See how far you have come. If you’ve lost weight since starting your journey, you have to convince your brain that you can see it. It’s hard to see your own change, which is why I suggest taking progress photos to compare your own before and after, and it’s important not to compare yourself with another. Think about how good you’ll feel after a tough work out, think about how tasty your healthy meal will taste afterwards. Think about how much happier you will be, how much more fit and in shape how you will be, how much easier it will be to do things when you’re healthy, like run, ride a bike, climb stairs. Note how I said healthier, and not when you lose more weight. I know that you want to lose weight. There is nothing wrong with that and it will naturally come along with being healthier. But think about how nice being healthy really is. Sure, it’s harder to do things when you weigh more, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy for unhealthy people who are more thin. Being healthy has the advantage. It enables your body to do more, to be stronger, to be happier. I don’t know how anyone can not want and strive for that! It’s an amazing feeling. Again, even if only a little. I have small, weak muscles but I feel strong and great carrying a bunch of heavy bags. I have that mindset that I am strong and will only get stronger, and I want you to have that mindset that you are great and will only get greater, at whatever you want to feel so great at. You just need to put yourself into that mindset. That get ready, get set, go… not, the get ready, get set, I can’t do it. Drag yourself to the gym, force yourself to go outside to take a walk, or a jog, or roller blade, or anything. Take yourself to the super market with a grocery list of your favorite healthy foods, stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, and maybe your favorite thing to treat yourself to. Make smoothies, make juice, melt at how delicious this good food is. Get started. Feel happy and great about yourself and your choices, feel good when you’re doing it. Feel super good. Seriously. This stuff is tough, I know. But you’re mindset is going to go from needing encouragement and feeling low, to feeling fantastic! Okay when you read this I want you to get a piece of paper out, get a pen, physically write down the positives, and tack it up on the wall somewhere that you will see it often. Write how much you love yourself, on the inside and out. Write down how much people, like me, KNOW that you can do it and that we are all proud of how far you have come, and how far you will go. Write a short encouraging quote on your bathroom mirror. And write down your favorite activities. If you’re having fun while staying active, you’ll feel a ton better, as well. When first trying to reply to this, I was kind of stuck. I didn’t know entirely what to say. But I really hope that this helps. For you, and anyone else who’s stuck and reads through this. read more..
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Couch Potatoes-Motivation
WORKOUT MOTIVATION: People who exercise regularly earn nearly 10% more than couch potatoes, says new study. People who go 3 times a week see the biggest gains.
LIKE this if you're going to the gym today!
Get Sweaty to Get Rich | Fitbie
If your bank account is barren, you may want to make a date with the gym. A new Cleveland State University study found that employees who exercise regularly earn nearly 10 percent more than their inactive peers. Why the bump in their bottom line? Previous studies link regular physical activity to be... read more..
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Exercise Routine
- Make 5 goals - 5 things you want to do by the end of the month. Be reasonable with them and keep the list somewhere you’ll remember. Chances are you won’t lose 20 lbs by the end of the month, so skip it as a goal. Instead focus your goals around getting more active and healthy. Everyday try to make one better choice like taking the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator or having an apply for snack even though you’re dying to have the slice of pie. All these little changes will really add up. If you don’t already have an exercise you do regularly…
- Try out a new exercise - Switching up your exercise routine is important, especially if you’re hitting a plateau. Curious about an exercise you’ve been eyeing for awhile? YouTube that shit. Read about it on Google. DO IT. Why not? Try to exercise at least 2-3 days a week this month.
- Eat fruit! - Only the most delicious fruits are in season in June. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, watermelon, rhubarb, cherries and so much more! Not only is fruit good for you, but in season you can find some great deals on it! Check out your local farmer’s market for freshly grown produce at great prices.
- GET OUTSIDE!! - IT’S JUNE, what could you possibly doing inside?! (besides Tumblr;) ) Swim, hike, bike, walk, skip. Do it all. Play basketball at that old court down the road, ride your bike to work. The sun is shining and there is no better time to get active and have fun.
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Dream Board-Motivation
losing-every-extra-pound:How to Stay Motivated
“you cannot ‘find’ motivation, you must create it!” - yoga-body 50 Ways to Stay Motivated for Weight LossHow to Stay Motivated to Exercise
12 Ways to Get Motivated
Staying Motivated to Lose Weight
More Articles about MotivationTake it One Day at a Time
Don’t worry about tomorrow, focus on today. Focus on eating right for today, make it your goal for the day, and repeat it tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that. Surround Yourself with Positivity
“Change your thoughts, and you change your world”, it’s really true. Think you can, and you can do anything. Think positive, breathe positive, live positive, be positive as much as possible. Focus on the solution, rather than the problem. Surround yourself with good people, good food (food that’s good for you), and good thoughts.
Create a Dream Board
Bring your dreams to life. Look at them every day. Never lose sight of what you want. Fill it with your favourite quotes and pictures to inspire you. How to Make a Dream Board
Digital Dream Board
Create a Dream Board Visualize Accomplishing your Goals
If your goal is to lose weight, create a mental picture of yourself having already achieved it. What will you look like, feel like, and move like when you have accomplished that goal? Living as if you are already there makes realizing your vision something you focus on daily. Make Realistic Goals
Ask yourself what you want. What do you want from life? Who do you want to be? Where do you want to be? And make realistic goals. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t have your dream body, it just means realizing that it won’t happened overnight. Make S.M.A.R.T goals. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, & Time-bound goals. SMART Criteria
Example of SMART goal Reward Yourself, Be Kind to Yourself & Recognize your Progress
When you know you have been good to your body, treat yourself! Find a reward that inspires you- a new pair of sneakers or workout outfit, a new music CD for your walk or pamper your feet with a pedicure for all of your efforts. Give yourself a hug once in awhile! Train hard, eat right, sleep well, but once a week, allow yourself an indulgence. Enjoy your favorite dessert, get a massage, or simply take some time for yourself to relax.
It’s Okay to Cheat!
Once in a while, cheating will keep you on track! Planning a cheat, whether it’s a snack, a meal, a weekend or a week vacation, can make all the difference in the world. Allowing yourself a little “controlled” wiggle room, you can avoid falling off the wagon. And once your “cheat” is done, go right back to your plan.
Forget about the Scale
Focus on how you’re life is changing, on how you feel. Focus on how you’ve changed. Focus on the inches lost, the muscle gained. Focus on how much better you’re becoming and how much you’re gaining. Alternatively, weigh yourself once a week, or even once a month. Measure your entire body monthly as well. Take one picture of yourself daily in the same outfit for the duration of your journey. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Focus on yourself, on creating the best you possible. Remember that everyone is different, everyone has their own experiences, and their own unique imperfections. Different people are at different stages at different times. Comparing yourself to others can lead to bitterness, anger, jealousy, envy and even unhealthy competition.
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People
Learning to Live: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others read more..
Quick Meals-Motivation
Aw I’m glad to hear that. Makes me happy. It can be hard to find a bit of time to do things like cooking when you work a lot but it’s possible. Just think of quick meals that you can make that is healthy. Try to focus on a lot of fruits and veggies. Make time for yourself to prepare a sandwich, a salad, cut up some fruits and veggies, maybe make burritos or taco’s. You can even prepare some of this stuff earlier if possible and heat it up later. I don’t have my own personal kitchen or much food that requires a lot of cooking, and I never want to take long to make my meals and clean up, so my meals are usually quick. I post some of them in my pictures/posts page if that gives you any help into quick meals. You can heat up some marinara sauce, grate some zucchini, dice some tomatoes and whatever else you want on it, mix it together, and enjoy. That could only take you… as long as you wait for your fast food. It might take a bit for you to get a little creative with food but it’s actually pretty fun when you start to realize all of the different things that you can do. A few things I could tell you to make are in that link of my foods. And eating healthy isn’t expensive if you know how to spend. It’s a bit difficult at first but it all depends on what you buy. And with exercise… It’s hard at home but if you can give yourself at least 30 minutes to exercise a day, that’s something. Do some jump roping, push ups, tricep dips, bicycle crunches, reverse crunches, planks, squats and walking lunges, etc. You can actually get a lot done in that little bit of time. Finding the motivation can be hard but just go for it. Tell yourself how bad you want it, and do it! Make an inspiration/motivation board, put on your swim suit, whatever motivates you to keep pushing. You can do it (: I hope this was helpful. read more..
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Motivation
Need a little motivation to exercise after work? The @Fitbottomedgirls share their best tips for getting off their duffs and to the gym: http://ow.ly/aVVGu
Find Your Motivation to Work Out After Work | fitbottomedgirls.com
Sometimes after a long, stressful day, the last thing you want to do is hit the gym. Here are some ways to find the motivation to work out after work. read more..
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Strength Training-Circuit Training-Finish Line
riiaeatsright:Originally from The GreatistSometimes I find myself cheating out my workout when it comes to the end, so when I saw this article, I knew I had to share it with you! So check out this list of 23 Ways To Push Through A Tough Workout:
1. Who’s really getting cheated?Sure, no one else would know about skipping out on the last Chatarunga. But only one person loses in that situation (hint: it’s not the super-ripped chick sweating it out on the next mat).2. Change pace.Circuit training, a killer combination of cardio and strength training, can help break the monotony of a long workout. Run five minutes, then drop and do some push-ups. Wash, rinse, repeat.3. Picture this.Visualize cheering fans or crossing the finish line to bang out one more set or lap. Or just go mental: Imagine this workout is the equivalent of the Olympic trials (no big deal).4. Grab a pal. Work out with a fit pal who will hold you to a higher standard. Stuck going solo today? Imagine they’re still there. After all, who wants to wuss out in front of an audience?5. Break it down.Set mini-goals when the going gets tough. This isn’t a three-mile run— just six measly half-mile runs.6. Savor the pain.“Pain is weakness leaving the body,” the saying goes. Pain is also proof that this workout is tough. Clearly you’re doing something right, so why stop now? (Just know when pain is signaling something more serious.)7. Compete.Whether comparing against the dude on the next treadmill over or your own time last training session, competition ups the ante and helps us forget about wanting to quit.8. Remember the end.That post-workout high? Yeah, almost there. The struggle of that final set won’t last— and when the workout’s over, it’ll be replaced by a much better feeling: pride.Read the rest at The Greatist! read more..
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Depression
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I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about how I changed my life and recovered from depression, here is my answer:I live by 5 simple rules; they helped me change my life, no doctors, no pills and no one but myself!Changing your life can seem an incredibly tough and complicated thing, especially if you’ve failed a great number of times (like I did).
1. Accept CHANGE. Allow yourself to let go of the past to make room for new things to come into your life, meet new people, travel.2. Be BOLD. Stop putting your life on hold, set new goals and reach them! 3. Start to EXERCISE. No explanation needed, it will make you feel better and happier.4. Eat HEALTHY. Food can make you happy, food can make you sad. Eat less processed food, try to eat more vegan, vegetarian food,try raw food, eat more veggies and fruit. Believe it or not it will make you feel better!5. LOVE YOURSELF. You can do all stuff I wrote, but if you don’t appreciate yourself nothing will make you feel better! You can say that last ‘rule’ is the most important way to live your life!* I don’t say this is the best way, but it helped me to overcome depression and start with my weight loss journey. read more..
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Basketball Practice-Lady Volunteers-Ncaa Tournament-Pat Summitt-Motivation
Pat Summitt isn't sure she'll coach Tennessee beyond this season. So if the Lady Volunteers are looking for some extra motivation, there it is. read more..
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Motivation
If you hang around me at all you know that I am not shy when it comes to talking about running. The blog is just a natural extension of something I like to do in person, and anybody that spends more than a minute or two with me is painfully aware of this. I guess that is what happens when you are passionate about something, you just can’t keep your love and experiences to yourself.Because of this, I occasionally get an email, tweet, or message on Facebook telling me how I have been an inspiration or at the least an encouragement or motivation for starting or continuing when things get tough. By far, that is the most fulfilling part of the journey I have taken, and brings a undeniable smile to my face regardless of how things are going at the time.Yesterday was one of those days. One of those messages came in that let the stresses of life, and worries of not being able to run seem to just disappear. The message came from my friend Robin, and she has given me permission to post it. I have taken a little bit out, but left the best parts in.Hey Tim!Just wanted to update you and tell you that I got my 3 miles today!!! Not looking for a pat on the back or anything like that. You're just like my running Yoda and I wanted to tell you. I also think I found that post 2 mile joy you've been telling me about! I haven't had it until this morning, but something happened today that was so cool. I can't quite describe it except to say that, my legs moved without much persuading or lamenting. It felt strong and so amazing. It was as if I had run 3 miles every day my whole life. I didn't seem to notice how heavy my legs felt or how long I had been at it or any other thing that normally distracts me. It was like I just settled in and ran. It was a great moment. (concerning an up-coming race) Still so nervous about running in front of people. But I am really excited about completing this goal. Tomorrow makes 11 weeks since I started working on this and I'm really pleased with the progress. The first week of July I couldn't run for more than a minute, probably less than 40 seconds, without having to stop. Anyway...sorry to go on and on. Just wanted to tell you about the milestone. Now I just have to strengthen it. Who knows maybe I'll starting adding another 3 or maybe 10. --RobinRobin, and others that write me to tell me how I have helped motivate them or inspire them do not realize how much it means to me to hear those words. They think they are the ones getting the benefit, but I hate to tell them that I am getting much more from those emails and messages than they could ever imagine.Whether it is that first mile that you were inspired to run, the motivation to get on that treadmill, or the fact that you just completed your first marathon that I encouraged you to pursue – thank you for sharing your successes. It is the fuel that keeps me going, and keeps me smiling. Time to update your feed reader to something that says 26.2 Quest even more - http://feeds.262quest.com/262quest read more..