If there is one
topic I avoid on this blog like the plague it would be health and fitness. I have
never been a serious athlete and my plans to stay in shape have honestly never
lasted more than a couple of months. The fact that I hate working out combined with
a schedule that allows very little time for exercise or healthy cooking and you
get a very unhealthy lifestyle.
With the new year
I am challenging myself to broach topics on this blog that have seemed off
limits in the past, and the first one up is getting in shape. In October, I
finally got back on the work out wagon and it has felt amazing. I never really
understood people when they said they felt like they 'needed' to work out, but
after getting back into a regular routine I started to get it. After spending
just 45 minutes on the elliptical each day, my body felt better – I slept
better, I intuitively ate healthier and I felt stronger.
I definitely
faltered a bit during finals and the holidays, but I mean, who doesn't? With
the New Year, however, I am recommitting myself to maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. Luckily, I am not doing this own my own. I have four friends who
constantly inspire me to keep going. These friends (Allie, Ashleigh, Avishee,
and Cheyenne) are the ones that keep me going back to the gym, but they also
remind me that getting healthy is about my whole self.
A healthy
lifestyle is not just about losing weight or looking better, but about feeling
your best. Yes, like most people I would love to shed a few pounds, but the
best part of getting healthy is waking up everyday feeling amazing. I feel most
confident when I'm treating my body right and that is what I think 2016 should
be about - feeling confident in yourself.
I will be sharing
more about my experiences throughout the year, but to start off I want to share
my three tips for sticking to your healthy lifestyle!
1) Plan your workouts by writing them down on your calendar.
The moment I
started scheduling workouts like I schedule meetings I became more accountable
to making the trip to the gym. It is easy to bail on the gym when the only
person you are hurting by not going is you. However, by scheduling gym time
like a meeting with a professor you are way more likely to honor the
commitment. If you really struggle making the commitment, try signing up for
classes, that way your money is on the line if you don’t show up.
2) Be mindful of
what you are eating.
I will never be
one to go on a diet, I just love good food too much. However, ‘boredom snacking’
and going out to eat when I should be cooking at home are issues I consistently
struggle with. When I started really looking at everything I was eating in a
day, I realized how making small changes in my habits could make me so much
healthier. Making a salad at home with homemade dressing is not only much healthier
than going out, but it is also much cheaper!
3) Buy workout
clothes that make you want to go to the gym.
I am always a
believer that dressing for the occasion makes any experience better, whether we
are talking about a party or the gym. If you have workout clothes you are
excited to put on then you are much more likely to actually workout! The best
part is that the popularity of athleisure
attire has made fun workout clothes affordable. You can shop my favorites below
:)
I am sure many of you have plans to start off
the New Year in a healthier way, so please let me know – what keeps you
motivated?
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