I've already spoken to the fact that I basically made myself sick over the holidays from a combination of foods that were all really good, and all really terrible for me. I have no regrets (that's probably a lie, I definitely don't regret the lobster), but once the new year hit, I knew I had to get myself back on track and feeling better, stronger, faster. After two months of straight-up work and eating some serious feelings, I hadn't visited the gym in ages and I could easily tell I'd lost some strength. It was all a good kick in the ass to get moving again. I'm really proud of what I've accomplished over the past few months. Not only do I feel as though I've repaired my relationship with my body and stuck to a pretty solid gym routine, but in doing so I've somehow managed to avoid the crushing S.A.D. that has affected me in seasons past.
Today I thought I'd share a few tips for staying motivated during these last few days of winter. Because spring is almost here, and soon we'll be able to get outside and feel the sun on our faces, and that is going to be awesome. But spring's not here just yet...
Make it about the way you feel - This year, I stopped weighing myself and started treating my body with kindness, and I feel so much better. While I know the 'no scale' approach isn't for everyone, after realizing that my weight could actually fluctuate drastically week to week, I stopped seeing the point of checking. All it did was stress me out and make me panicky, which is dumb and not worth the brain space. Instead, I focus on how I feel physically and emotionally, and when I'm tempted to insult myself in the mirror, I repeat this to myself. Because it's true. No one likes an asshole, so this year I stopped being an asshole to my body. I work out to feel strong mentally and physically, and to clear the cobwebs from my head. And to sleep like a baby. Because sleep is awesome.
Set a schedule & take advantage of weekends - My workweek can get pretty crazy, and crazy exhausting, so I try to take advantage of weekends to either get outside and run (if the temperature is above 30), or get to the gym. This guarantees that I've knocked two days off my three to four day weekly workout schedule so all I have to do is get there once or twice during the week. It doesn't always happen, but it helps.
Add variety - If you have a gym membership, try a new class. If you don't, try a new DVD. I started taking advantage of the spin and yoga classes offered at my gym and ended up loving them both. They were the perfect addition to my usual cardio/weight/running routine. I'm only able to run once or twice a week without my knees blowing up like water balloons, so that variety helps to keep things interesting when I can't be outdoors.
Try an app or two - I just signed up for Runkeeper and love it. It tracks my mileage, maps my routes, and updates me on my progress. Definitely a keeper, and one I enjoy using. On the flipside, I tried MyFitnessPal and hated it. It felt like it was tailored more towards easily scannable processed foods and focused way too much on calories and cardio. I know a couple of people who have had success losing weight with it, but that wasn't my goal, and seeing my estimated calories mapped out like that started to bring up some old feelings of negativity. Also, because I make the majority of what I eat from scratch and don't measure my portions, it was pretty much useless. Deleted. But I'm glad I tried it.
Get changed at work - My motivational dead zone? Between my car and my apartment. It sucks getting out of a warm car and walking in ten degree weather into a warm apartment. An apartment with a cat who practically climbs into your arms and gives you the look that no one can resist. To avoid this emotional roller coaster, I change into my workout clothes at work, and just pick up Chris on my way to the gym. It's hard to talk yourself out of it when you're already dressed and it saves so much time.
Reward yourself - When I'm feeling particularly proud of myself, I'll sometimes purchase a new workout-specific item or something small I've wanted from the health and beauty aisle at the natural foods store (I'm a sucker for incense, ayurvedic candles, and...patchouli...now you know my secret). I like rewarding myself with something that will either make me feel great and be functional while at the gym, or something nice for my body. I never reward myself with food beyond a recovery snack though (usually a fresh date with almond butter between the gym and dinner), because while I don't weigh myself and still enjoy a treat now and then, I do stick to a pretty specific diet - one that has kept my skin clear and my gut feeling good - and rewarding myself with junk isn't worth it. Also, for workout clothes, I love TjMaxx (the majority of my fitness stuff is from there) and Aeropostale.
Set a schedule & take advantage of weekends - My workweek can get pretty crazy, and crazy exhausting, so I try to take advantage of weekends to either get outside and run (if the temperature is above 30), or get to the gym. This guarantees that I've knocked two days off my three to four day weekly workout schedule so all I have to do is get there once or twice during the week. It doesn't always happen, but it helps.
Add variety - If you have a gym membership, try a new class. If you don't, try a new DVD. I started taking advantage of the spin and yoga classes offered at my gym and ended up loving them both. They were the perfect addition to my usual cardio/weight/running routine. I'm only able to run once or twice a week without my knees blowing up like water balloons, so that variety helps to keep things interesting when I can't be outdoors.
Try an app or two - I just signed up for Runkeeper and love it. It tracks my mileage, maps my routes, and updates me on my progress. Definitely a keeper, and one I enjoy using. On the flipside, I tried MyFitnessPal and hated it. It felt like it was tailored more towards easily scannable processed foods and focused way too much on calories and cardio. I know a couple of people who have had success losing weight with it, but that wasn't my goal, and seeing my estimated calories mapped out like that started to bring up some old feelings of negativity. Also, because I make the majority of what I eat from scratch and don't measure my portions, it was pretty much useless. Deleted. But I'm glad I tried it.
Get changed at work - My motivational dead zone? Between my car and my apartment. It sucks getting out of a warm car and walking in ten degree weather into a warm apartment. An apartment with a cat who practically climbs into your arms and gives you the look that no one can resist. To avoid this emotional roller coaster, I change into my workout clothes at work, and just pick up Chris on my way to the gym. It's hard to talk yourself out of it when you're already dressed and it saves so much time.
Reward yourself - When I'm feeling particularly proud of myself, I'll sometimes purchase a new workout-specific item or something small I've wanted from the health and beauty aisle at the natural foods store (I'm a sucker for incense, ayurvedic candles, and...patchouli...now you know my secret). I like rewarding myself with something that will either make me feel great and be functional while at the gym, or something nice for my body. I never reward myself with food beyond a recovery snack though (usually a fresh date with almond butter between the gym and dinner), because while I don't weigh myself and still enjoy a treat now and then, I do stick to a pretty specific diet - one that has kept my skin clear and my gut feeling good - and rewarding myself with junk isn't worth it. Also, for workout clothes, I love TjMaxx (the majority of my fitness stuff is from there) and Aeropostale.
