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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Finding the Motivation to Work Out.

It's been just about six years since I found out about calories. Six years ago, I "cut the crap," so to speak, and made a consistently conscious effort to eat healthier and work out regularly. Refusing bad foods became a reflex, and getting my ass to the gym was a routine I had down pat. By the end of 2010, I'd lost 25 pounds. Boom...byeeeee.

Since the beginning of my "fitness journey," a lot has changed: boyfriends, apartments, class schedules, full time work, getting a dog (now having two). It's always been really easy for me to find an excuse not to work out, because I've always had a lot going on. Doesn't everyone? Thankfully, I've always kept up with my health enough to maintain my lost weight, give or take a few pounds.

Over the last year, my motivation to eat well and work out regularly dwindled. The treadmill just wasn't doing it for me anymore, and if I found a workout I liked on Pinterest, I'd find a reason to quit halfway through. I didn't challenge myself, and in turn, I felt frustrated when I wasn't seeing results anymore. Sigh.

Flash forward to now, and I'm working out 5-6 days a week. I stopped making excuses for myself and just started going, and I've continued to keep going. I've found my motivation, and that motivation is results. Because if you work hard and often, the results will come.

While most of said motivation has been "from within" and all that, it helps to have a reason to get there. For me, this is what's been working as of late:


A fun, doable program

A friend of mine sent over Kayla Itsine's BBG workouts around this time last year, and I didn't do a damn thing with them until November. Kayla's programs include 12 weeks of three 28 minute high intensity resistance work outs per week, plus the incorporation of Low Intensity Steady State training & High Intensity Interval Training. Her workouts require no or minimal equipment, which is great for me considering my apartment complex's gym only has so much. Her program works for me because I know exactly what I need to complete and how long it's going to take me to do it, and I don't leave the gym until it's finished. Baddabing. I use her eBooks, but you can pay weekly (or monthly) for her iPhone app which includes weekly workout challenges as well!

Pre-workout

Pre-workout is a game changer for me. On days when I have quite literally zero desire to even look in the gym's general direction, it kicks my butt into high gear and I'm ready to take on the day. I try to only use it 3 days a week, as I don't want my body to get too used to it. I use it on my resistance/circuit training days, because 28 minutes high intensity training can get exhausting pretty quickly. Right now, I love Cellucor C4 Pre-Workout Explosive Energy in strawberry margarita. I'm almost out of this particular flavor, and will probably give icy blue razz a shot next.

Cute workout clothes

You hear this all the time, but it's so true. Looking good = feeling good, which means a better workout. An old, scratchy t-shirt and ratty shorts just doesn't do it for me. I recently raided Tampa's new premium outlets and found a bunch of great deals. It also helps to have workout clothes that not only look good, but actually fit well. No one likes pulling up their leggings every other burpee. I got these leggings for free during one of Victoria's Secret's sales (buy a sports bra, get a sports pant free), and I'm obsessed. I'm constantly checking to see if they're on sale, because they don't budge and hug me in all the right places.

Instagram inspiration

Whenever I'm feeling lazy or uninspired, I scroll through some of my favorite fitness related accounts for a little extra pep in my step. Since I do the Kayla Itsine's workouts, I'll search #BBG, #KaylasArmy, or #BBGcommunity on Instagram to find inspiring transformations, recipe ideas, and overall motivation. Just a few minutes of scroll time is enough to get me going!

What's your go-to strategy?




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8 comments

  1. I got VS leggings in the same exact sale and now I'm hooked too! Also, I'll have to try that Cellucor stuff you mentioned! I saw the words "strawberry margarita" and was like okay I can get behind that.

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    1. Ahhh, aren't those leggings wonderful...it's taking everything in me not to buy more, but broke college life just won't let it happen lol. But yes, try the preworkout! It's so good! Definitely a little sour, but I look forward to it every time I take it.

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  2. I hate working out! I get so clammy and hot and it makes me so angry. I become like the hulk and then I'm hot all day long. It's the worst. But I know I need to do it. I never had to workout when I was younger and now I suffer from a disease called PCOS that causes weight gain and it's been so hard on me. I've been trying to get back into doing Insanity. Have you ever heard of it? I did it for two rounds a few years ago and my body was never in better shape. But it will kick your butt!

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    1. I feel the same way...honestly, I hate sweating and our apartment gym has been set at 78 degrees lately (bleh) so I'm right there with you! The end result is totally worth it though! I have heard of Insanity. I tried it out a few years back when I was living on the third floor of an apartment and felt like I couldn't go all out at the risk of disturbing my neighbors. But it's such a killer work out! That's amazing you did it for two rounds. Takes a lot of dedication!

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  3. I love THIS, because I recently fell into a slump myself and finally feel back on track. Nailed it with the cute workout gear tip. It's a great motivator. Also the insta inspiration helps! I follow so many fit accounts now, and it reminds me to get my butt to the gym.

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    1. Glad I'm not the only one! Any time I'm about to skip a work out, I'm like "oh wait, I want that bod, lehgo." Haha! Happy to hear you're back on track, too :)

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  4. Replies
    1. Yes! I just love having structure. It's so easy for me to give up otherwise.

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