motivational tips.

Good morning everyone ! Wow, it has definitely been a while since I blogged. That's because my laptop decided to go on vacation for a while and die on me, but my amazing brother in law, the gem that he is, got it up and running (temporarily). So hopefully I don't get half way through writing this, and it dies on me. 

I've had a lot of time to think about what I can blog about over these past few weeks.

A lot of people start diets, join the gym, and they last for a few weeks, and then go back to their old ways. So I just wanted to give you guys a few of my tips, to keep you motivated :) these all work for me, and I hope they can work for you to. Cause whats better than feeling and looking healthy? nothing.

Set realistic goals for yourself. Ones that you can reach in a short span of time. NEVER say, I want to lose ... 30 pounds. Because realistically the average person loses 1-2 pounds per week. Losing 30 pounds is a hard commitment  So say, 3 pounds. Once you reach that, say 3 more, even 5 more. It keeps you motivated when you keep reaching those little goals :) 

Make it fun. Sure, the thought of going to the gym and sweating your butt off running on the treadmill, staring at the wall does not sound like fun for some people. Ever think of joining a dance class, sports team, or yoga class? Do something you enjoy. If you like swimming, find an indoor pool that has cheap rates. Odds are that if your doing some sort of physical activity that you like, you will stick to it.

Reward Yourself. This is extremely important. I don't mean everytime you lose 2 pounds, go get a 24 slice pizza and down the sucker in a matter of 5 minutes. I mean, reward yourself, with things that you have your eye one. Buy yourself a new pair of shoes, go see a movie, try rock climbing, redo a room in your house. Hard work deserves a reward, and we all know taking weight off is not easy. 

Don't over - work yourself. There is nothing wrong with taking a day or two off at the gym. If you over work your self, your just not going to want to go at all.

Pack your own lunches. Every night before bed I pack my lunch for work the next day. This helps me from sneaking next door the the Chinese place, or grabbing something from Tim Horton's. Lets face it, were all guilty of it. If you pre-make your lunch, you have no choice but to eat that instead. Trust me, it works :) 

Do it with a friend, relative, or spouse. This really helps. It is one of the hardest things, trying to have a clean diet, and living with people who don't eat healthy. I am lucky enough that my mom, and dad are both on the same page as me for eating healthy. Our fridge is stacked with healthy fruits and vegetables, and nutrient rich foods. If your fridge is stuck with junk food, and your spouse is constantly eating these things, its gonna be that much harder for you to lose weight, because the temptation is there. Try to convince them to eat healthy with you, its not only better for them, it will help you! Working out and exercising is also 100% better with a friend, it pushes you to keep going, and you can motivate each other.