Day 21 and 7 Motivational Tips!

Today is Monday, which means phase 1 workout 3 is done. What is it about Monday's that makes it so hard to get motivated? I think the worst part is Sunday is my rest day, so getting back to the workout routine is tough. This got me to start thinking about what motivates me to keep going, when it's so easy to just throw in the towel.

So here are some of my thoughts on how to get motivated and stay motivated....

1. Surround yourself with at least a few people who are into health and fitness. You don't even have to know them in person. I have quite a few online friends on Facebook and myfitnesspal that are working hard towards their goals. This encourages me to get out there and get what I want done. This also gives me a sense of community, knowing that I'm not alone in this.

2. Join a website such as myfitnesspal, where you can track your food, calories, exercise, post questions in forums and keep track of your progress. There are other sites ive heard of too like spark people, weightwatchers, fit day, live strong, etc...

3. Start off small. If you haven't worked out in a long time than start of small. You quickly notice if you need to amp up your workout or slow it down. I know from experience it can be really discouraging trying to run that mile you used to run with ease and you can't even make it half way before you feel like throwing up. So start small and build up...aka try morning or evening walks :)

4. Find activities that you enjoy doing. If you once enjoyed bicycling as a teen or kid why not give it a try now? If you used to swim in your 20's, go ahead and check out some classes at the pool or free style it doing lengths. The possibilities are endless here people :) as for myself I found jogging/running.

5. Download some apps for your phone, some music to listen too, a podcast to enjoy...something that will encourage you to get out the door. This tip really helps me big time! If I didn't have my apps and podcast I doubt I'd run as much as I do.

6. If I start feeling down about myself or my progress I try to imagine what I will look like when I get to my goals. What will that bathing suit look like on me in 3 months? Or how confident will I feel tomorrow if I just work hard today :) it works for me every time.

7. Track calories burned! My favorite piece of workout equipment is my polar heart rate monitor. It motivates me to push harder to not only increase my heart rate, but to get a great calorie burn! It's so amazing to see how hard you've worked at the end of a workout.

Those are my top 7 that I use either daily or quite often to keep my head in the game. A lot of people use other things such as a reward system, setting small goals, entering some sort of event to train for, thinking about the future with their kids or grandkids, reading success stories, etc...

There are just so many ways to stay motivated, but to be honest you will know what works for you and you just have to stick to it!

Day 19!

I am feeling so much better today, in comparison to yesterday. I don't know why but after my blog post I came down with a horrible headache. The type of headache that just pounds in our head. I ended up laying down, but sure enough it just wouldn't leave. I had to skip the workout :( Makes me sad, but there was no way I was going to be able to increase my heart rate without my head feeling like it was going to burst. That workout would have made things much worse. Instead I decided that since today (Saturday) is a cardio day anyway, I could just add on workout 4 to it. Not a big deal :)

I saw this on facebook today and loved it! Especially the colors, but yah know the message too!

Day 18!

Found this awhile back and forgot about it! Isn't it an interesting tip, next time I workout I'm going to test this theory ;)

Day 18 already...I'm like shocked at how quickly this is going! I'm starting to freak out thinking that i'm almost out of phase 1!! How did I even get this far? It really didn't seem like that long. Technically 90 day really isn't that long, months go by so quickly. I guess once you commit to a workout program like this and your weeks or months into it..it doesn't seem as daunting as day one...

I do have to say I'm really proud of myself for sticking to this for program for this long. I have trouble staying motivated and interested in the same workouts over and over. I do believe Jillian's Body Revolution does keep you focused and interested, because the workouts change quite quickly. I would only suggest that she should have added more cardio workouts to the program. Doing the same one for each phase, kinda sucks! I know other people on this program have just swapped it for their own favorite cardio exercise. I sort have been doing the same in a sense, but i've been adding cardio to my workouts everyday. I still do Jillian's cardio workout because my 5 year old just LOVES it. He cheers me on and joins in.

I weighed in today and guess what I was down a 2.5lbs!! I believe im down a total of 5lbs since starting this workout. 5lbs in 18 days is healthy and I'm proud of that! Losing at that rate I'll have lost 25lbs at the end of 90 days. I'll take that!

Day 17

Well I'm back at it today! Again with Phase 1 workout 3. I am so impressed with myself that I am able to do the "plank walk outs" and the "Up-down plank"...I think i'm more impressed with the "up-down planks" because I remember trying to do that move in another workout video (could have been Jillians, but I don't remember) and I could not do it!

If you're not sure of the exercise I mean you can find more information about it here...Up-down plank!

These are so brutal and I almost can't do the last one in the workout....but hey they have to work!

Day 16!

Today was supposed to be my cardio day, but I hate to say it I needed a rest day! Badly :S My body was so sore, I could hardly move. I think I may have over done it a little.

Day 15

Today is workout 1 Phase 4! This workout gets me sweating like a crazy. Well to be honest all her workouts do ;) I'm still feeling yesterday's workout, i'm sore all over. This week is a big wake up call to the increased intensity as we progress through this workout. I don't even want to think about the final weeks workouts!

Here is me after one of Jillian's workouts..a mess!

There have been a few questions surrounding my diet and if i'm sticking to Jillian's meal plan. Originally I was sticking to it 100%..now I can honestly say I'm sticking to her diet probably 80% of the time. That doesn't mean the other 20% I'm eating junk food or anything like that. I'm sticking to my calorie goal with is 1210calories a day, but I may eat an apple with peanut butter when she suggest a low calorie muffin. Things like this I am taking liberty with. Here is a picture of some of my lettuce mix i've been growing in my garden! It's delicious, yum!

Day 14!

Yesterday was my rest day and my goodness that was not easy to do! I'm one of those people that once I start working out, I want to do it every day to stay motivated. I'm also one of those people that once I stop working out, I find it very hard to get back into the groove of it.

That about sums it up doesn't it! Well at least for myself it hasn't been 5 years, but you get what I'm trying to say.

Anyway, today is my first day on Phase 1 workout 3 of Body Revolution! I couldn't believe what a blur it all was...it went by so quickly. I LOVED this workout! I felt much more challenged than I was from the previous week. When I say challenged I mean in a way that keeps me pushing harder and motivates me to want to keep going.

It was also my weigh-in day today, and my weight didn't move this week. The funny part is I was sure it would because I've been feeling smaller and clothes have been fitting better. I'm not worried at all, I know I'm doing everything I can to improve my health and fitness :)

I did have a great non-scale victory today! While running on the trails along the river, I had a couple's sweet dog come running up ahead of them and then run back with me. As I pass the couple, they said "aww she loves running with joggers"..YAY I was called "a jogger!" Then minutes after that, an older gentleman said to me "I don't know how you can run in this heat, but it proves your a dedicated runner!" Now i'm a jogger and a dedicated runner :D It felt nice to have others acknowledge this :)

Happy health and fitness!
~Maggie