Now that 2017 is officially underway, I’m sure we are getting to that crossroads of whether or not sticking with that New Year’s resolution is actually going to stick! I get it, creating new habits for ourselves can sometimes seem daunting. With the craziness of life and all that it can demand from us, it can be easier to fall back into what’s easy.
A few months ago I was at that very same crossroads concerning my body: how it looked and more importantly, how it felt. My clothes weren’t fitting the same, and my joints were always killing me. I am prone to knee and hip issues, due to the over-demand I’ve put on them through my life. Also, my skin seemed dull, and I never had any energy! Ugh!
So, I decided to make a commitment to better myself, but if I was going to do this, and REALLY make it a lifestyle change, I knew I had to rethink my priorities of what was the most important benefit of developing a healthy body. I told myself that I would not put sole focus on my outer appearance, but rather make feeling better on the inside #1. I trusted that by doing this, the benefits of a more toned and fit outer physic would come naturally by default.
Luckily, I was correct in that assumption! I have seen a change in my body, which is fantastic! My clothes actually fit again! But, what really makes me happy is the clearer skin I have, the increased energy, and the lessened joint pain. All I had to do was change my mindset and then get to work!
I wanted to share what I have discovered works for me in hopes that you will feel inspired, create new habits, and ultimately have a better, fitter, happier body on the inside and out as well!
Keeping scrolling for my tips!
Tip 1: Hydration
Staying hydrated had made a significant impact on how I feel. BUT, when I say “stay hydrated,” I don’t mean a couple of glasses of water, and then call it a day, I mean try and consume at least half of your body weight in ounces. For example, I weight about 135 lb, so I try to drink at least about 68 ounces everyday. I’ll drink more if I’ve consumed a lot caffeine that day since caffeine has a tendency to dehydrate (Dang you coffee and your amazing abilities!). I’ll admit that it took me a few days to get used to downing that much water (it can be a little daunting), but eventually it became easier. To help me stay on track, I actually downloaded an app on my phone that keeps up with my progress. There are tons of free apps out there that are great for tracking water consumption. I personally use an app called “Plant Nanny.” As you drink water, the plants in your garden grow. I know what your thinking, “this sounds silly and juvenile,” but this silly little garden has helped me stay accountable with myself and in turn, hydrated! Win!
When I said at the beginning of this post that I was going to concentrate on creating a healthy body on the inside, this whole water deal has had a lot to do with that. My joints feel better, my skin cleared up, I don’t feel as sluggish, and I sleep better! Who wouldn’t want those kinds of results? And, all I did was drink some water.
Tip 2: Sleep
That leads me to my next tip, getting in those sleep hours. Trust me, I get it, life sometimes gets in the way of getting enough zzz’s, but if you can mostly maintain a consistent sleep schedule, I promise you will see and feel positive results. I personally believe that everyone’s “perfect sleep hours” number is different. Please keep in mind that I by no means am an expert on sleep, or really any of these topics for that matter, but this is what I have found, and it seems to work (for me at least 🙂 ). My perfect sleep number is around 7 hours, so if I can, I try to go to bed at a time that will allow me that. Granted, I don’t have kids, and I know (well, at least heard from friends with kids) that a full night’s rest for parents with young ones can be a novelty, but we do the best we can, right?
Tip 3: Quiet Time
This tip for overall health is all about carving out a few minutes at the start of your day for some quiet time, even if it’s just five minutes. When I wake up (before the rest of the crew has emerged from their slumber), I go downstairs, pour myself a cup of coffee, plop on the couch, and read scripture and pray. My quiet with God helps me get my mind right and ready for whatever the day has to offer. The topic during quiet time varies from day to day, but what is consistent is THAT time. It’s intimate and personal, and truly much needed. There have been days that I thought, “Oh, I’m running late, so I’ll just skip it,” but then the rest of my day feels frazzled. Even if you aren’t a Bible reader, just taking a few minutes to either reflect, journal, set daily goals, or even just take some deep breaths will make a difference. No, this does not mean watch tv, and yes, even busy folks can do this. As you do it consistently, it just becomes habit and a part of your daily routine. I promise you, this makes a difference! I challenge you to try!
Tip 4: Workout
I know what you’re thinking…”I don’t have time to workout!” You are wrong! Everyone can MAKE time, even if it’s a quick 15 minute circuit. This is the area I really had to have a heart-to-heart with myself about. I teach all day, and then most of my afternoons are packed full with other obligations, so working out in the afternoon or evenings seemed impossible. I knew I wanted to get serious about working out, so I had to be willing to inconvenience myself a bit in order to squeeze it in. I HAD to make this a consistent habit if I was going to see results, and the only way I could ensure that it would be constant was to go to the gym at a time that would work around my other obligations. This meant getting there at 5:30 in the morning. I’m not going to lie to you and say I love getting up at 5:00 every morning (I also wanted to ensure a little quiet time before I walked out the door), and that I wake up raring to go, but again, I was willing to set aside a little comfort in order to reach the results I wanted. It was that important to me.
Also, remember that I changed my primary reasons for wanting to workout. I was sick and tried of my body aching. I’m a women in my early thirties that felt like I had the knees of a 90 year old! My thought was that if I could strengthen the muscles around the joints that hurt, my pain would start to subside because my muscles would be strong enough to support them. This thought came from a conversation I had with my orthopedic surgeon years ago. I had just had a pretty massive knee surgery, and he told me that in order to keep my knees as stable as possible, the muscles surrounding them need to be strong. Remembering that conversation helped motivate me to want to do more than just cardio, but also lift weights. I actually love lifting now! There’s a certain level of satisfaction that comes with your limbs feeling utterly fatigued because you pushed them above and beyond. Again, I am NOT an expert. I did a little research concerning exercises that I thought would be good for me, watched youtube videos, and followed other fitness bloggers. This gave me a starting point. Slowly, but surely, I started to notice a difference. A difference in the way I looked and in the way I FELT! Seeing and feeling that difference only motivated me more to want to keep up this habit of waking up at the crack of dawn to sweat. Now, hear me out…your body will not change overnight, it takes time. I know that’s easier said than done, but you have to trust the process, and stay the course. Your consistency WILL PAY OFF!
In order to help you jumpstart your workout regimen, I will be posting workout videos through the blog and Instagram for you to reference! Sometimes the hardest part is getting started and knowing how to start. Hopefully, doing this will help you find that beginning point. 🙂
Tip 5: New Gear
Oaky, so yes, sometimes I need a little extra motivation to get myself out of my warm bed and go workout. That motivation is new workout clothes! There’s something about sporting new gear for your workout that energizes you to run a little longer or do a couple more reps. Am I the only one?! I highly doubt it! I personally love when my workout look matches like these super cute options from Adore Me. I know you have probably seen the commercials on tv for their fun lingerie, but they also have an activewear line! Not only do they have multiple sets to choose from, but the prices are sooooo good! I’m a girl on a budget, so cute clothes for a great deal is always enticing. I have already made my list of must-haves! I especially love the high-waisted leggings, like the wine colored ones pictured below. They provide a little extra concealment for a particular problem area!
You do have to set up a quick profile in order to see all they have to offer, but it’s super simple, fun, and free! They also have plus size? Now everyone can load up on new gear to help motivate them on their journey to better their bods! Keep scrolling to check out my favs. Also, check out their “Motivate Me” Pinterest board for additional motivation and tips!
Good stuff, right?! I can’t wait to order my first set!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you feel inspired to try any, or all, of these tips for a healthier self! Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and the results will come!
xoxo,
Megan
*All thought in this post are my own
