When I embarked on my "get my body back to pre-baby shape" weight loss journey I needed to set a plan because otherwise days would pass with another missed workout. It was a different lifestyle for me, being a new stay at home mom. I have always worked out in a gym setting so working out at home was a change too! So many changes in such a short amount of time! However, I decided the best thing I could do was create a routine, so every morning or afternoon without fail I walked 3 miles, the baby napped, and I got my workout in. I also decided to start tracking my calories and eating clean. Which at that point meant to eat small meals and snacks throughout the day, I was not eating bad foods, I was just eating 3 large meals which was not doing me any good. Slowly the weight started to come off. I then added weight training a few days a week and slowly and consistently my body started to look better, I started to feel better and the weight was coming off. My motivation was getting back to my pre-baby weight, this motivation got me started, and it was the habit of walking that kept me going. It only took me 2 months to get to my pre-baby weight. I was still motivated to lose more weight, because I was feeling so great. I was fitting back into my old clothes and could shop at my favorite stores. I am now 31 pounds lighter than when I started my weight loss journey and I feel great.
My motivation now? Getting into the best shape possible! I want to push myself and challenge my body to do things that I haven't tried before. My new habit I am creating to do this? I am doing the Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 workout for 30 days, taking either Saturday or Sunday to do yoga. I am also working in her Kickboxing and Yoga meltdown workouts for an extra kick in the butt, literally and metaphorically! I love the challenge her workouts give me and the way my body reacts to the high intensity interval training. If I get into the habit of doing this daily, it stops being a question of will I workout today, but when am I going to workout today. You can create this same type of habit. People that are most successful with losing weight and keeping it off are the ones that create a plan and stick to it. Food journal every single day, allow for one cheat meal a week, cut out sugar, stop drinking for a while, drink more water and do workouts that challenge you and make you feel like you gave everything you had to that workout! Pick one small change a week and at the end of the month you will have 4 new healthy habits and the old ones "bad" ones will just slip away!
What motivates you to reach your goals? What do you do to turn healthy behavior into habits?
Have a great day and challenge your self to be better today than you were yesterday!
