Staying Motivated | Saturday Series: Fit-Spiration 5 of 6

Hello lovely, bit of a late post today but I'm enjoying being at home for Thanksgiving- keep your eyes peeled for a future post about it! This week's topic for fit-spiration is staying motivated! I feel like starting a fitness plan is the easy part, but sticking to it for the long-term is where things get more difficult. Today I'm going to share with you my 5 top tips for staying motivated!

1. Have cute workout clothes

There's something about a cute pair of yoga pants that really gets me excited about working out! Find clothes that you're excited to wear and also that you feel comfortable in! Dressing the part really does help get you in the mind set for a good workout.

 2. Find a plan that works for you

Saying that you're going to go to the gym 3 times a week is all well and good... until you realize that you can't get to the gym three times per week. For me, working out at home is the best option. I love the Sworkit app so much! Another thing I've been doing recently is keeping these exercises on paper in a mug, choosing out 10 exercises every day and making a circuit to do 3 times over. 

 3. Track your progress

Setting mini-goals to accomplish every few weeks or so and rewarding yourself now and then is a great way to stay motivated! I keep track of my progress by taking photos of myself in the same spot and in the same outfit then comparing them side by side in this book. I also write down my body measurements once per month. I stray away from using weight as a progress tracker because it tends to get me discouraged. 

4. Stay inspired 

Finding new, healthy recipes is something that really helps me to stay motivated. Reading fitness based magazines also really helps my motivation; seeing other women kicking ass makes me want to kick ass too!

5. Make it a lifestyle

Incorporating fitness into your every day life is a great way to stay motivated to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Beyond the little things like walking places and taking the stairs, I love getting outside and hiking around my neighbourhood. It's good cardio but really doesn't feel like a chore at all!

I hope this post will help you to stay motivated on your fitness journey! What helps you to stay motivated?

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

19. Health | 52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge

The topic of health could not have come at a more appropriate time as the past few weeks I saw all my doctors before heading away to college. 2 years ago I began having allergic reactions to fruit and nuts- anaphylactic- 9 hospitalizations in total over a 11/2 year span. All the drugs they had to give me to ensure I stayed alive really took their toll on my body and left me with less than ideal health.

I wasn't allowed to exercise for an entire year because the high doses of epinephrine left my heart so weak. On top of this I was having issues with my thyroid that no doctor in my city could figure out. Eventually I was sent to a specialist in a city about 4 hours away who diagnosed my thyroid condition as Hashimoto's disease. I was finally getting some answers!

Now, 6 months post year hiatus from all things physical, I'm starting to see some changes in my body that I'm really happy with. I'm looking more lean and strong, my energy levels are better, and my general outlook toward life is a lot more positive than it was (my heart also doesn't feel like it's going to explode, which is good haha). 

Yes Hashimoto's will be with me for life, as will my severe allergies. But they're manageable now and I feel like I can live a normal, healthy, and active life like that of any other twenty-something. I can finally say I'm in good health and I'm so freakin' thankful for that!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn