My Progress | Saturday Series: Fit-Spiration 6 of 6

I want to start off by saying that I realize I should have taken progress pictures wearing the same outfits all the way through, but I never thought of it back when I started my fitness journey. I also want to throw it out there that I am NOT trying to brag about my body in ANY way whatsoever. I'm posting my progress to hopefully inspire you guys and to show that if I can do it, then literally ANYONE can do it.

My journey began almost 2 years ago now. I really wanted to lose weight after realizing that I was quite self conscious about my body. I started off by simply altering my diet- less empty carbs and fatty foods and more whole grains and veggies. I was in a really bad place before starting my fitness journey; I was drinking a lot and eating really poor foods. I quit drinking all together (still haven't had a drink to this day), I cut out fast foods, and I limited myself to one "bad" food per day, which eventually turned to one "bad" food per week. I also began watching my portion size and trying to eat mindfully instead of snacking in front of the TV. By January of this year I had already seen such a remarkable difference- in just 11 months I had lost 40 pounds! I kept the weight loss going and began introducing a work out plan and by July I had lost another 15 pounds, making a total weight loss of 55 pounds and I went from a size 12 pant to a size 5. The biggest accomplishment for me wasn't necessarily the weight loss but how great I felt and how happy I was.

Over the summer I had quite a bit of free time and so began working out quite intensely. I would workout for at least an hour everyday, doing a combination of cardio and muscle building/toning. I found that I really love to walk long distances at a brisk pace, and I also really love yoga and pilates. Working out has become an absolute joy for me; it's something I really look forward to as it helps me to relax and feel happy.

This final photo I took whilst I was home this past weekend for Thanksgiving. I am maintaining my fitness despite being away at college by walking whenever I can as well as using the Sworkit app and doing yoga 3 times a week. I'm enjoying cooking healthy meals for myself with good, wholesome ingredients. Not that numbers matter in the vast scheme of things, but just as a reference if your interested my current numbers are as follows:

Weight: 108Lbs

Pant size: 2 or 3

Bust: 32"

Waist: 26"

Hips: 36"

Like I said (and will continue to say until the end of time) the numbers don't matter. They're a good gauge of progress but the important thing is how great I feel now and that I am living a healthy active lifestyle that will carry me through this life. I think a healthy lifestyle is a great thing to adopt as young as you possibly can, I think it will stick with me as long as I live. 

I hope you feel inspired by this to live a healthier, more active lifestyle. Like I said, if I can do it anyone can. It's all about making good choices and loving yourself enough to do so. If you have any questions about starting to live a healthier lifestyle or any tips you could provide me to help with my own journey leave a comment!

Thanks for reading, xo, Katelyn

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