five steps for reclaiming your motivation.

I'm sure I'm not the only one, but sometimes I just lose all motivation to go to the gym.  My eyes have been hurting, making my head hurt.  I have a school assignment.  I just don't feel like it even though I know I should.  God knows Ben has heard them all.  

So I decided to list things that help me get my motivation back!

• REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED-  this is a pretty big one for me.  I started this journey to lose weight and to become a person who lives a healthy lifestyle.  It is not always easy.  Plain and simple, find one good reason to keep going rather than adding up a bunch of lousy reasons to stop.
• FIND A BUDDY-  nothing screams motivation like having a workout buddy.  If you skip out on the gym and your girlfriend  has a killer workout, you are going to feel super crappy.  Have a little friendly competition during Zumba to see who can burn more calories!  In the end, you both win.  Plus, having someone remind you that Tuesday is Zumba night will ensure that you leave the house with your gym bag in hand and your Polar watch strapped on tight.
• PICTURE THE FINISH LINE-  after a good workout, you know you are going to feel amazing.  You might be sweating worse than you ever have before, but you just burned several hundred calories!  It was worth it.  Don't make excuses; channel your inner Nike and just do it!  You can sit on the couch for 30 minutes or move your body for 30 minutes.  Which one will make you feel better at the end?  (you know the right answer!)
• REWARD YOURSELF-  okay people, don't go crazy or anything!  After a hard workout, I like to swing through Dairy Queen and reward myself with a treat.  NO, not a giant blizzard!  A small, light fruit smoothie with protein added in.  They are good and satisfy my sweet tooth.  If you aren't into rewarding yourself with food, go shopping.  I hit up Old Navy at least once a week to see what new workout clothes they have.  Regular clothes work just fine too.  In the end, seeing your body get smaller and buying clothes you didn't think you could wear is enough reason for me to hit the gym.
• RECOGNIZE HOW FAR YOU'VE COME-  Whether you've lost 5 or 50 pounds, give yourself a pat on the back.  Every pound is progress!  As they like to say, "you didn't gain it all in a day, so you won't lose it all in a day."  Just keep going!  You will get there before you know it.