We have all heard this classic cliche, “New Year, New me!” It gets so much hate, but for those of you who have been following along with me, know that I love me a fresh start. What better fresh start than the new year?? I have to say one thing that irks me during this time of the year is the number of haters out there! Specifically when it comes to the fitness and health aspect of a new year. For example, joining a new gym. It’s already such a scary experience if you aren’t a “gym rat” but to add the judgment from others does not make it any easier. Whenever I hear “Oh here come the new year crowd, give it a few weeks and they will be gone” makes me so angry. Everyone {and I mean everyone} has started in the same way. They have no idea what machines do what and what a proper squat is. Hell, I have been going to the gym for a while and still get lost. I want you all to know that you are NOT the only one who has the feeling of being nervous and awkward at a gym. We all have been there and after some time that feeling will wash away! My fitness journey has been a never-ending roller coaster ride filled with lots of highs and lots of steep, stomach-turning, holy shit drops. Ever since I was younger I have been the bigger girl so it’s been a constant struggle my whole life. The real up and down of it all started in college. I started Weight Watchers online and would go to the gym daily. I lost some weight and started to feel really good about myself. People would compliment me and say how good I looked and boom just like that it’s like a switch went off in my head. “Great, I look good and feel good. I can stop now.” This fatal way of thinking has plagued me up until this year if I am being honest. The absolute most exhausting feeling for me is ‘starting over’ and that is what I did time after time again. I would gain the weight back {at times it would be more than I lost} and then have to start over mentally, emotionally and of course physically. This year I really had to do some soul-searching because I did not want another year of starting over. I had to really figure out the issue that I was battling and like everything else, it was all a mental battle. I would tell myself I wasn’t worth losing the weight before I even gave myself the chance. I didn’t believe I deserved to be healthy because I have failed so many times at it before. On top of that terrible thinking, I was ALWAYS viewing it as a quick fix diet. Warning, the second cliche of today’s post is coming: It’s a lifestyle, not a diet. I know I know, I can feel the eye rolls from here, but these cliches are around for a reason. They are true. A huge reason why I wasn’t able to find success was because I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I wanted to look good and be like all the other beautiful fit women that I saw everywhere I went. WELL, spoiler alert, that isn’t enough of a reason. I had to literally tell myself that I want to do this because I want to be the healthiest version of myself and to live a long and beautiful life. I want to be able to keep up with my future children, I want to feel strong and I want to be able to run away from the zombies when that time comes…I gotta be prepared for everything right?! But really, I realized that I have to do this for the right reasons and just like that it stuck. NOW, that being said that doesn’t mean I haven’t fallen off, I have, but this time it is different. This past year when I slowed down my fitness routine I definitely had a panicked moment. I realized that I gained a bit of weight back and instantly was like “NOT AGAIN!”, but this time around I was strong enough to remind myself that this is LIFE. The colder months hit, pumpkin spiced everything enters my life and multiple days of feasts lie ahead of me. I had to make a real effort to try. Whether that was drinking more water or taking the stairs instead of the elevator when I was out. I may have fallen off my routine a bit, but I have also made sure to make positive changes every day. I started getting back into my routine a couple weeks ago and I already feel *so* good. Please remember that your journey is just that, YOURS. Do not compare yours to mine or anyone else’s. Your moment will come to you in the most perfect of timing. I promise you. Never give up and to always believe in yourself. You are the most important priority in your life, make sure you invest wisely and own the New Year and New YOU!
These two pictures always motivate me to get back into my routine!
Sip of the Week
I haven’t done a #SIP in a while and I have the most perfect one to start the new year. My favorite lifestyle blogger has an *amazing* fit program. my girl Grace from a_southerndrawl is a fashion and lifestyle blogger with the cutest outfits and she is insanely fit! FITwithASD is a daily program that she created where she posts exactly what her workout routine will be each day. She also includes delicious recipes, videos on how to perform each workout and inspirational videos! I have been following Grace for a while now and she has been a huge inspiration in my life! She has made going to the gym not so scary anymore and has helped me become stronger in so many ways! Please go check her out to change your health for the better! @a_southerndrawl @fitwithasd FITwithASD -click this link to get started!