Saturday Fitness Tip: Let's talk goals and motivation

In today's Saturday Fitness Tip I'll talk about goals and motivation.
(I found pictures on Facebook on Fun, Fit and Fab page).



Let's go back in time ... I was overweight and I wasn't happy. Maybe I didn't look as unhappy person on the outside, but on the inside I wasn't. I had trouble finding pretty clothes that would fit me, my dreams seemed so far away, I was lost ... When I started losing weight, I started to feel better, was healthier and happier. And then I started eating healthier and exercising regularly, people around me said that I don't need to lose anymore weight or that I should be careful not to become anorexic (really?) or that I didn't even look fat and that I was cute even when I was bigger.

Maybe I didn't have any more weight to lose, but I didn't want to lose body I earned! But then I had ups and downs, I moved a lot and wasn't truly consistant, I ate too much even though it was healthy or had really stressful era in my life and it showed. But last November after my Lasik surgery I didn't workout for whole month! That was the longest period of time I didn't workout. So, I made a promise to myself to go back on track and be the best version of myself ... for the rest of my life (I even signed a contract with myself! - mental thing)).

That's why I do monthly progress posts, to keep me motivated. My goal is to have defined abs and I already see some definition showing through layer of fat :P. I love eating clean, I don't feel deprived at all. Food is my energy and I don't live to eat, but I eat to live. (But I still eat too much sometimes and my body is so unforgiving!) I'm gonna steal Tina Maze's words: My way is my decision. ;) Being weak is a decision, so is being strong!

 

I work with what I have, I will never probably fit in XS size, because I am big boned and that's fine with me. Maybe I'll need more time to get to my goal than a person who was never overweight and doesn't have any excess fat to lose, but once you set your mind into something, your body will follow. 

Now little encouragment to skinny or slim girls that workout and eat healthy. Don't listen to people who say: "You don't need to workout, you're skinny already." Being active and eating healthy is much more than being skinny, it's about feeling great in your own skin. You can have naturally amazing slim body, but that's not a guarantee it will be like that your whole life. Skinny has nothing to do with being in shape.

My long term (fitness) goal is to be healthy and motivate others. It means world to me when someone writes me I inspired them. It inspires me to keep going. If you want something sooooooooooooooo bad, no excuse will ever stop you. If you have time for Facebook, you have time for 15 minute workout, if you can buy that chocolate bar, buy fresh fruit instead ... and so on. Excuses stink and you know you make them on daily basis!

I didn't workout on Wednesday, because I was lazy and now I kinda regret it. Nothing I can change it now. Next time when you feel unmotivated to workout or you want to indugle something you shouldn't, look yourself in the mirror to see if you are where you want to be. I know I'm not, but every day is a new day, day to make it right. The sooner you start, the closer to your goal!


Now stop making excuses and earn the body you've always wanted!
Have a healthy happy Saturday y'all!

P.S.: If you have any topics you'd like me to cover or give you any advice, please, share them in a comment and I'll do my best to cover them in my next Saturday Fitness post :)

Saturday Fitness Progress: Don't get discouraged

Another month has passed, time for another weekly fitness progress post!

 

Source: Pinterest.

Firstly, I'd like to say some words about "No Sugar Challenge". I can tell you it has helped me so much. I've come to the point when I don't even crave anything sweet anymore and when I think about it, I just ignore it. I never really craved anything sweet in a past few weeks, I just craved fruit - something more "watery" and sweet. Another great thing about no eating sweets is that my skin has cleared out. I still get pimples here and there, but I assume there has to be another reason for that. Talking about skin - overall appearance of my skin has improved, cellulite is less visible, skin looks more tight. Last but not least, I have much more energy. I think I also have to thank gluten free diet, although I think oats are not gluten free? (Well, I ate them coupe of times, when I wanted something warm and delicious :)).

Anyways, progress is not huge, but like I said before: 1 centimeter is still a progress (and 2 centimeters - even better! :)).

You can check out my last Saturday Fitness Progress post here. 
All measurements are in centimeters.

	9 Mar 2013	6 Apr 2013
Upper arm	30,5	30,5
Bust line	95	95
Waist	81	81
Hips	104	103 (-1)
Thighs	62	61 (-1)
Left calf	43	43

I measured my waist in different parts of the day and it varies about 2 centimeters.
I am trying new diet plan and will start with little bit different workout regime. Sometimes is good to switch things up a little and see if it works. I like to experiment with my body - in a helathy way, of course :)

No naked picture od myself today. lol! You get another hot girl ... :)

 

Source: Pinterest.

I want to encourage you, if you're on a "getting in shape" journey, don't get discouraged, if progress is little. Take a look at your whole progress (from beginning till now) and there are many more ways to know if you shaped up:

1. Weight yourself. I'm not a big fan of this option, because I think that people get scared when number doesn't move or when it shows that you gained weight. Guess what, muscles are heavier than fat, and if you workout you can gain weight, especially if you don't have a lot to lose. And people get easily obsessed with weighting myself. I've been there.

2. Measure yourself. My favourite technique as you may know. Much more convenient as weight.

3. Take before and after picture. Just don't take photos of yourself everyday. Once a month is enough and then you just compare them.

4. Focus on how you feel. If you feel lighter, tighter and leaner, congratulations, you're doing great, although number stay the same. I first start to lose weight three years ago, I started to feel more energized and I was happier. So, be aware of how you feel.

5. Lastly, if your clothes fit you better or they are loose, then my dear friend, you've lost weight and centimeters. Or your jeans just got bigger ;)

 

Source: Pinterest.

Hope you find this posts helpful and motivational. I would love to hear about your progress ;)
Have a happy healthy Saturday!

Saturday Fitness Tip: "No sugar challenge" or do you read food labels and ingredients?

Month of March is almost over and as you may know, I posted a "No sugar challenge" post at the beginning of the month. You can read it here.
Today's post in not really a tip, but more of a confession.

Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge and I hope you are doing well if you decided to join me.

Today I want to cover food labels and ingredients on packagings. Do you read them? I read them always when I'm in unfamiliar shop and if I'm buying something new. But when I already know the content of it, I don't. But last week I discovered that canned beans I've been using have sugar in them and I felt that they were kinda sweet but beans are naturally on a sweeter side. Well, I haven't eaten those beans ever since, so I think I've been sugar-free now. :)

Challenge failed, but I'll continue with it anyways, because I want this to be a permanent thing not just one month thing.

(Source: Pinterest)

One person once told me that reading labels is bullshit and that it's too much time consuming ... But is it? Like I said, it can take a little bit more time if you're buying something for the first time or in unfamiliar shop with unfamiliar brands, but later you will already know what to buy. Or just buy veggies, fruits and other un-packaged real food that doesn't even need a label. With that you can be 100 % sure, you're eating sugar-free and healthy. :) (Fruit has natural fructose/sugar in them, but it's natural and a good source of energy.)

To me not paying attention to labels is like not paying attention to/taking time for yourself. And I am the only one who has to live with myself all my life and in the same body. I have to work on me, because no one else will. I want to be happy, healthy and strong, and I will take time for myself every single day. Everyone should. Do you?

I don't know about you but this looks kinda scary to me. (source: Pinterest)

So, my healthy tip for today is: stick to 5 ingredient rule. That means if a label has more than 5 ingredients, put it back on a shelf! And ignore the food that has any kind of artificial sweeteners in them (sugar has many names) AND if you don't know what certain ingredient is or you don't know how to read it - PUT IT BACK! It's probably some chemical ingredient that shouldn't end up in your body anyways.
Sorry, for being so harsh, but sometimes you need to scream because it's über important :D


Don't just pig out during Easter, now is a perfect time to cleanse and detoxify. Your body, soul and apartment/house ;).

Have a happy, healthy Easter and be safe.