Exercising

This is a topic that most people don't like to talk about. It's something that everyone knows they should do, but very few actually take the time to do it regularly. I used to be like the majority of the population in that going for a 20 minute run or lifting weights three times a week sounded less desirable than sticking my head into the mouth of a hungry bear.

However, I have overcome the hump and have been working out regularly for exactly one month now! Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near the realm of a fitness junkie, but I can easily say that it has become less terrible. I have more energy now and I'm not cold all the time (like is usual for me this time of year).

How on earth did I find the motivation to continue doing such a dreadful thing five to six days of the week? Well I'm glad you asked because I have some superb advice to share with you!

1. Start small. If you expect to go from zero to ripped in a week, you'll likely give up before you even give yourself a chance. There are plenty of websites dedicated to building up muscle slowly or endurance when you run, so those might be useful resources to check out.
2. Set reasonable goals for yourself each week and push yourself to accomplish them. It will feel great when you get to the end of the week and you've stuck to the goals you set out to accomplish. I have found this to be quite encouraging.
3. Don't be too hard on yourself. We're all human, not superhuman, so don't expect to get the body of a Greek god or goddess. Everyone has a healthy weight and body fat range. Aim for yours.
4. Switch it up once in a while. I found that if I was doing the same workout routine or running the exact same route, I got bored and started making excuses to skip it or to push it off just one more day. If you're planning on targeting your abs one week, try different moves each day.
5. Find motivation that is personal. There's a saying that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, but maybe looking good in a bathing suit doesn't sound nearly as enticing as chocolate pie or deep dish pizza. If this is the case, your motivation for exercising should probably be something else. It could be inspired by entertainment such as The Walking Dead or the newest Hunger Games movie. Being physically fit enough to survive in either of worlds portrayed there might just be the thing you need to get off the couch. Or maybe your motivation could be as personal as wanting to be healthy enough to be around as your future grand-children grow up. It really is up to you!

If you need an idea of how to get started or were curious about how to switch up your workout, check out my board on Pinterest called Recipe for Bikini Body. I've pinned plenty of good ideas there for targeting different muscle zones, a variety of aerobic exercises, a few stretching routines, and some other fitness-related things. Good luck my fellow to-be fit individuals!