Lifting and Clean Eating Part VI; Motivation and Results

Lifting and Clean Eating Part VI; Motivation and Results

An obvious important part to working out and eating clean is motivation. If we're not motivated, how will we get it done, especially when the last thing we feel like doing is working out instead of watching TV or drinking that tea instead of pop. So what's a person supposed to do to keep on keeping on when they'd just rather give up or quit???

Here's some things that motivate me:

• My husband. (aka someone to work out with that will keep you accountable, especially if you are just starting out). I could never have come this far without my husband's prodding, advice, motivation, and help!
• Fitness/Health Magazines. My favorites are Clean Eating Magazine, Oxygen, Muscle & Fitness Hers, and Woman's Health.  I like magazines that have workouts posted in them.
• Others’ success stories
• Blogging & Blogging Friends. You guys are all a great inspiration to me and motivation to keep going! Reading all about other’s workouts and fun healthy recipes inspire me to keep going. Whether you just comment or have a blog yourself, thanks for being there, you're awesome! : )
• Online Articles. I love being able to Google random things about food, fitness, etc if I wonder what something is, how to do something, etc. I just love reading fitness and nutrition tips and they motivate me to keep going too.
• New Equipment/Workout Clothes. Okay, it sounds kinda shallow but who's with me here? Getting new workout clothes, tennis shoes, or workout equipment can really give me a kick in the rear and get me going even stronger.
• Goals of what I want to look like, be like and feel like. 

So what's changed about me since before I began eating clean and working out??? Many things! Well, first off, upon starting to eat clean I was immediately amazed at how much energy and zest for life I felt! I began feeling so much more fresh and upbeat. And it feels amazing to know you're doing good to your body and feeding it foods that nourish it the best that you can.

I've always been a pretty shy person and very intimidated by others. I really saw myself as shy, weak, non athletic, not fit, intimidated, "bad" at running, sports, working out, etc. And can I speak for anyone else when I say that affects your confidence in every area of life?? I've always just been kind of a follower and too shy and afraid to be much of a leader.

But now I'm seeing myself differently. I'm seeing that I can do what I never thought I could and I don’t have to be shy and I don’t have to feel intimidated by people I somehow think are "better" than me because I am good enough and I can be an athlete and I can be fit if I want to be. It sounds cheesy, but it's true!

The best part is, I have just begun! And as I've said before, this is the last thing I ever thought I would be doing since I've always been so afraid and intimidated when it comes to fitness.

All that being said, hopefully this has motivated you to realize that YOU can do whatever you never thought you could, too!! Whether it's becoming healthy, loosing weight, gaining weight, building muscle, or something entirely different, YOU REALLY CAN DO IT no matter how much of a struggle or obstacle it is to you right now!

"It's never too late to be what you might have been."
-George Elliot-