Lack of Motivation? Try These Tips to Stay Healthy!

I am one of those people who can be very excited and interested in an activity or topic for a week or two and then quickly lose interest.  When it comes to dieting, exercising, and just being healthy in general I am even more so a "dabbler".  I will decide one day that I am going to try a certain diet plan out and this will be the one that I stick too, only to find myself ordering a large pepperoni pizza and drinking a bottle of wine 3 days later.  However, as I have gotten older and am more likely to feel and see the effects of my bad habits, I have learned a few tricks along the way that help keep me motivated.  These aren't fool-proof by any means --  I still eat tons of pizza and drink lots of wine -- but they do help get me back on track when I have those days/weeks of giving up and they help keep me interested in my health.

• Track your food and physical activity.  Tracking can be an important tool when trying to live a more healthy lifestyle!  It makes us more aware of what we eat and how active we are being, also it typically encourages you to create a plan on a daily or weekly basis to ensure you hit your goals.  Whether it be an app like MyFitnessPal, where you track your calories, or Weight Watchers (something about having to calculate points as opposed to calories keeps me engaged in my meal planning), tracking what you eat can be very helpful!  Some prefer old-fashioned pen and paper, I have gone through periods where I use all three of these methods at the same time!  Another idea is to use Google Docs, so you can access it at home, work, or on your phone.  For physical activity, Fitbit and other activity trackers are great motivators.  I love using my Fitbit as it shows me how little activity I perform while at work, sitting all day at a desk.  With my Fitbit, if I don't have 2,500 steps by 10am, I get up and take a few laps around the office!  It keeps me conscious and aware of my activity, or lack there of.  You can also have daily or weekly challenges with friends and I always find this very motivating!  I will actually go to the gym more often after work if I am in a weekly challenge with some of my super active friends!

• Join an online community.  Online communities can be a great source of motivation and accountability.  When I began using Fit Girl's Guides in 2014, I quickly learned how helpful an online community can be!  I created a separate Instagram account where I could post my weight loss journey on a more frequent basis without annoying my friends and family (and post those "before" photos without feeling embarrassed!)  The Fit Girl community is one of the largest, most successful online healthy lifestyle community I have experienced.  The girls are all supportive of one another, post uplifting photos, and share their struggles.  If you have a chance, search #fitgirlsguide and you will catch a glimpse of this wonderful online community.  Since joining Weight Watchers, I have become more active following Instagram accounts of fellow Weight Watchers enthusiasts, but have yet to see the same overwhelming amount of support that overflows from the Fit Girl's Guide Community.  

• The Biggest Loser! Nothing motivates more than a little healthy competition!  I know Diet Bets are all the craze online, but I have yet to experience those so I will share what I do know from firsthand experience!  If you are close with your coworkers or have some friends and family looking for a little motivation, start up a Weight Loss Competition!  I have done this at my workplace and it can be very motivating.  Decide the length of time, usually a 3 month period is ideal to allow for some real weight loss to take place (and also allow for some extra time to get back on track if you slip up a few times!)  Then anyone who wants to compete will pay a buy-in amount, $20 for example.  This creates the pot of money that can be won!  You can have one winner that will receive the whole pot of money, or break it into first, second, and third place prizes (this usually allows for even more competition, especially if early on one person takes a strong lead, the rest of the group won't be discouraged and give up because there are still 2 more prizes to be won!)  One person can serve as the weigh-master and will track each individual's weight.  Make sure you all use the same scale and set rules such as no shoes worn, weigh at the same time of day for each weigh-in, etc.  You can judge the winner by total pounds lost or percentage of original weight lost; just make sure you decide that before beginning!

• Potlucks and Recipe Swaps. Since you are becoming healthy buddies with your coworkers, friends and family, you should consider hosting some potlucks and recipe swaps to keep each other motivated!  You can share recipes by having shared Pinterest boards or doing a weekly recipe swap where everyone brings in their favorite healthy recipe and shares with the group.  Healthy potlucks or healthy dinner events are another fun way to stay motivated and try something new and delicious.  I eat lunch at work everyday with a coworker who uses Weight Watchers and we are always sharing new recipes and meal ideas with one another!  Plus I feel obligated to pack a healthy lunch every day because it has become our routine to eat together and I would hate to show up one day with some leftover pizza while she is trying to eat healthy! 

• Join a CSA or Fresh Produce Delivery Subscription.  A couple months ago, I signed up for Farm Fresh To You and I absolutely love it!  Every month, a box of fresh, organic, local produce is delivered to my doorstep.  I have the option to go in and select what items I would like in my box or I can simply be surprised (this is a really fun way to try new produce and recipes!)  You also have the option for more frequent delivery.  If you are interested in trying out Farm Fresh To You, check out their website and use the code SHEL2641 for $10 off your first delivery!  I pay only $26 per box and here's a sample of what is coming in my shipment this week: 2 Bosc Pears, 1 Eureka Lemon, 2 Fuji Apples, 1 head of Lettuce, 1 bushel of Red Beets, 2 Kiwis, 1 bunch of Nantes Carrots, 1 head of Romanesco Cauliflower.  Also, you can check out local farms in your areas, as many host Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and offer similar services.

My first Farm Fresh shipment!  I added Pasture-Raised Eggs to this box and they were delicious!  Unlike any eggs you will buy in the grocery store.

Another Farm Fresh delivery!  They even list the farms that each item came from!

I hope these ideas help you stay motivated during your healthy lifestyle journey!  Please share any of your motivational tips in the comments below!  I am always looking for new suggestions to improve my health and well-being!