If you think being motivated to stay in shape is hard, these fun posts and sayings are for you1/31/2019 It's the ever-present, sometimes frightening phrase that spans generations: "I'll make it to the gym tomorrow." I'm guilty of it, you're guilty of it, they guy sitting across from you on the train is guilty of it. Well, just like our metabolism, our inspiration seems to be seeping through our fingers the more we put off getting any kind of workout in. Nobody is asking you to workout a lá Arnold Schwarzenneger in the 80s. Basic home bits and bobs will do just fine. See: Gym: The Minimalist Way With the help of a good friend of mine's Pinterest - hey Xochitl! - I got a great laugh from her pins that she uses to keep her motivated. Check 'em out below: And last but definitely not least, I want to share with you all my favorite mantra I say to myself when I force myself to do a decent workout: I want to look good naked! I mean, don't YOU want to? Comment below with your favorite workout motivator!
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Imagine if our brains did exactly what our bodies do when we feed it junk and don't do the proper exercise needed. This isn't just hypothetical. It's real. And our society is a nasty culprit that clouds our minds with junk. As much time as we spend dieting or working out at the gym, we need to put an equal - or even more - effort into the miraculous entity we call our minds. Now, let's detox! Another upside to one, or all, of these habits that's worth mentioning is.... ENDORPHINS! When this fun hormone is released by doing even one of them, it evokes a feeling of well-being. My assumption, since I'm no scientist, is that with prolonged exposure to this "happy hormone", your mental health and how you view life in general will only escalate into bigger and better pastures!
Because when you brunch with friends and family, you have to snap a picture. Brunching in the North Dallas region where I'm from is a way of life that is taken very seriously for all of us between the ages of 21 and 40. A way of life I don't take advantage of nearly enough! But when I do, I brunch hard. Thankfully I go with friends and family who understand my need to seriously treat myself to a beautiful spread. However, it's not just about all the fun you have talking about the decorating ideas, Hinge finds, or your last vacation. A decent brunch spread could essentially be one of the healthiest meals you could partake in that week! Bloody Mary's and Mimosas aside, most brunch locations have you create your own omelets. Hello, egg whites and spinach! But that's just my personal fave. Any form of egg - huevos rancheros included for us native Texans - is a great way to get your daily protein in a source other than meat. Speaking of meat, if you don't eat red meat or pork like me, you sometimes base your brunch choices on whether the menu has alternative choices like turkey bacon or sausage, or chicken sausage. Another Broken Egg has my heart with their meat selections. Substituting your usual pork bacon and/or sausage for the turkey variation is also infinitely more healthy. Even if the healthiest option is to just not eat them at all. But who has time for that? Any great brunch place will always include fruit. And if they don't, you have picked the wrong brunch-ery. Facts! I always try and start with the fruit so I don't stuff myself with waffles and biscuits covered in white (the only kind in the South) gravy. That battle is never won though. One brunch place that's a staple in N. Texas is Bread Winners and they have a top notch Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Side note: the first time I went to Bread Winners, the Patriots won Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons. They're back for Super Bowl LIII facing the Rams this February so I may need to take a trip back for good luck! Other than Bread Winners Cafe, here are my other favorite brunching locations in Dallas:
How seriously do you take your brunch? Let me know along with your favorite spots!
Gyms suck!
And this is coming from someone who worked at one for over a year not too long ago. There is just way too much pressure. I know you all agree with me. It is easier to go with a friend, however. You both can distract each other and put the other at ease. But, that liberty isn't always at your disposal. So you end up just not going. Well, I'm here to ease your mind a bit about not getting that proper workout in! Have no fear! After all, isn't that what this blog is about? I'll give you a hint: yes!! Don't call it the lazy way out. Because if you were a laze-bum, you wouldn't be about to read this post and take notes of some simple exercises anyone can do! Here's a few that I've either found on Pinterest or just made up myself. For me, I first choose my favorite number - 9 - and do that many for the exercise. If your favorite number is five or less, double that number. It's only fair!
ABS/OBLIQUES
You can also do standing obliques if you want. Same concept of the classic exercise. Just please don't try and touch your heels. That sounds like it would be incredibly painful.
ARMS
LOWER LEGS
BACK & BICEPS I hate them, but...
WALK
Go breath in some fresh air for your health while giving your legs a great workout! I really enjoy this exercise because it gives me time to think, listen to music and just go at my own pace. No matter how fast or slow you go, remember to stretch before and walk with your stomach in - it will work you ab muscles along the way.
I never really watch TV anymore unless it's football; but as I was flipping through my Instagram, I came across THE funniest video I'd seen in a while.
Right?! I need everyone to check out Becca's lean in right after the mis-pronunciation and her face at the very end! Vaguely, I remembered seeing previews for this show on E! but never tuned in. The Lady Gang on E! initially started off as only a podcast called The Fempire in 2015. So, naturally after watching this hilarious snippet over and over again, I decided to listen to their first episode on one of my long train commutes home. I was hooked! Aligning with the "Go Laugh." portion of this blog, - because laughing is healthy - I'm promoting Lady Gang because it will no doubt have you cracking up. From their high week/low week, to their dating horror stories, to them answering Twitter questions with an unrestrained, fuck it attitude, everyone needs to stop what they're doing and subscribe to my now favorite podcast. Join The Lady Gang on Instagram @LADYGANGTV. Everyday when I sit down at my office desk, I open my emails and CNN. Reading the news can be a bit depressing especially with this partial government shutdown. But I'm a grown up now, so I must do grown up things! This morning, however, I switched it up a bit and opened up Google News. From there I saw a link to a post from Huffington Post titled "14 Toxic Thoughts To Let Go Of If You Want To Be Happier". Well. If there was ever a more perfect motivational read not just for me, but also for a pretty awesome group of friends I left behind when I started my awesome new job. I could go through each one of them because it seems as though no one is immune to toxic thoughts here and there. Us millennial's more than most. It's just the way of nature now. Should we feel guilty about these ways ways of thinking? Absolutely not. The reason why is something this article also touches on. Here are a few thoughts listed in this post that touched a few of my personal heart strings:
I am still working on placing my own needs ahead of others. However, I can gratefully say that out of the majority of Huffington Post's article, this is the step I've made the most leeway from. Saying "no" used to be very hard for me. Last year I said this ironically freeing word to a toxic "relationship" and a frenemy. Pleasing people all the time can be tough on your well-being. Also knowing that saying "no" doesn't have to come with a reason why.
Now I wish I could tell you I've turned this particular leaf over. But, alas, I've still got a lot of growing to do here. I'll keep you posted! Whether you are in the stages of becoming the best you can be or still thinking most, if not all, these toxic thoughts on a daily basis, you should know you are not alone. Let's begin by claiming three phrases from the list - possibly the ones you identify with the most - and write out what makes you think this way and how you plan on changing this way of thinking. If, like me, you haven't quite figured out how to combat one (like my #3), just saying you want to work and fix it is plenty enough. |