a few weeks ago, i wrote a post about my recent mindset transformation towards fitness and eating healthy. firstly, i just want to say a big thank you for all your words of encouragement. it was awesome to know that so many of you related and got some motivation from my words : ) so thank YOU! secondly, i had mentioned in the post about a series of fortunate events that had really set things into motion for me and a few of you said you’d like to hear what those events were so i thought i’d share that today along with a little update on my journey, as well as some tools and tips to help you!

as i mentioned last post, the series of events started with my decision to eat healthier starting january 01. with a lot of determination to not make it a new years resolution, but more a fresh start, i kept in the back of my head constantly how the crappy food made me feel and it was surprisingly really easy to make that transition. at that point my mindset towards fitness was still ‘meh’ and i wasn’t really feeling it. the first of the events was a photo that a family member had taken of me and posted to facebook. i did not like what i saw at all. it was a wake up call of sorts for me that i was so ashamed that i didn’t even want people to see the photo. i know that it is not about the perfect body or adhering to society’s standards of the “perfect” body, but deep down i did not feel okay with how i looked. it wasn’t even just the weight factor either, i looked tired and unhealthy. of course everyone gets a photo taken of themselves once and a while that they aren’t fond of, but this was more than that to me i guess. it really shook me to my core.

the second of the events was a snowboard trip with my company’s christmas party. i hadn’t been out in almost a year and not being very active, it was harder on my body than it used to be. that only pushed me more because this is the sport that i genuinely love and if i couldn’t even do that anymore, well that really bummed me out. so instead of letting it get me down that it was more challenging, i rose to the challenge and pushed my legs as hard as i could. i sort of surprised myself and i kept thinking how awesome it is that our bodies are capable of being challenged like this. the other event happened on the same trip: sitting, dipping my feet in a hot tub with everyone thinking how uncomfortable i was in my own skin. it occurred to me in that moment that i had spent so much time feeling uncomfortable that it had almost become comfortable. it had become a knee jerk reaction to just feel crappy about myself and the way i felt i looked instead of realizing that i have the power to change it. and why was that? why did i think it was okay to continue to feel bad about myself and spend so much time worrying about what others thought or saw, rather than changing what i think and see? again, it’s not about the “perfect” body, to me it’s solely about feeling good, physically and mentally. i think i had spent so much time feeling bad that i didn’t see there was a way out and it was all in my hands. if i wanted to change what i felt when i looked in the mirror, it was completely and utterly possible, i just had to change my mindset.

the next event was later that week when i went on a little day trip for a instagram meet up. we ended up driving around exploring a bit, taking lots of photos and then stopping to hike this small, but fairly steep mountain. being not a fit person, i was struggling at the steep parts. but i thought back to earlier on in the week when i pushed my body snowboarding and decided not to give up. i almost stopped about a third from the top, but i thought to myself ‘you’re nearly to the top, just hang in there it’ll be so worth it!’  and worth it it was. there is something really magical about the rewards that come when you push your limits.

driving home from the meet, i really reflected on these past events and that’s when the transformation of my mindset towards fitness really changed. i thought about all these things and how it’s all so plausible – eating better, getting fit and enjoying it, feeling better about my body, working towards a goal. it was all completely doable things, but before it seemed like an unreachable mountain that i would walk up and give up a third of the way to the top if i didn’t see immediate results. so somewhere inside of me, i made a conscious decision that i was going to do this, no more excuses. excuses and fear were the two things that were holding me back the most, and i decided to leave them on that mountain top. my motivation had become not just a physical change, but a mental transformation and a lifestyle change. because i could. because anyone can! it just takes looking inside of you and finding that warrior that’s going to conquer excuses, fear, body shame and feeling lousy.

the last few weeks have been enormous in my transformation. i have seen myself stay true to my promises and continue to work towards my goals. i’ve become really enthralled in the whole thing! this coming monday, i will start a new fitness plan as well as a bit of a eating lifestyle change (updates to come!) and i could not be more excited! there’s been a lot that has helped me stay motivated and on the right path, so today i wanted to share a few tips and links that have helped me along the way. please let me know if you guys have any questions or anything you want to know! i’m by no means an expert, but i’m learning as i go and sharing what i’ve learnt so far.

the nike+ training app
you guys, this app has changed my life. before starting this, i never knew what i was doing with workouts. i felt like it was totally pointless because i felt clueless and didn’t want to fork over the $$$$ for a personal trainer. i felt helpless. but somehow i got introduced to this amazing app (which is totally free BTW) and let me tell you, these workouts are challenging! it’s great too because you can easily choose what your goals are and choose workouts that are totally feasible to your skill level. and bonus: you barely need any equipment to do the workouts.
tips to using the app
+ if you’re new to most kinds of physical activity and your goal is to loose weight start with the “get lean – beginner” option. work your way through those workouts until you feel comfortable stepping it up with the “intermediate or advanced”.
+ make sure to choose a different work out every day so your body doesn’t get used to one thing. this makes a huge difference with weight loss.

equipment
the nice thing about working out at home is that it barely costs anything. a gym membership can be pretty pricey and if you’re anything like me, you feel lost and judged at the gym. there’s a few things i recommend buying for your at home “gym” to make things a little easier.
+ good quality runners: so important. when i started working out, i had cheap $20 runners from wal-mart and because of my past knee injuries and flat-footedness, i found my knees getting really sore without the support and i was getting tired really quickly. some people prefer working out barefooted too, which is totally cool, but if you’re like me and can’t, invest in some good runners. it changed everything for me.
+ support: this ones for the girls – take care of ‘em ladies! sounds obvious, but make sure you have a good sports bra. i can’t emphasize this enough. i had cheap quality ones when i started and it made it painful to do some of the exercises. i grabbed a few inexpensive quality ones from forever 21 and it has made a huge difference. make sure you grab high-impact ones.
+ light weights: the nike+ app uses light weights in some workouts. for weight loss you don’t need to lift crazy heavy weight because you’re not trying to bulk up. you can get a cheap pair at wal-mart or i grabbed the jogi by joe fresh weights at superstore.
+ medicine ball: the app also uses a medicine ball in some workouts. you can get a cheap one at wal-mart or again the jogi brand at superstore is awesome!
+ yoga mat: depending on the workouts you like to do, a mat or towel can add that extra cushion to make sure your back, arms and knees are properly supported.

yoga at home
i haven’t had a chance to try this one out, but it’s been all the buzz on the interwebs lately. yoga with adriene is a youtube channel full of different at home yoga sessions from beginner to advanced. if you try it or have tried it already, let me know what you think!

drink more water
enough said. if you’re loosing hydration from exercising, make sure to replenish your body by drinking more water. try starting the day with a few cups of cold water instead of jumping right into the coffee, and keep a water bottle or glass with you during the day to remember to give your body the hydration it needs.

stay off the scale
i used to focus all my energy on the number on the scale, which would make me give up easily if it didn’t change right away. the truth is when you start exercising and eating differently, your body adapts and it takes time. exercising also builds muscle, which equals weight, so the number on the scale isn’t an accurate measurement of the fat you’ve lost. instead of stepping on the scale, grab a fabric measuring tape and take your measurements either once a week or once a month (make sure to write them down). this will give you a more accurate reading of the fat you’ve lost and will help you to stay motivated! it also helps to take before and after pictures weekly, or monthly. you really do start to see changes in your body that you wouldn’t if you only focus on the scale.

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a good playlist
music is a big factor in keeping me motivated when i start to get tired during a workout, so i’ve put together a playlist for you guys of some of the music that gets me pumped up! please excuse my choices as they are all over the place genre wise, but it makes for a great soundtrack to your sweat fest! 

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01+  sail  | AWOLNATION
02+  numb/encore | COLLISION COURSE
03+  hollow moon (bad wolf) | AWOLNATION
04+  the girl is mine | MICHAEL JACKSON with WILL.I.AM
05+  don’t stop till you get enough | MICHAEL JACKSON
06+  feel the love | RUDIMENTAL FT. JOHN NEWMAN 
07+  love runs out (grabbitz remix) | ONE REPUBLIC
08+  wild eyes | BROILER FT. RAVVEL
09+  doin’ it right | DAFT PUNK
10+  absolution calling | INCUBUS
11+  gdfr | FLO RIDA FT. SAGE THE GEMINI & LOOKAS
12+  elastic heart | SIA
13+  got love | TOVE LO
14+  loose yourself to dance | DAFT PUNK
15+  speeding | LIGHTS
16+  i bet my life (alex adair remix) | IMAGINE DRAGONS
17+  talking body | TOVE LO
18+  sugar | MAROON 5
19+  thrash unreal | AGAINST ME!
20+  my songs know what you did in the dark | FALL OUT BOY
21+  now i’m all messed up | TEGAN & SARA
22+  second go | LIGHTS
23+  waves | MR. PROBZ FT. CHRIS BROWN & T.I.
24+  how to love | LIL WAYNE

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listen on rdio or 8tracks.