Motivation: Having it and Losing it

I want to talk about motivation, having it and losing it. Getting motivation to change your life from being unhealthy to healthy is an amazing accomplishment. Keeping up a routine and setting goals is a wonderful way to keep that motivation going. Sometimes life gets in the way and sets us back a bit. Life happens and roadblocks will get in the way. It is up to you to move past them or let them defeat you. It can be anything from a new job, schedule change, relationship change, financial change or even a mental change. Sometimes goals you thought you wanted are not goals you want to keep. When I first started I wanted to lose just 10-15lbs. I thought that was more than enough! I ended up losing 35 and still would love 10 more. Also, it can be the other way around and you want to lost 40 but you find out you are really happy at 20.

I just went through a roadblock with my healthy lifestyle in a relationship. I didn't even realize how much motivation I was losing until the end. I lost myself in the relationship and started making their priorities mine. I think the extra stress from the relationship made me not eat as healthy because I started caring less. My motivation to study for my PT test was starting to dwindle. I wasn't feeling like myself. What I loved about myself, was the health conscious person I became, and I was losing that. I knew it was time for something to change. I decided the relationship was not healthy for me. In a relationship you should be supported and respected. Your partner should encourage you, not bring you down. I felt like I had a dark cloud over me and I needed light again. As sad as it was, it was time to walk away and find myself again and get back on track.

We all have things in our life that are going to get in our way. It's up to us to figure out how to change it to keep the goals and lifestyle we want. This is your life. No one else. You decide your attitude and how you live life. Stand strong and believe in yourself because when you finally achieve your goals you have no one to thank but yourself. 

Strawberry Bread

I made this nummy Strawberry Bread for my friend Beth's birthday last week. I wanted something healthier and not processed that still tasted good! I have a bunch of frozen strawberries so I thought I would give this a try!  

Strawberry Bread

2 1/2 cups strawberries, Mushed (frozen strawberries work too!)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 eggs, beaten
1 ¼ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients, flour, banking soda, salt, cinnamon.

In another bowl, beat eggs, add sugar, oil, and vanilla.

Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease well two 8×5-inch loaf pans.

Gently fold in the strawberries with their juices. Divide evenly between the prepared loaf pans, and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaves come out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and then remove to racks.

Don't Beat Yourself Up!

Recently, I have found myself slipping on how strict I was for the past year. I have been cheating a little too much on my meals and I am starting to notice it on my body. Everyone loses motivation once in a while but make sure you stick to the things you can control. My workouts have pretty much stayed the same and I am making sure I almost never let that slip. Working out is what I love to do so I ALWAYS make the time for it. It is okay to give yourself a little slip and not feel bad about it. There have been some Saturdays that I have missed but I do not get mad at myself.  I want to keep thinking of working out as fun and not something I HAVE to do. I do not want to start seeing it as a chore. The good thing about having lost weight is I know what to do to lose a couple pounds if I gain them. Everyone's weight fluctuates, just make sure it is something you can manage and get back to the place you want to be. Life is too short to be miserable because you can not eat a piece of cake or have a drink or two. Have fun but in moderation!

Here are some tips I have:

If I know I am going to be eating out for dinner,  I will eat lighter through out the day. I will burn a few more calories in my workout and make sure what I order for dinner is as healthy as it can be. I have been ordering a chicken breast with veggies on the side. Most places will be more then happy to make that for you. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat perfect all the time when I'm out but I try my best. Willpower!!

If you ate bad one day/night make sure you eat good the next day. I found myself cheating Saturday night and then all day Sunday. Not good and hello 8lbs! Save your cheat for something you reallly want. I have found that if I eat perfect through out the whole week and don't allow myself a treat I will binge on Sundays. I now try to have one cheat item a day. Maybe a couple on Sundays;) I know that if I did not do this I would have given up months ago. 

I am going to sit down and make new goals. Having something to work for is a great way to get motivation. I hit my goal and I feel that is why I slipped a little because I never made new ones.

Here is a treat I made on Sunday...Sweet Potato Fries!

Sweet Potato Fries!

1 Sweet Potato peeled and cut into strips

EVOO

Seasoning

Peel and Cut Potato

Toss in Evoo

Sprinkle with seasoning

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until crispy

Enjoy!!