Motivation…motivation…motivation…that’s one of the hardest things to come by, at least it is for me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am talking about motivation for a specific thing: exercise. I know I’m not the only one who gets a little discouraged and lazy when it comes to exercising and trying to stay fit. I think that’s a normal reaction, especially for someone like myself who never had to put much effort into maintaining their shape. I’m not saying that I hate my body and want to be as thin as thin can be. No, I actually love my shape; I just want to reach certain goals with it. I would like a flatter stomach. Let me just tell you how I was sitting on my bed and I looked in the mirror – Lord, I couldn’t believe my gut was as big as it was! I’m not gonna lie, for a split second I was like, “Ew!” But then I remembered that that word is the gateway word to self-loathing. So ,I was like, “Girl, we got to do something about this, I don’t like it.” So, now I’m trying to ease myself into a routine that works for me. It is extremely hard because, I am very lazy…to the point that I should be ashamed, but I’m not. I know who I am and that’s why I know this is gonna be a difficult, yet rewarding, journey.
I’m not here to give lessons on how to get the summer body of the year, but to share some things that may or may not help people in the same situation as me. Each morning I get up and do twenty squats; I do twenty more squats every other night, too. I know some people might say, “Just do the Squat Challenge,” but let me just say that’s not for me. I feel as though if you’re just starting to work out, the Squat Challenge is something you have to work towards. I made the mistake of starting with that and it tired me out and made me not want to work out at all. So, I do squats at a gradual pace that works for me and slowly prepare for the Squat Challenge. It’s great to have is someone else who is trying to get fit who would be willing to go to the gym with you. That was another problem I had: I didn’t like going to the gym, and I definitely did not want to go by myself. So, finding a partner makes the whole thing easier – plus you can both push each other to stay focused.
Lastly, I’m trying to start eating right. This in particular is the hard thing for me because I love me some cake, burgers, and soda. Cutting back is gonna be difficult. Especially because I hate eating salad; I don’t even get lettuce on my sandwiches. But I know I’m going to have to find a balance. Another thing I’m trying to work on is adding more water and fruit to my diet. I know this gonna be a tough transition, but I’m ready for it. The most important thing to remember for anyone out there that’s trying to get fit and eat right, my suggestion is to take it easy. Do not rush it, or go beyond your boundaries. The best thing to do is set limits and goals for yourself; try not to let yourself get discouraged. I know it is going to be tough, but it will be worth it in the end!