6 TIPS THAT ACTUALLY HELP ME STAY MOTIVATED TO WORK OUT.

I’ve never really been into working out. My mom is a personal trainer and owner of Wildfire Fitness, so fitness has always been more or less a part of my life. Growing up I ate extremely healthy. In middle school and high school I was active with dance and sports which helped me maintain a healthy weight. 

But then, I graduated high school, went to college and developed an addiction to Taco Bell and now, my body could use a little toning up (and by little I mean a lot ha!) A month ago I decided that I was tried of the love handles and started working out and eating better (well... sometimes. I'm still working on this one.)  Between taking my mom's cross-training classes and hitting the gym I've managed to workout 6-7 days a week.

I never thought I'd EVER say this but, working out has actually become fun! Sometimes I literally sit at work and watch the clock count down until I can go workout. It's crazy! 

I've tried to workout regularly in the past but I was never motivated enough to keep going. This time around it's completely different. There are 6 tips/tricks that have helped me stay focused...

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1. HAVE A SPECIFIC GOAL + SET A TIME FRAME.
Having a specific goal in mind while working out motivates me to work harder during my workouts. For me, I want to be able to wear crop tops and bodycon summer dresses without having my love handles and stomach pooch stick out. Setting a timeframe makes my goal that much more real and  gives me something to work towards. It also gives me a sense of urgency. There are 53 days until the first day of summer which means I gotta get my 'ish together! 

2. FOLLOW A BUNCH OF "FIT GIRLS" ON INSTAGRAM + SNAPCHAT.

It sounds funny but following fit girls on Insta has been so helpful for staying on track. Constantly seeing my goal and how good they look makes me want to reach my goal that much more. On days when I don't want to workout, seeing their pictures motivates me to do it anyways.

3. BUY SOMETHING A SIZE TOO SMALL AND WORK TO FIT INTO IT. 

 I bought the cutest bikini from Victoria Secret! It's not a size too small but I obviously want to look a certain way when I wear it. Every now and then I try it on just to see if I've made any progress. Seeing myself in a bikini is motivation alone! Ha! 

4. DRINK DETOX WATER.
Detox water is basically just water with fruit and/or herbs and vegetables in it. There are quite a few health benefits to drinking detox water but I like it because it curbs my cravings and helps me drink the recommended 8oz of water per day. My favorite detox water right now is mint + lemon + cucumber. So good! 

CELEBRATE YOUR PROGRESS NO MATTER HOW SMALL. 
It's really important to pay close attention to your body as you make changes to your diet + workout and celebrate your progress. Noticing the differences helps you to see that your hard work is paying off and helps you stay motivated and excited to keep seeing changes. 

BUY CUTE WORKOUT GEAR. 
Maybe it's just me, but cute workout gear gets me excited to workout! When you look good, you feel good. Right? Right!