motivationforfitness:

Don’t forget about the GIVEAWAY!! (Because who doesn’t love free stuff?)

As I approach 5,000 followers, I thought this would be a good time for my second giveaway! (hooray!)

Rules are simple:

1. Must be following me: MotivationforFitness.
2. Must be a fitness/weight loss/nutrition/healthy blog of some sort.
3. Must wait until I hit 5,000 followers
4. Reblogs AND likes both count! YAY!!!
5. Reblog as many times as you like (but please don’t spam it a bunch of times in a row: no one likes seeing that on their dash!)

That’s it! How easy is that?? I’ll pay shipping to anywhere in the world and winner will be picked at random via online number generator.

What do you get? Exactly what’s pictured above: A pink heart rate monitor and watch. (Sorry guys, I don’t have another color for you, but pink is totally manly if you want it. TOTALLY MANLY!!!! It says so in the history books!!) 

Ready, set, GO!!! :D

Good luck!

*Edit: I’m also going to include 1 or 2 extra goodies of the unknown type. Lets just say this: let me know if you have a food allergy or dietary restriction. :D

(Source: brain-food, via thechocolatebrigade)

(via th3skinny)

So I didn’t actually weigh myself at the beginning of this new process, but I decided to weigh in today since its been about a week since I’ve started. The results were pretty awesome I guess! 80.8 kg, which is about 177.76 lbs. I usually fluctuate around 180, so the number is not a huge way off, but my body definitely feels lighter and less bloated. I’ve noticed that my tummy is much flatter and less cellulite in my butt! Since its a super busy time at school right now, I’ve been really pushing myself to maintain healthy eating, because even though I can’t fully dedicate myself to going to the gym, getting into this habit will still be super helpful once things settle down and I can start going to the gym regularly. Nonetheless, I have been doing 30 day shred whenever I have free time, and taking stairs EVERYWHERE! on campus (trust me, there are LOTS!).

I know eating healthy right off the bat is super hard, especially at stressful times but here are a few tips that have helped me get through this past week/week and a half:

- incorporate fruits/veggies with every meal: I usually have a fruit smoothie in the morning, using a magic bullet (which I absolutely love and for those who never know how to portion a smoothie, I think this machine helps you get it right!), what usually goes in them are: frozen mixed berries, bit of orange juice, a whole banana, a tablespoon of yogurt, and spinach leaves. This usually fills up the whole bullet, sometimes I have to squish the bananas down, but this is so great especially if you’re on the go because they are easily portable and can be taken with you to school. If I have time, I will usually eat all bran cereal or whole wheat cheerios or eggs (hard boiled, over easy or an omelette!)

• my mom is big on cooking spaghetti when she doesn’t feel like labouring in the kitchen all day, and what I’ve done is I get a big dinner plate and fill half with spring mix/baby spinach and make a salad, adding in cucumbers and tomatoes, then I take a small portion of noodles in the little room I have left on my plate
• another tip is to eat the salad first then eat the pasta so you fill up and aren’t tempted to go and get more spaghetti before you’ve finished your salad

- try fruits/veggies that you’ve never tried before, or only eat on occasion: I added in sweet potato to my weekly intake not only because they are delicious and healthy, but also because it’s fun trying to figure out how to cook them!

- Drink WATER! The only liquids I’ve been drinking are water, teas, or my smoothies—- occasionally I’ll have a little sip or orange juice, but I’m typically satisfied with these options. I used to have 3-4 coffees a week, with cream and sugar and don’t really feel the need to anymore! 

- when you mess up or binge, remember it’s okay! Yesterday I had a presentation for one of my seminars and I barely got any sleep and ate very very little. When I got home around 5, I was STARVING and of course I ate a sandwich and put way too much of everything in it and drank half a can of pepsi, and some chocolate to follow. What it goes to show is that when you don’t eat, you eventually end up eating everything in sight because your hunger takes over the more rational choices you would have made if you were just having another regular meal. 

- fit in exercise when you can, don’t over do it.

Has been pretty excellent in terms of starting over with my health and fitness goals. I have been doing 30 day shred for the last few days but I took a day off yesterday because I had a long day at school and a presentation to prepare for. Eating has also been pretty good! I’ve been eating lots of raw fruit and veggies, started adding spinach to my smoothies, and trying to get in all the food groups on a daily basis. I haven’t weighed or measured myself, don’t know if I should, nor if I really want to. It’s not that I am afraid of what the results will be (I know my body and I usually fluctuate between 180 and 175) but I think I would rather just eat healthier, add in exercise and make it all habitual and see what comes of it naturally, rather than forcing myself to do weigh ins, etc. For me it’s less about the numbers and more about how I feel and the subtle changes that come with each week of hard work. I just find it more gratifying when a shirt fits a little looser or when my butt looks a little smaller rather than dropping a few numbers on the scale.

Best of luck to everyone starting their journey, whether its the first time, or the millionth!

- Christina

balancefully:

Using the Hunger & Fullness scale helps you to eat intuitively, and to become more in tune with your body’s needs.

(via tumblrgym)

So I’ve decided to take on my journey to health and fitness once again. What makes this insane is that I am heading into the last month of classes, meaning research papers galore, multiple presentations, catchup reading, studying for finals PLUS adding in 4-5 days a week in the gym, on top of working two jobs (max 10 hours a week). I know this sounds crazy, but I don’t really want to hold off going to the gym any longer. I was going quite frequently over the summer, but once school started I cut it out and I really regret it. So starting today, I am going to watch my eating and starting Saturday I will be going to the gym (I’m leaving tomorrow to my boyfriend’s hometown because we’re on reading week) but I am hoping we will do something active while we’re away. I guess I just want to see if there is anyone going through the same thing right now? How do you plan to manage it all?

(via berryhealthy)

(via 181-130plan)

(Source: missfetus, via th3skinny)