Staying motivated is hard. You started off the New Year strong and now it's the end of March and losing weight (or gaining muscle) seems so far away. I'm right there with you. Started off strong and suddenly you are back to your starting weight. WHAT HAPPENED? Life happens yo.



This past week I decided to get back on the motivation train (if thats a thing) and share my tips with you!

1. Stop weighing yourself everyday. Aim for once a week.
2. Remember why you started. To feel healthier.
3. Change up your diet. And drink A LOT more water.
4. Try a new anything. A new TV show. A new way to walk home. A new diet. A new pair of socks.
5. Get new sneakers! Look jazzy.
6. That gym cutie ain't gonna be checked out by anyone anymore. You are helping the world by going.
7. Workout at home? Download an app that counts your steps. You'll have a daily goal.
8. Follow fitness-y people on Instagram. Its amazing how much they can motivate you.
9. Buy yourself a cute outfit but in the size you want to be (realistically, I know I'll never be an XSMALL). A goal.
10. Yeah summer is a good goal but a healthy life is a better goal.
11. Download a good podcast. But only listen to it when you workout. You'll want to know what is happening next.

Fashion. You love it. You live it. But there is no way to you can snag a ticket to the hottest event that happens twice a year. I feel you. Luckily as an avid "Fashion Week Faker" I know the ins and outs of pretending you were at the shows!



Here is my guide:

• Instagram. THIS IS YOUR ULTIMATE OUTLET. Use and adore this app during Fashion Week. Search the designers and follow their accounts. Check out their tagged photos for more of an audience viewpoint. New York Times Fashion is also an amazing account for street fashion as well. Hashtags are also your friends as well as locations. Search up #FW and most people tag the buildings where the shows are happening so click on them as well.
• Watch It Live. Don't tell my teachers but when it was Fashion Week and I was in class, I would be streaming it all because of this site. New York Fashion Week Live shows not only the shows on time but loops them until the next show happens! This amazing site does New York, London, Milan and Paris so if you prefer one over the other or want to see them all, this is the perfect way from the comfort of your own home!
• Snapchat. Most brands, bloggers, designers and even locations have their own snapchats. Do a bit of research and find out the hottest snap chatters of the each show. Snapchat live events also puts us backstage with models and hairdressers/makeup artists (who often have their own snaps) in one giant collection!
• Tumblr. Follow the hashtag on Tumblr to see posts with that tag on your dashboard. With these posts, you can follow blogs that are posting with those tags. If you need an artistic view of the clothes, hair and makeup, Tumblr has your back.
• Periscope. Periscope had a short bit of fame but people still use, especially brands who want to give you the behind the scenes look or closer look at their art pieces. Like and respond to what you are seeing and eventually share what you saw on Twitter so you can go back to the video to show your friends or blog about it.
• Blogs. Have a favorite blogger? Read up on their blog. They are most likely there. Don't have a favorite blogger? This is the time to find one! Liked a certain show a lot? Read up who covered them and follow away!
• Photoshop. If you are amazing at photoshop, this is your time to shine. Take a background and insert your body. There. Now you are officially at Fashion Week.

I love Zumba. Legit. I have been doing Zumba since the day it came out. Ok well it came out in 2001 but I started really going to classes in 2007, my freshman year of high school aka the time I could join the gym.

Throughout all my life, Zumba has been a constant. I went to high school, Zumba; graduated high school, Zumba; started college, Zumba; graduated college, Zumba; and even now, post college life, Zumba.


Zumba gets a bad wrap, it seriously does and its annoying. Just because the main audience is older ladies does not mean it isn't a killer workout. Let's talk about the class as a workout, okay?

1) It's super fun. Like you yell and scream and laugh. I do Zumba just to stay sane from all my boxing classes.
2) Ultimate core workout. Have you ever actually held your abs in while dancing? It hurts. Now do this for an hour and you have a strong core.
3) Over 7,000 steps. You kill that goal of 10,000 steps in one hour.
4) You can go at your own speed and difficulty. Yes, there are older women in my classes but everyone does their own thing. Sure you can follow the teacher but you wanna throw in a kick or salsa step? Do it.
5) It is genuinely one of the funniest classes you can take. Laughter and fun is something that aren't usually associated with working out so why would you not what to incorporate that?
6) There are plenty of YouTube videos with Zumba routines so if the gym isn't your thing, you can Zumba from the comfort of your own home!

If you are nervous going into a class, drag a friend. But if you can't talk a friend in to it, introduce yourself to the instructor, they are just as excited that you took this fitness leap as you are!


WHAT TO EXPECT: Laughing, Yelling, Cardio, Dance Moves aka Salsa
AVERAGE CALORIES BURNED IN HOUR: 450-600 calories
WHAT TO WEAR: Anything. If you can dance in it, you can wear it.
THINGS TO DO AFTER CLASS: Drink water and stretch!

See you on Wednesday!

XOXO

You've been kicking butt. You've been killing it at the gym. Eating the right foods. Then one day you wake up and just feel blah. Like you've gained 20 pounds and you aren't sure how you can even go outside. We've all had these days; you are DEFINITELY not alone. Even the fittest person has off days so don't worry if you have a little bump in the road.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to get over that bump without feeling completely defeated.

1. Take the day off. If you don't feel like going to the gym, don't. Missing one day isn't the end of the world.
2. Make yourself your favorite breakfast. Or the heathy alternative. Breakfast may not be everyone's favorite meal but it can make or break your day.
3. Throw on your favorite outfit. Or sweats. As long as you feel comfortable and fabulous, that is the ultimate way to get over a crappy day.
4. Check out your fitspiration. Now, not all fitspiration is great but sometimes seeing your goals can help remind you why one day isn't going to ruin your goals.
5. Take a walk. Anywhere. Walking burns calories but it can be peaceful. Two birds with one stone?
6. Bathtime. Or shower. Just stand or lay down in some hot water. Somehow it calms you? Insane.
7. Remember why you started this journey. To be a better you. Weight shouldn't play a major role when it comes to how you feel (but dude I totally understand, I cried when I realized I gained my 5 pounds back) but you are trying to be stronger and healthier. One day doesn't derail that journey.
8. Eat cake. YOLO man. Seriously, you want a piece of cake? Eat it. Feeling like poop happens so make it a bit better with a piece (not a whole) cake.
9. Dance around. Little Mix always cures me of a crappy day. Dance around, be silly, take dumb selfies. Don't let your bad body day ruin the awesomeness of life.
10. Seriously, don't be hard on yourself. One day is 24 hours or 1,440 minutes of your life. One day of feeling off is so small in a percentage of your life. Remember how far you've come and how amazing you feel on the other days.


I'm so proud of you for taking on this crazy fit life but its worth it. I have an off day like every week so you aren't alone. If you ever need to talk, hit me up on Instagram or Twitter and we can compare bloating feelings (#JustGirlyThings, more like #JustPeopleThings). Keep your head up, tomorrow won't be that bad, I promise.

See you on Monday!

XOXO