I’ve never been more of a blob in my life, wasting away on the couch and I’m slowly trying to get back into some trusty old routines that help me feel better physically and mentally and give me more energy.
Moving My Body Daily
I haven’t completed a real workout in probably a year. I’ve lost motivation, gained a little bit of weight and feel so low energy. It feels like a vicious cycle because when I have no energy, I don’t want to cook so I just snack on nutritionally valueless food and feel even worse and then don’t want to move.
The biggest motivation I have right now is to keep James healthy and get my foster dog Lukas on track so we’ve been going on more and more dog walks which honestly is great for my mental health as much as it is for my physical wellbeing.
I also organized my workout room from an overflowing extra storage closet filled with old clothes and unwanted items to a functioning workout space to start incorporating hand weights and Bosu back into a light fitness routine.
I’m also trying to create reasonable expectations so dog walks everyday and 30 minute workouts twice a week to start. I need to warm myself up!
Some Everyday Essentials to Motivate Me
I’ve been working on drinking more water and finally Liquid IV came out with the firecracker popsicle flavor that doesn’t taste horrible to me, it’s actually delicious. I scored a bag at Costco and mix this up each day and find myself guzzling it down.
A secure sports bra (been loving the Adidas sports bras with more support like this one.) The right attire has always motivated me, but if I’m at home, I opt for just a sports bra top and loose joggers.
My Apple Watch has been motivating and healthy for me. I do track my steps and movement, but I’ve never become obsessive. Taking a look at my steps each day helps me understand really how much I’ve moved (or haven’t moved) and I can always do something from cleaning the house and getting more steps in to another dog walk, a win win.
Summer Routines to Keep Me on Track
When it’s summer time, I wake up so much earlier which is great so that I can get a head start on my day before it gets too hot. My foster dog gets me up before 6 AM and by 7 AM, I’ve gotten my first walk in. Since I’m getting up earlier and I need at least eight hours of sleep, I go to bed around 9 PM.
I also try to eat a small balanced meal in the morning even if I’m not hungry. Usually a piece of toast with peanut butter and skyr (the most delicious yogurt.) I also eat a lot of hot dogs in the summer so I just try to buy high quality versions for lunches or dinners paired with a grilled vegetable. I won’t stop eating hot dogs!
Daily cleaning and organizing also keeps me mentally in a happier place. I can’t stand a cluttered home so I make time to clean and organize something everyday from washing and drying one load of laundry to wiping down kitchen counters and sink to vacuuming up dog hair.
