SWEAT

Consistency & Discipline

Thank you again for following along! Seriously, your support is very appreciated. I hope that this blog post finds you inspired & motivated by the time you’re finished reading. First off, it is important to remember that everyone’s journey is unique to themselves and there is more than one way to do something. My journey will be different from everyone, but I strongly believe that the benefits both mentally & physically can be achieved by you too. After transferring colleges I realized that making excuses was not going to get me very far in life. If I wanted to make a change I had to work harder than I have ever worked before and make my health my number one priority.

After suffering from two very serious concussions, I was restricted from working out. I vividly remember trying to do sit-ups in my dorm room and actually feeling so nauseous after 2 reps that I laid on the floor for a long time after; just thinking. All I wanted was to be healthy and be able to workout. I made a promise to myself. From the day I was cleared, I would never take my health for granted again and I owed it to myself & my body to workout every single day for at least 30 minutes while nourishing my body with healthy foods. You never know what you have until it’s gone.

I had gained 20 extra pounds my freshman year of college. I was extremely depressed, unhappy with myself & my body, and in the wrong place. I knew that I had to make several changes in my life in-order to find happiness again. I received support from a few of my former teammates, whom encouraged me to do what made me happy. But people’s opinion of me didn’t really matter because I knew in my heart that I was in the wrong place. I would literally be walking around campus and feel like my soul was somewhere else. Sounds crazy…but seriously I just knew. If you are feeling this way, I encourage you to be brave and do what scares you because the best just might be on the other side.

Fast forward to my life after transferring and let me just say, I have had the most success I have ever had in my life and have been the happiest person I have ever been…but it took a lot of hard work that I am very proud of. Let me just add that on the days that you are “unmotivated” you have to find a way to get the work done and continue to work hard for yourself and your goals. Even when you are too tired, too busy, too sore, you have to find a way to get it done.

Consistency over time is THE most important. I worked out every day (yes, I do try to take one day off a week), ate healthy, and I made hydration a priority. I also still ate treats. I think that is a huge misconception. You don’t have to completely restrict yourself, but you do have to be balanced and be more realistic with yourself & your goals. I made a lot of sacrifices and said “no” to a lot of invites and opportunities to party and hang out with friends. I am not saying that you have to say “no” to everything, but I would definitely encourage you to make more time for yourself, do what YOU want to do in each moment, and make sure you catch up on rest.

Early on, I realized the incredible benefits I got from working out. It gave me time for myself every single day and made me feel amazing after. You don’t have to be able to do 21 burpees or 21 pushups on the first day. You just have to start. Start with one push up, one bottle of water, and one thing that makes you happy. Start small, but just start. If you get tired, take a break & rest, but don’t quit.

Mentally, working out has so many benefits. Improved mood, increased energy, brain health, and overall confidence in YOURself. Seriously, the mental benefits are SO rewarding. Physically, I am so proud of how far I have come. I am all for body positivity and loving yourself (no matter how you look) throughout the entire process. Our bodies are so incredible; be thankful everyday for a beating heart & a healthy body. If you are facing health scares right now, stay positive (I will write about this in a few weeks). I do want to say that, if you are unhappy with the way you look, I have been there & I completely understand. I will cheer for you the entire journey & I am here to support you. You are not alone. Feeling amazing & being proud of who I have become are two of my biggest achievements. However, how you look is no one’s business, but your own. Be proud of who you are, but work hard for yourself.

You are so perfect just the way you are & you deserve the world. Be proud of who you are & how far you have come. Remember it is your journey. Compete against yourself & take your time.

Sweat, hydrate & be happy ⭐️