Only you can find your motivation.....what is it?

What motivates you to stay (or get in better) shape?  Sometimes people ask me to motivate them, and the truth is.....motivation, if at all worthwhile must come from within.  My motivation has changed over the years.  When I was in my early 20's my motivation came from trying to have an amazing body to meet guys......in my 30's, it has changed.  It's still about having a great body, hopefully even better than I had when I was in my twenties....although I can't lie, I just don't feel as focused on impressing guys, I just want to look good, period.  I also find motivation in how much I enjoy the end result of feeling strong and capable.  When some physical task arises, even though I stand at a petite five foot five, I am usually more than able to handle the task.  Pushing the airplane I just flew back into her spot, no problem.....climbing up on the wing of an aircraft to pour gas back into the tank after checking it for sediment and water....done.  I love the feeling of doing what ever needs to be done, instead of hoping that someone else can do it for me. I have to say though.....most people will act as though vanity is a bad thing, but if at least some of your reasons for staying in shape are not based on the exterior......what you actually see......I bet you will have a very tough time actually getting motivated.  There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance....

Stay gorgeous and healthy....

Megan

Protecting your positive thoughts, and attitude....

My friend always makes me laugh hysterically.......enchante!!!!!!!!

When I walk into the gym in the morning, or shall I say breeze in......I'm usually very focused.  It's the first thing I do (after eating breakfast, walking the dogs, and writing my blog) and I don't do anything before my workout to compromise it....for example phone calls, emails, or making small talk in the locker room.  Usually I am very short on time, and I need to get my workout done to make sure that I can get the whole thing in......but I also try to avoid anyone, and anything who could possibly throw off my mood.  There are one or two women in my locker room who are very motivated like I am, and they are always great to say hello to, but there are quite a few, who are clearly mood downers, and every time I make the mistake of taking off my headphones, they complain about the weather, or that they are at the gym at all, or question me about "always being at the gym".  I'm actually at the gym for no more than an hour three times a week, so I'm not clear about where they get the always....but either way...I've learned to just keep my headphones in place, and to say hello in passing.  It's okay to protect your personal time and space, and to have a little bit of time all to yourself.  I need to be in a certain mood to have a great workout, and to be honest.....I don't particularly want to hear someone complain....so I don't!  There's plenty of time for that....after I train!

Stay healthy and gorgeous!

Megan

"trying something"

I'm getting ready for the Miss Bikini America competition here.   I said I would do it, and three weeks later, here I am....competing in Vegas

Over the years.....one thing that has been true again and again, is that when someone says "I'll try to do that" it means they have already left a little escape plan in their mind, that  doing something isn't an absolute MUST,  and if they fail.....well.....no big deal.  Ok, so this mindset is a big, red flag to me that someone isn't fully committed to what they really need to do to make something happen.  If you had a talk with a boyfriend and he said he would "try not to cheat on you"...well, I hope that you would have the sense to "Never let him tie up your phone line again.....after all, one never knows when an important call might be coming in....."  Basically, if you are really going to do something, you better be able to say it (to yourself, and everyone else, with belief and authority.   What you say you'll do......you do......

Lifting weights is the closest thing to the "fountain of youth"

Yesterday when I put on my swimsuit, and got ready for the beach, I took a second to really appreciate the positive things that lifting weights has done for me.  Not only does it provide me with an emotional outlet, a mental discipline and a feeling of well....being strong, it had kept my body looking just like it did ten years ago, if not better.  How we age is largely based on the way that we care for, and respect our bodies, and constantly challenging my body by lifting weights has allowed me to keep the muscle tone of someone in their early twenties......so that today, on my 34th birthday I can sport a bikini I bought ten years ago, and still feel great.  I built this, I earned it, and I remain this way because it's important to me.  It's not because of genetics, surgery, or and kind of unhealthy cheat....it's good old fashioned healthy diet and exercise, and I am really happy to feel so great at 34.

A few years ago after about a year of not working out, I made a trip to Miami and realized that my body didn't look the way it used to....I was skinny, but not fit.  I weighed less than I do now, but somehow my body looked old to me.  I watched other girls at the pool and thought: I used to look that way....I want a great body like that!  And so I set out to get one, training, eating right, and with a goal in mind......and I'm so happy I did!

Stay gorgeous and healthy, and if you want it enough.....get after it!

xoxo,

Megan

Slow and steady wins the race

Over the years, I have realized that doing too much, can be almost as bad as doing nothing at all.  Everyone seems to join a gym right after the winter holidays, working out like crazy, only to disappear within the month.   As I walk through the locker room, I'm a little baffled by how many times I hear the phrase:  I was so sore I couldn't move!  To me, it's not necessary, nor is it healthy to feel this way.....and it would definitely hurt my motivation if this was how I felt the day after a workout.

Here's the thing:  If you want to be able to make a real, solid, lasting change in life...say, adding working out on a permanent basis....be reasonable.  I workout 4 times a week, but usually for between forty five minutes to an hour maximum.  Some days when I'm really pressed for time I get a quick, total body workout in within twenty minutes.  I look at my long term goals and commitment instead of beating myself up for cutting a workout short.  Getting in shape involves losing one layer, and slowly adding in another.....having patience, and realizing that it takes time, commitment and diligence is the most important thing.

When clients tell me they don't have the time to work out, I remind them that to start, they just need to get their foot in the door and begin a program.  Even if it's 20 minutes three times a week....that"s a great start!  Something IS better than nothing......consistency.  As my mother always said:  Slow and steady wins the race.