Change your enviroment, change your lifestyle!

I don't know if I would have long term success without drawing from so many resources. My inspiration catalog is huge! I draw from every possible place I can find. Here are some tips to stay motivated long term and decrease back slides.

** Seek out "like minded" people
~~Friends and family are great, but not all will be on board with your new goals. Health clubs, and group fitness classes are a great place to meet people who are working toward the same goals as you.
~~Always aspire higher by choosing people who really mean business. The ones that show the most fight in the gym will not only inspire you, but teach you as well.
~~Seek out these people in other areas of your life. Talk to the cashier that has great arms, or the coworker that always passes on the baked goods being passed around, or the neighbor that goes running every morning.
~~Start a "group" with these people. Maybe on Facebook, or in person to share ideas, recipes, workouts, and inspiration.


** Give your kitchen a make over!
~~Start by cleaning the kitchen out of all the junk food and replace with fun, healthy food you'll enjoy eating. (Got kids? Take them with you on your journey! Letting them help to create cool Greek yogurt parfaits,layering fruits and nuts in, will make them feel better about the missing Twinkies in the cupboard)
~~ Buy Tasco Reno's "The Eat Clean Diet" book and some Clean Eating magazines and create a healthy eating book shelf (and use it...)
~~ Put out a fruit bowl with fresh seasonal fruit. Make it a contest to find the best tasting apple (Pink Ladies and Honey crisps are my fave!).
~~Hang a dry/erase board on the fridge with your workout schedule on it to keep yourself accountable.

** Give your house a make over!
~~Fill your coffee table with motivation books and magazines to read.
~~Create a relaxing atmosphere to de-stress from your day.
~~ Collect a few workout and yoga dvd's to do at home, when you can't make it to the gym.
~~ Put a fitness picture on you home PC as a screen saver.
~~ Put a dry/Erase marker in the bathroom to write on the mirror your goal of the week. Make challenges like, "Only 2 lattes a week", or "Try a new class and stick with it for 1 month".
~~ Keep your exercise ball in the living room for TV time. When mine is out, my kiddo (18 years) is on it stretching and bouncing, instead of lying on the couch!

** Give your work/office a make over!
~~Create an emergecy snack drawer or fridge. Fill it with nuts and dried fruit and any other satisfying healthy snacks. Healthy snacks that offer crunchy and sweet will help you pass up the bag of chips on your co-worker's desk, or Karen's bithday cake, or Sue's homemade cookies.
~~Add some healthy living magazines to your desk, to peruse during a lunch break
~~ Add a funny plaque to your desk that reads, "Please don't feed the animal!" Hold it up to people who pass by with goodies. (Once in a while is fine, but if your work is like mine, there are constant birthday cakes, staff room pastries, and homemade treats passed around almost daily! Work is where I run the most risk of packing on the pounds)
~~ Keep some plain instant oatmeal and raisins at work for when your running late, so you don't skip breakfast.
~~ Be the lame-o that brings the fruit salad or vegie tray to meetings. Others will be grateful you did.
~~Commit to packing lunches to resist the fast food runs....(pardon the pun...)

** Give your computer a makeover!
~~Add icons to your desktop to informative sites (like this blog site! ;)
~~ Create a youtube account and favor videos or subscribe to pages that offer great tips on healthy living. You can find anything on youtube!! Great workouts, motivational speakers, healthy eating, ANYTHING!! Great for us visual learners!
~~ Use social networking to seek out regular tips and advice. "Like" a page or "friend" someone on Facebook that gives you motivation. "Follow" someone on Twitter. You can also seek out celeb trainers, FitTV, Dr. Oz, and other healthy living media for regular updates as well. These can also be sent to your phone for nudges through out the day.
~~ Myfitnespal.com is a great place to count calories and log workouts
~~ Blogging is great to journal your progress and follow others that have succeeded in the goals you are working toward.

** Seek out healthy living media
~~In addition to online sites, check out different phone apps that can aid in motivation
~~TV shows like The Doctors, Dr. Oz, and Jamie Oliver can feed motivation and give great information! (notice how I didn't recommend Biggest Loser? That's sensationalized entertainment, not reality....a whole other blog)
~~FitTV has an On Demand channel that offers lots of workout shows when you can't get to the gym!
~~Check your local paper for fitness articles, activity calendars, and advice columns on healthy living.


When you stop thinking about your goals, they get pushed to the back burner and you risk a back slide. To keep them on the front burner where they belong, it helps to have reminders everywhere you look. Making your environment conducive to your goals will set you up for the healthy lifestyle you desire. Keeping your environment that way will help to ensure a long lasting healthy lifestyle.
Be well, Stay Healthy!