10 ways to stay on track with your health and fitness goals

Sticking to your health and fitness goals can be hard once you've fallen a little off track. However, constantly being concerned about having a fit physique and healthy palette 24/7 isn't healthy. I whole heartedly believe in treating yourself and giving yourself a break. Those who don't allow themselves to enjoy a cupcake or a day (or 3) off from the gym aren't living ,what I believe, is a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Some days we drink green juices and eat well balanced meals. Some days we eat 3 donuts and continue to raid the pantry deciding what we want to eat next. Thats life. Thats balance.

This past week, I constantly felt tired (probably from traveling the weekend before) and my shins were full of bumps and bruises from training. I have terrible shin splints, but rarely care for them properly. When it comes to working out, I always give myself a day of rest. When it comes to food, I always let myself be more lenient on the weekends. However, this past week I did something I had never done before. I took 4 consecutive days off from the gym. I also treated myself to copious amounts of froyo. I iced my shins after work, cozied on up in bed and was asleep by 9:30 pm every night. I can't remember the last time I let my body just relax like that. I'm learning more and more the importance of listening to your body.

Those 4 days off gave me exactly what I needed and come Saturday morning, I couldn't wait to hit the gym. It was the perfect motivation I needed. However, for some of us, a few days off from the gym can turn into a few weeks. To make sure a break doesn't turn into a lifestyle, here are 10 tips to help you stay on track.

1. Pack your gym bag the night before.

2. Plan your workout. Are you doing back/biceps? Running 2 miles? An ab circuit? Pick what you want to focus on, but also know exactly what exercises you want to do. How many times have you had a blah workout because you didn't know what you wanted to do once you got there?

3. Meal prep on Sundays.

4. Make a killer playlist.

5. Buy new tennis shoes. Sometimes all you need are some new colorful kicks or fun nike leggings to give you that added boost.

6. Search Pinterest for a healthy recipe that actually looks amazing. Check out my food board for tons of ideas!

7. Drink A LOT of water.

8. Get enough of sleep. Put your phone away and turn the TV off.

9. Make a list of things you need to accomplish each morning. Prioritize them in a way that allows for a workout, even if its a quick 20-30 minute one.

10. Feeling lethargic and unmotivated? Use that terrible feeling as your motivation to want to make a change.

And a little extra tip...

11. DON'T search images of fit girls on Instagram or Pinterest. Comparison is the their of joy, as we are all much too familiar with. Using someone else's body as your fitness goal is only going to result in disappointment. Unrealistic expectations of fit girls we see on social media are often those of body builders, certified trainers and just plain edited pictures. Picture your healthiest and fittest self and let that image be your motivation.

#FITNESS