Hey y’all! We all know what time it is… back to school! Summer is coming to an end, and school is about to be back in swing. Whether you’re in school or not, this is the time of year that brings to mind fresh starts and new looks! For those of y’all who are closer to my age… do you remember picking out your first day of school outfit the night before classes started?? It seems like I always wanted to look my best and show off my new self to kick the school year off right! No matter how old you are, this time of year has a little bit of magic to it. Let’s harness it and get our rear ends looking good for a new pair of jeans!
Work With What You’ve Got
There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve the part of your body you like the least, but what if you started with what you like the best? Our bodies are all different. What works for me won’t always work for you. The amount of effort to see change isn’t the same across the board. But we all have areas that we can take pride in and feel confident about! Just because you have short legs doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful, toned arms. If you’re tall and lanky, that doesn’t mean you can’t build up and round out your booty! Work with what you’ve got, ladies! Stop criticizing your physique so much and get to work on an area that you’re already feeling great about! Start there and then move on to the next. It’ll get the ball rolling, and you might just build up some confidence before jumping into the harder-to-change areas.
Rock Those Jeans
We’ve all done it… we’ve gone to the store and bought that pair of jeans that were just a little too tight. We get them as a source of motivation—“I’ll get in shape so I can fit in these!” They’re our dream jeans that will hug our curves just right… if we lose a few pounds or shed a few inches. There is nothing wrong with that! In fact, it’s a great way to set goals, which is a necessary step if you want to make a change! Having a clear picture of where you are and where you want to go is crucial to success! You’re more willing to put in the time and hard work it takes to get in shape when you have an incentive at the end. This works for a lot of people, and it might just work for you, too! We all deserve to rock those jeans!
Make a Plan
So you have the desire and the goal, but you need to make a plan to see results! This is often the hardest part for people. It can require rearranging your schedule—maybe even your priorities. You have to have a tangible way to get from Point A to Point B because without it, those dream jeans might just stay in the back of the closet! And we don’t want that. Figure out what it’s going to take to get you active. Is it a gym membership? A Lauren Fox on Demand subscription? A workout partner? A healthier diet? Less time watching TV at night?
When you go with your kid to buy school supplies, pick up an extra spiral notebook—write down your goals there! Figure out at least 3-5 times a week you can get a workout in. You can always tune into my On Demand classes and do at least half a class if you’re short on time! It’s great if you can manage to get it in early by waking up 30 minutes earlier, but if not, do it when you can! Do it before you have a chance to talk yourself out of it! You can also make a vision board in the front of your notebook to motivate you. Cut out photos of how you want to look in your jeans, or whatever it is that inspires you! Having a visual can be very powerful. Make sure you keep it somewhere you can see daily… seeing is believing! Write out some positive affirmations and practice repeating them out loud every day! This gets your brain in the right place to succeed. Some examples might be:
“There is always time left to become the person you are supposed to be!”
“In two weeks, you’ll feel it. In four weeks, you’ll see it. In eight weeks, you’ll hear it.”
“The body achieves what the mind believes.”
“I am amazing. I can do anything. I choose to be positive. I know my worth. I will succeed.”
Writing things down also helps keep you accountable. Keep track of when you workout and if you meet a goal. Treat yourself when you have a little victory! This could be a pedicure, massage, etc. Also try keeping a food journal… this can be difficult, but might be worth a shot if you’re really trying to make a change! Look back at what you were fueling your body with and see where there’s room for improvement… and again, reward yourself for good choices! See how many days you can make it without eating or drinking anything unworthy of your new body goals!
The beginning of making your plan and living it out will be hard, but with time, you can accomplish what you set out to do. Those jeans are calling your name and cheering you on!! And of course, so am I!
On my website, www.laurenfoxondemand.com, I have a variety of workout videos for busy women just like you. I want to help and make it easier! As it’s been said before, “Plan your work and work your plan.” You can do it! Remember how it felt to walk into school looking better after a summer in the sun… and know that you can have that feeling again! Work hard for that back to school bod, ladies! It’s worth it!
Until next time, xoxo!
Lauren
Get Fit, Foxy and Fabulous, at Home or Away,
on YOUR schedule, on Any Device!