Woman Crush Wednesday: Lauren

I'm so excited about this post!  I have met some great girls and made awesome friends through Tone it Up, all of whom inspire me daily!  One of my Tone it Up Annapolis friends, Lauren, was gracious enough to allow me to feature her on my blog in this Q&A.

Lauren absolutely kills it with her Instagram posts (follow her here)--her dedication motivates me each and every day.  I'm proud to call her a friend and hope she will inspire you as much as she inspires me!

Q&A with Lauren

How did you get started with Tone it Up?

I first found Tone It Up on Instagram about 4 or 5 years ago. It was unlike any other workout programs I had tried. They were so fun and the workouts were tough, but I loved it! I loved that it felt like working out with friends. 

What motivates you?

Being able to inspire others that they can achieve whatever they set their mind and heart to. 

What’s your favorite type of workout(s)?

I love weight lifting and kickboxing. Kickboxing has been great to feel more confident (like a badass)! I also love yoga because there are so many different types no matter what you need. 

What are your fitness/wellness goals?

My fitness goals are to build up my strength by challenging myself with more weight and different movements. I am also working towards becoming more flexible by making it a point to incorporate more recovery into my routine. 

If you had to pick one word to describe yourself what would it be?

I'd say resilient. :)

Lauren is a kickboxing instructor and an Ambassador for Revive Activewear

Check out Lauren on Instagram   @tiu_laurenbeezy

Motivation Monday--Tips

Let's face it, some days we don't feel like working out.  Some days we might not even have the energy to get out of bed (but of course, we do it because we have to).  How can you motivate yourself to stick to your workout plans/health regimen?

Here are some tips I find most helpful:

• To me, I think it's most important to find your why.  Why do you want to work out?  Why do you want to stick to the goals you've set for yourself?  Finding your why can help you with the other steps.  For me, my why is because I love the way it feels after I workout.  It gives me energy and as Elle Woods taught us in Legally Blonde, exercising gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy!  Also, I'd like to tone up my body more, especially for summer.

• Start small--Maybe you haven't worked out in a week, or a month, or longer.  You don't have to jump in full force.  It's okay to take baby steps.  Maybe start by committing to do one 10-minute workout or walk a day, and then gradually increase your goals.  Rome was not built in a day!   If you are more likely to workout if you're starting with a shorter workout then, hey, a 10-minute ab workout is better than no ab workout!  The same goes for eating better.  I am not going to pretend I have the best "diet," cause that would be a lie.  But sometimes just telling myself, "Ok, you'll drink more water today and not do dessert today" is much easier than saying, "I must drink 8 glasses of water and can't have dessert or any junk food for the next month."

• Accountability--I find it helpful to have accountability.  For me, that means this blog and posting on Instagram (crunchesandcupcakes_tiu).  When I post a photo or story documenting my workout or fitness/health progress for the day it helps me stay motivated.  I know there are so many other Tone it Up girls who regularly like and comment on my posts, and I feel like we're all in it together.  Also, seeing their posts inspires me to go for it!  The Tone it Up Community has been great for my motivation.😃

• Listen to your body--Okay, maybe this "tip" isn't going to help motivate you to workout, but it's still very important!  If your body is telling you to take a rest day, take it.  I suffer from migraines and have been trying to find a way to alleviate them (or get rid of them all together in a perfect world), and there are days I really want to work out, but it's just not going to happen.  One, sometimes my migraines are so bad nothing but sleep will help, and two, I know that I won't be able to enjoy my workout and likely won't get through half of it.  As much as I like to stick to a schedule (I aim for 4-5 times a week), if my body isn't cooperating, resting is the best thing to do sometimes.  Which brings me to my last tip...

• Don't beat yourself up!  If you miss a day or eat one-too-many potato chips, it's okay!  Sure, you don't want to undo your progress, but it's so important to remember none of us are perfect and it's really not the end of the world if you get off schedule or have a couple extra "cheat" meals.  As long as you're motivated and try to stay on track, you're doing great.  I personally think not being too restrictive with yourself and not looking at foods as "good" or "bad" takes some of the pressure off, but that's just my personal feelings.  The point is, even if you "mess up," don't beat yourself up about it.  Instead, look at the progress you've been making and use that as motivation to view tomorrow as a new day.

xoxo,

Melissa

About Me

Where to begin?  My name is Melissa and I wanted to start a blog to share my passion for all things fitness/wellness, with an emphasis on my love for Tone it Up.

I started following Tone it Up, founders Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott, in 2016.  It wasn't until I discovered them that I really found my place in the fitness world.  Tone it Up started on Youtube, but now it's much, much bigger, and their reach is huge!

The Tone it Up community isn't just about fitness and eating well, it's about bringing women together and creating a sisterhood, which is one of the things I love so much about them.  A little over a year ago, I moved out of state for the first time and it was the Tone it Up community that really helped me feel more at home.  I was able to connect with women online through Tone it Up, most of whom I wouldn't have met otherwise, and made friends in a new city (more on that in my posts).

I love health and fitness, but I am not a "health nut."  I try and stay "balanced"--that's why I named my blog Cupcakes&Crunches.  My mantra is "first we crunch, then we brunch."

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you find it enjoyable!

xoxo,

Melissa