Mo·ti·va·tion

Mo·ti·va·tion: Pronunciation: \ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən\ Function: noun Date: 1873
1 a: the act or process of motivating b: the condition of being motivated
2: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence : incentive, drive
— mo·ti·va·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjectiveMo-tive 1 : something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act

I want to talk about Motives and Motivation. Each one of us can find our motivation but it has to be as unique as we are. Your trip to Alaska for losing 100 pounds, would make me run the other way. Going on a cruise with my husband may just do the trick. How about that pair of jeans you really want to get in to? I actually bought a very expensive pair of jeans that were two small. They have never left the house. Out of the closet a few times and down the hall to the full length mirror, but that's it. Until yesterday. I just tried them on and they fit! I, of course, am going to wait just a little longer before taking them for their first trip outdoors. 'Til they fit like I never thought they would.

So what motivates you? What moves you? I want you to really spend time thinking about this. If putting pictures of a really great vacation in front of you does it, then while working out and reaching your goals, start saving and planning for that vacation. When your bathing suit ready, pack your bags!

I thought I was motivating myself just with sharing my journey here, until I discovered Phat Camp (listed in my side bar). The thought of going and being in amazing shape, is really pushing me through some tough workouts. I want to be in the "best shape of my life" when I go. I also have to save the money for the trip (not something that was really in our budget right now), so I am planning ahead.

Also, for Valentines, my hubby got me a Polar Heart Rate Monitor in pink! Your Happy Hearts wasn't approached by Polar to test one, my husband just did his research. He has owned one for a long time himself and really liked it. This thing is amazing. It is true motivation in itself. I want to work harder to keep my heart rate in my target zone. I am not writing you today to tell you all about this watch and that you need to run out and get one. (Even thought it's a fun tool. Check it out if you want). This is just an added motivation for me. I know my watch is going to record my calories, heart rate, workout time, and highs and lows at the end of my workouts. By weeks end, my workouts go in a file that will be there for months. I don't want to let myself or my watch down. As silly as that sounds.

I have also started to enter my calories into my Calorie King computer program again. I was sure slacking on this. I now make sure my laptop is on my kitchen counter and when I get home from work, I record everything I have eaten. It's a great program. People are creatures of habit and we all tend to eat the same foods. So once you enter in the special bread you like, it's just a click away the next time you eat it. I have learned I am not eating ENOUGH! I didn't think I was, but at this rate, my body is going to eat my muscle for energy instead of building it. That's not what I want. So this is becoming a great tool and motivator to get my food intake as closely regulated as my workouts.

I just want to encourage you this week to sit down and figure out what motivates you and can push you to the next level. You can always leave me comment and share with me your journey. Also leave me questions too and I will do what I can to get you the answers you need. I love hearing from you. I will continue to share with you the changes that are happening with me (via pictures) and hope you come along for this amazing trip into a world of health, fitness, and amazing energy.

Blessings, Angie Taylor