Chronically Motivated - Part 2 - Starting Out

When you first make the commitment to be healthier and go to the gym and start your ‘fitness journey’ you have to be aware of how much dedication is needed and remember to stay motivated.

You know who you are. As hard as you’ve tried, you’ve never liked going to the gym. Maybe you’ve even hired a personal trainer a few times, hoping the added expense and accountability would be enough motivation to turn you into a regular gym rat.

But it didn’t work.

You won’t turn into that fitness freak that you follow on Instagram overnight #fitness #gymlife

Let’s be honest, every time you’ve started an ambitious workout program with the goal of getting in shape, something–you’re not even sure what–cuts you short before you’ve reached your goal.

Deep down though, you know what the problem is: you don’t like working out. It’s hard, it’s uncomfortable, it’s sweaty and the free weight section has a weird smell. You don’t like how you look in those stupid skin tight clothes, ain’t nobody got time for that!

But still you wonder about those people who are in the gym all the time. What’s their secret? How do they stay motivated day after day and year after year? Are they a different species? Or is there something they know that you don’t?

Few people on this earth were born with an innate love of the gym. But what generally separates people who like working out from those who don’t is pretty simple: fitness.

Working out sucks when you aren’t in shape. But the good news is that you don’t need to become a complete meathead to get to a place where exercise is no longer a pain. Just like learning to cook, once you reach a minimum proficiency level–in this case fitness level–exercise stops feeling bad and starts feeling good. And just like with cooking, the only way to get there is to Just Do It*.

If you’re just starting a workout program your goal shouldn’t be to get buff or lose weight. The first step is getting to a fitness level where you no longer hate to exercise. And for that all you need is consistency.

When you first start your program don’t force yourself to do anything too hard or unpleasant, just make sure that you stick with it and never quit. There’s no reason to torture yourself at the gym. Once you’re in better shape you will enjoy pushing yourself a little harder every now and then. But until you get there, just make yourself do something. Anything. Just do it regularly and don’t make excuses.

The key to being consistent is making your workout so easy/convenient/fun/awesome that not doing it just feels stupid. Here are a few tips to set you up for a lifetime of fitness.

Here Are My Tips For Starting & Sticking With Exercise

1. Commit to consistency

This is worth repeating. Make a commitment to sticking with your plan. If you find yourself not able to meet your goals, change them so they’re easier.

2. Take baby steps

If your sign up for a marathon you don’t leave your house the next morning planning to run the whole 26 miles. You’d start with a 3K, maybe, and go further a little bit at a time

3. Pick an exercise that’s fun

Not all exercise happens in the gym. Like to climb rocks? Ride a bike? Swim? Whatever floats your boat. Start with the fun stuff and work your way up.

4. Bring a friend, make it competitive

Having a workout partner is one of the most effective ways to be accountable and make your workout fun. Making it a competition is also great for motivation.

5. Join a sports team

Even better than one friend is a group of friends. Intramural sports teams are a fantastic way to get a few weekly workouts.

6. Get into music, podcasts and audiobooks

If your schedule isn’t conducive to group activities, your iPod still got your back. Put together an inspiring workout mix, download some of your favourite music, podcasts and audiobooks to get you inspired and pumped.

7. Get a dog

You know what takes a lot of energy? Puppies! If you can’t motivate to exercise for yourself, at least do it for the puppy

8. Caffeine charge

Sometimes a long day can make an evening workout seem impossibly difficult. At times like these, caffeine is your friend. After about half an hour you’ll need to workout to burn off that extra energy.

9. Get some nice workout clothes, shoes and mp3 player

New toys are fun. Sometimes it’s the little things that help the most.

10. Reward yourself

Doing something consistently is an accomplishment, even if your actual task seems small and insignificant. If you’ve been exercising regularly, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for many jobs well done. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. I know it sounds boring but it will be worth it if you have patience. Don’t forget your first victory: That you have started!

*Dear Nike, please don’t sue me :) xxx

Be Healthy Not Skinny!

I feel that this is an important message that many people forget. Especially being a part of an industry where you are pressured into feeling that you must look a certain way.....skinny is the word that springs to mind.

I have been criticised about my looks countless times by ‘professionals’ telling me what’s wrong with my face and body and why I will never make it. The ridiculous thing was that most of my imperfections that were pointed out are things that I physically cannot do anything about….

I’m too short, my nose is bumpy, I’m too skinny overall yet you can still see fat on my body, my teeth are wonky and my forehead is too big.

So how am I supposed to solve these issues? I can’t and I don’t want to. All of these imperfections make me. I am only human after all. The modelling industry in particular gives a false representation of women to be super skinny….I’ve been that skinny, not by choice believe me! And I hated it, I felt weak, frail and I looked tired and gaunt, it is not an attractive look.

As someone who personally struggles with her weight due to a health condition and being told I need to lose weight is insulting. When I try every day to eat copious amounts of food to gain weight, yes I also eat salads and go to the gym to workout, it’s called balance. Being a healthy is extremely important, but what you see on magazine covers and runways is not healthy!

On a positive note people are starting to take notice, it was big news earlier this year that France are banning super skinny models, the activity of modelling is banned for any person whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is lower than levels proposed by health authorities and decreed by the ministers of health and labour.

I realise this has turned into a rant rather than being informative, this is just something I am passionate about, I have met my fair share of actors, models, singers who have gone to extreme lengths to look a certain way, it’s unfortunate that my friends felt their talent wasn't enough and felt pressured into doing stupid things for all the wrong reasons.

The point of this blog is just to remind everyone, especially those interested in a career in modelling that it is becoming more accessible and less restrictive. You no longer have to be super skinny in fact we are starting to see more plus sized models! So just be healthy and look after yourself but do it for you. The modelling industry is changing so you don’t have to xxx