FINDING "WHY"

If there is one question I am asked daily, it is – HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED?

Honest answer? There is no set answer! it’s all up to you.   Here’s what works for me -I try to keep my GOALS at the front burner of my mind constantly. This, I believe, is the first step to staying on track and even when I stray, it’s never for too long. [Of course no one stays on top of their game 100% of the time. Na winch? Lol] I just know what I want and keep my mind focused on getting it. To reach those goals I know that I have to train hard and keep my meals in check also.

It’s ok to have those picture perfect fitspiration on social media who you look up to but it is equally important to realise that you have to be your own biggest motivation. Having role models is not enough because you simply cannot succeed by wishing or wanting to be someone else.

You have to want to be the best version of yourself all for yourself and no one else. And I mean want it very bad. It is your motivation that births the discipline you need for this journey. Both will work hand in hand to make you wake up an hour earlier to get that workout done or choose to eat a bowl of salad when all you really want is a nice hot plate of jollof rice or warm pizza.  Ugggghh! I know how hard that is but GOALS. The fact that you are not where you want to be should be your motivation.  Is that bottle of chilled coke worth the extra sugar? Is that late night nkwobi/suya/alcohol worth the damage it will do to your waistline in the long run? 

One day i want my hip to measure at 40inches... One goal that keeps me going! 

It is important to find a reason(s) why you are doing this. The "WHY" plays a huge role in how hard you push yourself. For me, I put in work every day because I want to be healthy for my unborn kids; I want to desperately prove first to myself that I can do anything I set my heart to do, then to everyone who said to me that I cannot do this; to prove that anyone can make time for what is important to them.

What is your reason? Find then, hold on to it and let it propel you towards your goals because the best project you will ever work on is YOURSELF.

Next article I will share how I set my goals and stick to them but for now have a productive week! 

Love always,  Xx


P.S - If you need extra motivation, follow my journey on instagram [@ella_az] for my workout rountines, meal ideas and struggles. 

***DISCLAIMER: I am not a fitness expert. i am only writing based on personal experience.

HONEY, WHAT IF YOU FLY?

Hey beautiful people! How are we all doing with our decision to become healthy? Good so far? Difficult? Oh no! you fell off track after a few days? Hey it’s alright. You are human and its ok to stumble sometimes. What matters is that you are willing to admit you messed up and hop right back on the fit wagon! Yes, that wagon is always waiting.

This piece will be about those things that hold us back from taking the right step

forward.  Those inner demons that won’t let us be great. I fought them too (I still do sometimes) so I know they exist. 

Maybe the thing you are most scared of is what you should be doing.

For many years I was reluctant and scared of losing weight. Why? Because I was afraid. Afraid of failing yet again, afraid of quitting again once I didn’t see the kind of result I was expecting, afraid of embarrassing myself before everyone. I was so used to quitting and I didn’t believe I could stick to something for so long especially something that involved gradual progress.  I preferred the quick fixes (fad diets) that gave me quick results but of course they often took me back to square one. 

I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired

I was tired of being uncomfortable;

I was tired of having limited choice of clothes;

I was tired of living with low self-esteem;

I was tired of being breathless from doing simple things like walking or climbing a few stairs;

I was tired I hating the body I was in;

I was tired of blaming everything else but myself for my problem;

I was tired of trying and quitting;

I was simply tired!  

I eventually picked up courage to give it a go again and this time I made up my mind it would be different (even though I didn’t believe in myself) and here I am several months later still sticking to it. (yay!)

My journey has not been perfect. Far from it.  I have hit plateaus often and I fall off track sometimes (hey I am human! Lol) but I am still here fighting. Fighting all those excuses I make up in my head all th time to make me give up. Fighting the inner demons that tell me I will quit soon or that I cannot lose all the weight I set out to lose. Ha! Trust me it is a daily battle.

So what if you started already but fell off track for a few days? Does that make you a quitter or a failure? NO! it is all part of the growing process. Its ok to struggle but your determination to rise above it is what counts. These struggles make us better and stronger each day. “oh Ella, what if I can’t do it at all?” Honey that’s a beautiful lie. How would you know if you never tried?! Imagine if the caterpillar gave up not knowing it had the potential to become a butterfly? It would have been such a huge waste.

What if you really fly? Yes you can! Don’t let fear hold you back like it did to me for many years. Don’t let fear crush your dream to live a fulfilled life.  It’s a mind game and there will always be so many “what ifs” but you begin to truly live the moment you choose to take a chance with yourself and see where your strength takes you.

Change is scary I agree, but fear of the unknown is even more scary. We would never know how beautiful and awesome life could be if we continued to live in fear. You deserve much more than you are letting yourself get. Step out of your comfort zone today and take a step towards being healthy.  Make up your mind today to change, make better food choice and get active for just 15-20 mins a day. These baby steps all add up and six months from now you will be glad you did!

One healthy meal at a time, one workout at a time, one kilo at a time! Let’s go!

Don't forget to follow my journey on Instagram (@ella_az) for daily motivation, my workout routines, meal ideas and struggles.