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5 Things I’m Doing To Shape Up This Spring

March 24, 2015

I love Spring. Although we don’t technically have the season in Arizona, it’s still my favorite time of year. It’s an opportunity to clean, plant and refresh. Clean everything in the literal sense. Whip down all the nooks and crannies, wash everything you own and purge the overflowing closet. Plant in the literal and abstract sense. Plant flowers and gardens, replace the dead with the life. Plant new ideas in your mind. Fix your mind on a new goal or trim back the dead of the old ones and get back to them. Refresh in the abstract sense. Take time to appreciate the warm weather, shake off the winter cobwebs from the mind, body and soul. Get outside and soak up much needed vitamin D. Refresh your thoughts. Turn the negative into positive.  Spring is an opportunity for a clean slate and sets the tone for the rest of the year.

Today I’m sharing with you 5 things I’m doing to shape up this spring and if you like this, swing by next week to hear how other bloggers are getting their spring on!

 5-things-shapeup-spring

Walk More

hiking

This one excites me most. Walking is my favorite outdoor activity and since I discovered my new love for hiking I’m hitting the trails more. Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors to walk, bike, hike and run and I intend to take full advantage of it. Now that I’m on the road to recovery, I plan to get out as much as I can before the triple digit heat and monsoon arrives. Walking was my first fitness love. I’ve been away from it 14 months and I really miss it. The peace, the serenity, the outdoor smell and even the dogs that chase me. I feel like a rat on treadmill and I actually think it’s harder on my legs than the pavement. My legs are used to the pavement. That’s where they want to be so that’s where they’ll go. 

Cut Back On Caffeine

black-coffee 

I’ve always received my share of caffeine from drinking both coffee and green tea everyday. I got into the habit of drinking both when I was traveling weekly as a consultant and was under extreme pressure to always be “on.” The only way I survived was overdosing on caffeine. Coffee in the morning, green tea at lunch/afternoon. In recent months, I noticed I don’t need as much coffee to function. I also noticed I don’t like coffee anymore. I’ve been a coffee drinker my whole life, but now I take a few sips and I’m over it. I’m sure it’s my body’s way of telling me it doesn’t need it anymore. With less caffeine, I sleep better, feel less anxious and less hungry. For now, I’m giving up coffee and sticking to green tea and my usual apple cider vinegar concoction. Now that the days are getting longer and longer, I have the sun to keep me awake. 

Eat More Veggies

veggies

I love my veggies and I already eat many in my diet but I could always eat more. Sometimes I skimp on veggies when I eat too much of other foods->read overdosing on muffins. Since my focus is to drop 5-10 pounds and get back to my pre-injury fitness level, I need to sneak in more veggies wherever I can. I’ve been wanting to check out local famers markets and this will give me the perfect excuse to do it. Veggies are the secret weapon to weight loss and can help me drop those few pesky pounds not to mention they’re just so darn good for you.

Eat More Mindfully

Shrimp_Butternut_Squash_Rice

I have a terrible habit of eating in front of the computer or phone. While Instagram is exciting, I end up racing through my meal or overeating. I never had this problem until I started blogging and it needs to stop. I’m always rushing through my meals. My eating has to slow down and I have to get better about making it non negotiable. My workouts are non-negotiable so why not my eating too? This one will be tough with all the demands on my time. 

Eat Less Nut Butter

nut-butters

This one truly pains me. I really love nut butter. I mean REALLY LOVE nut butter and I’m a NuttZo Ambassador. I’m sure you guys can relate to the deep passionate love affair I have with nut butter. At any one time, I have 2-3 jars in my pantry usually chocolate almond butter, cashew butter and regular almond butter. I use it for so many things breakfast, muffins, no bake bars, brownies, smoothies, snacking. The snacking part is the one that’s gotta go. The reality is nut butters are calorie dense. Two tablespoons will cost you 180-200 calories. That’s not much, but a spoonful here and a spoonful there can really add up. Instead of eating directly from the jar, I’m going back to my weight loss roots and pre-portioning spoonfuls on a plate until I get back to my ideal weight. 

Write Myself Affirmation Notes

affirmation-notes

Every week I plan to write down one thing I like about myself. I have a zillion awesome qualities and it’s time to remind myself of who I really am. Last year was h*ll for me. For months, my brain’s been in negative nelly quicksand. Even now as I’m on the path to recovery, I feel in the dumps starting over with fitness, re-training my body and strengthening imbalances. Everything hurts, everything’s tired. It’s physically and mentally hard. I’m not ashamed of feeling down. It’s normal considering everything I’ve been through.

Truthfully I know I will get to where I want to be. It’s not on my timeline though, but I need to be patient and keep at it. They say positive thinking helps you achieve what you want and I couldn’t agree more. I know a lot of the reason I was able to achieve my 80 pound weight loss was because I believed I could do it. I was confident in myself and had a positive attitude about it every step of the way. If you think it, it will happen. 

If you liked this, come back next week to hear how other bloggers are getting their spring on! I have an exciting roundup to share with you!

[Tweet “5 Things I’m Doing To Shape Up This Spring #fitfluential #health #fitness #spring”]

 What are you doing to shape up this spring?

Lots of Health, Food & Love,

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About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.

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  1. Erin@BeetsPerMinute says

    March 24, 2015 at 3:48 am

    I am with you on the walking bit, Megan. Now that I won’t be driving for a long time I am definitely going to take advantage or walking EVERYWHERE I can. Just hopefully mostly out of the rain! 😉 Great goals, you are inspirational to many!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:59 pm

      Aww…thanks so much for that sweet compliment Erin! I love walking in the rain.

      Reply
  2. lindsay says

    March 24, 2015 at 5:03 am

    oh the nut butter and caffeine…. eeek! i hear ya on this. It’s sometimes needed.. just for a little bit. Love the walking though!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:49 pm

      Little bit being the key words…lol

      Reply
  3. Michele @ paleorunningmomma says

    March 24, 2015 at 5:11 am

    I’ve never been an afternoon coffee drinker but I love my cup in the morning. I actually didn’t drink it at all until my 3rd was born because I always thought it bothered my stomach. I wonder if I’d notice a difference if I switched to decaf. I love when the weather warms up and I can actually take my kids out for walks!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:50 pm

      Coffee bothers my stomach too. I actually believe that’s why I’m not into anymore. Green tea is much better tolerated.

      Reply
  4. Brynn says

    March 24, 2015 at 5:11 am

    being mindful is so important and I find has the biggest payoff. When I think about what I’m eating and the amount I can make better choices or remember to eat it not overdo it.

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:48 pm

      If only I had your control when it comes to nut butter. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jill @ Champagne for Everyday says

    March 24, 2015 at 6:18 am

    These are really awesome spring resolutions Megan. I have a “positive affirmations” reminder in my phone that goes off at 8 am everyday, and it actually works – I speak a few of them to myself. Good call on the nut butter – I can’t have it in the house because I love it so much that eat it like ice cream out of a pint 🙁 But I do stash some Sun Butter in the fridge at work for oatmeal since I don’t have immediate access!

    Have a great day,
    xx Jill

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:47 pm

      Positive reminders on the phone is a great idea. I’m gonna try that. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  6. Gretchen | Gretchruns says

    March 24, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Love this list! I’ve also been trying to cut some of my bad habits, and have stopped drinking pop/soda. I don’t even miss it now! I also drink a lot more water every day, and floss daily. I had a great checkup at the dentist yesterday, so I guess it was worth it 🙂

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:46 pm

      That’s great Gretchen! Congrats on your achievements & be sure to celebrate them!

      Reply
  7. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says

    March 24, 2015 at 9:37 am

    Hi Megan! Yes! Walking, veggies, affirmations. I love this. I feel you on the nut butter — but it’s trail mix that gets me. Those darn healthy fats. 🙂 Looking forward to next week’s feature.

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:45 pm

      Good thing they’re healthy, right? Trail mix is a weakness of mine too usually when nut butter isn’t around.

      Reply
  8. Beverley Cheng says

    March 24, 2015 at 10:32 am

    This post is awesome and very inspiring. I agree with you on soo many points including eating mindfully. I eat way too fast sometimes and don’t enjoy my meals as much as I could.
    Good luck with the nut butter! Definitely a challenging task

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:44 pm

      Reading this comment as I’m racing through eating my dinner. Thanks for the reminder. 😉

      Reply
  9. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says

    March 24, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Spring is my favorite season too and I think these are all great new habits to adopt. I totally hear you on the nut butter – I have almond butter, peanut butter and sunflower butter on hand right now.

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 24, 2015 at 6:45 pm

      Sunflower butter…yum! I haven’t had that one in awhile. Might have to break my rule already.

      Reply
  10. krystel says

    March 24, 2015 at 8:07 pm

    great tips the shrimp looks so delicious

    Reply
  11. Mai T. says

    March 25, 2015 at 1:16 am

    I try jogging 3 times a week, do cardio 3 times a week, and of course, eat as much veggies as I could afford!

    Reply

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