Real Talk Tuesday: Operation Slimdown

Hi Everyone!

Nate and I are now here in Bakersfield, and we are starting find our groove.  For those of you who know the Parrish people well, you know that our work habits are very different, and our creative processes are very different, so working together can be quite the task. But we're actually working it out quite peacefully, and graciously, and working together has been really wonderful.

The other thing that has changed a TON in my life is how much time and energy I have to spend not only investing in relationships but also in my health, spiritually AND physically. If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen in my stories and on my feed that I've gotten back into going to the gym.

Before now, I HATED the gym. It felt like a chore, and I thought it was boring. I don't really know what changed my mind, other than the fact that to be quite honest, I hated the way I looked, and I hated the way I felt. The way I looked on the outside was a terrible reflection of the way I felt on the inside. I'm excited by, and about life! I have so many things to be thrilled about, and no amount of pink hair, or make-up or cute clothes (which weren't looking so cute), could mask the fact that I looked tired, and that I had stopped trying. It was time for a legit change. Not to mention I was paying for a really nice membership that I was not using.

So, its been about a month, and I'm really going strong. Actually look forward going to the gym. I've found a routine that I like, and I've started to see a change, not only in my body, but in my soul as well. I'll be doing a post on unforeseen benefits of exercising pretty soon. But here's what has helped immensely to stay the course.

1. Give God all the Glory- I saw a graphic-tee that said "Love what the good Lord gave you". I agree 100% we should love what the body that the Lord gave us by taking care of it, and remembering that our bodies are temples. The same power that rose Jesus from the Grave lives in me, and judging by my health, I had let idols take over the temple. God deserves all of my life, and that includes my health.
2. Cute Gym Clothes- Seriously, this helps so much. Think about it. Have you ever put on an outfit that you regretted and it ruined your whole day? Maybe it's just me. I know active wear is pricey, but places like Plato's Closet and Crossroads now carry it. Just run them through the wash, you'll be good to go. I got two pairs of really awesome Nike Leggings that run $80 and over for 20 bucks! If you DO have the cash to spare though, there is no shortage of cute stuff!
3. Yummy Water- I know, another seemingly petty thing, but if you're not a water drinker, you're gonna need to start being one, and putting cucumbers, frozen berries, lemons, or my new favorite Mint leaves, really helps! (also, it gives you an excuse to get a cute new water bottle) 
4. A HEALTHY energy drink- I have never ever advocated energy drinks, and I still don't. I think Rockstar and Red Bull and Monster are among some of the worst things you can put in your body. The crash your body goes through after such a caffeine/sugar rush is way worse than a coffee. Green tea is a good sugar free option, but for those of you who need sweet (like me), I use an Advocare product called Spark. What stands out about Spark, in my experience, is that besides giving you more energy, it also increases mental focus. Seriously, I went one day without drinking Spark, and it was my worst workout to date. 
5. A health monitoring app- The one I use is called My Fitness Pal, by Under Armor. It's super user friendly. You put in all your specs (weight, height, activity level, health goals) and it gives you healthy guidelines to follow. It does take a little discipline to put in all your meals and your daily exercise, but lets be real, you're probably on your phone anyways. 
6. A Friend- I don't actually work out with Nate. I'm not nearly to the point where I can keep up with him, but it helps that he already loves going to the gym, and is already in the habit of eating a healthy diet. I'm not facing this uphill battle (for now) by myself. I have major encouragement to keep going.
7. Grace- I'm not a body builder...yet. Just kidding, I don't want to be a body builder. But even so, body builders weren't always that ripped. They had to start somewhere. It is so easy to compare myself to the super in-shape people at the gym, but I'm on a journey to be more like Jesus, not to be more like the impossibly buff woman who always ends up next to me and runs for an eternity while I walk. Remember, comparison is the thief of all joy. 

These are the things that really help me. I hope that if you are on a similar journey that this might help you as well. I've been working out and eating better for about a month, and I've lost a total of 7 lbs, and I'm just now starting to see a difference in the way my body looks, but I  feel so so so much better, and my self-confidence has improved as well.  If you workout junkies have stuff that you do that help you, leave a comment below. I totally want to hear your ideas, and testimonies. See you guys soon!