Get Inspiralized

New Year’s Resolution: #getinspiralized

I’m starting my own hashtag. It’s for a good cause: getting fit! I love when...

Get Inspiralized

I’m starting my own hashtag. It’s for a good cause: getting fit!

I love when all of you hashtag “inspiralized” on Instagram or Twitter. I’m always scrolling through the hashtag looking at what everyone’s cooked up. Y’all are talented, let me tell you. Sometimes, I think to myself “oh, I wish I had thought of that!”

Hashtag inspiralized (#inspiralized) is still here to stay. I want to see what you all make, all the time! BUT, now there’s a new one. Since we’re all about spiralizing vegetables to create healthy, nutrient-packed meals, why don’t we all come together as an Inspiralized community and further inspire each other to get active?

I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not as disciplined at working out as I am with healthy eating. I could be better.

In light of New Year’s Resolutions, I am going to challenge myself and challenge all of YOU to hold yourself accountable by hashtagging “getinspiralized” after a great workout. Not only will you motivate others when they see you getting your sweat on, but you’ll see progress throughout your own Instagram or Twitter account.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, let everyone know what healthy spiralized dish you’ll be eating to complement your fitness!

Plus, there may be some cool giveaways along the way. Hint, hint.

Eating healthy is only one aspect of being truly “healthy.” Being active and working your body out is crucial to becoming the most fit version of yourself. Since we already have the healthy eating part down, let’s #getinspiralized to be in shape!

Starting today, I’ll be hashtagging #getinspiralized after a work out. Feel free to encourage me! I’ll be monitoring the hashtag on Instagram & Twitter and commenting, so show me whatchya got!

My New Year’s resolution? To work out at least 5 days a week and be active 7 days a week!

What does “being active” 7 days a week mean? It means that if I spend a day working hard at my desk but don’t get a chance to get up much, then I’ll counteract that with something active: either a gym workout or a quick walk around the block.

You may even see Lu with me in the #getinspiralized hashtags. Why? Workout buddies are a top way to stay motivated!

Fitness Tips from inspiralized

Here are my 10 best tips for staying motivated this New Year to meet your fitness goals:

1. Make your goals realistic. This seems really obvious, but if your goals are too lofty, you’ll be discouraged if you fall off track. Don’t let your goals crush your motivation. Instead, make these goals to motivate! For example, instead of saying “I want to lose 20 lbs in two months,” say “I want to lose 2 pounds a week for two months.”

2. Find a workout buddy. Honestly, it’s one of the few things that has ever worked for me. Perhaps it’s your roommate, your mom, your coworker, or a cute guy at the gym who doesn’t even know he’s your workout buddy. Ha, I used to go to the gym just because I knew Lu (when we first starting seeing each other) would be there. Stalker? Fit stalker! But really, make a pact with a friend to get to the gym and meet them there or go together.

3. Sign up for a race, even if you’re not a runner. I ran the 2012 Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. Yes, a marathon! I had never run more than 5 miles in my life before that! It was the most liberating, exciting, enlightening and empowering thing I ever did and I recommend everyone run a marathon (or at least a half marathon) in their lives. Running for a cause and seeing so many fit people gathering together just to appreciate a city while supporting something they believe in is incredible. Just don’t do it in San Francisco… too hilly!

4. Workout in the mornings. Lay out your clothes the night before, along with any accessories: sneakers, sweat bands, iPod, earphones, water bottle. Set your alarm! Once the alarm goes off, do yourself a favor and sit up in bed. Open your eyes and take three deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling. Then, get your butt out of bed! Drink a cold glass of water and then get dressed. Honestly, with everyone’s busy schedules, morning workouts are a Godsend. Just do it!

5. Go shopping. Maybe this is just for girls, but I tend to be motivated when I have a cute workout outfit. Victoria’s Secret has a great workout line and of course, my all-time favorite workout gear is by Nike. Spend the $50 you normally spend on junk food or unnecessary items (like Starbucks) on shopping spree and get a new pair of shorts or a couple t-shirts. You’ll feel fresh and ready to conquer a workout. If you have a Nike Factory Outlet near you- get there!

6. Do more fitness classes. I swear by Soul Cycle spinning classes- I treat myself once a month! They’re too expensive here in NYC ($34/class!) but they’re worth every penny. Whatever you like to do – boot camps, pilates, Zumba – just sign up. This will make your weekly workouts more interesting and avoid that boredom plateau.

7. Always keep a healthy snack on you. This seems like it belongs on a different list of tips. But, no, it goes. To prevent your blood sugar from plummeting or stomach hunger pains, always have a granola bar, some nuts, or a piece of fruit on you- in your purse or in your gym bag. It’s easy to make an excuse against the gym such as “I feel nauseous or I’m so hungry, I don’t have the energy!” Keep some emergency snacks on you to avoid that – eating an extra 100-150 calories a day is better than skipping a workout that will be burning those calories off.

8. Download workouts online. There are so many amazing websites out there that offer workouts for those of us who aren’t certified personal trainers and don’t really know what to do at the gym aside from cardio. I love the Nike Training App – so many different workouts, all specifically targeted for what you need. It’s also really easy to follow. There are so many out there – boredom can no longer be an excuse!

9. Keep your workout playlist updated. I would have never made it through my marathon training and the actual race without good tunes. I update my playlist at least once a week, but usually every other day. Pump-up music not only pumps you up during a workout but pumps you up before! I’ve made a special playlist just for us, so follow along – I’ll be updating it:

10. Treat yourself when you meet incremental goals, but not with food. This seems like an obvious one, but in my past, I tended to treat myself when I hit incremental goals by going out and having dessert and drinks with a friend. Why do that to yourself? Say you lose your first 2 lbs and you’re feeling great or you meet a PR running time. You don’t want to ruin that – think how great the next 2 lbs will feel and the next, even quicker run? Treat yourself – but with something else, like splurging on your favorite (expensive) spinning class, buying a new workout shirt, plan a fun day with friends, or simply, giving yourself a day off of working out, if you’re feel tired. Just remember: always eat healthy!

2014 is going to be a monumental year for Inspiralized, and I want to be the healthiest and fittest of my life so that my mind can focus on my dreams. Eating right and exercising is a recipe for much more than a goal number on a scale: the benefits of being in-shape go far beyond that.

So, who’s going to #getinspiralized with me?

with love, Ali

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