Why I’m So Excited About My Summer Fitness Goals

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This post is sponsored by Lifesum. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

I declare this the Summer of Amanda!

No really. I haven’t felt this excited about goals since January. 🙂 I just started The Whole 30 (sharing all about surviving week 1 in next week’s ​Fit Friday post) and now I feel ready to start improving my consistency with my workouts. Baby steps.

Whenever I set new health goals, I like to spend a lot of time visualizing where I want to be when I reach my goals. It’s important to get a clear mental picture of what your goals are, what they look and feel like and let the FEELing be the main driver of your motivation. Every time I’m tempted to go off course, I think about how I want to FEEL (tighter abs, strong lungs and legs, more energy) and I get more excited about my goals.

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Discover your crucial moments

A book I recently read called Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success gave me some strategies for being more mindful of my behavioral strengths and weaknesses. The moments when you’re tempted to veer off plan they call your “crucial moments.” Mine, for example, would be when I feel stressed, not having approved foods ready when I get home from work and I’m hungry, or if I don’t make time for breakfast. How you react in those moments and what you do next are your “vital behaviors” (i.e., I either binge on chocolate when I’m stressed, or create a plan for how to distract myself and cope with my stress in healthier ways). Once I started my Whole 30, I already had a plan for what my vital behaviors would be when I found myself in a crucial moment. And so far so good. I’m almost 14 days into my Whole 30 and now I’m really ready to kick off my workout plan.

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Use a health app

I also started using a new app called Lifesum. It’s pretty robust in terms of all the things you can monitor and set goals against. I got the Premium version (for the cost of a cup of coffee at Starbucks – although, I don’t drink coffee) and I use the vegetable tracker, fruit tracker, meat/fish trackers and water tracker the most. Since I’m not counting calories (you can do that with this app), these trackers help me ensure I get enough veggies, variety and balance with my Whole 30 meals.

The recipes in the app have been a great resource, too (you can unlock more recipes and diet plans with the Premium membership). Since I’m eating only natural whole foods, I need lots of ideas to make my meals exciting so I don’t get bored and give up. I tried a baked avocado egg breakfast recipe the other day and can’t wait to try another one this week. If you want the app to provide a plan for you, you just take a quick test and it’ll make recommendations based on your goals, whether they include weight loss, overall health, low carb, more energy, etc. I took the test and chose the Whole & Healthy plan and I just modify the recommended recipes to align with my Whole 30. You can also sync the Premium version of the app with devices like your Fitbit to incorporate your steps and activity levels.

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Make a real plan

I’ve put a lot of effort into educating myself and patiently setting a solid foundation for my summer fitness goals and that’s the main reason I feel so excited… because I know I can accomplish them. I’ve learned through several failed attempts that success requires careful planning and re-evaluating along the way. It’s not a two-step “think then do” process. Our minds need to be fed positive thoughts and strategies as much as our bodies need real food and exercise to achieve results. This time, I made a real plan, found tools to support and guide me, found a community (like the #whole30) and an accountability team (that’s YOU, my readers) to help me see it through.

You already know about my Whole 30 eating plan. Here are my fitness plans to go along with it:

  1. June 19 – July 18: Love HIIT Body Guide (an at-home workout guide from my amazing friend Sara over at Love by Lynn) + at least one gym day per week where I focus on cardio (running or stairmaster) and leg workouts with weights.
    • GOAL: Consistency – working out 5-6 days per week
  2. July 24 – 31: 3-5 gym days focused on weights and cardio interval training
    • GOAL: Sculpt and trim lower body
  3. August – October: Kayla’s 12-week BBG (round 3 for me, but I’ve never made it through all 12 weeks)
    • GOAL: Strengthen – measured by number of laps I can get through in each BBG workout
  4. Share progress posts and photos with you (my accountability team) along the way.
    • GOAL: Inspiration – mostly for me, but hopefully for you, too!

It’s easy to feel discouraged when you’ve failed in the past with your fitness goals or are notorious for starting and never finishing (ugh, I do it, too). If you’re feeling this way now, try some of the tools I’m using above and see if they help you get started again. Be the scientist and the subject in your journey and monitor your behaviors before you start so you can get a real grip on your tendencies and begin choosing new behaviors.

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

Visualize

Most importantly, spend time visualizing your goals! It is so powerful. If you have an actual photo or image, use that, too. I’m sharing mine on my Snapchat today so head over to check it out (@THEmissfearless). It’s actually a pic of me from 6 years ago when I was arguably in the best shape of my life. I cannot wait to feel that way again.

Summer fitness inspiration and goals with at-home workouts | Lifesum fitness app | Little Miss Fearless

WHAT I’M WEARING

jcrew tee | lululemon leggings | lululemon bra | nike shoes | beats headphones | box jump

Have you kicked off any summer fitness goals? Share them with me and let’s keep each other accountable!

Photos by The High Pines.

Amanda

Comments

  1. You are so motivational. I needed this post, thank you!

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

    Posted June 16, 2017 | Reply
  2. I have been hearing so much about Whole 30 and need to try it. Thanks for all the suggestive workout apps, these are a big help.
    Cute outfit! As a runner myself, I’m always looking for new stylish items. ?

    Posted June 18, 2017 | Reply
  3. Mandy says:

    I have started my fitness journey September 2016 because of health issues. I was also borderline diabetic and high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I was extremely scared. Since then I have lost 55lbs. I still need to lose 45lbs. My goal is to be at my optimum weight by September 29th 2017. I have been doing so well that I am no longer in the diabetes range and I’m off my blood pressure medication and my cholesterol levels are now within normal range but my doctor wants me to stay in the Meds a while longer because my levels were so high before. I still have other health issues but weight has nothing to do with them. I’m taking care of them separately. I am renewing my dedication to my goals over the summer to kick it up a notch and make sure I meet my deadline. I haven’t had much time to exercise due to working so much but I am trying to fit it in somehow starting in July. I eat very clean and healthy. I’m just missing that component. I will take some of your inspiration and add it slowly to my days until I’m exercising at least 5 days a week. I wish you good luck! And keep giving me motivation and ideas! Thanks!

    Posted June 27, 2017 | Reply
    • Wow, what an incredible story, Mandy! Thank you for sharing. I’m sure those changes haven’t been easy, but it’s amazing what you can do when your health is on the line. How has your exercise been this month? I can totally relate to the struggle for balance with work. It’s a constant challenge for me to find time to work out. Hope you’re doing well!

      Posted July 23, 2017 | Reply
  4. Megan says:

    I am loving Kayla’s BBG Program – how did you like the first 2 rounds? Honestly, I have never been able to stick to a workout program until I found this one (i’m on round 2 right now)- but buying the app version really helps – and the fact that you are paying a little more makes you more motivated to actually complete the workouts. Best of luck in your summer fitness goals! You can do it!

    This is my fitness insta where i track my BBG progess, the support of the other BBG girls really helps too!: live_laugh_liftweights

    Posted June 27, 2017 | Reply
    • Hey Megan! I’m so glad you left your insta. Heading over there now for inspo. I loove BBG and totally agree that her SWEAT app has made all the difference. I’m currently following my friend Sara’s (Love by Lynn) fitness guide but planning to do BBG again this fall. Hope you’re doing well!

      Posted July 23, 2017 | Reply