How to stay motivated

My co-workers, friends and even people I know online always ask me how I stay motivated. For me, it’s easy. I love being active. But I know everyone doesn’t.

Have you ever tried indoor rock climbing? It’s super fun, and a huge work out in itself. Don’t know what indoor rock climbing is like? Check out the video of me, doing a boulder problem back home in Newfoundland. Please note the video is quite old — it was in 2003 (!!!) so my digital camera wasn’t the best at shooting film back in the day.


It may take a while, but I say you need to find something you absolutely enjoy doing, and keep at it. If you hate running — don’t do it. Simple as that. Get creative, and find an activity that gets your body moving. Just watching those climbing videos just makes my finger tips sweaty, and want to chalk up and get back on the wall.


And another, for good measure ;)

Set small goals. Tell yourself you’ll work out “X” many times this week/this month. Once you achieve that goal, give yourself a treat — a movie date with your bestie or significant other, a new work out top, or maybe just a new mascara you’ve been eyeing. Be your own #MyBetter.

Speaking of mascara. Have you ever tried Make Up For Ever’s Smoky Lash? Look at those lashes it gives me. No, I’m not wearing falsies.

You’ll shortly find out that working out makes you feel good and will definitely boost your own self esteem and confidence. I think it’s easy to keep up something you’re truly passionate about, and have fun doing it, of course it’s hard work but that’s the fun part – creating these new goals to strive for. Or as Nike says…

Working out can improve the quality and even length of your life, just by taking care of your body. It doesn’t have to cost anything, just put the effort and time into it. Everyone goes through tough times, so being there to support and encourage your friends is essential.

As I post on my blog, you know I like to share my own stories, both failures as well as successes. I want you guys to be able to relate to me, to know that you’re not the only one with challenges. I started running again 3 weeks ago, but this time I have a Coach (Hi Steve!). I’ve never been so excited (and still somewhat anxious, but I’m trying to overcome that) to go our for a run once a week. I won’t lie, it’s still very difficult for me, especially with my breathing. but I’m learning to overcome the breathing issues — it’s mostly anxiousness and punch out some longer (such a relative term… 6km is long for me) distances.

I’m leaving everything open in the comments today. I want you to ask me any kind of questions, fitness related or not. Let it be an FAQ sort of thing, for anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me. Use the hash tag #FAQspiffykerms on twitter for your questions, please!

A great quote I found, then prettied up. I pinn’ed this a few months ago (and I guess no one found it interesting enough to re-pin, lol).

Go ahead and leave me a comment. Ask away. FAQ’s will finally be answered!

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My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 25)

Thanks to those who participated in my poll last week. I was questioning whether or not to do a post each time I work out, or save it all for Monday’s into one big ol’ collaboration.

The short:

  • CrossFit x 2
  • Running x 2

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year 1, week 25, day one

Ring Dip:
max-max-max  (so annoying, I’m so bad at this) My legs were even still on the ground

Back Squat:
20 Minutes to Establish 3RM

I ended up back squatting 95lbs (!!!). We had a few minutes left and I tried to go for 105 and did one. So that’s awesome right? lol I can almost back squat my own weight, that’s ridiculous.

“Mad Cindy”
AMRAP 10:
5 Pause Pullups
10 Clapping Push Ups
15 Jumping Squats

This WOD killed my arm pits, lol.

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year 1, week 25, day two

15 Thrusters; 135/95lbs 55lbs
Run 200 meters
20 Thrusters; 95/65lbs 45lbs
Run 400 meters
30 Thursters; 65/45lbs 35lbs
Run 800 meters

This one was pretty tough. We just had an 18 minute time limit and I was on my last 800m run, and I think the buzzer went off just as I was coming back, finishing up my run. Not bad!


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year 1, week 25, day three

Didn’t go to CrossFit but ran 6k with my co-worker. PROOF!

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year 1, week 25, day four

Hilarious story. I was pigging out on junk food because my Boyfriend was away, and I decided to watch the documentary SUPER SIZE ME. Silly mistake. I was feeling already full and feeling like the dude was describing me as one of the folks he was talking about in the film. I had to pause the movie half way through and ended up going for a speedy 4.23km in 24:03! That’s clippin’ er. Mainly because it was almost 9pm at night, and in a sketch area of town and any random dude I passed, I pretended I had fresh legs and was feelin’ no pain. Though, I was feeling quite ill due to the popcorn and pizza sloshin’ around in my belly. It would’ve made for a “better” story had I have puked on the run. lol But thankfully I did not.

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A Fitness Survey

I took this survey from Christina and decided to fill it out, even though I wasn’t tagged by anyone.

1. Run/workout in the heat and humidity or freezing cold temps and snow?
I’ve never ran in the cold winter time. I’m a fair weather runner and have ran in 35ºC temperatures. I can’t stand the lung burn when you get while exercising outside in the chilly weather.

2. Washboard abs or flat abs?
On females, I’d rather flat abs, or a semi-defined stomach. I find that washboard abs look a little funky on girls.

3. Dr. Oz or The Doctors?
I don’t have cable. No idea.

4. Cardio or strength?
Both! I don’t say “today is a strength day” or “today is a cardio day” or anything like that. I just go to yoga when I feel like it, go on runs when I’m craving it, and go to CrossFit and not know what the heck is going to be up on the board that day.

5. Cravings: Protein or carbs?
I’m stealing Christina’s answer: I rarely crave protein – hopefully because I get enough. Who doesn’t crave carbs? I could sit around and eat pita chips, crackers, and bread for hours. Pasta bores me though.

6. Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?
My boyfriend and I don’t have cable TV anymore, so I never really got into their television shows. Can I just say neither?

7. Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream?
Frozen yogurt to me, tastes the same as ice cream. At least at Menchies, so why don’t we just go with that answer.

8. To train: Upper body or Lower body?
No preference. Though, my CrossFit coaches have been getting me to work my shoulder strength more. Which is sooo difficult.

9. Protein powder or food with protein?
Food with protein, for sure. Gimmie dat chicken breast!

10. Lunges or squats?
Squats are easier on my right knee. When I do lunges I sometimes bow my right knee inwards, which causes a bit of pain on my knee cap. Something “flicks” and it can be painful! I hate wall balls (at CrossFit) and have been known to skip classes if they’re on the website for the WOD (workout of the day)!

11. Sweet or salty?
Sweet. They don’t call me candy’ girl for nothin.

12. Workout attire: cute or comfy?
I don’t think anyone intends to buy ugly or uncomfortable workout clothes. I wear anything from Lululemon, Nike, to Old Navy.

13. Body Pump or Heavy lifting?
I went to a Muscle Pump class at the local YMCA and the instructor was huffing and puffing her way through movements, and allowing us breaks, so I kept on goin’. I really didn’t enjoy it at all. I’d rather stick to something more extreme like CrossFit. TRACTOR FLIPS! Who does that? Oh. Me.

We also like doing Frog jump at CrossFit too, lol.

14. Yoga or Pilates?
Yoga is good, only if I have an amazing instructor. I haven’t tried Pilates yet. I don’t even know what that entails. Is it just a fancier name for Yoga?

15. Nike or Adidas?
NIKE! Look at my hot pink Nike Free’s I got last year.

16. Running on the treadmill or outdoors?
I can run on the treadmill, longer than I can by myself outdoors. I like the outdoors though too, and have been doing a lot of that this summer with my co-worker L!

17. Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s?
I’ve never been to either of them! Anyone want to go with me?

18. Summer or Winter Olympics?
I like the summer olympics, gymnastics is amazing, trampoline is so silly, and diving. Diving is neat. Why wouldn’t there be diving in the winter olympics? It’s indoors….anyway, doesn’t really matter to me lol.

I’m part gymnast, didn’t you know? My strong point: the leg flail jump. That or I’m channeling Molly Shannon, from Saturday Night Live.

19. Exercise classes or Exercise videos?
Classes. I haven’t really given exercise videos a chance. I like classes because if I’m doing something wrong I can be corrected by the instructor.

20. Steamed veggies or roasted veggies?
Steamed asparagus, roasted potatoes. Ha. Got you on that one, didn’t I.

I tag the following people to complete this survey! All my Toronto FitFluential gal pals: Krysten, Robyn, Morgan and Jess! I also want to tag my new friend Meg!

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