I really feel I cannot say it enough. I love you all!!! Katy, Caitlin, Chelsey, Gabriela, Allison, and a good handful of others were tweeting with me today about their excitement for baby B’s arrival. Over recent weeks, your many comments showing support and friendship have meant so much to me. I have seen a pretty sizeable increase (to me) in readership and subscribers over the last week or two. [Side note: Hello to all you new readers!!!!] I feel incredibly loved. It humbles me and rewards me to be in the midst of so much encouragement.

I completely credit all this to the anticipation of Mr. Baby B and his first appearance on FFF. Believe me. I feel it too! I cannot wait to give that update and share the whole experience here with all of you. So at the risk of sounding desperate and pushing you all away, I have to say this -

I will still need you!

After Baby B’s arrival and the anticipation dies down, I hope you will continue to read. You motivate me to continue the blog, which allows me to grow as an individual. As I adjust to two children, I know this outlet will remain a great source of friendship. I will need you. As I work towards my many goals over the course of the year, knowing you all are there cheering me on will inspire me. I will need you. As I share my life, my passions, my heart, my all…I will need you there because a large part of what makes blogging so enjoyable is you. The community. The relationships. The friendships.

Even when you don’t have the chance to comment, seeing that people are stopping by to check in on me makes me smile. Knowing all of you out there care enough to want to either visit, provide an ear to my random ramblings, or share some of your own insights brightens my day. 

I do have some fun things coming up here on Faith Fitness Fun as well.

• new blog header design and official customized logo for the blog!
• plans to regularly post short video clips of favorite workout moves to really share my love of fitness (perhaps a weekly feature :))
• more recipes to go along with my goal of one new recipe each week
• more of my meal/snack ideas with a weekly feature – to depict the possibility of losing weight without deprivation
• Body After Baby progress and complete honesty on the journey
• more little M and baby B antics for all the kiddo lovers out there
• and of course…more of the same fun and musings you already enjoy since I refuse to change the whole premise of this site! 😉

Thank you for everything you have given me so far. I hope we can continue this path together in the future of Faith Fitness Fun. It’s going to be a good one…and it wouldn’t be without you. Pssst…did you catch my special message for ya?

Question of the Evening – What does your blog and its readers add to your life? Have you ever posted something that made you feel incredibly vulnerable? I feel pretty vulnerable after this post, for sure. I hope it didn’t come across as whiny, but sincerely showing my gratitude for your involvement here.

Taking time off from my regular habits is a sure fire way to get me motivated for healthier eats and a sweat session. It’s been since last Tuesday that I have managed to get in a workout, thanks to the holidays and illness. As today went on I felt better than I have in awhile and literally craved movement this afternoon. I still have a bit of a sore throat and some congestion, so I kept it very easy with a light 2 mile walk on the treadmill. While reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Theresa, it is getting really good! Thank you so much for sending me this series!

Then, I came home and continued healthier habits with a delicious dinner filled with veggies. Many of my recent veggies have come in the form of leftover casserole dishes. Delicious, but not the best choice for days on end. 😉 Besides, a tofu veggie stir fry is still deliciously satisfying!

This all reminds me of one of the first questions I received for the Q + A posts. How do I stay motivated? I didn’t want to answer such a question with a basic answer but it really does boil down to one thing – I stay motivated to eat nutritiously and maintain workouts because I feel so much better when I do. Going a few days without that balance in my life leaves me out of sorts and feeling unlike myself, which I have obviously struggled with more during pregnancy.

Perhaps I didn’t always have the motivation I have now, though? Perhaps it was tougher initially and now it has become second nature that its easy to naturally maintain momentum and motivation? With that in mind I branched out to other things that keep me motivated and focusing on health.

Eat & Do What I Enjoy – I find healthy food choices, recipes, and combos that I actually like eating. I no longer force myself to follow food rules. For workouts, I pick things that are fun to me. I took time to discover what I truly like and try to incorporate those as often as possible. It doesn’t feel like a chore when I make decisions that suit my preferences.

Variety Is The Spice of Life – I consistently mix up my workouts. I make a point to try new recipes regularly. I try very hard to keep myself from falling into a rut. This makes healthy living more fun.

Surround Myself With Like-Minded People – This is where blogs come in to play. I read many blogs and each one inspires me in various ways. Plus, they provide me with the ideas to keep more variety. You can also find friends to work out with or keep in touch with when things are tough. I’m always just an email, tweet, or FB comment away if you need a dose of support, too. 😉

I’m An Example – Little M and Baby B will look up to me when forming their eating habits. My actions and how I spend my time will influence their own as they grow. I want my children to be healthy, but in a natural and non-pressured way. The best way to do that, in my opinion, comes through practicing what I preach. Living for my family is HUGE motivation. It makes me smile that M will ask to “kickbox with Mommy” or that she seems so proud when we go to the gym and she says “Mommy workout”.

Mini Challenges – I have also joined in various challenges or started personal ones of my own to get my butt in gear with certain things. Sometimes making the process a game with some a reward can initiate changes and go a long way.

Move On - When starting out with new & healthier habits, I always give them time to sink in and really become part of my lifestyle. I avoid thinking in terms of “good” or “bad” days. Every decision counts towards a greater picture. Whenever I get caught up in trying to be perfect with eating or workouts, I end up losing all motivation as things inevitably get thrown off course.

Those are just a few of my big ones off the top of my head. I certainly don’t think they are anything new or life-altering, but they help me keep focus on healthier living.

• What helps you stay motivated in your healthy habits? Have your motivating factors changed with time?
• In case you missed it earlier, the blog is now on Facebook. I would be honored to have your support! CLICK HERE