Hello, y’all! I’m Kristy, a big fan of Cusa Tea, and I am writing this post to introduce myself as a Cusa Tea Brand Ambassador in time for their May Health and Wellness month!
Cusa Tea asked me to share advice and my personal experience when it comes to being active and healthy, two very important goals in my life.
First off, a little bit about me. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, area. I’m a psychologist, runner, traveler and health and fitness enthusiast. I try to eat healthy, but still allow myself treats and cheat meals in moderation. I’m passionate about fitness, whether it’s running, hiking, walking, cross-training, getting workouts done, or finding ways to stay active.
I started consistently running and exercising just a few years ago to help me deal with some significant changes in my life. Now, fitness has become a regular part of my life, and not only does it help me to feel good and be healthy, but it also helps me deal with additional stress that comes my way.
When I first started running, I had to add cross-training and strength exercises (via workouts at home) to prevent injury and to stay active 6-7 days a week since I don’t run every day. I LOVE to travel, and really enjoy running races in new places! I’ve completed races in CA, MI, CO, Toronto, OH, AZ, and WV. Of course, I also run races locally. I’m not the fastest runner by any means, but I’m always striving to improve my personal times. I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life, and I don’t intend to quit any time soon.
How do I stay motivated? Here are some suggestions:
- Set realistic, attainable goals. Set mini-goals toward the bigger goals. It’s hard to stay motivated if you set a goal that is too far-fetched even before you start.
- Reward yourself when you reach goals. Treat yourself, but be sure that the reward doesn’t completely undo the goal that you've just achieved.
- Be flexible about goals. While it’s helpful to have a timeline, understand that setbacks happen from things like injury, illness and life in general. Modify or adjust goals when necessary. Take things one day at a time.
- Find a schedule that works for YOU. If you’re not an early morning person, there’s a good chance you won’t wake up early enough to get your workout done. When I feel short on time, I tell myself that workouts take the same amount of time as one show on TV, so it doesn’t really take that much time to do. Or if I’m lacking in motivation to run, I tell myself to run one mile and see how I feel after that. I usually feel better once I start and complete that workout.
- Seek support. This one is important! Tell others about your goals to help you stay accountable. Find someone with similar goals and work with that person to meet your goals. Find a running buddy, for example. If you’re like me and have friends scattered throughout the world, you can set up challenges with friends, or create/join accountability groups on social media.
- Small changes lead to bigger results. Carry a refillable water bottle with you to make sure you’re drinking enough water. Choose drinks with lower/no sugar. Eat fruits/vegetables as snacks. Choose quality ingredients, if possible. If you start to feel healthier and also see results/meet your goals, chances are you’ll feel better overall and will stick with it.
- Listen to your body. Modify exercises, if needed. Take walk intervals while running, if needed. If you’re sick or in pain, rest might be the best option.
Cusa Tea with a little honey is a great low- or no-sugar option.
I’m not perfect, but I’m striving to be the best version of myself. Feel free to follow me on Instagram (@psych2Bfit) to see my journey. I hope that through my social media posts I am inspiring, motivating and encouraging others to get moving and being the best version of themselves, too!
