The Battle Against Negativity

We've all been there. You know it. "God, school sucks! I hate my life." "Uhhh I'm working 3 days in a row! Why does this always happen to me?" or even "I missed the Drake tickets again this time! I hate everything!" Don't worry. It's not you. It's everyone. Our society is becoming chronically negative. 

I had to write this post now because just like you guys, I suffer from chronic negativeness too. Lately I've found myself cursing my existence (and everyone in it) due to problems that occur naturally in life. What are my triggers? Let's see...

• School
• Work
• My parents
• Money
• My siblings
• School
• Work
• My parents
• School again
• Did I mention work?

I'd like to ask you all a question. When we are complaining about our jobs, our relationships, our family, our homework or whatever else there is....do we ever stop and think...Shit. What am I doing? I'm complaining that I have to get up and go to work every day where I make MONEY to pay my BILLS to afford my HOUSE to support my FAMILY to spend on my PLEASURE to put towards my HEALTH CARE and the list goes on and on. Let's go back to my first point. MONEY! You go to work to make MONEY! Majority of the world does not see the amount of money that most of us in the West make in a single day. Do you realize how lucky we are? My second point - to pay my BILLS. Bills may not seem like a blessing but when you realize the things you are paying for (water, electricity, phones, internet, hydro) are not even offered or available to some people, you, well, you shut up. *snapping my fingers* Third point- afford my HOUSE. You have a house, damn it! You could have been a bum, sitting on the side of the road, begging like the others. But you are not. You have a house to go home to. You have a roof over your head. End of discussion. I can go on and on, but you do get the point here right? In yo face!

We are a chronically negative and depressed society and it makes absolutely no sense. Yet, we are all guilty of it. Could it mean that we are actually chronically spoiled as opposed to negative? That would make a whole lot more sense. 

My point here is to offer tips on how to deal with the negativity in your life. It does not necessarily mean the negativity comes only from you. It can be a family member or partner or friend. Here are my tips on how to deal with this new epidemic (as I like to call it).

1. Instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the positive. Have you heard that saying, instead of bashing what you hate, promote what you love? The next time life gets you down, focus on all of the good things in life instead of the bad. In my case - Uhh I effin hate school! - whereas, I could be thinking, School really sucks but I cannot wait for the exciting career opportunities that will lie ahead of me when I graduate!

2. Meditate. Do not scoff at me. It works! Meditation is a natural stress reliever and is good for the soul. It is known to improve our creative thinking, our energy, our success and decrease our stress levels. Start off with meditating for one minute each day, gradually increasing a minute as you go. You will thank me brother. You will thank me!

3. Let go of Expectations. Oh man, this one is a killer and is also the biggest cause of negativity. Let go of expectations! We are disappointed the most when we expect more. Stop expecting and just enjoy what you receive. When we hold on to expectations, the only one that loses is you. 

4. Keep a thought journal. This may sound corny, but it is very helpful. Jot down your emotions for each day. At the end of the week, review your journal and see if you can see a pattern. Is there a certain person or place that triggers your negative emotions?

5. Diet and Exercise. Your emotions could just be a reaction to the food you are eating. Remember, you are what you eat. Certain foods may trigger negative thinking. Be mindful of what you put in your mouth! Eat your fruits and vegetables, your whole grains and lean proteins and feel yourself heal. Exercise, as we all know, is a great mood booster. Next time you want to punch a wall, go for a run instead. You will not regret that endorphin rush.

6. Smile. Lastly, remember to smile every day. Even if you are not in the mood, just do it. Studies have shown that a smile itself is enough to boost your mood. The smile does not even have to come from you. This may sound funny, but practice it with yourself. Smile to yourself a few times a day. It works.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post! Let us kick negativity to the curb and embrace what our spoiled western life style offers us.

Cheers.

Inform2Inspire

How To Start a Fitness Regime and Stick to It

     Starting a new fitness regime can be exciting. It can either be your first visit to a gym or you can be working on a new fitness goal. Whatever the cause may be, it is fun and refreshing when you first begin.......and then it may slow down after some time. Starting a fitness routine is not easy, nor is sticking to one. Some of us may have never entered a gym in our lives while some of us may be seasoned athletes. One of the most common statements I've heard about new members at a gym are: "I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel like everyone's staring at me." And that's okay and it's normal! How could you be expected to know how to perform a perfect squat or how to set up the levers on a leg extension machine? You are not expected to know these things. But you know what you could do? .................................................

.........................

................................

..............ask.

     You enter a LA Fitness and see those men and women walking around in their black pants and black staff shirts? They are there to help you. Assist you with your form, answer any exercise related question you may have and yes, show you how to use the equipment. Being a personal trainer myself, I am expected to know everything there is when it comes to gyms, but even I get confused sometimes. It happens. You live, you learn, you practice, you perfect. However, I would still like to share some of my tips with you:

TIPS

Group Fitness Classes                                   

Group fitness classes are available in many types and for all levels, especially beginners. When I first began going to the gym, all I did was attend the classes. These helped because a) I had no idea what I was doing, b) working out in a group environment was less daunting than out there on my own and c) they taught me different exercises and routines that I later began to do on my own time. Had it not been for the group fitness classes, I might still be that scared girl in the corner doing 100 push ups and sit ups on a mat and calling it a day because I didn't know what to do. Group fitness will also help you stick to a regime by dedicating yourself to your classes. 

Hire a Personal Trainer

A few months into my new fitness regime, I began to hit a plateau. I was doing the same exercises over and over and stopped noticing a difference in my physique. I decided I needed that extra push so I hired a personal trainer (BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE). Working with a trainer not only pushed my to max potential but it also gave me results I never expected. Losing 30 pounds in less than a year was the best accomplishment of my life and I owe it all to my very first trainer, Sharon. Hiring a trainer also kept me motivated to stick to my fitness regime as I was excited to see how much I could do each session and had already committed to a contact, which I was paying for. And before you start going ham about how "expensive" personal training is, I always say, you can never put a price on your health. So you might have to cut one trip to Zara or a few restaurant meals a month, but it is worth it my friend!   

Goals and Incentives  

Remember how your parents would always give you what you wanted if you either cleaned your room, did your homework, watered the grass, etc.? Well, if you were like me, you damn well did everything they asked to get that reward in the end! It always works. My suggestion is to set small goals for yourself, either weekly, biweekly or monthly and reward yourself. It can be as simple as: "I will attend four Zumba classes this week" and you can reward yourself with a new workout top or headband. Or maybe you want to set an even bigger goal for a bigger reward? "If I do not lose ten pounds in two months, I will not book that Miami trip with the girls." Make it work in your favour. Goals are also a helpful way to keep the motivation going and keeping your spirits up. Exercise routines can be get boring or you may reach plateaus, at which point you can set new goals for yourself to push yourself even further!

Surround yourself with Positivity

Haters are always going to hate. I'm not asking you to drop all your friends and make new ones. I'm asking you to carefully observe your surroundings. Is everyone in your life really there for you? Are your friends and family supporting your new fitness regime? Don't hang around with negative people because it is these people who will eventually bring you down. If your friends are there for you and happy for you, they will support you on this new journey. If they complain, or try to deter you from the gym, well, you know the answer to that. Choose your friends wisely. Let nothing stand in the way of your true potential.

Well, there you have it people. My tips. Read them over and over. And stick to it! It gets hard. There may be days you just want to give up or days you skip your workout or days you eat 2 entire bags of Lays Salt and Vinegar chips (sooo damn good), but it's okay. You'll get back up and you'll start again. You'll come back to read my blog and get motivated ;) 

As always, thanks for coming out!

Inform2Inspire