Can you believe it has already been 11 years since our Nation was under attack?

I still remember exactly where I was when I found out that the Twin Towers and Pentagon had been hit. That memory is something that will stay with me for the rest of me life. I’d like to personally thank the men and women who have been defending out country and fighting for our freedom each and every day since the attack. They have given the ultimate sacrifice and will never get the full appreciate they deserve.

On a lighter note, I wanted to discuss making excuses when it comes to exercise. I have been known to be that person that would talk myself out of a workout or multiple workouts for that matter. You name the excuse, I probably had it: I went to bed too late, I’m too busy this week, etc. However, you’re not doing yourself any favors making excuses like that.

I’ve pinned quite a few motivational quotes when it comes to working out and while you may have seen some of them before, they really can help motivate you to get moving. A friend of mine posted this photo earlier and it really struck me.

You’re probably thinking, “but it’s just a picture”. While you’re right about that, picking up my workouts and working towards living an all -around healthy lifestyle, I really believe in not making excuses for yourself. Getting up at 5:45 sucks and I’ll be the first one to admit it. There are definitely mornings where I would love to just stay in bed that extra hour but I feel SO much better once I’ve finished my run. Once you get into a routine, your body will start to crave exercise. Not only that, but you’re much more likely to make healthy eating decisions throughout the day if you’ve started your day with a workout.

Exercise + Healthy Diet = A healthier, skinnier you!

Also, I’ve told y’all before how much I love reading Tina’s blog and I saw this photo earlier as well (stealing lots of photos today I know) and wanted to share it with you as well. When I signed up for the Richmond Half Marathon (HM) earlier this summer, I struggled through running 2 1/2 miles even though I had run 2 HMs before. Regular workouts and my desire to become a lean, mean running machine have made it so that I wish I had more time to run 5-6 miles before work instead of just 4. Once the weekend rolls around, I can power through the long runs with my training team with no problem. I’m just amazed at how much stronger my body has gotten and am eager to see how much stronger it can get!

I don’t mean to be preachy about this but think about it as you go through the rest of your week. Get up a little bit earlier and go for a run or pack a bag and hit the gym on your way home from work. I promise you’ll be so glad you did. And remember, if your makeup and hair still look good when you finish, you didn’t do it right.