I love working out, but this past semester was so hectic that my workout regime unfortunately fell to the back burner. So during my time off from school, I have been really trying to work hard to get myself back into working out. I've never realized how hard it can be to motivate yourself before, but now I really understand when people say that they can't get themselves to work out. But I'm dedicated to getting back into my healthy lifestyle, and these are the tips and tricks that I have found to be the most helpful!

1. Bring your gym clothes with you

I've realized that if I go home after work, I'll quickly find myself eating food in front of the television instead of heading out for my workout. Once I get home, I want to stay home. It's hard to get myself back out when I'm already so tired and want to relax. So to stop this from happening, I've started to pack a bag with my gym clothes and leave it in my car so that I can go straight to the gym from work. That way once I get home I don't have to stress about getting changed and going back out, I can just relax.

2. Carry a water bottle

I started to carry around a reusable water bottle with me recently, and now I can't go anywhere without it. I feel like once you start drinking more water, your body starts to crave it. During the semester I was drinking so much coffee and hardly any water. Now that I'm home on break and working hard to get back into being healthy, I've started to drink lots of water and find myself no longer needing that second cup of coffee.

3. Don't make excuses

Even though it's cold outside and it's super easy to stay in your warm, comfortable bed, the cold weather is not an excuse for not working out. There are tons of ways to get around working out outside. Go for a walk in your local mall, look up workout videos on YouTube, or take advantage of the exercise videos OnDemand. There are lots of easy ways to get that workout in without having to face the cold.

4. Get a gym buddy

While I've been home over winter break, my brother and I have become workout buddies. This has been extremely helpful because we motivate each other to work out and get to the gym even when we're tired. It's really helpful to have someone alongside you who isn't going to tempt you with unhealthy temptations.

5. Educate yourself about food

I think what really changed my perspective on food was educating myself about what exactly unhealthy food does to your body. I've recently been reading about the dangers of aspartame, an artificial sweetener that can be found in many foods and drinks. It causes a lot of damage to the body and has been linked to causing cancer. When you understand how the food you intake is impacting your body, it is easier to eat cleaner.

And there you have it! Take these tips and work toward a better, happier, healthier you!