My Top 3 Reasons to Exercise RIGHT NOW

FOOD TASTES BETTER

I have a passion for fitness, but I have an equal love for food. Exercise and eating can sometimes be intertwined in a really destructive relationship and I not only acknowledge that, but I have lived it as well. There have been times in my life where I walked a very thin line and could have easily fallen down the rabbit hole if I didn't have a few key people call me out on it and help me get back on track. I'm grateful for those struggles though, because without them, I wouldn't have been able to do the self reflection and learn the lessons I needed to develop such a strong and healthy mindset that allows me to experience the beautiful and satisfying relationship between eating and exercising.

I am a firm believer that exercise makes food taste better! Knowing I work really hard to keep my body healthy makes me want to pay attention to how I am fueling it. I want to take the time to choose foods that not only taste great, but will help my body to do what it needs to do. The balance I know I have created and maintain on a daily basis makes a piece of chocolate cake taste more decadent and a slice of pizza even more satisfying. I take my time to appreciate flavors, textures, traditions and the whole experience of eating. Food brings me joy and I allow myself to admit that and savor it. Fitness brings me that same kind of joy. It's a balance. Balances are yummy.

PRACTICE GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE

You don't need me to tell you that life is hard. We all are faced with our own personal packages of challenges and uphill battles that we have no choice in the matter of. Struggles are uncomfortable and can make you feel like you don't know how to move forward. Taking a challenging fitness class or working towards a big fitness goal can actually help sharpen your skills in dealing with what life throws at you!

When you are exercising and asked to add on the intensity or speed, it's NOT easy. In fact, it can feel quite brutal at times and you may sometimes even feel like quitting. A huge part of the mental game of NOT quitting involves training your mind to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Finding a way to make peace with the physical challenge of a fitness class or activity can be extremely rewarding. Practicing pushing through physical challenges and seeing your way out of them can help you build the confidence and experience to deal with whatever life throws at you and to never give up!

FREE AND EFFORTLESS MAKEUP

I feel my most beautiful after a workout. Most of the time, post workout Carly has no makeup on, bird or helmet hair, swim goggle marks around my eyes and/or a worn out and totally non-matching or ill fitting outfit on. By all means, it's NOT breathtaking beauty in the regular sense of the word. But when I look in the mirror, all I see is bright eyes, rosy cheeks and a happy smile. I feel so good on the inside that I can see it shining out of my soul and to me, it doesn't matter that my hair is out of place or that you can see the rosacea flare up on my nose. This feeling lasts all day and it only highlights anything I do to make myself up after a shower.

I see the same in other people. The rosy glow and bright eyes that shine after someone has accomplished something physical is stunning. No amount of makeup, Botox or chemical peels can replicate the beauty of a post workout face and the confidence of the person behind it. It's breathtaking. And the best thing about it is it's FREE and doesn't take any extra time in your morning beauty routine! ALL of us can get it. You just have to be willing to MOVE YOUR BODY.