Suffering from routine burn-out.

Why is it that some days we seem to have it all together? We wake up feeling great, we are knocking things off our to-do list, crushing it at work, and even looking forward to our workout.

Things are great. Life is great.

But then something interrupts your perfect routine. Something small and insignificant.

One day, somebody (ah, hem- my husband *cough*) brings home leftover birthday cake from work and never eats it. So then, it's just sitting there and being the frugal woman that you are, you just absolutely cannot stand the thought of it going to waste.

CANNOT. STAND. IT.

So you indulge. You have a piece. It's just a small piece, but it's enough to knock your entire day off. I mean, you blew your diet, right? So you might as well just hop in the drive-thru for dinner. And now you feel like crap and refuse to go to your workout. Before you know it, this day of decisions like this has rolled into a week of similar decisions.

Why do we do that? Why do we constantly make excuses for "blowing our diets" and skipping our workouts?

And why is it so hard to get back on track to our routine that we once loved?

Face it, you didn't blow it from having a bite of cake, or even having a bad day of eating. We make that excuse because we feel bad about ourselves and the choice we made when we have worked so hard to get to where we are. Why was it so easy to fall out of routine in the first place?

So what do we do? The next meal you have will impact the meal after that one. So make it a healthy choice. Your life isn't over because of birthday cake. I promise. You indulged, hopefully you enjoyed it, now you make choices that benefit your body and your mind and move on with your life.

We all KNOW that. We all KNOW that our healthy routines shouldn't be de-railed by one or two bad meal choices, but why do we use that excuse in the first place? Why are we so easily tempted by the convenience of fast food or the sweet treats left sitting in our fridge?

More than likely, your routine has become stale and your brain is SCREAMING for excitement. Or maybe your weight has plateaued and the lack of results has you asking why you're even working so hard in the first place. Let's break it down, shall we:

#1 You've hit a weight-loss plateau and now you're wondering why you are working so hard in the first place.

First, this is normal. When you first start to drop the extra weight you have been carrying, it seems like it just falls off. But just as you are getting into the grove and loving your new self, life, and routine, it all comes to a screeching halt. Why though? Once we start loosing weight consistently, our bodies become better at how it burns calories and this makes shedding the extra pounds a bit more difficult. So what do you do?

The fix: Speed up your workout. It might seem logical that adding an extra mile into your running routine would burn more calories, but when you add in a high-intensity workout, your body will continue to burn more calories AFTER you've ended your workout vs the standard workout it has gotten use to. Raising your resting metabolic rate is the goal here to burn more calories. So add in sprints, a quick 15 or 20 minute resistance workout, or plug into your favorite remix and get moving in another way you'll enjoy.

#2 Your workout is a drag, and that's exactly how you get to it. You drag.

When you first develop your workout routine, it's easy to go. You are seeing results, you're being productive, and you feel so energized. But then it becomes a hassle. You're not seeing the results like you were, it's a chore, and it's just one more thing on the list. When this happens, it's most likely after your weight-loss plateau and your routine has become stale. It's boring to you now and it's not proving to be beneficial anymore.

The fix: Change it up! Your brain and your body needs excitement. It needs reward. If you are being rewarded and seeing results, you'll continue to show up for yourself. Make sure you are getting it. Take a kickboxing class. Rent a paddle board. Take a hike somewhere you haven't before. Play tag with your kids or jump on the trampoline. I mean, that can get intense, y'all. Try something different to spice it up and you'll find that when you do your same ol' same ol' workout, you will come back to it refreshed and with new found energy. Change is good and necessary! Schedule something new weekly or several times in the week if needed! Who knows, you might even end up living your life instead of just showing up to it.

#3 You only eat salad because that's what you've been taught to do to lose weight.

Wrong, wrong, so wrong. And cruel! Don't get me wrong. I love a good salad. And yes, it's healthy. But having it every day is BOR-ING. You are going to burn out or die of boredom first. Either would be awful.

The fix: Find a new recipe, (I have several collections for sale on my etsy!) put on the most comfy clothes you can find, (my go to is my husbands t-shirts...ahh, heaven.) throw that hair up, pour you a glass of wine, and put on your favorite playlist. Ask your man to help by entertaining the kids and keep them out of the kitchen. This is your time...this is your space. This is the date with yourself you've been needing. Take your time, get creative, and know that anything you make in the heart of your home will be waaaay more nourishing than anything you eat "out-there". You make it to your taste, for your comfort, and with love and energy for you and your family. There is something about when you make something at home and you've enjoyed doing it...it's truly hard to not like it.

Make yourself a priority. It is so ok to ask for help. Ask for help with cleaning up afterwards. Ask for help with the kids or the groceries or whatever you may need. I think we often believe that it's up to us to handle all of these things, but the truth is this...I don't believe that our families expect that all of these are just OUR responsibilities. It's ok to delegate, ladies. Gah, I know it's hard. At least, for me it is. Take the pressure off of yourself so you can care for yourself and your family the best you can! You deserve it.