Mondays set the tone for my entire week, especially when it comes to my weight loss journey. If I cheat on my diet or skirt around exercise on Monday, then I feel like I've already ruined the week and it's hard to reign back the bad habits. So far, I've lost 10 pounds on South Beach Diets pre-portioned meal plan. Their specialty 3- phase plan allows me to eat foods that are rich in good carbs, healthy fats and lean proteins. I start the day with meals like omelets and smoked salmon, and of course, my beloved cup of coffee. This leaves me feeling full and energized to kick start my day.
While The South Beach Diet has already helped me get this far on my weight loss journey, it's up to me to stay on track so I can continue losing and meet my goal weight. That's why I created an easy Monday morning routine to chase away the #sundayscaries and start my week off right.
I start by setting my alarm 45 minutes earlier than usual, sacrificing a tiny bit of sleep to give myself important self-care time. Then, I spend 10 minutes writing in my journal, checking in with how I'm feeling and what's going on in my life. I like to make coffee and curl up in bed with my notebook, savoring a few minutes of alone time while my husband and kids are still asleep. I set specific goals and intentions for the week to help keep myself motivated. Last week, my goals were to try out a new vegetable side dish to spice-up my South Beach meal plan, drink five liters of water a day, and to make a budget for a family trip to Disneyland.
After writing my intentions for the week, I typically throw on a pair of leggings and spend 30 minutes getting my blood pumping with some simple, at-home exercises. This wakes up my body and mind, giving me more energy throughout the day. My favorite moves to do from home are in the video above. To make things even easier, I even follow the video for guidance. The jumping jacks, lunges and arm exercises give me a full-body workout so that one part of my body isn't too sore throughout the day. You don't even need a yoga mat, these exercises are even easy to do on a rug or hardwood floor.
I've found that on mornings when I move my body before work, I don't get that sluggish feeling around 3pm, which is when I normally get tired and crave sugary snacks. I've also noticed that if I start moving on Monday, I'm much more motivated to go to the gym or yoga class during the rest of the week. After I'm done with my mini Monday morning workout, I'm determined to keep me day on track, so I make South-Beach-Approved lunch—usually a delicious shrimp and vegetable salad—to take with me to work.
By the time my kids are up, I've had some much needed mommy-time, and I have more energy to get them dressed and to school without getting frustrated or feeling sluggish. My simple morning exercise routine doesn't just help keep my weight loss plan on track, it helps my entire family start their week off right. South Beach Diet is the perfect weight loss plan for me, it allows me to eat a lot of lean proteins and unlimited veggies so that I always feel full. It's been more than a "diet" for me, it's become an entire lifestyle change. I have more energy to run around after my kids, and I'm so much more focused at work. I've never looked better or felt this confident—and it's all thanks to South Beach Diet!
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This content is sponsored by the South Beach Diet.
