What motivates you? As I am getting used to a new normal and way of life I am realizing my motivations are changing. When I first started my health and fitness journey years ago all I cared about was looking better. I was chasing after aesthetic goals. Actually, up until getting pregnant I cared a lot about my physical appearance and how I could keep changing it to make it look better. I of course cared about doing it in the most healthy way, but physical appearance was definitely my motivator. We then decided to get pregnant and my aesthetic goals drifted away and I was soon motivated by being the healthiest I possibly can for the benefit of our baby. It of course was difficult to see my body changing and expanding, but all I had to do was remind myself that I was nuritiousing our little one and how I treated my body would affect her. That was motivation enough to care more about the well being of my mind and body that I no longer cared about my aesthetic appearance.
Now that baby is here my motivation is changing once again. I am Avri’s lifeline. She relies on me for nuritiousment to grow and develop. Knowing that how I take care of my body will greatly impact her motivates me even more to eat a healthy diet, take care of my mind (need to work on this one a bit more) and listen to my body physically. My aesthetic motivations and desires have crept back into my mind, but resting and healing properly is what is best for baby and me. That is something I need to remind myself on a daily basis as my motivation is there to get back to my old self again. Right now, my motivations are conflicting with one another and honestly I am struggling with it. I know I need to rest and heal, but I am feeling much better and want to move and see my body go back to pre baby. Avri motivates me to slow down, take care of myself and take things slow. My old habits, pre baby body and capabilities motivates me to get going on getting my old self back again. Right now I can’t do both of these things, as much as I wish I could. My body is still healing and I need to allow myself to do that. The gym will be there when my body is ready to go back and with determination, action and consistency I will get my old self back again.
We all have different motivations that drive us to do certain things in our lives. These motivations will continue to change and evolve as our lives change. Motivation is just the first step of reaching outcomes we want out of life. It is what we do with that motivation that will actually get us to our most desired end result.
Here is another fall inspired recipe for you! I kept the apples in the fridge and got out the pumpkin instead! This casserole would be perfect for a weekly breakfast meal prep to have along some protein like eggs, yogurt or protein shake.
- 2½ cups gluten free rolled oats
- 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups cashew milk or nut milk of choice
- 1 egg
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Add the oats, ground flaxseed, cinnamon and baking powder to a large bowl and mix well. Evenly distribute the oat mixture into the baking dish and set aside.
- Add the pumpkin, honey, vanilla extract, milk and egg to a high powered blender. Blend until smooth. Pour the pumpkin mixture over the oats and gently stir. Add the sliced bananas on top.
- Place in oven for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Enjoy!