Let me first admit to you my new problem…I’m addicted to Pinterest.  It’s true…there I’ve said it.  Phew!  There are so many great home improvement ideas, Do-It-Yourself ideas, hair/skin/beauty secrets, things to make you smile, recipes, motivational quotes, cute clothes, and so many other things that will make you a better person.  ;)  This post however, has a few ideas I’ve seen for ways to keep to your weight loss goals on target.

March is pretty much here.  That’s already 2 months into the new year… crazy how time flies by.  How many of you are working your way to reaching your goals for 2013?  I know that some of mine are being accomplished, while others seem to have been left behind (probably while I was wasting hours of my life on Pinterest).  However, hopefully that “wasted” time on my part will benefit those of you who have a goal of shedding a few pounds this year.

We all know that moving more and eating a clean diet will help us lose weight and live a healthy life.  However, we also know that sometimes it’s hard to see your progress.  The “Pounds Jar” will help you to be able to take care of that and also give you motivation to keep doing what you need to to reach your goals.

Pounds Jar

You will need two clear jars (mason jars are good) and small objects (pebbles or marbles or coins or whatever you choose).  Fill one jar with the small objects of choice to match the number of pounds you want to lose.  Each week weigh yourself and remove the number of pounds lost and place in the other jar.  This will give you a visual of the weight you’re losing.

We put all the hard work in at the gym for great reasons… we want to be healthier, we want to be stronger, we want to be able to function in life better… and of course we want to look good naked.  But we also should treat ourselves once in a while for dedication we put to our healthy.  The “Tip Yourself” idea gives you a chance to spoil yourself a bit, but only after reaching your goal of a certain amount of work put in.

Tip Yourself

Sometimes getting to the gym is hard to do…we get that.  Give yourself some more motivation by putting a dollar in a jar every time you get a workout in.  Once you get 100 workouts (aka $100) go treat yourself to sometime nice… a new outfit, a nice dinner out, or something special you’ve been wanting.

Now, I’ve associated these ideas with weight loss, but they can easily be used for other goals.  For example the “Tip Yourself” jar can be used for every time you do 5 strict pull-ups if a goal is to get better a pull-ups… or for every time you say “No” to a temptation of unhealthy food.  The “Pounds Jar” can be used for weight gain or reaching a goal of running a total number of miles.  Hope this helps for those of you that may be struggling to reach those New Years Resolutions or for those of you that have just set new goals and need a little more motivation.

Share this post

Written by Jenny

Jenny LaBaw has been an athlete her entire life. As a 3-sport collegiate athlete, she competed in soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field. Post college she fulfilled her need for competition through endurance races ranging from 5K’s to marathons. Jenny’s athletic emphasis now is focused more on strength challenges, but she continues to be tempted by the occasional running race. Outside of competition, Jenny enjoys many outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, and camping with her boyfriend, Marcus and lab, Ziggy. With her love for sport and exercise, Jenny chose a career as a personal trainer so she could share her passion of health and fitness with others. Attending Cornell College, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education: Fitness and Wellness. Prior to Norcal, she has trained in gyms, private training studios, and coached soccer. Jenny has had an amazing opportunity to travel around the country coaching water skiers. Her 7+ years of coaching experience has allowed her to work directly with a wide variety of people; from children trying to discover their coordination to adults wanting to shed a few pounds to professional athletes looking to be the best in the world. No matter what walk of life you are coming from, Jenny’s mission is to help you realize your potential and get you there. She will prove to you that you can be stronger, more fit, and healthier than you think you can be. With her inspiration, motivation and dedication, she will challenge your body, encourage your mind, and help you to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Jenny will help you be your best!

Meet our other coaches.