Checking In: Progress After 1 Full Week of Clean Eating and Workouts

So for the past week my motivation has been switched ON again thanks to the help of my accountability partners and my extreme desire to get my body back in shape like it was at the beginning of the year. My goal is to lose 5lbs by December 20th, the day Chris and I leave to go back home to visit my family in Florida. I started out bloated and Buddha bellied on Monday the 10th and within 6 days of clean eating, weightlifting and a little cardio (not much at all, really), my stomach has gone down quite a bit and I can even see where I've lost a little in my arms!

The accountability partners and motivating words from my friends on Instagram have helped me tremendously! I text with 5 my friends throughout the day and talk about workouts, foods and we cheer each other on throughout the day. It's a lot of fun and definitely keeps me in check! I now remember how it feels to be passionate about reaching my goals...it's been a while since I last felt that.

This week I was on Facebook and saw Jamie Eason posted a workout that she has been doing every morning since she hasn't really had time to go to the gym. She posted a challenge for everyone to do the workout with her every morning this week. I'm not great at getting home workouts in, so I thought this would be a good motivator for me!

So far I've done it for the last 2 days and it's a tough one! Yesterday I went to the gym a couple hours after I did the AM workout and did an upper body workout followed by 22 minutes of cardio. Today I wasn't able to make it to the gym so I did the AM workout plus 30 kettlebell swings x2 and 10 shoulder presses x2.

Thanksgiving is two days away and I've gotten all of my grocery shopping done at Trader Joe's today. I have to say it's great to be back in the groove of things especially in time for the holidays! I'm going to do my best to make my meal as clean as possible to keep some of the pounds off!

How to you stay motivated throughout the week? What are your short term goals for December?

What clean dishes will you serve at Thanksgiving?

xoxo - Amber