Brrrr… if you see me outside, I will be on a mission to get to the warmest destination—my pre-heated car (best invention) or a warm building. I do not handle cold well at all! I usually have a hot drink in my hand (decaf coffee, hot water with lemon, or matcha latte) and sipping on some soup, like this lentil soup.

My husband is the total opposite, he hates soup and will only eat chili (more soup for me!). He waits to drink his coffee when it is room temp and doesn’t usually use a jacket. While I am over here living in my sweaters 8/12 months of the year!

I do have to say, this cold hasn’t stopped me from achieving my goal of working out before work. Winter is usually a hard time to start that goal with the cold weather and being dark. I mean it is hard, I hit my snooze button like 5 times, lay in bed for another 5-10 min, and finally get up after my husband nudges me to get up. The nights that he works, I am learning to get up on my own.

Back in high school and college at Towson, I was pretty good at getting up. Once I changed schools and came back home, it has never been the same! My dad used to open my door, put the light on, and tell me to wake up at the age of 22! Some mornings my mom would then come in to wake me, too! How embarrassing! I am not sure the meaning behind it—probably the cycle of going to bed late to only get up 6 hours after, which is not healthy (you need 7-8 hours for healthy sleep).

I now can say I have done more 5:30 am workouts this year then any other year! I know it is only January 15, but it takes 21 days to create a habit, right? So you may be wondering…what are you doing?

Going to bed earlier (huge so I can get a healthy amount of sleep)
My phone is on the other side of the room, making me get up to turn off the alarm.
Thinking about all the time I will have after work to get things done. (I am so sad I didn’t start this earlier!)
Working out without make up…so I have been struggling with acne for my whole life my the past year has been beyond AWFUL! Working out with makeup on doesn’t help, so in the morning I don’t have make up on and I feel much better wiping my sweat on my shirt.
I have been signing up for 5:30 am classes so I have to get there on time.
- My go-to 5:30 am classes: Les Mills Body Pump and Spin
Sleeping with workout clothes on, so all I have to do is put my shoes on, contacts in, brush my teeth, drink water, and get going.
I make healthier choices.
My anxiety about missing the gym or not having the time later, is gone!
Knowing that I have this delicious lentil soup for lunch gets me excited for the day to start!