When I was having my day from hell the other day, my trainer told me my arms used to look like “bags of shit” and now I have muscles popping. Ha ha! I laughed so hard I almost cried. I think I still have “little bags of shit” there, but it’s progress, right?

Anyway, here’s a picture I just took of myself. I still can’t believe how good my shoulders are looking! I’m in love with them. I can’t wait until they are really hot though. All of those arm exercises ARE paying off.

Time to hit the treadmill and work on my push ups and crunches with my pull up bar. I hope you enjoy the quotes below! :)

I’m doing much better today and one of the many things I enjoy is motivation. I don’t know about you, but I really like motivational quotes. Here are some really good ones:

Instead of giving myself reasons why I can’t, I give myself reasons why I can.
-Author Unknown

Sometimes it’s so easy to tell ourselves “I can’t do this exercise” or “I can’t watch a movie without eating my favorite snack.”

Why not tell ourselves “I CAN do this exercise because I’m strong” or “I CAN watch this movie and enjoy myself without food?”

It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.
-Vince Lombardi

I’m a hardcore football fan so I had to throw some quotes in here from Lombardi. I really like the first one a lot. It’s not about failing. It’s about whether you get up and keep going. That’s what it’s all about! So many times we are so hard on ourselves and we quit because we get knocked down. Just get up!

The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.
-Vince Lombardi

The second quote is so true. I don’t know how many times my mind has told me something in direct conflict to what my body is telling me.

You wouldn’t worry so much about what other people thought if you realized how seldom they do.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt was such an iconic person in her time and her words still ring true. Think about it. How many times have we told ourselves that others will think we look like fools in the gym (or wherever) because we are fat, or we’re trying, or whatever? I would bet the majority of the time others couldn’t give a rat’s ass about our situation. They’re too worried about themselves.

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I love the second quote. You have to give your permission to allow someone to make you feel inferior. How many times have we done that in our lives?

That which is bitter to endure may be sweet to remember.
-Thomas Fuller

Think about it. It’s a hard road to take to get healthy and change your lifestyle when you are so far down you’ve hit rock bottom. When you get to the other side- the side of health and achieve your goal – it WILL be sweet to remember the journey and all of the lessons you have learned along the way.

Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going!
-Jillian Michaels

I had to throw in a quote from our favorite Biggest Loser trainer.

She has a point here.

Jillian has changed many lives, including her own. I don’t know if a lot of people realize she was an overweight teen herself and knows what it’s like to walk this journey. You know, the journey of the overweight or obese person. The journey that starts where you think you can’t do it and then you realize you can do it; then ends where you are where you want to be.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
-Beverly Sills

This is very true. There is no “magic pill”. There is no shortcut to get to where you want to go. If there were, it wouldn’t be worth going because you wouldn’t learn the lessons along the way. That’s the whole reason why you are on this trip!

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.
-Oprah Winfrey

Hard work is the key. Even Oprah knows this. Look at where this woman has been and where she is now. Perfect example of a woman wanting to achieve her dreams and DOING IT with hard work.

If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page.
-Mark Houlahan

Too many times we get caught up in the drama of our everyday lives. We lose sight of the reason why we are all here – to learn and grow. Every single day we all have the opportunity to write a new page in our life story. We have that control to have our story say what we want. What do you want your life story to say?

Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.
-John F. Kennedy

Among other things, I’m a HUGE John F. Kennedy fan. I think I have read hundreds of books about the man and his family. (It’s a little obsession I have.) With all of his failings – and he certainly had many – he achieved greatness in life and in death. This was because he dared to fail.

How many times have you dared to try something even if you knew you would likely fail?

I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.
-Marilyn Monroe

A friend of mine had this posted on their Facebook wall today. I love it. Think about it. When are you at your worst?

I know I’m at my worst at the gym, when I’m spent from working out. I’m at my worst when I’m tired. I’m at my worst when I’m stressed out.

I know I’m out of control and hard to handle sometimes too and we all make mistakes. But man, wouldn’t life be good if we were all built to be able to have Marilyn’s measurements? :)

Do you have a favorite weight loss quote that motivates you? Please share in the comments area below. It may just motivate me or another reader.

Edited to Add:
Every so often I get some cool comments on my YouTube channel and videos. Check this one out. Quite motivating! LOL

“You will find that you are already stronger in the lower body than most women because of your legs having to carry your extra weight all day long. You have a lot of muscle in your thighs and calves that is burning fat already. That leg hold/flutter kick at 1:48 is really good for abs if you keep your lower spine down to the bench and don’t let it arch up. Try to do a minute non stop. Get tough! Get motivated! Get sexy! You already have the pretty face to go with it! You gonna B a rockin babe!“

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