Will You Be Your Own Cheerleader This Year?

[SparkPeople.com::The Weekly Spark]( When I was a kid, I had a box in my closet filled to the brim with a hodgepodge of Post-Its and random pieces of paper, each containing marvelous, hilarious or genius quotes I'd encountered. See, as someone who was regularly called out in class for reading, words were my obsession. I'd grab the nearest scrap of paper or napkin, write it down and pop it in the box for Future Alicia to enjoy. Yesterday, I saw a quote that I'd add to that box if I could ever find it in my parent's basement: "Consistency is harder when no one is clapping for you; you must clap for yourself during those times. You should always be your biggest fan." No matter how many supporters you have pushing you toward the finish line and assuring you that no, you really don't look that gross after your sweaty spin class, there will always be times of doubt, times where you feel alone and people who threaten to disrupt your progress. In those times, you are your most important cheerleader. You are the person who is going to pull yourself up by your tank top and say, "Let's get this done." You are the one who must smile at the peer pressure and politely decline a second slice of cake. And you can do it. We know you can do it. When the skeptics threaten to derail your goals, remember that you [set this goal to make you happier in the end]( and you do not need their approval to pursue it and find joy. If a bully says something discouraging, throw a smile on your face, [grab your trusty gym bag]( and let your actions speak on your behalf. I encourage you to dig into the proverbial box of quotes this week, [find your own personal mantra]( to and get after what you set out to do no matter what gets in your way. [Alicia]( Alicia Capetillo Editor-in-Chief SparkPeople [Too Much of a Good Thing?]( There is nothing quite like finding a food you love, realizing it's, like, really good for you, finding recipes that allow you to incorporate it into several meals a day…only to have registered dietitian Toby Amidor tell you that you're overindulging. Yes, even some of the world's healthiest foods need to be enjoyed in moderation sometimes, thanks to high calorie counts that can throw your entire day of mindful eating off balance. Read on to find out if you've been unintentionally sabotaging your daily diet and, please, don't shoot the messenger. [+ Read More]( [The Dreaded Plateau]( You're in. The. Zone. Workouts? Crushing them. Healthy eating? It feels like you practically invented meal planning. And then it happens—the scale stops moving. You panic. Why is this happening? Before you let a plateau get in your way of success, know that they happen to everyone and they don't necessarily mean that you're at the end of your journey. Chances are, one of these three common weight-loss hurdles are getting in your way. Discover how you can mix up your routine and get right back on track the right way. [+ Read More]( [The Pursuit of Happiness]( Let's be clear: The phrase is "New Year, New You," not "New Year, Skinnier You." While many resolutions set at the start of a new year focus on the idea of dropping pounds, there is a lot to be said for goals that lead to a better quality of life. Between deadlines, increasingly depressing news stories and demands on your time, we seem more and more likely to put our own happiness on the back burner. Change that this year by adopting one of these nine resolutions that has happiness at its core. Plus, committing to work on your overall contentment actually puts you in a better position to stick to a healthier lifestyle. What are you waiting for? [+ Read More]( [Confession: We're Gym Bag Addicts]( You can keep your Louis Vuitton—we're all about functional and stylish gym bags that can seamlessly go from work to workout. Whether you pound the pavement during your lunch our or hit the yoga studio post-work, the right gym bag is essential for transporting your gear and keeping the holy trinity (phone/keys/wallet) where you can find them. No matter if you need yoga straps, extra water bottle storage, laptop pockets or a separate compartment for your stinky shoes, we're sure one of these 10 bags is going to become your new best friend. [+ Read More]( [Have You Heard the News?]( [80 Pounds Down]( ["Better Sore Than Sorry"]( GET OUR BEST: [Like on Facebook]( on Pinterest]( on Instagram]( SparkPeople Apps]( your Food]( [Redeem Your SparkPoints]( [Unsubscribe]( © 2018 SparkPeople, Inc. All rights reserved. [Terms]( | [Privacy]( | [Manage Emails]( 310 Culvert St., Suite 301, Cincinnati, OH 45202