5 Tips for Creating New Habits

If you are anything like me it easy to speak my dream. In fact I dream big and I have always dreamed big dreams since I was a young girl. When I look back to when I was growing up I have consistently dreamed, I have consistently desired bigger things for myself, but I had never accomplished much. Why?!?! MY BAD HABITS!

A lot of bad habits created a lack of follow through on my dreams... fear, insecurity, doubt... they all drastically impacted the direction I was heading and how much I was actually DOING the things I wanted to do. These habits clearly made it difficult to have the confidence to pursue my dreams. As a result, my determination to accomplish big goals suffered.

I would say in the last year I have been able to teach myself new skills to rid myself of certain bad habits. Specifically, I had to learn how to disengage the fears, insecurities, and doubts I had developed as a young girl. Now a 20-something woman, I am teaching myself new habits as if I were a 4-year old girl preparing to entering my first year of school. When I disengaged my fears and no longer gave power to my insecurities, my determination rapidly increased. It has become somewhat of a snowball effect. The more I started accomplishing my dreams and goals, the more I wanted to get done. The more I saw what I could complete in one day, the earlier I wanted to get up. The more I saw what I was learning helping other people, the more I wanted to meet and interact with new people. It all came down to teaching myself new habits.

Here are 5 things that have helped me create new habits and have helped me find my determination-

1. Rule #1 is to find passion and desire in whatever it is you are about to do. If you don't LOVE something and if you aren't PASSIONATE about your goals/dreams... you aren't going to have fun at all! Find what you love doing... whatever you love doing is generally what you are good at. Your passion is usually rooted in those things.
2. Start with a POWER GOALS list! These are the biggest goals you have. From there, break your goals down in to 6 month long goals. What will you accomplish in 6 months? From those goals create smaller monthly goals. Each goal as you break down your list should ALWAYS link back in some way to your POWER GOAL. Finally, set smaller weekly and daily goals. Something as simple as sending 1 email to a company you want to be sponsored by or complete 4 days at the gym. Remember to link your daily goals back to your POWER GOALS.
3. Get up 15 minutes earlier for 1 week. From there, increase it to 30 minutes earlier. Getting up earlier in the day will allow you to accomplish more. Your brain and drive feeds off of getting more done. When you start to cross more off of your to-do list each day or when you are able to get the dishes done before you leave for work, you feel more accomplished. Use that time to pack your bags or lunch for the day. Get everything ready and by the door so you can head out for your day smoothly. The more accomplished you feel, the more that determination will follow you throughout the day.
4. Write it down!! I am a huge advocate for writing down dreams, goals, and plans! Get yourself a journal, write on the bathroom mirror with dry erase marker, put quotes at your work station! The more you see your goals and dreams looking back at you, the more reminders you will have as to what YOU WANT!
5. Go the extra mile for everyone and anything you do! One of my mentors tells me, "Under promise and over deliver!" When you are completing tasks with passion and desire, it fuels your own fire. I completely understand that there are things at work you just don't enjoy doing... there are people you don't like... but in an effort to develop new habits, SUCK IT UP! We are trying to develop new habits and in doing so, we have to practice on everyone we encounter!

It takes 21 days to create a new habit and I believe it. You won't be perfect the first time and WE ALL trip up at times, but give it 21 days! 21 days to see what is possible.
Question yourself...
What if I got to the gym 4 days out of the week for the next 3 weeks?
What if I started to meet new people that could potentially help me land my dream job?
What if I got up 30-60 minutes earlier each day and organized my home?
WHAT IF?!?! NOW DO!!!!
Be the productive, happy, self-loving person we all desire to be friends with! Why not you?! You have the power to become!

Stay Tuned

Just days away from WBFF LA Fitness and Fashion Weekend and I cannot wait to step on stage. My physique is coming in better than I expected and I am so excited to join the rest of the ladies on stage to celebrate our hard work over these past few months. It takes much dedication and sacrifice to get on stage and I cannot wait to celebrate all of the work that has been put in.

My goals for the day of competition is to enjoy every moment of it! I am really focused on have great stage presence so I can walk away with beautiful stage shots that will document yet another great moment in my fitness career. I look forward to sharing lots of pictures on social media, so don't forget to head over and like my Facebook Page and Instagram, @anna_lavonne.

I have been working on my post show goals so I have a plan stepping off stage. The day of competition is such a remarkable feeling and feeling of accomplishment. When I step off from stage I want to be able to use the momentum from competing to make significant progress in my career. I sat down and set goals for myself so I already have a plan when the lights go down on the WBFF stage.

I plan to expand my blogs in to a website and offer my followers more healthy recipes, information
on living a healthy lifestyle, and new tips and tools to help everyone accomplish their goals. I will be working on new, flavor filled recipes that are not only healthy, but nourish the body. I also plan to research more natural healing and natural food options. If you know of any helpful resources, I would love to hear from you.

in addition, I plan to research better options for purchasing whole and natural foods. I have found a couple local Farmer's Markets and I cannot wait to really dive in and see what they have to offers.

I am currently training locally at Xclusive's Fitness and I look forward to creating new workouts and routines for clients. I love giving back, sharing knowledge, and watching people change their lives. I look forward to working on the craft of fitness and lifestyle training.

Define Fitness

My physical goals are to gain more muscle and continue to build the body of my dreams. I plan on staying approximately 2 weeks out from being able to shoot in front of the camera. One of my goals this year is to become published. I feel like if I stay within 2 weeks out from out from being able to stand in front of camera, I will be reminding myself daily of my goal for publishing. Not to mention, I love setting the example and showing that a healthy, fit body is attainable while still enjoying treats and yummy food.

Health and wellness is my passion and I love to share that with everyone. My goal from here on out is to constantly learn and better my skills. I love sharing what I learn, my experiences, and helping people accomplish their health and wellness goals. I plan on putting in the work in the gym, the kitchen, and in my spiritual life so I can motivate others to become their best.

On several occasions I have asked if any one has any topics or questions they would like me to answer in blog posts or social. Please feel free to reach out to me, I love hearing from you all!

Wish me luck!!

The Countdown Begins

Just 12 weeks from the WBFF LA show on April 26th.
So many emotions, fears, and excitement take over right about this time. It is difficult not to get caught up in the competition or comparison with other athletes.  I think it is a trait we learn early on in our childhood and breaking the cycle becomes another task to add to the "self improvement" list. I also dont think one needs to compete to feel these overwhelming feelings, it's felt in all walks of life.
That said, I will get to the point of my post. With 12 weeks out from my next fitness bikini competition,  I will begin to post progress updates. My inspiration came from a Thank God it's Monday video by Eric Thomas. I took from that video the concept of, I GOT TO OR I GET TO. It hit home. Often I find myself becoming inconsistent with my effort because I put such a negative vibe on the work that needs to be put in to reach the top of the mountain.  Ill be very honest and say I've become inconsistent in how tediously I follow meal plans or how much I allow doubt to take over. No I am not adding cake or processed food in mass quantities, but I am adding extras. Extra half of a grapefruit, extra cashews, extra steak or chicken. To some it may sound like no big deal when you consider there are worse things. However, I realized how much I was only hurting myself by doing this. I needed to get a handle on it and develop a new mentality to break the cycle.
Now, it's I GET TO eat food that will make me feel better.... I GET TO drink all of my water to have glowing skin... I GET TO eat the coconut oil to have more energy during the day. When in started changing my mentality, it all started to feel more rewarding. It is applicable in the gym, also. I GET TO do this leg workout to have a great butt.... I GET TO do cardio and sprints to create a leaner physique...
I enjoy thinking... I GET TO prove my doubters wrong and I GET TO show people it is possible.  It is no secret, we all have people in our lives that would love to see us fail. They may not admit it, but there is always a doubter (I hate the word hater) lingering. There is always someone that doesn't want to see you go as far as you dream of. Tell yourself I GET TO PROVE THEM WRONG!
Have you ever thought of what is truly holding you back? Maybe it is inconsistency or lack of confidence in what you can accomplish.  I know now that I GET to do things that will make me more competitive on stage or competitive in life. I have the opportunity to set the example, pursue a healthy life, and I GET TO work hard for the things I have always dreamed of. Bigger.... better... things!
There are no limits in life and it's easy to say, but believing it's possible is the hardest part. We see things with blinders on and we become stuck in our own negative thoughts. See past your doubt and fears... I GET TO work towards being and having a better life!!

Here is my progress from August 2012 to August 2013 and the final picture (on the right) from today! I feel stronger and much more confident about the body I am creating.