Help with healthy choices

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walgreens.
All opinions are mine alone. #BalanceRewards #CollectiveBias

This past year, I've dramatically changed my life around by making healthy choices, setting health goals, and dropping almost fifty pounds. Below are a few tips on how I've done it {and will continue to keep it up!}.

Besides determination and will power, I have a few things I turn to for healthy boosts...including a great phone {and desktop} app from Walgreens which helps me earn points {and then I can spend them} by making deliberate healthy choices and tracking them. You can also download the I Can and I Will free printable {for EXTRA inspiration} below>>>

So yeah...this is what {almost} fifty pounds gone looks like. I can hardly look at that first photo without cringing. I was miserable. Miserable. And now...while I'm certainly not to my final goal {and still have quite a ways to go}, I already feel INCREDIBLE! Like, really. And it's kind of cool being a *normal* shape again...as in my stomach doesn't pooch out further than my chest. Ummmm...yeah. Buh-bye, spare tire! It's been quite the journey, but below are a few of the things I've done to make it really work for me...both with losing the weight and weight management.

I've drastically changed my diet and really think about everything I put into my mouth. But, I'm not going to lie, the first few months of this, I didn't work out nearly as much as I should have. I was not consistent and I knew it was the reason the weight wasn't coming off very fast. So, back in the spring time, I added walking/running six days a week. While I only run about 30% of the time, I'm still doing it...and working up to make that percentage even bigger. Pictured above, this is *my* road. I've laid claim to it and it is the best place for me to run in peace every day. It is a brand new road that is mostly complete, but it won't open up until 2015 when the other side of it is finished {not ready to think about when that happens!}. I can hammer out three miles going back and forth on this stretch of road about three times. I use several apps that help me tremendously while on the road and when I finish up my exercise.

Before I knew I this program could motivate me even further with my healthy choices, I was already using Walgreen's Balance Rewards program. I love earning points in various ways..and I love spending them in the store even more! You can tell from the above desktop screen shot, I'm almost up to ten bucks right now...cha-ching!

But, not only is there a desktop version, I have the phone app, too! Besides earning Balance Rewards, I also use the app to scan and refill my prescriptions in like, five seconds. But, back to those Balance Rewards...I can earn them for all of my workouts and daily steps I take! For reals, check it out below>>>

Within the {FREE} phone app, the BR for healthy choices is available in the bottom right of the screen. I can add my daily miles {seen above as steps} along with lots of other things that I can earn points for {I usually do my weight, too...but didn't for this screenshot...I love you all so much, but you can understand why I wouldn't broadcast those digits}.  I can also set goals for myself at the bottom of the screen and the app tracks, percentage wise, how far along in that goal I am. It's a huge boost to see that percentage increase every day.

I also love that I can connect this app with my Map My Fitness app, too {I use the Map My Run version...be sure to find me on there if you use it, too}. Being able to connect these apps really helps keep me accountable for my stats.

I can then cash in my Balance Rewards for items that I use for my healthy choices. My top three? SmartWater, NexCare Blister Bandages {lifesavers if you run} and hair ties to keep my crazy head of hair in place while I'm exercising. And I earn even more Balance Rewards on those items, too. It's like clipping coupons without any work {well, okay, running a few miles is work...but I'll take that over coupon clipping any day}.

And just for a little bit of extra motivation, feel free to download my simple inspirational printable below>>>

Neglect your chores like me and don't miss a thing:

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