Top 5 | Best Downtown Toronto Groupon Fitness Deals (Right Now)

This is for all you fitness fanatics who hate to pay full price to workout!

I am addicted to Groupon. And, since I am not so addicted to getting my workout on, sweet fitness deals certainly help me get (and stay) motivated.

Enter Groupon's January 2016 deals (as of January 7, 2016 - please don't hate me if these deals expire before you read this!!). Read on for 5 amazing deals that made my jaw drop (and had me pulling out my credit card lol).

Weekday Inspiration | Sunshine Mentality

I am not a morning person. For this reason, getting back to work this week has been especially difficult for me. After two weeks of hedonistic sleep patterns, my internal clock was not prepared for regular bedtimes and wake up calls.

However, when your morning view involves pinks, purples and oranges backdropped against the CN Tower, waking up early certainly seems like a small price.

Click through to see my view (once I stopped hitting snooze):

Top 5 | Resolutions 2016

Hi you guys!!!

I feel awful for such a long hiatus. The holidays snuck up on me, bringing with them a whirlwind of friends, family, travel, (much needed) sleep and, of course, a healthy dose of partying. But new year, new me, new blog...promise!

I've been known to make quite a few aggressive goals/resolutions in the past. 2016 is no different. However, this time, I'm breaking the year into mini steps, taking a moment at the beginning of each month to reflect on what's important to me.

Click the link to see the 5 key questions I asked myself on January 1:

Weekday Inspiration | Attitude of Gratitude

I write this to you with head hung low and tail between my proverbial tail, the true picture of apologetic. I'm sorry for a lapse in posting. I am visiting family and filling my days with toy cars, pizza, snow and bouncy balls - and avoiding screens at all costs - ahhhhh, bliss!

I promise there is a gift in here somewhere, read on for your reward!

Top 5 | Websites for Interviews

I think I've mentioned before how much I love interviews, especially with random, not-so-famous people. The more relatable the better, in my opinion! The internet has become an amazing place to find tete-a-tete convos on an array of topics and, for your reading pleasure, I've made a first pass at my top five sites to read interviews on. (Disclaimer: this list is ever-evolving and subject to change!)

Click on to read my list ranked from good to great!

Weekday Inspiration | Blue Steel

Rock it, rocket.

Humpday Post | Habits

It feels like a constant struggle to cultivate great habits.

I'm a lover of big, hairy, audacious goals, and tend to set them often. What I frequently overlook is the habit side of it - the 'how', so to speak, of achieving these ambitious goals. And, if there's on thing I've learned about achieving (or failing to achieve) goals it is this: behavior is key!

Take my fitness BHAG: work out for a minimum of 30 minutes, 4 times a week. It is completely achievable, and requires just two hours of my time a week. Easy, right? Wrong!! Instead, my mind has turned the act of hitting the gym, or my yoga mat, or jumping on my bike for a ride into this giant feat. A million excuses are constantly at the door, begging to be let in:

"I can't wake up early, I'm too tired and deserve to sleep in."
"I can't work out tonight, I've already made plans with friends."
"Today has been so stressful, I'm going to skip the gym, curl up with a glass of red and order Wilbur instead."
"It's too cold outside, I'm hibernating for the rest of the day."
"I can't work out Saturday morning, I'll be too hungover."**

The best thing about all of these excuses is how telling they are about my real habits: socializing, staying in, getting take out, drinking. So, before we enter the craziness of the holiday season, I'm taking a step back and evaluating how my existing habits can be tweaked and merged with the habits I need to cultivate in order to achieve my BHAGs.

I love socializing! The question, now, is how can I socialize AND fit a workout in?
Stress sucks! But, by forcing myself to get active, I'm busting any lingering negativity of my stressful day, and tiring myself out for a good night's sleep.
The cold is so demotivating! Lucky for me, there are a million and one amazing Youtube videos of workouts. Oh yeah, and I have an in-building gym - hellloooooooo, earth to Amye!!!!

What trips you up on your path to a better you? How do you combat lack of motivation, or diverging priorities?

**And the hungover excuse is actually a valid one for me. Never again will I hungoverly hit a 10:30am weight lifting class on Sunday, only to be nauseous all hour and drop weights on my toes - ouch!