Write Away!

Don't panic over what I'm about to tell you: You have some writing homework. Now, I'm not sending you back to fifth grade with this one, but I do want you to get comfortable putting your thoughts and emotions on paper. You may be skeptical about this, but journaling on a regular basis will play a key role in helping you meet your weight loss goals.

Let me explain. Your journal is a place for you to write everything down, to see it in front of you, and to work through your problems and toward your goals. Without a journal, it's too easy to avoid your hang-ups and stay in neutral.

Writing about your goals will also help you think them through: Do you want to be healthy, confident, physically and mentally strong? Are there clothes you want to wear that you can't now? Do you want to see and feel yourself in your ultimate body, living a new life, playing with your kids, going on a date, getting compliments from friends or coworkers? Whatever your ultimate goals, physical and emotional, write them down in as much detail as you can, and refer back to them often. They will help you stay motivated on your journey.

If you have easy access to your computer every day, take advantage of the online Fitness Diary — commit for one week to recording an entry a day in your diary. It's easy — do it when you log in to get your daily workout, or use it to organize your thoughts before you hop on the Boards. And it's a great place to record what's going on with you where food is concerned, too!

For those times that you aren't in front of you computer, choose anything from a simple lined notebook or a leather-bound blank diary. Besides writing down how you feel, you can include photos of yourself to chart your progress, pictures of clothes you'd like to wear, new recipes you'd like to try, and more. The sky's the limit! The most important thing is to find a journal that suits you. Go to: www.jillianmichaels.com for more information.

JILLIAN'S TIP OF THE DAY
This Week's Challenge: Clear Your Mind

A mantra is a word or phrase that you repeat while you meditate. Often mantras are inspirational or have a special meaning to you. To get you started, I'm going to suggest a new mantra each day this week (but feel free to use your own instead). Today, your mantra is

"Let go" — a simple phrase that will inspire you to let go of all the negative thoughts and patterns that are getting in the way of your success.