A quick poll: Who has the sexier body? The lean and strong-looking Maria Sharapova or the waif-thin Paris Hilton? Clearly, I think the former.
As an active person (and amateur triathlete), I get inspired by other fit, athletic people. Their prowess (and toned muscles) motivate me to be my best. Every day, I'm careful to select models and cover stars (like Anne Hathaway, Liv Tyler and Jennifer Garner) who reflect an active, healthy lifestyle.
Just this month we began interviewing our models about how they maintain their SELFy habits, and we're sharing some of the answers with readers in our July issue. (We've always insisted on healthy cover stars and do our best to provide inspiring pictures inside. In other words, no Mugshot Mollies need apply!) Surrounding myself with inspiring images — I even look to sports-clothing catalogs (my fave is Athleta) and Triathlete magazine — reminds me that strong is beautiful.
Need some motivation magic of your own? Check out the abs-travaganza of sexy celebrity stomachs (both men and women) at SELF.com.
A few other tricks:
• Visualize your own success at the gym. It could help you stick with your workout program. When exercisers pictured flattering versions of themselves making progress, 91 percent were encouraged to keep moving, research from the University of Bath in England finds.
• Count down to your goal when strength training. Begin with the number of reps you're aiming for and count down to zero rather than starting at one. You instantly know how close you are to finishing and you're less likely to quit a tough set early when you're nearer to 0 than to 12.
When you're done, you'll be the inspiring one. Hello, eye candy!
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