What motivates you?

I often get asked from family and friends how I motivate myself to go to the gym or eat well. As everybody else I have my up and downs but working out is a part of my life! I need it to be happy and balanced. Eating clean just makes me feel better that is why I do it. But here are some more reasons why I do what I do and what keeps me going even if I don't feel like it:

1. In 2012 my dad passed away. He had diabetes. It started with his eyes and at the end his organs just gave up. I will never forget my mums voice on the phone. It was the worst day of my life.  There are so many things I would love to share with him. He was supposed to walk me down the aisle (he passed away eight months before my wedding), he was supposed to travel to Canada for the very first time, he was supposed to become a grandpa and enjoy his retirement... Diabetes is in our family and after my dad passed away I swore myself that I will do whatever I can do to stay healthy and fit.
2. Growing up I was bullied. I started my puberty at the age of 9! I was 11 years young when I had my period and I already was 5'2. I started wearing bras but kids in school made fun of me because I started having boobs and armpit hair. I did rhythmic gymnastics and trained a lot but wasn't allowed to compete anymore because my trainer found that I didn't fit in the group picture anymore (all the other girls were tall, skinny and flat). Because of that I started to think that something must be wrong with me, that I am ugly and fat. With working out I started to like myself. I see now how strong my body is, what I can do with it and for that I love it. I am still not totally ok but it is a work in progress :-).
3. I love challenging myself and lifting weights pushes me. I love how I feel after a good workout and I love to see the transformation in my body. 
4. I want to prove everybody that told me it wasn't possible to do that they were wrong! I have especially one lady in mind that tells me that every single time I see her and she always puts my effort down.
5. I want to rock a pair of hot pants :-). I never liked my legs so I never wore hot pants out in public. I swore myself that I want to rock a pair of hot pants before I am 30 years old :-).

What motivates you? 

Work HARD, dream BIG!!!