"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." -Vince Lombardi

Well its Thursday, December 29th  and 2011 is almost over and I am happy about it. Not necessarily happy in that sense, meaning not in terms of that emotion, but happy to start a new year. 2011 was a roller coaster of emotions and lessons learned. One of the most powerful lessons was about not trying to be perfect or trying to get everything right. I thought about this b/c I created this workout group for my sorority sisters on facebook and someone posted that they (in short) kinda OD'd on chocolate and they were feeling guilty about it and she said:

"Yall ever have days when you do wrong and you know it before you do it? Most of the regular posters in this group probably don't because you guys are so focused."

What a beautiful teachable moment! A gang of us jumped on the post to say we ALL have those times! The list of people included two of us who have been featured in national fitness magazines (Go Soror Mimi), a Soror who just did a marathon, another soror who has dropped to a size 4, another who just celebrated hitting her weight loss goal, and I added that I started the group and I have those days so we all can relate!

I found this quote and it spoke to me:

"Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." -Vince Lombardi

No one is perfect, life sure ain't and maybe its just where I am now but damn it life is too short to stress yourself out with trying to be perfect or beating yourself up b/c you are not prefect.

That doesn't mean the answer is to throw in the proverbial towel and not set goals or try to improve on your/my health and fitness goals or any other goals you/I may have but I think for me, I am putting this journey into its proper perspective for a change.

I want to feel better, look better, and treat myself better.

That doesn't reduce down to a number on the scale or a dress size. Nor does it mean I HAVE to workout x amount of days a week.

I will set goals and move towards a more holistic approach to this journey by just treating myself better meaning more sleep, less likka (sniff), more massages, less stress, more planning, less impromptu unhealthy choices.

My cousins came from Jamaica this week and my treadmill was broken well the button you use to lift it up and down came off so its been out of commission for really a year and it was a life save 2 years ago when the weather was so bad I couldn't get out the house to exercise! I would just watch 1 hour of Law & Order and clocked in a workout. So I am going back to basics and will use my treadmill to make sure I will get in at least 30 minutes of exercise more days than not.  

FYI I am very sore from this week's workouts and I will push ahead into the new year! I set one goal so far 37 pounds by my 37th birthday but my trainer asked me about my more immediate goals. So I/we set a 10 pound weight loss goal by Valentine's Day.

Needless to say (since I havent shared it lol) I need to work on my 2012 Vision Board. Its sure been a busy period so I haven't had time to give it the energy it deserves but it was fun to look back at a few! I posted them below! I hope a few of your try to do one of the new year and are willing to share them!

Need a Towel?

Well its the day after Christmas and all is well! The visit with Mom is going amazingly well and I am feeling good! I must confess, like most of America during the holidays, the scale is up :-(  I know why so no need to lament over it. 


On the positive side I have been hitting the gym! I went for a Christmas eve workout and today for a post Christmas day workout! I WISH  I could take the credit however my personal trainer is the angel on my shoulder or the angel in my blackberry telling me to come work out. He is so... invaluable! There  is something to be said for pursuing your passion. He clearly has a heart to help others with health and fitness even today afterwards he texted me to say good job. Its the little things that mean so much to me along this journey.


But for the jokes b/c you KNOW I got 'em! Charles did one of his signature Chizel It classes today. So it was a combo of cardio and strength training. We set up two steps in the shape of an L and went to work! We added bicep curls, chest presses, rows, etc. all while stepping up and down on the steps... yes both steps! So we would go on the step in front of us then turn to the left and go up and down on the step to our left and back in front! Then to mix it up we would do squats and when we got "bored" lol we'd do 32 jumping jacks to mix it up! I felt in my zone to quote Jay Z & Kayne so I was going hard with the jumping jacks which I typically don't do. I usually do some form of a modification but I busted all 4 sets out and Charles had to stop and say "I see you pumped up today! That's right break free..Break free with exercise!" 


That struck me because I have had a lot of things going on in terms of death. I mentioned last post and after that our family cat CJ died on Christmas eve :-( She was almost 17 years old so we knew it was time that's almost 109 years in human years but it didn't make it any less sad. I am tearing up just thinking about seeing her. I must say I have been very sheltered from death to be 36 years old. I know people who have lost many family members and friends and I doubt it is any easier for them but I feel like I am so ill prepared to deal with death.


I have been feeling very sad lately and Charles's words really hit home because I can't let the death around me stop me from living my best life. Exercise and journaling have been life savers for me. That was a good reminder for me today... There are undeniable benefits to both for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. So I am grateful that Charles is such an encouraging and caring person b/c I needed all of that today! 


But enough of that...*exhaling* 


The workout....


I. Was. Struggling. I can't lie! At a point I felt sweat drop from my ear! Charles started to say something to me during class and I yelled "I AM SWEATING FROM MY EAR!" To which he replied "Oh! You need a towel?" 

*Falling out* LOL all I could say was "Yes please" lol a few minutes later he came back and said "That's a new one! Here you go!"  LOL


Ahhh gotta love him!!!


All in all a good workout! 


Afterwards I had a meeting downtown regarding my new role in the Junior League! I am chairing the Wise Penny Internship and Mentoring Program. That was my first placement so it is near and dear to me because it is a DIRECT form of community service. I truly enjoyed it when I served as a mentor. The intern I mentored went on to get a full time retail job which turned into a management position 6 months later, she lost weight, and got her own car. A real success story from being on public assistance and working part time! So I am excited about chairing the committee and working with a new group of women! 


Needless to say that's an added responsibility and another potential  distraction from my health and fitness routine BUT the benefits will out weigh the cost. Its going to be all about time management.  I really have no excuse there is a Lynne Bricks gym on the corner so anytime I have meeting I could squeeze in a workout either before or after! The impact of this program is far reaching; it helps the women, their children, and the community. Its a great example of the saying if you want to feed a man for a day you can give him a fish, but you want to feed him for a lifetime teach him to fish. They learn about resumes, customer service, budgeting, and basic life and professionalism skills to change their lives. 


It doesn't get better than that. 


Well anyhoo tomorrow I have another workout planned with Charles. I am looking forward to it. Even though the scale is up no need to compound the food problem with not exercising.  :-)
Plus the exercise is a natural mood enhancer! 


On the dating front I am starting 2012 with a clean slate well that was/is the plan but I spoke with Beres fan and he got me something for Christmas. Humm that makes one of us...Mean Girl...lol . I told him he didn't have to but whatever. I don't want to go into 2012 with any anger or animosity. Life is too short. I am not mad at him... really... I think it has been helpful to see some of my typical dating behaviors done to me... lol... and that's all I say about that. I am bossy and like to have things just so and just so is usually defined as my way. And well there has been a moment of clarity for me. I got the new Drake CD and there is a song on there that says something like "We just need something different." That's poetic to me. I don't think he's a bad person and I know I aint... I'm bossy but not bad... but I think we both just need something different and that's ok! While watching the movie The Adjustment Bureau made me really think about that idea of when two people are inexplicable drawn to each other but they just can't seem to get it right... but only time will tell....another friend wants to hook me up with someone from law school I asked her to wait until the new year... so again time will tell!


I've said it before, my journey has been about going from theory to practice. Its so easy to read something and said Ah ha! I got it but really until God puts you in a position to work things out in the real world you really don't got it lol that's been my biggest lesson in 2011.  


I started reading a new book called The Seat of the Soul. Its very timely and its been an interesting read thus far about life, the ego, your personality, and your spirit. A girlfriend of mine bought it for me for Christmas and we meet for Christmas eve dinner and she gave me the book, some nice perfume, and the sweetest card thanking me for being a wonderful friend and she wished me "happiness, success, and blessings." That made me think of this mantra below (by the way I found these awesome towels on a site called Words to Sweat By)

My theme (b/c I don't do resolutions) for 2012 is Celebrate Life and being Healthy, Strong, Happy, Successful, & Blessed is a great definition for my theme don't you think?! I really want to work on using mantras and daily affirmations in 2012. They are so important! 


I woke up to the movie EAT PRAY LOVE and the scene when Richard from Texas is telling the main character 


 "You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.”


My friend and I have had this discussion several times because the mind is so powerful. She also thanked me for all the advice I'd given her. It made me feel good to be appreciated and it made me think of the special people in my life I've been giving more love to..not to get anything in return but just to be appreciative of them but it was nice to feel the same in return! 


So if you want to give more love to a gym rat you know and love and want to encourage we always need towels so check out the towels below!  They'll make a great gift!! :-) 

Till next time peeps!! :-) Thanks as always for the emails and text messages!!! 

Black Girls Rock...Climb!

Its been a hectic and heart breaking two weeks BUT in an effort to take a break from all that's been going on I said let me check in and give my review of my rock climbing adventure! I been slacking on blogging and journaling and when things are going on that's when you actually need to take time to work through things and journaling is a good way for me to do that! So here goes! 

As you may recall at the end of last year I had a few things on my fitness To Do List! They were Birkam/Hot yoga, Krav Maga, rock climbing, white water rafting, and becoming a certified fitness instructor! I did finally get to Hot Yoga and Krav Maga. Both of which I enjoyed greatly! The Fall got very busy with my full time job and the many job offers I received to be an adjunct professor so my schedule was very hectic and I stopped both...for now.

The other three left were white water rafting(which I won a free trip to in Deep Creek at a Fundraising event! Stay tuned Spring 2012!), rock climbing, and becoming a certified fitness instructor! Well lo' & behold someone remembered me saying that I wanted to try rock climbing and there was a groupon for the intro class at Earth Treks  which is an indoor rock climbing center! Sweet! I jumped on it and I found two other people to go with me and boy was that an adventure!

Firstly, I will say rock climbing is more mental than it is physical. I was really concerned that I would not be able to do the climb because I do not have a lot of upper body strength. I can leg press close to 400 lbs but in terms of my upper body I am still working with 30 pounds weights on the machines and 15-20 pound hand weights when I workout with my personal trainer Charles! But thankfully one of the first things our instructor said was "Anyone can rock climb as long as you can walk up stairs!" He explained the movement actually comes from the legs not the arms. So that was a relief. Kinda....

The WALL

The tricky thing is the walls are TALL... See exhibit A above! The walls were as TALL as they look in this picture! LOL I do not have a fear of heights BUT even I took a pause for the cause when it came to looking up at a 44 foot wall that I was expected to climb with only some rope holding me up!  But I did it!

The hardest part for me was rock climbing requires too much concentration to just get ready to climb the wall. You have to learn how to tie several knots and of course you would want to get that right in order to...not fall to your death! You also have to learn terms in order to do this safely! For example:

Belay off -Called by belayer to confirm belay has been removed from climbing rope. Response to Belay off request.

Belay on -Called by belayer to confirm belay has been (re)applied to climbing rope. Response to Belay on request.

Yeah uh huh?!

But the knots. The worst part for me. The first knot is called the Figure Eight Knot  and it was hard to learn! It really requires patience and paying close attention! But seeing as how I am Chatty Cathy I spent a good bit of time begging my friends to remind me how to do the knots over and over LOL

But I made it!

I made it!



I will certainly say it was hard and I didn't look down not even once! This activity requires a lot of trust because your partner is on the ground basically as your safety net. They help you get up by keeping the rope tight and help you get down by making sure you fall down at a safe pace.

The rocks on the wall are not evenly distributed and they are not the same size so that also creates some anxiety as you try to move upward. Now of course for an outdoor rock climber that is what you need and want to prepare you to climb Mount Kilimanjaro because that's how it would be in the real world so to speak.

All in all rock climbing is not for me. I don't do death defying things. I don't have that inner thirst for that kind of rush. I like the ground. I like my bones in good condition and honestly I may just be too ADD to appreciate it. I do however have profound respect for rock climbers. That isn't easy but I guess like any other challenge if it was easy everybody would do it! ;-)

Other random observations:

(1) My friends and I were the only Black people in the center...so that was three outta 30-40 people who were in and out including employees. Well..that's a lie... until a Black man came in with his son who was clearly biracial. Hummm can I make that assumption? Humm in Columbia, Maryland?! Why yes I certainly can (lol) he looked shocked to see three black women there so I guess it was a good day to break stereotypes all around!

(2) Kids are fearless! There were babies there! Okay maybe not babies but they were little and short (maybe 5 years old?) and those suckers were tying knots and scaling walls like Spider man! I was in awe! I guess there is something to be said for starting something this crazy so young...before your good sense kicks in and says you have too much to lose to climb up the equivalent of a 3 story building lol

(3) Its not "fun" in that sense of the word. Well at least not the way I define fun.  Its challenging. I think Body Combat, Spinning, Socarobics, and other aerobic activity is actually fun so I enjoy it. Rock climbing...not so much... My hands got sore, my mind had to focus way too much for my taste on a Saturday morning, and the equipment is smelly. Yeah I said it! LOL On the flip side I can see how an adrenaline junkie would love the challenge and the idea of risking their life for the rush of ascending a wall or mountain if only for the bragging rights alone. I get that. *slow wink* Rock climbing isn't for everybody but I think its a great way to try something new and check it off your bucket list if you really feel like you've done it all. It is cool to do something other people can't or won't even attempt. The "Ohhs and ahhhs" and "WOW you did that?!" can be addictive. And this is not to say I would never go again but I didn't leave there with a monthly membership either. LOL

Ultimately I think most people learn that you are your own best competition. A lot of people have told me I am competitive and I laugh because I am but its so not about anyone else its about how to I top Cylia from last year, week, or hell last night! That heffa be on it! So surpassing old Cylia is my goal in every area of my life. That's what makes my heart pump! So new Cylia may see the benefit of doing it again maybe to go on a higher or more challenging route but I doubt it! *Kayne shrug*

I am a Gym Jones fan and the creator/innovator Mark Twight is a mountain climber and I see his insanity in a whole new light now.

Well a quick tale from the scale I will not make my goal of 19 L.Bs by New Years Eve! This 2011 was "My Best Life Ever!" and I been playing with this 10-15 pound free space and 2012 I need to be back to goal. As of my last weigh in at Weight Watchers two weeks ago that is 26.6 pounds and I want to reach my Weight Watchers goal weight which is 8 pounds less which is 34.6 pounds total. 

I saw someone else set a goal that was equivalent to their upcoming birthday which was their deadline, so I said I would adopt that too so the new goal is "37 by 37!" Which will be in June! I have already begun to plan a birthday celebration in Puerto Ricoooo --Hoooo!! :-)

I am excited about 2012 even though 2011 is ending on a depressing note due to two untimely deaths of sorority sisters of mine. Both were very unexpected and sudden. I don't know if there is a perfect way for any of us to go and like the Pastor said on Saturday at the funeral "Life is ALWAYS too short!"

I agree...one Soror was 62 and the other 32 and I agree both are gone way too soon. It just reinforces for me the importance of being grateful and taking time to celebrate life and that is my theme for 2012 "Celebrate Life"  I will joyfully retire 2011 "My Best Life Ever" and 2011 was just that. I set an intention to do a lot of things and experience some new adventures and expand my mind, body, and soul and I can say without a doubt I did that and I feel great about it. So 2012 I will celebrate that new life I have created and continue to enhance!

My goal will be to check in before New Year but in case I don't have blessed holiday season!!

Bookcamp Week 4 ~ "Protect This House: I WILL"

Well its Week 4 of Bookcamp! It's getting hectic yall! This video (I hope you watched it) has been my daily affirmation to keep me on track. Truth be told what you take in to live a happy & healthy life has wayyy more to do with what you take in mentally than physically. I love this video and all its Girl Power and awesome attitude of I am woman hear me roar, watch me run, lift weights, and sweat! I really love the video because my trainer makes me do some of these same drills! I know right?! A majority which I told him I can't do and he would keep encouraging me to try it before I told him what I could and could not do.

Look at that stuff though! Who does that? I mean seriously why are we jumping on weight benches?! Running sideways over hurdles!? Doing suicides!? One handed push up on medicine balls? Again who does that!? Well apparently the kick azz US Women's Soccer teams & skier Lindesy Vonn does! Oh and me :-) I do that! *popping my collar*

Under Armour (Go Terps!) has an amazing campaign with this concept of "Protect This House" it reminds me of the biblical saying the body is a temple. Needless to say you need to govern yourself accordingly! Eating right, working out, thinking good thoughts, and giving back to those in need are all ways I've realized to "Protect This House" spiritually, mentally, & physically!

I am so proud of myself; I made it to Bootcamp this morning! I was really debating skipping it because of the event tonight but I got up and pushed my way through! When you have a full time job, work a part time job to the tune of teaching 4 college level classes three nights week, have a 3 hour daily commute, are active in a handful of service and professional organizations, have dear friends in the hospital you have to visit, try to date and find a mate, and still try and keep your healthy lifestyle a priority it can be a bit much!  So I am really glad I got up and made it to the gym at 5:30am in spite of everything I have going on because skipping two days in a  row has been a slippery slope for me so this Thursday morning workout is a good way to keep me focused!

I am already down 4 pounds according to my scale! I will see whats what on Saturday morning at WW but I feel good about my consistency.

I will confess I have been struggling with my food! Tuesday ended on a bad note -read Taco Bell- I don't know for sure but that concept of "4th meal" must be for people with stomachs of steel and not mere mortals like myself! I got sooooo sick!!! Ewwww!

I am still journaling and that's key to keeping me from going too far overboard. But as always it shows me how I gain weight so quickly!  But for the exercising, I would have gone over in my points every dang gone day and I am not eating out big meals or anything crazy its just calories really add up quickly. Here's an example:

Fage yogurt- 3
1/2 cup fresh blueberries 0
apple -0
Jiffy Peanut butter to go -7
Stoffers lasagna- 7
grapes 1 cup-0
cheddar cheese - 3
chicken salad on martin mini roll -8
lettuce-0
ok.... McDonald's caramel sundae 10 FREAKING POINTS

TOTAL 38 POINTS I get 32 over my quota that quick... I worked out this day so I earned 10 points but still! Again I am not prefect it just shows me why tracking everything is important so you know what you are doing calorie wise.

As the saying goes "Bite it, write it. Sip it, Script it!" so I am taking all this information down and will work on improving it!

As I go throughout my day I can hear myself humming the Under Armour song :
 "I will, I will, I will... Protect this House! I will!"

So its December 1st already and my Trainer is doing a 21 Day Get Fit Challenge!  I am committing to three 21 days goals 1) Exercising 4 times a week for at least 1 hour 2) Journaling my diet daily 3) Doing daily affirmations

So the question is.....

"Are you gonna let them beat you?

Or are you going to Protect This House!"

June 2008- Nov 2011
I WILL!!! PROTECT THIS HOUSE!

Countdown!

Well it is November 29th! In a little over a month 2012 will come a knocking! Or rather come a' kicking in the door! I had a goal of 19 l.bs by New Years Eve!  I dunno yall lol 5 weeks which I guess is not that bad a 3.8 pound per week loss! If I keep it tight its doable! Totally!

Countdown!

Thinking positive! I'mma make it happen or darn near it!

Well my workouts have been on point! I feel really good about getting back on track! As a quick review


Saturday- Spinning class 60 minutes
Sunday- Body Pump & Body Combat  120 minutes
Monday- Personal Training with Charles  60 minutes

Good stuff!

I was struggling with my eating this weekend! The extra exercise really causes me to get hungry! It is not just in my head! As this article says:

The basic problem is that while it's true that exercise burns calories and that you must burn calories to lose weight, exercise has another effect: it can stimulate hunger. That causes us to eat more, which in turn can negate the weight-loss benefits we just accrued. Exercise, in other words, isn't necessarily helping us lose weight. It may even be making it harder.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1914974,00.html#ixzz1f6yHsXtV

What a dilemma! You exercise to lose weight but it makes you hungry! So I been dealing with that! On Sunday it was bad I went over by 26 points *gulp* and Monday by 10 points! Sunday I worked out harddd for 2 hours so I came home reallllly hungry! I can confess I had a McDonald's caramel sundae which is now 10 points, then I had some wine, a bag of kettle corn which is 7 points, and peanut butter also 7 points! *BOOM* 26 extra points!  Granted I earned 32 points exercising! But if I am really on it, I need to not touch those! All those points are basically like having a Big Mac! :-(  But that is the beauty of Weight Watchers I earned the points therefore if I need them they are there! So better to use them having exercised than just over eating with no activity points in the bank! *Silver lining* :-)

Monday I was a lil better but still over so I am not going to beat myself up because I am just getting on track! But no excuses! But every day I am getting better!

My challenge this week is getting 4 days in. And in all honesty I want to do something every day because missing one day is a slippery slope for me!

Today I work 7:30-3:30, then teach from 5-9pm I am going to do something even if it is 100 crunches before the end of the day.

Weds- I work 7:30-3:30 then teach from 8:15-9:30 I really could workout at the school and bring a change of clothing. Scratch that I WILL take my gym bag and workout after work!

Thursday- I work 7:30-3:30 then I have an Alpha Phi Alpha event from 6:00-7:30pm (is the latest I plan to stay) Something at work again maybe the stairs!? Still need to train for that event in February!

Friday - Is date night :-)

Saturday- 7:30am check in with WW and I set up a 9am Personal Training session with Charles but I have a sorority meeting/luncheon at my old chapter I must get to by 11am so that is cutting it close

Ughh my life, my life, my life! And I wouldn't change a  thing!

Speaking of date night our friend Beres Fan is still around :-) We had a failure to communicate a few weeks ago but we resolved it and we are starting from scratch. I can't act like I am not happy. I like him! So there's a new movie I want to see called My Week With Marilyn Monore   so that's our game plan for Friday night! :-)

Anyyyhoooo I am still in shock that its almost 2012! Time flies! But I must say I am looking forward to what I will look like and feel like at the end of the countdown! Do you have any goals you want to reach before 2011 says bye bye? If not think of at least 3! My countdown goals are 1) Journal daily 2) Exercise at least 4 days a week 3) Do daily healthy & happy affirmations!

So countdown with me and my newest favorite song

:-)

I like that pink & green action Beyonce!

Only 1 Pound: The Remix!

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone and I am elated to report I did a good job! I went to visit with a Soror and another friend from grad school and had a good time and did not over do it! I did bring home leftovers for me and my sister and  also did a good job with that. 


My workouts have been on point as well. On Thanksgiving Day I went to the gym and did a 90 minute spinning class (OUCH). I skipped the Black Friday madness and stayed in all day until I treated myself to a massage! The best massage i;ve ever had and I had to take a minute to tell the woman when I get my Oprah money she has a job for life! She was so appreciative! As was I for the great service! It was just what I needed! Then I took my sister out to get  a mani/pedi with me and called it night. 


On Saturday I went back to my usual 9:30am spinning class that I've been MIA from for a while but had a great workout and I am headed out to the gym for an 8:30am spinning class, 9:30am Body Pump, and if I am up to it and 10:30am Body Combat class! Its been a minute since I had a 3 hour workout marathon but let's see what happens!


I also went to Weight Watchers yesterday! *GULP* Yes I did! I know but the fact of the matter is not going wouldn't help. I am up and I wont wallow in that fact I am just moving ahead. In fact there is some kind of partnership with Dr. Oz so I signed up for that!


My usually leader was away for the holiday and a new leader was there and she was sweet. I can't lie I was turned off when she said she lost 28 pounds to get to her goal weight. 28 pounds? Pluessseeee! But looking at my check in book... I am now 27 pounds away from my (recycled) goal weight. LOL So 28 pounds IS  a big deal! LOL Thank you ego check!


So I turned my attitude around and paid attention to the meeting. I took notes on my blackberry and added to the group discussion and it was a fruitful meeting. 


To end it she asked everyone to listen to a poem called Only One Pound. I already heard that poem and even posted it here so I got ready to walk out but the words were different! Here's the poem below! It's a good one! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I'll check in again soon! My goal is still to lose 19 lbs by New years Eve and I need the support and accountability of you all to help me do that! What goals do you have on your list to achieve by the end of the year?

Only One Pound

Hello, do you know me? If you don't, you should. I'm a pound of fat, And I'm the HAPPIEST pound of fat that you would ever want to meet. Want to know why? It's because no one ever wants to lose me; I'm ONLY ONE POUND, just a pound! Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds, or fifteen pounds, but never only one. So I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself, ever so slyly, so that you never seem to notice it. That is, until I've grown to ten, twenty, thirty or even more pounds in weight. Yes, it's fun being ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT, left to do as I please. So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying, "Oh, I only lost one pound." (As if that were such a terrible thing.)  For you see, if you do this, you'll encourage others to keep me around because they'll think I'm not worth losing. And, I love being around you - your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!!! After all, I'm ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT!!! - Author Unknown

The power of improvising...

Well I am in Week 3 of Bootcamp! I am a morning person but working out in the wee hours (5:30am) of the morning isn't really my cup of tea! LOL I missed last Thursday because I had a Bar Association event that night and since I actually have a job that requires 8 hours of work (lol) I had to go in early to work in order to catch the event that evening. What a great event! It was the movie premier of the new George Lucas film Red Tails  a movie based on the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American combat pilots during World War II. It was good! It comes out this Spring be sure to check it out!

However, by the weekend I was so tired! I literally stayed in bed all weekend except for a handful of times I left the house for food! It was cold and honestly I am a little burnt out between a busy work season, teaching (now four) classes, AKA, Foundation fundraising chairman work, Bar Association stuff, now I have a new project with Junior League...and oh yeah I sleep from time to time as well! lol

I missed all the Omega Psi Phi 100th Part II events & I took an L on the gym alll weekend!  :-(  buttttt I did get some much needed sleep!! So I aint mad! 

Well Tuesday morning came mighty quick and I woke up around 4:00am and I started to hear myself talk myself out of going to the bootcamp that day. You know, you been there! That small voice creeps in your subconscious saying "It's only one day! You can miss it" and "You can go Thursday!" or "You need more sleep!" I took a  deep breath and got up and took a shower got dressed like I was on auto pilot! I got in the car and blasted my Best of Jay Z CD and made a beeline for the gym! I got there a little before 5:30am  and saw all my fellow Bootcampers still in their cars! :-/

Not good!

I was so tired and fought my way there and what? Charles overslept? *humph* a few minutes later he drove up and explained the security guards forgot to come and let him in and he gave us the option of going home OR we could improvise and do a 1.3 mile outdoor walk. :-/

It was cold and dark BUT we all said might as well, we are up and out the house already MIGHT AS WELL BURN SOME CALORIES!

I've said this before and I'll say it again! I am not an outdoors workout person. Yes I realize I've done a 5k, a half marathon, and even a triathlon HOWEVER I like the clean, crisp, air conditioned, and well lit safety of the gym!

So again for the record! Working outdoors: Me no likey!

But after a weekend of sleeping off I HAD to do something! I am a planner by nature! I like to write things down and execute them. I don't do improvising but... I had no choice.

Well we started out walking, some jogging, and as is always the case I ended up being too slow for the fast people and too fast for the slow people! I swear this always happens! I end up alone with my thoughts! I think God is trying to tell me something! LOL

I picked up the pace but still found myself alone and I started to think about this Louise Hay CD I been listening to in my car on the way to work. I left off on a section she discusses the power of affirmations. I remember watching Saturday Night Live with Stuart Smalley and thinking how incredibly corny it was to tell yourself things like his famous "I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And doggone it, people like me."

But as the saying goes there is a little truth in every joke! And I have long said this journey to wellness was about more that just losing weight for me it was a physical, mental, and spiritual journey for me and so its not all about getting to spin class or going to my weigh ins at Weight Watchers, it goes deeper than that. Well anyhoo I used that time to think of some new positive affirmations. If my mind can whisper stay in bed instead of exercise surely I have the right to feed it some new thoughts, positve thoughts that will help me reach my goals!

My mantra for 2011 was "My Best Life Ever!" and I must say 2011 has been living up to that high goal. I may not be where I want to be weight wise but life is good! In fact in an effort to clean out the clutter I found my "before pants" and whoosahhh I need to take one of those pictures with myself in one leg! I have come a long way in the past (almost) 3 years and I think it has finally set in that this is a lifelong journey but I don't need to be bitter about it!  

Its all about my mindset. Just like on Tuesday morning. There are going to be times when I need to improvise and that is a okay! My blog is about my quest for a fit & fab life and I have that! I can make it more fab (read-- get my Oprah money lol) and more fit (keep working towards my goal of being happier and healthier) and choice by choice it will all come together! I found this quote that sums it up perfectly for the planner forced improvising control freak in me ! :-)  

"No, improvising is wonderful.

But, the thing is that you cannot improvise

unless

you know exactly what you're doing." Christopher Walken

:-)

I'm Too Cute to Sweat!

Hot off the presses my personal trainer Charles "Chizel It" Harris released his first book! The title is "I'm Too Cute to Sweat." Its a great book to look at all the EXCUSES we make to not workout! Everything from our hair, to not enough time, to not knowing the right exercises to do! It's all in there! I always sing Charles's praises from the roof tops b/c working out with him changed my life. I was always resistant to a personal trainer because I felt I could workout myself but he really showed me the great advantage it gives to one's efforts to reaching their goals. He is very passionate about fitness and about health so this book comes from the heart! Get a copy today!  http://www.chizelit.com/book.html  We may be cute but don't ever think you are too cute to sweat ladies! There  is nothing sexier than a fit (and no dress size defines fit!) & confident woman!

July 2008 to Nov 2011 - Thanks Charles!!!

Nothing but love...

Now I know you are all thinking dang she was MIA for like a month now she's posting every day :-) but I guess I have been slacking on my journaling so this blog acts as a substitute for that. I felt compelled to write about the untimely death of rapper/actor Heavy D. I like many others of my generation loved and admired Heavy D! Our Mr. Big Stuff.

He was big and seemingly proud or at the very least confident in his size and stature. He carried his weight well, had a great career, and could dance like no body's bizznezz. He was so light on his feet you almost forgot his size. He had a good personality. I didn't know him personally but I did friend him on facebook and one of the last things I remember was him commenting that he could find everything in Walmart maybe he could find his wife there! I did offer to stop in since it was my favorite place to go too lol

Yesterday facebook went all a flurry with the news of his death and although I didn't join in I was deeply sadden to hear about his passing.

Heavy D was only 44 years old.

That's crazy.

That's when one hits their prime! I often say I can't wait to be 40 and that's not just something to say! I expect to be at a certain place in my life and I know now that I am taking that for granted. 

I heard Ricky Smiley say (something to the effect) this morning that he wants to get into a fitness routine but it seems like people end up dying and it frightens him. Now he aint lying. Big Pun and Luther Vandross are two examples that come to mind. It did seem like as soon as they got the weight loss under control they passed away.



Before and after

 Heavy D did lose a lot of weight too. So I understand Ricky's fear but I was troubled by Smiley saying that on a national radio station that has a wide audience of African American listeners. A majority of us who need to lose weight and/or get an exercise program in our lives! Of course I'mma write him a letter! Because the fact of the matter is all three of these men spent a good portion of their lives morbidly obese.

That makes a difference.

Being overweight, especially that over weight shortens your life expectancy, and even if you lose weight the damage has been done by abusing your body for years. Now that's not to say you should stay overweight and not eat right. I am saying the opposite START NOW do what ever you have to do to get your health under control.  

According to TMZ (who now has more reporting street cred than CNN) Heavy D was 6'4' and 344 pounds and he lost over 100 pound some years ago and people in the hospital say it was a heart attack that took his life. That's tragic. 

I am going to get off my soapbox but needless to say as someone who spent a number of my "good" years overweight it struck a cord with me for more reasons than just losing a great artist. Our health really is our wealth.

Invest in yourselves people and encourage those you love to invest in themselves as well. Tomorrow is Day # 2 of bootcamp and while I can't say I am going in with a big smile I am grateful for this journey to wellness as I often call it. I am grateful that I get another day to get it right and stay on the path to a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Heavy's last tweet on twitter sums up this post for me. "Be Inspired" 

Bootcamp Day #1

Well I did it! I got up and went to Day #1 of the Chizel It Bootcamp! Let me tell you something...it was hard! My mind was racing all night, it finally got quiet around midnight then I jumped back up at 3am and I knew I was in for it!

Well to put things in perspective I was asked to be the Fundraising Chairman of my sorority's Foundation...humm well asked isn't really the right word...what had happened was I gave two ideas and someone quickly nominated me and someone quickly seconded and the vote was called and all I heard was "all in favor say I" and I got the job lol I've never been a fundraising chair let alone on the fundraising committee so I appreciate the vote of confidence. And in classic me fashion I hit the ground running by the next morning I had a proposal for our first event and by the end of the week the second for the other event. So it is going well. It is nice to see that the skills I have are transferable to others areas or service. :-)

Anyway all that was to say I had a meeting last night so I didn't get home until after 9pm then I spent a good bit of time talking with a Soror and finally I called it a night after 10:30pm. 

So I am not working on much sleep. A/w the workout was great! Charles set up circuits or stations and we went around for 1 minute and a half doing various exercises like jumping on the trampoline, leg presses, working on shoulders with the pull down machine, working on biceps by sitting on a workout ball and doing bicep curls with hand weights, and a few other things that produced a lot of sweat! We ended the class with 10 minutes of ab work which I know I will feel later!

All in all it was a great workout and at least there was light out by the time we left. I still had time to get home, take a shower, get on the road, and catch my 8am bus. 

I think Bootcamps are great ways to jump start your workouts but in a group of 15 I know myself I will slack off which is why I am now so dependent on having a personal trainer; Charles helps to keep me honest. That one and one time is invaluable but I must say this Bootcamp helped me to refocus my goals!

My goal is 19 LBs by NY Eve! If you say it fast it rhymes :-)

Anyway it was a great workout and I sooo missed morning workouts so this perfect! I actually have this week off from one of my teaching jobs so at least my body can get used to it. Hopefully! Oh and I forgot I put a plea out on facebook to some of my sorors to join me and few said they would! So I was soooo happy when one of my favorite Sorors came and I met another Soror so yet another positive thing! below is my new vision board! the picture was from my friend Tosha's wedding. I must say I think I look guuuuddd! Anyway like I said I felt inspired so I did another one on the online O Dream Board! Thank you Oprah! Its really a cool tool!

Well I can't lie and say I am not dragging a little bit in spite of being proud of myself but at least I got it done! :-)

No Nonsense November!

Well its been a few weeks again but not as bad as the last time! I've been (all together now) BUSY!! I know, I know what's new? LOL Well I must say for the record life has been hectic but when I started this blog way back when that was the premise and the reason I decided to take a stab at blogging again because my story was like a lot of other busy women on the go who neglect themselves and their health for so many other things and people. Its a habit I had to unlearn and I felt the need to share my workout journey to prove we can still take over the world and exercise and be fit & fab. 


I am learning:


I don't always have to be the first person to say yes
or the second one to volunteer to help
or feel guilty for missing a meeting for a workout or to just rest


I don't have to be too hard on myself all the time. 
Missed workouts will happen. 
New jeans will get tight. 
I can go back to square one and get back on track.
and most importantly if I love & take care of myself all the pieces really do come together...


But its a process. I would never say I am cutting back on my busy ways.  Some people thrive off being busy! That's me. If I don't have a lot of stuff to do I will pull my hair out, out of boredom. I can only take down time in small controlled doses like at a spa day. I could never just stay home even if I was Paris Hilton rich I'd have to find something to do. That's just who I am. A lot of the women in my family are the same way so its in my DNA and my only real goal is to incorporate some self love in the form of eating right and exercise more times than not to reach my goals.


Confession time! I finally saw my trainer yesterday after over a month! :-O I know right! On the upside the workout was good and I felt like I got a good workout in and I don't feel super sore today.


Charles is starting a bootcamp from this Tuesday and it meets twice a week (Tues/Thurs) at 5:30am till Dec 15th! That actually works for me because I have that longgg commute but I am teaching 3 classes soon to be 4 and I've been going in late anyway so I can go straight to class in the evenings. 


I jumped on it because my 14s are tighhttttt and my goal was to lose 25 pounds and only lost 13. Not that I am turning my nose up at 13 pounds b/c I see the difference big time! 

At my friend Tosha's wedding 11-5-2011

I plan to work on a new Vision Board for my end of the year goals! I plan to lose these 19 pounds by 12-31-2011 

Let's Do It! 

I already put a request out to some of my peeps to see if they will join me! This will be great! I can feel it! :-)

The fallacy of the active date…

Well first off let me not act like it hasn’t been well over a month since I have updated yall! Apologies but life has been HECTIC! Really that isn’t even the word its been busy at work, I am teaching three classes, dating, staying social, my AKA life is back in full swing and oh yeah I sleep a few hours here and there too! LOL

On the positive side life is good. I am really working on some work-life-school-social life-balance and I can’t lie and say I have arrived but I feel like I am actually enjoying the journey. I have been tuned into Oprah’s Lifeclass! If you don’t know you better ask somebody! Its great! She kicked off the show with weight issues and how the ego plays a role in shaping your life and not in a good way. The only down side is its almost too much, too fast. I am on lesson/day 2 but I think they are up to lesson/day 5. Its heavy, deep stuff; the lessons about understanding your self worth, learning self acceptance, and self love and how that creates your life. All are stepping stone to your best life ever of course!  So bottom line I am taking my time, the shows are repeated and they are also on line. I would highly recommend it!

Well today’s topic is one that pains me to say I have reconsidered. I’ve posted a few time about the dilemma of “dating & dieting” because a lot of dating deals with eating out and sitting down. I’ve shared the book I read called The Soulmate Secret before and one of the things the author suggests is write a list of qualities you want in your soulmate. Not things like 6’5’’ dark skin with cute dimples type qualities (although those may be pleasing) she wants you to think about what kind of lifestyle you want with this person and use those words to describe your ideal mate.

I am not ashamed to admit my list has over 100 things. that's right over 100! They are good things like: funny, smart, caring, attractive to me, honest, good chemistry, faithful, likes to travel, etc. on that list is of course “someone who is physically active and likes to workout regularly.” So along that line of thinking I have been saying I want to do “active dates” I went bowling with that one guy and the other guy we planned on going to a dance class. I created a new vision board with images of couples doing the things I wold like to do like travel, exercise, and other activities! Well this is a classic case of be careful what you ask for!

So kinda new guy from the Beres concert asked me to go bike riding. I lent my bike to a friend to do the Iron Girl so I got it back from her so we could go. Now I warned him I had not been on my bike since last August when I did the triathlon! I TOLD HIM THAT! But maybe all he heard was I did a triathlon and said I’d be aiight!

Well yall I wasn’t aiight! :-(

The bike ride was from Rock Creek Park in Maryland all the way to parts of DC and Virginia! It was far and it was hard and it was long and there were hills, lot and lots of hills! I felt bad because I couldn’t keep up! He doesn’t work out in a gym so I guess if I invited him to a Kickboxing class he’d feel like I did but that didn’t help my pride or ego that day! LOL

He kept stopping and waiting for me and making sure I was ok which should have been sweet but just annoyed me because it reminded me that I was holding him back! That was annoying, until I got left LOL

All day kept saying just go and wait for me at any major intersection then you can double back until finally he listened L I was hotttttt for like 10 minutes! I couldn’t believe he really left me!!! No sooner than I started to get really upset he came around the corner lol lucky… *humph* But I didn't let him know I was upset actually i was so happy to see him I was giggling and said "Awe you came back for me!" I'm such a sucka lol

We went Saturday which was the day of the MLK Memorial Dedication so it was packed even though we went hours later! I really didn’t want to go down there on that day because I really don’t like crowds but he seemed hyped to see it so we went bikes and all, all in the way and took some pictures and headed back. I saw a few people I know which was nice.

He still wanted to ride some more around the Lincoln Memorial but I was clear that I needed to rest up in order to get back to my car LOL so I told him to ride around and I waited for him and made some phone calls and he came back still looking like he had energy to burn so I told him to leave his jacket for me and go have fun again lol When it was finally time to go I felt like taking a nap! I was BEAT down! And FUNKY!!!!

OMG when you exercise like that in the element its different from an air conditioned gym! I started to really feel self conscious and really started to regret agreeing to do this bike ride! I mean this is still the courting I stay cute stage of our dating so what was I thinking!? He can’t know I sweat!!! Clearly all active dates are not created equal! I should have said bowling or even walking on a trail but biking 10-15 miles?!? Ughhhh!

Just as I was really starting to feel really…bad…out of the crowd comes an Omega and he rolls righhht up on me and tries to hollah now my date was talking to the Segway rentals people and well Mr. Omega saw his chance and swooped in lol He finally left and so I acted like nothing happened and kept it moving.  But it was right on time because I was feeling really self consciuos! I sweat like a man when I workout so that like flirting did the trick to keep my confidence up! Gotta love Da Bruhz!

A/w I liked the idea of the Segway tour and he got excited so looks like that’s an option in the next few weeks…see active, yet not sweating! I also mentioned rock climbing he said he was game but I had to clarify I meant INDOOR no one is loosing a life on a cliff! LOL On the way back we took a detour near the water and he asked if I ever went cannoning I said nope so he is up for that too! See again burning calories but not getting beat down! I am game!

The one thing I will say is, all in all I had a good time! It was nice to see the other couples and families out being active together as well and I liked being apart of that group. And even though I was funky he acted like I wasn’t lol we were both too tired to go anywhere but home afterwards so he owes me food and likka next week! But I had fun and he was considerate he brought water for me and carried a bag so it could hold our stuff and that was extra fat free brownie points for him! So in terms of my assertion about the fallacy of the active date I will say this be sure you are comfortable with whatever you both plan to do. Ask question and be prepared! I won't say I will never go bike riding with him again since it can only go up from here for me lol but a word to the wise is sufficient! Ease into the activities would be my recommendation! The last thing he said was "When can I see you again" so may be I am exaggerating about my funkiness lol

Anywayyy in terms of my own workouts its confession time... its been 3 weeks since my last workout! Ohhh ahhh hiss boo I know I know. I been in a funky mood lately and I know not working out does not help. On the up side I actually lost weight lol in fact I was back down to my lowest summer weight. So I am still 19 pounds from my goal. So I’ll take that. I haven’t been to Krav Maga in over a month if not more! I need to either stop that till Spring or get back on it.

My schedule is so crazy I teach Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday. By Thursday I want to just go home and Friday same thing. The past few Saturdays & Sundays I’ve been decluttering which is good but still I need my workout groove back. The bike ride was good b/c it broke that streak but its TOM and I am not feeling it at all. Needless to say he asked about going next week… *blank stare* I suggested we switch up between his ride and other places like Centennial Park and the B & A Trail. Both have fewer hills than that crazy Rock Creek Park. He said that was fair. J We like him...

Anyway that’s all for now I’ll do better even if its to confess I ain't doing better LOL