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!!!