Monday, September 27, 2010

Get Motivated With an Inspiration board!

I believe one of the baddest chicks in the game is Jada Pinkett-Smith. I heart that chick! She's a mother, wife entrepreneuer,  her body is smokin! Because I strive to be all those things: a mother, a wife, a sister friend, have a smokin body, with a smokin man:) (got that check!)...etc. I have a pic of her on my refridgerator to let me know that its all possible.


Now what does Jada have to do with transitioning to healthy living? She's a picture of what can be.... a principle that we can use throughout our journey. I have a pic of Jada, but taking a picture of ourselves, how we wanna look, or even things we want to eat, can be a part of our inspiration board. An inspiration board is helpful for us to strive for our goals and also note our progress. I tell you we are easy to point our areas of improvement, but most times we don't acknowledge our growth and or areas that we've improved. So it's helpful to have visual aids.  So the inspiration board is a very helpful tool:).

Challenge of the week: get a poster board and get crackin...add some pics of how you used to be, what you're striving to be ( I cut off peoples head in magazines and put my head on them lol) take a pic of some clothes you want (that new bikini), include veggies, exercises etc...get creative:)!! Post your comments

Monday, September 20, 2010

Changing the scale from enemy to friend

My relationship with the scale is an interesting one. We've had our ups and downs....like any other relationship. A lot of downs and a lot of avoiding. Lol! I liken it to that friend who will call you out when your in denial. Sometimes you don't even when to talk to them after they've called you out. I ain't lying! Lol! Those kind of friends get on your nerves, but you know you need them cause they want nothing but the best for you. Though you know they have your best interests at heart that still doesn't stop you from getting upset/hostile with them and or denying the obvious. The scale is the same way. The scale although we don't want to believe it wants the best for us! It wants us to be healthy...that's why it confronts us with the truth! Lol! And when it does we fight it! I did..I'd simply avoid that machine when I knew I was on a downward spiral lol! Yup, Mr. Scale got ignored! But when I was doing well we were tight lol I'd get on Mr. Scale with no problem! Well I've done some modifications with my relationship with Mr. Scale. Instead of him being my enemy, he is now my accountability partner. I commune with him at least 2x weekly. One for my weigh in and the other in the middle of the week just to monitor my progress. Mr. Scale keeps it "real." Because of the accountability piece, I no longer avoid Mr. Scale but have a better relationship with him:). It really helps to track your progress as well as certain patterns (like certain times of the month, you may be heavier or if you had a trying week you may have indulged here and there).

Challenge for the week: if you don't have scale I suggest getting a digital one (more consistent). Get your baseline weight at the top of the week (naked) and write it down and then weigh after one week (on the same day of the week..naked of course). Any changes?!! Let's discuss:) post Your comments!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Get movin!!

I tried the gym over and over when I first started. I had even paid for a years worth of a gym membership...but still didn't go! Then someone voluntarily paid for my monthly gym membership because they knew I wanted to lose weight... Still to no avail. I didn't go.

You see when I went to the gym..seeing all those machines overwhelmed me. I didn't know what to do or what I should be doing. So I just stopped going until I tried group exercise classes. I love group activities:) In those classes, I felt like I was dancing and I felt safe with the other ladies in the class. Step class is my absolute favorite! I'd add my own little extra moves to it!! You couldn't tell me I wasn't @ the club! Lol! After while, I started looking forward to the classes and now I'm studying to get my certification in group exercise lol!

So find what you like to do to get you going! Just move! Think outside the box.. You could dance as a workout (that's something you can do at home), go skating, use your steps to your house/apt., play the wii, basketball, dance like a crazed fool for 5 mins...it really doesn't take much:)...just a commitment to get moving!

Challenge for the week: choose your favorite 2 songs:) play them back to back and dance hard for the entirety of the songs!! Let's discuss! Post ur comments! Need an example...lol.check this out

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

I Don't Have Time To Work OUT!!!

For years & years, I believed I didn't have the time to work out. I was a 40+ hour work-a-holic as a social worker. I bent over backwards for everyone except me. Left me drained, tired, moody, and irritable amongst other things. When I got home all I wanted to do was sleep. Work out?!! Puh-leeze!

So what changed.

I found out that physical exercise is the best anti-depressant, de-stresser, and self+esteem builder! You see, when you work out, biologically, your body releases happy endorphins...you get more energy and you improve your mood

Let me tell you a quick story. I was heartbroken when one of my good friends said they didn't want to be my friend anymore. I was angry and hurt. I used my workouts as a catalyst to de-stress and generate some happiness where I felt low. It really helped me get thru that period. I was less angry and more stable emotionally. I noticed the change! I'm like hey this is cheaper than therapy lol!

So let's find time to increase our happiness and de-stress ourselves!

This week's challenge: Try this experiment! When your angry do a quick 20 min workout...bet you forget what you were angry about! Lol! Post your comments!