I have been natural for about ten years. For the most part I have worn braids, weaves, afros, wigs,twists and occasionally I have rocked a press and curl. With a consistent work out schedule the one thing I have noticed is that my hairstyles don't last long. My braids are lasting about six weeks and then they need to be redone. So that is a pretty expensive thing to deal with at $120 to $200 every six weeks.
The other issue I have is that my hair tends to loc when I am wearing braids and taking them out has become a process. I am tired of afros and I don't think I could stand another weave. So for about two years I have been considering locing my hair. I went back and forth because I feel like it is a permanent decision and I wanted to be confidant in my decision. I took the plunge last week and got some coils put in my hair to start the locing process. I excited to see what they will become.
I am also on the hunt for a gym with a bit more to it than Planet Fitness. I have to say I am horribly bored with that place. They lack variety in their equipment is driving me insane. Now for 20$ a month they are a steal. If you are just starting out then I would recommend a gym with a minimal investment. Now that I am ten pounds away from my goal, I see that my work out routine is a bit more extensive than it used to be. I spend about two hours in the gym five days a week. 45 minutes on cardio, 45 minutes on weights, then thirty minutes on my warm up and cool down. I find my self bored with P90X and Insanity and I don't want to reach a road block .
So I decided to tour the gyms in my area and have taken advantage of the weekly free passes. I am currently visiting Golds and I love it. I think I am sold they have something for my entire family. Now the issue is that Golds is expensive for a family membership it is 109.00 a month. That is a large chunk of change. It does include a kids club and free child care for two hours while you workout. The kids gym is awesome and shoot, I want to play in there. I love the fact that my husband and I will be able to work out together again with out the children. I also will be able to work out when he is working. I guess I am kind of talking my self into it right now. So I am on the fence and I am trying to see how that will fit into my budget.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Releasing the invisible weight
Losing this weight has be a serious journey, not just a physical one either. It has been a emotional and mental journey. Many of us carry with us an invisible weight. One that keeps us in the refrigerator trying to eat away the pain of the past traumatic events. I realize that even if I change my physically habits, that mentally I can still be where I was. Yes I was over weight because I ate too much but why was I eating.
Addressing that question is the beginning of healing wounds that have been open for over 20 years. I have no doubt that I may lose a few people along the way. I am however done carrying the burdens of old. Wrongs that were not my own and protecting secrets that unearth the Mr. Hyde's lurking around. 20 years of weight that I smothered myself with, over 100lbs of weight.
As I release my self of this weight I can only imagine what many of you are holding onto. Many times we think that we must suffer in silence to protect others. In the long run, you are suffering and those you protect are living. As you make external changes, you will soon find a desire to make internal changes. When you make positive internal changes, your external life will reflect the positivity you are encompassing.
Today I am free all of the weight , that was holding me down. Light as a feather........
Addressing that question is the beginning of healing wounds that have been open for over 20 years. I have no doubt that I may lose a few people along the way. I am however done carrying the burdens of old. Wrongs that were not my own and protecting secrets that unearth the Mr. Hyde's lurking around. 20 years of weight that I smothered myself with, over 100lbs of weight.
As I release my self of this weight I can only imagine what many of you are holding onto. Many times we think that we must suffer in silence to protect others. In the long run, you are suffering and those you protect are living. As you make external changes, you will soon find a desire to make internal changes. When you make positive internal changes, your external life will reflect the positivity you are encompassing.
Today I am free all of the weight , that was holding me down. Light as a feather........
Friday, September 30, 2011
Can you still eat chocolate?
I had to laugh when a colleague asked me this today. I was leaving the book store after picking up my chocolate fix and she appeared mortified at my purchase. As if I was going to destroy all of my hard work with one candy bar. It takes far more than one candy bar to gain 89 pounds back.
However, I do eat chocolate just not the way I used to, instead of purchasing a king size candy bar and eating the entire thing. I break it into 4 pieces and enjoy 1/4 of it a day over 4 days. This way I still get my chocolate fix but it does not effect my waist line. I add it into my daily points values and forget it. I don't do this every week or everyday. Even if I did, everything in moderation is OK!
I have found that over eating is difficult for me to do now. My body show signs of being full much sooner than it did in the past. When I am full my body shows, no interest in food and it is hard for me to consume unnecessary calories. I now look for my body to signal hunger before I eat, and this has become second nature to me. In the past I remember eating an never feeling hunger or feeling like I was always starving. I no longer have those uncomfortable feelings. I think that is an accomplishment, it shows that I am in control!!!!
Don be afraid of your favorite things, find a way to eat them in moderation that work for you.
However, I do eat chocolate just not the way I used to, instead of purchasing a king size candy bar and eating the entire thing. I break it into 4 pieces and enjoy 1/4 of it a day over 4 days. This way I still get my chocolate fix but it does not effect my waist line. I add it into my daily points values and forget it. I don't do this every week or everyday. Even if I did, everything in moderation is OK!
I have found that over eating is difficult for me to do now. My body show signs of being full much sooner than it did in the past. When I am full my body shows, no interest in food and it is hard for me to consume unnecessary calories. I now look for my body to signal hunger before I eat, and this has become second nature to me. In the past I remember eating an never feeling hunger or feeling like I was always starving. I no longer have those uncomfortable feelings. I think that is an accomplishment, it shows that I am in control!!!!
Don be afraid of your favorite things, find a way to eat them in moderation that work for you.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Small Changes
Working out does not have to be painful and grueling. Working out can be fun if you learn how to enjoy simple everyday things. Sunday and Tuesday we have a dance hour in my house, it was started to run out some of that energy that my kids have before they wind down for bed. Not only is it fun but, it is a work out. By the time we are done everyone is sweating and bath time is a necessary for everyone involved. My kids love it and they are always asking " Do we have dance hour today?" My one year old frequently walks up to the television and starts to dance and points at me.
Another thing that I now do religiously is take the stairs, it does not matter how many flights. I always take the stairs up and down. It has been my goal for quite sometime not to be winded when I reached the top step. Currently I can do ten flights with out breaking a sweat and that feels amazing. Shoot a lady still has to look good when she reaches her destinations. I have been known to take off my shoes and carry toiletries just in case.
Finally, we all must shop regardless of what we are shopping for. If you park in the farthest spot possible you will be sure to get a workout every time you go to the grocery store. I usually park in the last spot available in the lot. A few small changes will help increase your activity level slowly. Don't be afraid to change some habits, change will eventually help you Get Off The Couch!!!!
Another thing that I now do religiously is take the stairs, it does not matter how many flights. I always take the stairs up and down. It has been my goal for quite sometime not to be winded when I reached the top step. Currently I can do ten flights with out breaking a sweat and that feels amazing. Shoot a lady still has to look good when she reaches her destinations. I have been known to take off my shoes and carry toiletries just in case.
Finally, we all must shop regardless of what we are shopping for. If you park in the farthest spot possible you will be sure to get a workout every time you go to the grocery store. I usually park in the last spot available in the lot. A few small changes will help increase your activity level slowly. Don't be afraid to change some habits, change will eventually help you Get Off The Couch!!!!
Monday, September 19, 2011
My hectic life
So my life has been so hectic, my son plays football now. So my evening are a constant race to get to practice, make dinner, eat, work out , give baths, read stories and prep for the next day.
I have created a checklist of what has to be done each day and for me working out is on the list. I know myself and as much as I love running outside,cold weather is deterrent. So as of tomorrow I am back in the gym in the morning. It is actually a good thing because I need to shake up my routine and the gym will help me do that.
On a side note no one told me that my calf's would shrink so, now I have to replace all of my knee boots. I am dreading the loss of my lovely shoes :( Oh well if getting off the couch gets me three new pairs of knee boots who am I to complain.
I have created a checklist of what has to be done each day and for me working out is on the list. I know myself and as much as I love running outside,cold weather is deterrent. So as of tomorrow I am back in the gym in the morning. It is actually a good thing because I need to shake up my routine and the gym will help me do that.
On a side note no one told me that my calf's would shrink so, now I have to replace all of my knee boots. I am dreading the loss of my lovely shoes :( Oh well if getting off the couch gets me three new pairs of knee boots who am I to complain.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Goal Day!!!!
I have to thank Val for the split pictures that she did for me. You can see the difference is crazy with these amazing pictures. I have lost close to ninety pounds of fat and I feel amazing. As you can see by the ticker on the side I still have some weight left to lose. I will continue to work toward my weight loss goal until I achieve it but I am also focusing on other fitness goals as well.
1. extending my daily run to 6 miles
2. (next year) Bikini photo with great abs!!!
3. Running a 1/2 marathon
4. Complete P90X2
5. Work on my muscle definition
6. To actually write my food down instead of tracking on the computer. I sometimes fail to keep track when I dont have access technology. So I plan to start writing my food down because I should have no excuses
WOW my goals are different!!!!!! I can say that I have completed all of my previous goals and I am looking forward to sharing the rest of this journey with you all. Next goal day January 1, I should be running 6 miles a day by then. Time to get some cold weather running gear. If you have any doubt about Getting Off The Couch. I can tell you , that you wont regret it. If you cant get off the couch, I have a solution for you to, until you can.
Blessings and Love!!!!!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
What the @#$% am I doing wrong!!!!
That is how I felt a bit last month when I felt like I hit a Plataea . I really had to look at what I was doing and make sure I was really on plan. On the Surface it appeared that was, I was running every morning, eating fairly well. I would treat myself occasionally but nothing to extravagant or high in calories.
So I decided to sit down and look at a few things:
1. My food diary
2. My fitness journal and run keeper
3. My attitude
1. Food Diary:
I realized that I failed to complete some of meal entries and that I had over indulged in some meals then skipped others. I also realized that I was eating almost the same thing every week. Shoot i got bored just reading it. That would explain why I am finding my self, uninterested in food more and more.
2. Fitness Journal:
My journal showed that I was consistent with working out but in the intensity column I was checking moderate. Which means to me that I was not working as hard as could be working out during some of my workouts. I also saw that I was doing some of the same workout consistently and I was getting bored with them. Running was consistent I did it six days a week but my distance was not progressing, I was consistently at 3.5 miles.
3. Attitude:
Hmmmm what can I say, I have been a bit annoyed with everything lately. So I am sort of being ruled by emotions and it is time for me to let my brain take control.
After reviewing all of that I realize that I need to get out the cook book or my stack of cooking light magazines and do some meal planning. I really need to make sure that I write down everything that I eat as well. Enjoying what I eat is important to me, I did not gain 110 extra pounds eating boring food. So I am not going to lose the weight eating boring food!! I also have to get back the intensity in my workouts, find my hunger again. Running will always be a part of my life so, I need to increase my distance. Finally my attitude, I have to stop worrying about things I can not control and stop letting emotions rule me.
I think I have said this time and time again, this journey is a very difficult one. I am learning about my self more and more each day. Even though this road is a narrow one, I am so glad I decided to Get off The Couch!!!!!
So I decided to sit down and look at a few things:
1. My food diary
2. My fitness journal and run keeper
3. My attitude
1. Food Diary:
I realized that I failed to complete some of meal entries and that I had over indulged in some meals then skipped others. I also realized that I was eating almost the same thing every week. Shoot i got bored just reading it. That would explain why I am finding my self, uninterested in food more and more.
2. Fitness Journal:
My journal showed that I was consistent with working out but in the intensity column I was checking moderate. Which means to me that I was not working as hard as could be working out during some of my workouts. I also saw that I was doing some of the same workout consistently and I was getting bored with them. Running was consistent I did it six days a week but my distance was not progressing, I was consistently at 3.5 miles.
3. Attitude:
Hmmmm what can I say, I have been a bit annoyed with everything lately. So I am sort of being ruled by emotions and it is time for me to let my brain take control.
After reviewing all of that I realize that I need to get out the cook book or my stack of cooking light magazines and do some meal planning. I really need to make sure that I write down everything that I eat as well. Enjoying what I eat is important to me, I did not gain 110 extra pounds eating boring food. So I am not going to lose the weight eating boring food!! I also have to get back the intensity in my workouts, find my hunger again. Running will always be a part of my life so, I need to increase my distance. Finally my attitude, I have to stop worrying about things I can not control and stop letting emotions rule me.
I think I have said this time and time again, this journey is a very difficult one. I am learning about my self more and more each day. Even though this road is a narrow one, I am so glad I decided to Get off The Couch!!!!!
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