Tag: Exercise
Fitness 2013 – Keep That Body Moving
Woo chile! What a week! I have been working some mandatory overtime and getting up early to do it. It is taking some getting used to. I thought – erroneously – that I would just sleep a little longer, you know, nap a little more. I skipped a workout here . . .there. The result, I was tired all of the time.
What the what?
As I lsat on the couch seriously pondering where my get-up-and-go went, I remembered by high school science class. Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motions states that an object either is at rest or moves at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a force. {Source}
Or in laymen term, a body in motion stays in motion. A body in rest stays at? You guessed it – REST! The more I slept in and did not work out, the more I just wanted to layabout. I finally just bit the bullet and started back in motion. This body started moving and just kept moving.
Moving feels good. Whether working out, cleaning up, or dancing, your body will feel great.
So no matter what hurdles life tosses at you, I would encourage you to keep moving. You can only reach the goal ahead if you are in motion towards it.
Abs, Thighs and Apple Pies
I am over a week in on the abs challenge. To be specific, I did 30 crunches, 30 leg raises and a 30 second plank. . .in stages. Hey, but I did do them!
In between, my niece complaining about having to wash dishes prior to placing them in the dishwasher AND learning that dish washing liquid DOES NOT go in the dishwasher, my diet has suffered. I can get by on oatmeal, Kefir and fruit and a sensible dinner. She wants me to actually cook. How they cook back home includes meat as the main dish.The delicate balance between being the cool aunt and responsiblity – I have yet to find it.
Needless to say, I have been undermining my workout efforts. I have had chips and ice cream. . .ICE CREAM!All I could think about after dinner was pie – apple pie to be specific lol. I am planning on putting up before and after pics in 7 months so 'ain't nobody got time for that!'
Focus, grasshopper!
I need to get back to planning. Oatmeal for breakfast and no senseless snacking. Snacking is so easy to do with kids around.
One good thing is that I have been keeping up with my workouts although my niece HATES the trail. That is one thing I insist upon.
Assess and readjust. I must get my workout on and my flyness back. I felt pretty awesome putting on some capris that had been in my closet for years because they could not get past my thighs. I felt so cute I even threw on a pair of heels.
'Cause I'm fly like that!
I’m So Excited, I Think I’ll Take a Picture
I love photos. I like to get dressed, put on makeup and take an egregious bathroom self-photo. You know what I mean. They are on every Facebook page. Sometimes, I remember to clean the mirror and remove all of the toiletries from the counter first. Sometimes *insert sad face*
I am losing weight and would like to visually document the progress. I find before and after photos (untouched) of regular (non-famous) women so motivational. It is a real, physical reminder that what I am looking to accomplish is very doable.
As aforementioned, I don't just want to lose weight. I also want to be fly. *ignore the the fact that I just used the word aforementioned in a sentence* lol. One thread to all of the fabulous looking after shots is the use of weight training to transform the body's appearance.
I have not put a lot of recent photos of myself on Talulazoeapple but give me 8 months. You are going to get an eyeful.I may enlist the services of a photographer or get a camera with a timer. Don't know how comfortable I am with taking before shots with someone else. #decisionsdecisions
These are some of the motivating photos I have found via Black Women Do Workout.and a Black Girls Guide to Weight Loss.
Yep. #motivation
Measurable Concrete Results, Eh?
I was walking my 3 miles on my beloved trail with a friend who suddenly asked, So what is your goal?
The rest of the conversation went a little something like this:
Me: My goal is to be fly.
Friend: Ok, you might wanna go for something concrete and measurable.
Me: I just wanna be fly. I guess I should come up with a number, huh?
Friend: A measurable goal like a number. Like I wanna lose ## pounds . . . and to be fly.
I started to think about numbers. I really just had an idea about how I wanted to look and feel. The number was not set in stone. I wrote a few weeks back about weight loss being all mathematics and I had left off my numbers.
So, here goes. I will not disclose my weight just yet; however, I will disclose my goal. I strive to lose at least 2 lbs per week. I would like to lose a total of 80lbs from where I am now. That seems like so much but I am inspired by so many women who have lost significant amounts of weight through diet and exercise. With a measurable goal in tact, I will reach my ideal weight in nine months.
A co-worker had a digital scale and I would obsessively weigh myself every day. I do not recommend this. lol. Co-worker has moved on and took her scale with her. 🙁 My fitspiration (a person who inspires me to stay fit) suggested I reduce my weigh-ins to once per week. I have to get a replacement battery for my digital scale but this is a concrete doable goal.
I neglected to workout yesterday and did a quick ten minute walk during break in the parking lot. I got a horn honked at me in a good way lol. Now to stop traffic. That's my ultimate goal. . . and to be fly.
How about you? How do you define your fitness goals?
Working Out: Dealing With Setbacks
I am sick ya'll. Wah, wah, wah! Sinus infection, sore throat and no one here to baby me. Whine, whine, whine!
The first couple days, I was tired but I pushed through my workout. Then, the sore throat, tiredness and dizzyness came. A doctor's visit and meds and all I wanted to do was sleep. You want to know what? It is okay.
This whole experience is teaching me to know and respect my limits. Starting this working out kick, I pushd my limits. I went from moderate exercise into the Insanity workout and 30 minute jogs. I learned to ignore the pain. Facing pain is necessary to become stronger. It is also very important to respect my body. I want to be fine not injured. lol
Oh, the lessons learned in my everyday life! I have experiened the silence and the much needed rest. I am ready or the comeback!
Stay tuned.
*PS* My mommy texted me to see how I was doing. She didn't call because my voice was sore and she didnt think I could talk. This is truly a brave new world. lol Love this woman!
Weight Loss: It’s All Mathematics
After many diets, books and fads, I had to face the simple truth. I am overweight because I consume more calories than I expend. Inversely, to lose weight, I must expend more calories than I intake.
Point. . . Blank. . . and the period.
Sure there are extenuating circumstances but nothing changes that fundamental truth. Slow metabolism? Expend more calories than you intake. Hate exercising? Expend more calories than you intake. Lost your dog? Expend more calories than you intake.
Well, you catch my drift.
I remember going to the doctor for my annual exam. He told me straight up that in order to lose the amount of weight that I needed to, I would have to exercise (walk specifically) 90 minutes 4 times a week. I remember thinking, how in the heck can i do that? I was barely able to walk 30 minutes at a time. I started slowly and gradually increased my stamina to 45 minutes. Good but half the mark.
At the size I was, walking 90 minutes at a speed of 3 mph would burn 797 calories. I started cardio dance class. One hour burned about 800 calories. So, cool. I can dance 4 times a week and be good. I was doing fantastic and then the stupid gym cancelled my class!!!!
One more excuse added and my workouts waned. I resolved dance class or no, I have to get it in. I started Get Fit with Fe, an accountability group. We complete challenges and post our daily workouts. I am a lot stronger now and can do a lot more than walk. I alternate between walking(trail or treadmill), Insanity, and Shaun T's dance dvds. I have also found some great free YouTube workouts.
As for diet, it is all mathematics. Caloric intake 1500-1800 per day. Exercising adds numbers to my daily caloric intake. As long as I end the day in the positive, I am good.
I achieve by lean protein, fruits and veggies. I keep food natural and preservative-free and cook my own meals. No junk food. Afterall, I am not a garbage dump.
How am I doing? Today, I put on capris straight from the dryer that I would have to hold my breath to fasten and they are literally falling off. I would say that that's fantastic mathematics.
This is an excerpt from Love Rain Down by Jill Scott and Mos Def. It is more accurately an excerpt from Mos Def's verse on the song:
"I said, “You are the beautiful, distress of mathematics.”
I said, “For you, I would peel open the clouds like new fruit.”
And give you lightning and thunder as dowry
I would make the sky shed all of its stars like rain
And I would clasp the constellations across your waist
And I would make the heavens your cape
And they would be please to cover you
They would be pleased to cover you
May I please cover you, please."
This verse makes me feel as pretty and good as eating right and exercise does. How is your journey coming along?
Hold Up, Weight A Minute
My co-worker has a scale. I hop on it a least once a day, maybe to torture myself. I don't know, I just do. For the past week, it has been steadily decreasing one pound at a time.
This weight thing is my central focus now. So much so a friend stopped me mid-sentence stating that she did not want to hear another word about diet, exercise or weight! Well, get yo life, then. lol So, forgive me if I belabor the point but this is what is important to me. I am going to talk about it and encourage myself and others on my blog.
So there!
I exercised twice yesterday. Once in the morning – Shaun T's Dance Party – and once in the evening – jogging on a treadmill. My energy is way up and I am focused. Plus, I am down a pound, who doesn't want to hear that?
Fair readers be warned, this blog is going to lean toward fitness for the next few months. I promise that I will put up before and after photos in January 2014. If the Lord blesses me to see another birthday, then you all will see a new me.
*In my Forrest Gump's voice* And that's all I have to say about that!
Insanity, Hunger, and a Mad Hat
I thought I was buying a Gatorade-type drink today. About half-way through it, I realized it was a disguised energy drink. As a result, I was so totally wired. After work, I ran on the track and I did Insanity Day 1 all of the way through. My legs hurt as I am typing. I drank a smoothie for dinner and currently I am fighting the urge to eat the refrigerator.
Consequently, this post may wander around a bit.
I went to Derby Day at this race track last Saturday. *job-event, no gambler disclaimer*. The hats, the dresses, dapper-dons and the HATS! I felt the urge to be glamorous. Due to a last-minute wardrobe change, I was wearing jeans. I forgot to paint my toes and try as I may, they kept peeking out from under my jeans.
#glamourfail
Girl: I love to see black women all dressed up.
Me: Me, too. I need to lose weight. I used to be fly.
Girl: I understand. Me, too girl.
Me: One day I was walking down the street and nearly caused an accident. I miss those days.
Yes. Those are the kinds of things I wish for. To be so fine men lose sight of the road. Vanity is a great motivation.
So, is health.
Someone called today to tell me that their mom had slipped into a diabetic coma. Then she got laid off. Her mom is better *thank God* but she is still laid off.
*inside voice* why are you so vain, Felicia?
Never say or write anything while you are upset. You will regret it. Even if you the issue is real and you think you are justified. It will come out all wrong and make things worse.
Lesson learned.
Quick. Think of two things no matter how small that went great today. Do you feel better? You should be grateful. It could be worse.
That last paragraph shouldn't be italicized but I am tired of looking back.
Alas, I did not eat the refrigerator. I wrote a blog post instead.
Tell me what you think.
I’m Melting, Melting! Oh What A World!
It is day 18 0f my 30 in 30 days of no eating out. Man am I feeling. . .SUPER. Someone told me today that I am MELTING! I put on a pair of pants that would not come past my thighs a few weeks earlier. Yes, people, I am melting.
As the old me – the tired, overweight, unsatisfied me- melts away, a newer, bolder me emerges. God is amazing in how he orchestrates things. This entire journey started with The Daniel Fast. The results were so stark – I lost weight, looked better, could sleep without burning acid reflux. Others around me were beginning healthy journeys, as well, providing support and accountability.
It all felt great and then a compliment, visible results. What can be more motivational?
I have added jogging to my workout routine which now consists of Danceaton classes 2-3 times per week. Felt so great today, I did both.
Will you join me? How can we keep each other inspired and motivated? I am eager to hear your thoughts.