220

220…220…220! That is the highest weight I’ve been. It almost seems unreal! I was shocked when the nurse told me that number. I wanted to cry, scream, and shout. I felt broken when she said 220 lbs. What had I done to myself? How did I allow myself to balloon to this size? I was in denial over my weight. What I saw in the mirror and what the scale said did not match up. I was told by loved ones "you carry your weight well." Thanks, but no thanks! I was too short to carry that amount of weight on my frame. 

It motivated me to start making changes, and then life got in the way and I plateaued.

Be Proactive And Not Reactive!

I have always been athletic but one day, I started losing focus of my eating habits and was not really working out. It was not until I went to the doctor one day and he told me that I had high cholesterol. Then he hit me with the big bug! That it was hereditary and that I would be on medication for the rest of my life! The crazy part is how he looked at me. He said that my cholesterol levels were so high and so low that he was surprised I had not already had a heart attack!

I immediately went into panic mode. I have a husband and kids. What will they do without me if something happens? I begin to pray and then heard God say, did you hear what the doctor said! He was surprised that you have not already had a heart attack! Did you not realized how I have kept you! I will continue to keep you but you have to put in work too!

It was then that I decided not to accept the doctor’s report! This is not hereditary!

I Am Not Perfect!

I am not perfect, but I try daily to start over and get it right. There are days where I give my all and days where I don’t give enough, but the key is that I don’t give up. No many how many times I fall short, I get back up and keep trying to get it right. This life of health is necessary and serious because I want to live a long, healthy, and prosperous life. This can only be if I take care of me in the midst of taking care of everyone else (meaning my husband and two boys). They’re a handful, but I am learning that I must take care of me in order to take care of them. We are all moms, spouses, sisters, aunties, godmothers, and daughters to someone but it is necessary for us to be selfish at some point in the day and give to ourselves. For me, that is setting the clock to get up and do some form of physical exercise while everyone is sleeping. If I don’t do it then, it won’t get done. Most days I don’t want to roll out of bed (like today), but I get up and get it done.

We Have not because we Ask Not

Shouts out to all the moms who just make it happen, those that are not afraid to ask questions, or go against the grain! I really wanted to participate in a race, but I had class. It was a local race and it was for a great cause, the Salvation Army Kroc Center. The 5k is a community event. Proceeds from the race support the scholarship fund, which provides $120,000 in scholarships annually to help families participate in recreational programs. In 2014, Dash Down Division raised over $5,000! I had class. I could not miss it and my girlfriends were packing up and heading out without me (I had to throw that part in). I thought to myself, I want to support this cause, I want the bling (yes, I run for bling) and other than this class it worked for me and my daughter's schedule. Basketball was over and we needed some mommy and daughter time. To make a long story short, I enlisted a runner gal pal to get the message to the race director in my absence! To my surprise, he replied with a YES! After class I headed to the location (I had packed my clothes just in case), had my husband meet me with my daughter dressed and we ran our 3.12 miles and collected our bling. Our first mommy & daughter virtual race. I am so glad I did not let fear or embarrassment get in the way! You never know what shiny treasure may wait! ;-)

Involve the Kids in your Fitness

For the moms out there with cable, did you know that there is a fitness channel for On Demand Subscribers? Well maybe you did. Do you use it? You are already paying for it. Also, I have recently discovered that there is a YOGA Jr. channel with free 8-11 minute work outs for you and your little one. My kids have fallen in love with Yoga and I love it! Try it. What a great, calming and relaxing way to put a little one down for a nap. Who does not enjoy good sleep!?!?

Also, what a better use of the remote control right? (that was for my couch potatoes) Get up and Get moving, incorporate the kids. This helps them value the benefits of exercise and healthy habits. If the mom is well and healthy, then all is right with the world right? :)

Everyday is NOT Easy!

Everyday isn't easy. Run at least one mile a day- a fitness streak/goal for March. It sounds easy but after working all day, girl scout troop meeting, washing hair, combing two heads of hair, One MILE WAS the furthest thing from my mind. I figured my 4-day streak was over. Training called for 6 miles. I just didn't have it in me. I thought about how I push my students in fitness classes to their limits.

Fit at 40

Fit at 40! That is my goal among other things in my life. 

Jokingly, I tell everyone I am trying to reach MILF (Google it) status! LOL! What I do know is that my life has to continue to change if I am to reach my goal. Currently, I have cut way down on sugar especially my love affair with chocolate. I love it, but it isn’t good for me. Not because of its deliciousness, but because I am allergic to it. I will break out in hives and give myself headaches for it, but since I’ve cut back on it I can feel the difference in my body. We all have our “guilty treats” and mine just happens to be the best thing on earth. I am pretty sure I am biased! LOL! I am doing cardio 6 days a week and strength training 3 of those days. One of my steps for being fit involves running. I am using the Couch to 10k app for improving my time.

Review of Dolvett Quince's 3-1-2-1

I love Dolvett Quince, he is one of the personal trainers from the hit t.v. show Biggest Loser. I love his smile and so it led me to request his book for Christmas 2014. I read the bio and it really spoke to me, but I admit I did not do the diet program or workout plan until 2015. I just completed the 21 day program. I did not complete the workouts because I generally work out on my own. The 21 day menu plan introduced me to some new meals and meal ideas. Spinach Chips! Yes!

I think my love for him pushed me to finish it more than anything, let me be honest! However, I gained some great things - tips, recipes, discipline, resistance for things I thought I could not live without. Here is my review: