Time to Rest

(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

My body is screaming loudly for a respite as I have seriously put it through it's paces over the last couple days. That said, I always allot at least one stretch day in my regimen—one that's typically Yoga-infused—just to be sure that I keep my flexibility where I want and need it to be.

It's important to always listen to your body's cues when you come across the point where everything hurts and you literally don't have the energy to lift a pot much less a weight.

Rest is one of the most important aspects of training and if you neglect to get it as needed, you can potentially do unnecessary harm to the progress you've already made.

Remember to always take a day or two—sometimes a week is necessary—to reset and rejuvenate. Your body will thank you for it and the gains you'll experience the next time you workout will be felt two-fold.

You Are The Enemy

Excuses are the enemy of progress. If I had a nickel for every excuse I tried to make when I'm simply not feeling my workout on a particular day, I'd be driving a Bentley by now.

Your biggest obstacle is always going to be yourself. Don't listen to others, don't worry about what they think, and stop making the decision to always place yourself and your health second. If you can do that, success is going to be a lot easier to attain.

Fit: Once You're Committed, There's No Turning Back

Each morning as I prepare for the day ahead, I sit down with my notebook—filled with every single routine I've completed over the past 14-months—and I plan my routine.

Some days focus on getting the heart rate going via a tough cardiovascular workout, while others focus on building strength via weightlifting, but the main ingredient is always the same—F-O-C-U-S.

I've devoted myself to the idea of fitness for better than two-years now and what started out as a surface-level goal of netting a nice mid-section and killer arms has become a lifestyle that feels empty minus the presence of a healthy diet, an exercise routine, and an attitude that always feels I could be doing more to get better—I just know I haven't reached my best "me" yet.

That said, fitness is not a goal, it's a lifestyle. I don't know how much I can stress that point to those who are reading, but it's something that I strongly believe. You have to make the decision—sometimes every day—that the choices you'll make will be ones geared towards keeping you healthy in the long-term.

Am I perfect day in and day out? Absolutely not! If you read this blog with any regularity you know I have days where I fall off the wagon of health and want to throw it all away just to go back to the bliss of eating without precaution—to live in a world where being "skinny" is enough. But that ship sailed for me long ago, with knowledge came a bigger responsibility to myself. And that responsibility means that I am always fully aware of the choices I make regarding food and exercise.

I could never go back to being the person who threw caution to the wind because I am no longer that person.

The point I'm trying to make here is being skinny is not the goal, being fit is—whatever your definition of that word happens to be is up to you. You choose your focus and you make the decision on how you'll get there, but once you enlighten yourself with all the knowledge that commitment to good health involves, please remember, there is no turning back.

I Hate to Get Off Track

This week has been hell! Too many nights that turned into early mornings and too many days overflowing with things to do.

That said, the more pressing matter is what those extended days—and the lack of sleep that accompanied them—has meant for my "living fit" lifestyle. Being exhausted, at least for me, is often a gateway to not eating as healthy or as focused as I should or would be if I were being aware of my body and listening to it's cues. As I mentioned in the previous post, my kids being home for summer vacation has meant some schedule restructuring on my part because where I once had school hours to do things like cook, clean, exercise, and shop, I now have to do it all with them in tow.

Granted, I have zero issues with being with my kids 24/7, but you'd be surprised how much more efficient your tasks have to be when you're on full mommy alert—i.e. making sure they aren't in harms way, aren't wandering off, aren't touching anything needlessly, aren't in need of a potty break or suddenly hungry— and, for me, who is an admitted Type A personality, I don't do well with mass chaos. I can take it as it comes...so long as I know about it in advance.

But I digress.

I recognized that the week was going in the wrong direction as early as Sunday, but continued down the path of least resistance and managed to blow off at least one workout while half-assing a second; pair that with a few days of bad eating and, voila, living fit mommy isn't living so fit.

My goal is to not let the week end the way it started but rather to get myself back on track. I've certainly been down this road enough to know that sometimes it's the falling that makes the getting up that much more rewarding.

Be Realistic

I have a pet peeve and some people might call it a rather obnoxious pet peeve, but it's a pet peeve nonetheless; I hate impatience where losing weight is concerned. People always seem to forget getting fit and losing weight is a process, and look opt for the easy way out; but that's the worst approach to fitness you can take because fit takes time.

While I continually strive for my own version of a goddess body, I have never in my life ingested a supplement (outside of vitamins) or subscribed to a fad diet—no Atkins, no Grapefruit Diet, no South Beach, no Zone...nothing, Nathan, nada—I simply don't believe in any of that stuff.

Now, I know what some of you might be saying, "good for you, but you've probably never lived outside of a size six in your life"; not true.

Despite maintaining an exercise regimen and a fairly decent diet, I still managed to gain better than 40lbs with my first child. And after he was born, I did not dive back into my routine right away  because I was too busy and overjoyed being a new mommy. I didn't have the time or the motivation to do anything more than a little yoga—and not even that was on a regular basis.

That said, once I finally did find the motivation to get things going again, I knew I had my work cut out for me because not only had I gained weight, but I'd lost muscle tone and definition. All the hours spent in gyms and on great eating habits officially went down the drain between my son's birth and the birth of our second child—a span of roughly 2 1/2 years.

However, once I got going again, I did so with one very important fact in mind: it took you three-years to get here, it'll take you at least that long to get back. And trust me, that wasn't an easy fact to accept. I certainly wanted to reach for that quick fix—I won't lie, it crossed my mind for a nano—but I knew that would be temporary and, as you know, my personal philosophy is "fit is forever". So I started slow and set realistic goals along the way and now, three-years removed from that personal pep talk, I am further along than if I'd never started.

You cannot be discouraged about what you're not losing. You have to be real with yourself and set reachable goals. That's the only way you'll stick with it.

And remember...take your time.

 

So,There's This Wedding...

Okay, time to share.

I had the great fortune of finding the most beautiful, form-fitting, dress whilst on a family trip to Washington, D.C. a couple weeks back—a sweetheart of a deal found on a Lord and Taylor rack for under $30 after being marked down from over $200—and I decided I was going to wear that very dress to a wedding that's quickly approaching (April 28th).

That dress is an absolute stunner, according to my hubby, and I have zero intention of wearing it with too much armor (i.e. spanx) as I hope I can pull it off without such accoutrements—wishful thinking, I'm sure, but that's the plan.

So, in an attempt to do just that, I upped my ab routine to include more planking, more crunching, and a lot more cardio. In other words, my regimen went from hell to, as my friend Ally at Copacetic in Carolina might call it, the 5th circle of hell (haha, I still think that's too funny) the moment I walked out of Lord & Taylor's. But it shall all be worth it if I can pull it off as that dress is definitely as much for the hubby as it is for me.

That said, I'm at the midway point and I'll be making even more adjustments over the coming days to see if I can reach my goal before then. Fingers, toes, and eyes are certainly crossed.

If you're curious as to how far I've come, just click here, otherwise silently be wishing me luck.

Just eight days to go!

Boxing As A Workout?...I Can Dig It

I've often come to the end of a long day and wished to heaven I had a heavy bag, a set of boxing gloves, and tons of space within which to use them both. Seriously, even as a stay-at-home-mom, there are days when you want to kick the living crap out of people for their blind ignorance.

That said, I have often mentioned the idea of purchasing said bag and gloves to my hubby—if only to at times save his shoulder from coming into contact with a wandering blow—and he's as been pretty receptive to the idea as well.

Bearing all that in mind, it was interesting to read the following article last week regarding the increasing number of women who use the sport of Boxing as a release and workout for both their bodies and their sanity.

"It's fun. It's empowering. It's as much psychological as physical," he said of the workout, which he said can burn up to 1000 calories. "If you can't do a six-punch combination, you do a two-punch. Everyone gets their own bag and goes at their own pace."

He calls the hour-long classes hardcore and quick.

"It's a testosterone-filled environment for people who seek out an intense workout. Women don't walk in there with makeup on."

...boxing workouts are great for toning the upper arms, back and abdominals, areas that women often like to target, while providing a high-intensity cardio session at the same time.
"It's all intermixed with boxing," she explained. "Just hitting the bag is cardiovascular, and you're working on your abdominals and your arms. You're also twisting, and then there are plyometric (jumping) moves, followed by pushups and sit ups."

She said boxing is a particular draw for professional women.

"The people who take our classes are Type A," she said. "They learn to do it well."

Her clients mainly attack heavy bags, not people. "I don't think anyone imagines they would hit anybody," she said. "But just imagining they could is a confidence booster."

 So I can burn up to 1000 calories and I get to hit something...sign me up!

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Strength Is Not Given

Strength is earned.

The biggest misconception any woman (or man for that matter) can have is to believe that strength is inherent from birth. It isn't. It's something that is acquired through overcoming the challenges and trials that He sets in your path. Those obstacles are like weights for your soul and—the more you lift, the stronger it gets—it's up to you to step up to the bench and do the heavy lifting all by yourself. That's the only way to become a stronger, more spiritually balanced woman of God.

Of course, over time, it becomes easier to remain still and shy away from the unknown because it's easier to not keep opening the doors with unknown paths and struggles behind them. However, there is little glory in conceding to your fears and allowing your soul to cower and remain weak in the face of a new challenge—challenges that, I truly believe, He skillfully places in our paths as reminders  that a) He knows you're there and b) is confident you can handle whatever it is He presents to you.

My personal view on facing these challenges is that we should feel blessed by their presence because it shows us that He's confident in our strength and ability even when we're not. That realization more than anything else gives me the motivation I need to continue to face my demons—no matter how frightening the battles might seem because I know where the strength to fight those battles will come from and I know I'll earn a few more stripes along the way if I stay the course.

Don't ever be afraid to step up to the bench, put on your gloves, and do that spiritual heavy lifting. I promise you as each set gets harder, He won't be far behind to help you—His hands beneath your elbows, offering you His services as your personal "spotter".

Get lifting.

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Kimberley on Pinterest

Don't Listen To That Negative Voice In Your Head

The question I get the most from family and friends is, "how do you stay so fit after having had two kids?". My answer is a simple one, "I work hard to look the way I do".

I don't diet, I don't take weight-loss pills, and I don't starve myself. My methods are the tried and true ones that continue to be the most effective of any diet I've ever heard or read about, "I eat right and exercise". Period. And though I always consider myself to be a work-in-progress, I know I am a lot further along than I was several years ago, and I'm proud of that fact.

So the advice I give to those who tell me they don't know that they can stick with a program long enough to see the results they'd like is they are their only roadblock.

It's not about being skinny, it's about being healthy, and being healthy is about changing the things about your life that contribute to your feeling bad about yourself—food and all.

The first step is to overcome that voice in your head that keeps saying "you can't" and replace it with the one that you've buried deep in your subconscious. The one that knows "you can".

Go find that voice and let it out. It's time for it to be heard. 

Source: google.com via Kimberley on Pinterest

Regret vs. Discipline: A Pin for Motivation

I found this pin on one of my favorite sites, Pinterest, and it rings very true for me where adhering to my goals is concerned.

Source: Uploaded by user via Kimberley on Pinterest

How Vain Are You?

I'm not a fan of overly arrogant people because, by and large, their attitudes stink. They don't appear to have any genuine humility and often act like they are most entitled people in the world. It's a particularly unattractive trait in a man—I'm sure that opinion has to do with my being a woman—and it's certainly a personality marker that can make or break any personal relationship I attempt to foster with an individual.

That said, I readily admit I'm a vain about being "fit" and though I don't go around shoving my fitness methods in people's faces, I am aware that I work hard to have the body I do and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm proud of its progress compared to where it was two years ago.

In my opinion, some level of vanity is necessary if I hope to get to the "goddesss" body that I am always referring to. You simply can't reach your best you without being a stickler for things like food and how much, and the kinds, you consume or getting serious about how you approach your workout sessions. 

You have to say to yourself 'I'm going to do this the right way or not at all' because, otherwise, you're not on a fitness mission, you're just exercising.

Complete attention to detail is necessary in order to reach your maximum potential.

So, you're likely wondering who am I to say this to anyone? After all, I don't have any fitness products attached to my name and, as far as you know, I might not even work out everyday.

Being an unseen blogger can give the wrong impression I'm sure.

Well, without letting loose a barrage of photos, I'll only say you'll have to trust me when I tell you I take being fit very seriously and I do exercise on a regular basis—five, sometimes six, times per week.

It's not a hobby for me, it's a lifestyle. And that lifestyle is built on one principle: maximizing my efforts to reach my greatest potential physically. I'm not satisfied with only being able to fit into a particular size jeans or looking great in a bikini. I want to be able to look in the mirror and say 'damn, girl' and know that I did that all by myself.

Is that a little vain?  Probably.

Still, though, what's wrong with a little vanity between the mirror and you?

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Make A Resolution to Live Healthy, Not Lose Weight

Diets aren't my thing. I mean, living healthy can seem a bit like dieting but, when you're talking about making a lifestyle change, it's not exactly the same as someone who has signed up for Jenny or Weight Watchers for as long as they can pay the fees and afford the foods. No, a lifestyle change is simply a decision to "eat this, not that" and that's as simple as I can put it for those who like simplicity.

That said, every day can be a challenge for even the healthy minded because there is always new information about food and some new definition of "healthy". It's a challenge that I have trouble facing up to, from time to time, I must admit. But, eating healthy and preserving this God-given body of mine is something I am so passionate about that I am willing to make the effort to do what I can to remain informed and not succumb to whatever information is force fed to me through less reliable sources with an agenda.

Even so, I am not perfect.

I enjoy a slice of cake every now and then, and it can be difficult to turn down a piece of chocolate when the craving hits me but, for the most part, the mantra for me remains to "eat this, not that" and keep up my regular exercise/stretching regimen and that is something that has always worked for me. 

Many people, I feel—and if this sounds arrogant or short-sighted, please trust that is not my intention—complicate the process too much by subscribing to one dietary plan for some random extent of time. The only plan that has ever worked, consistently, is to eat right and exercise. It's not now, nor has it ever been, rocket science.  That's the tried and true way to remain healthy and lose weight—if losing weight is your goal.

You have to commit to this not for 30, 60, or 90-days, but for a lifetime, anything less is futile.

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Battling Through A Short-Term Injury or Illness

I don't handle being ill very well. I am , literally, the type of person who gets angry when they get sick because it slows me down more than necessary. Suddenly, it's harder to get out of bed, more difficult to get the simplest of tasks done, and—most importantly—it's tough to find the energy to exercise.

You know how they say, sometimes, it's just "mind over matter"? Well, where being ill is concerned, my mind doesn't matter one bit. Anything that slows down your physical being will force you to take a different approach to how you handle any plans you might have had on the docket for that day.

So, how do you handle such small, inconvenient, setbacks? Well, the first thing you must do is see such times as an opportunity to rest your mind and body.

Your body can be as well-oiled a machine as you want it to be, but if it's suffering the effects of a cold or some other common challenge of the physical kind, then take that as a sure sign that you need a minute to re-energize yourself—and sometimes getting sick is the only way most of us will do so.

Secondly, us the time to engage in meditation or some other form of spiritual enhancement because your mind is every bit as important as your body.

Lastly, understand the value of such challenges as they pertain to your overall self-improvement goals. I find that I am more motivated after recovering from a cold or an injury because I feel more refreshed and renewed from all the rest and relaxation time I was granted.

So, the next time those allergies are kicking your rear, or that flu bug makes its home on your front door, consider it a good thing (okay, well maybe not a good thing, but you get my meaning) and take it as your opportunity to fine-tune the other sentient parts of you and get them back on track. 

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The Most Important Part of Your Exercise Routine Is Y-O-U

I'll admit that one of the hardest parts of getting into a fitness routine is actually starting one. Many of us look in the mirror and make a mental judgment of how much we have to do in order to get to our "ideal" size and we feel overwhelmed. It is in that moment we manage to kill any chance we have at succeeding because we have already decided the outcome won't be positive or quick enough in coming.

It's an easy train of thought to fall into when you've spent years neglecting your body.

However, trust me when I tell you that there's not a woman or man alive who wants to look in the mirror and not like what they see. We are all vain in that aspect, and none of us wish to feel as if the beautiful canvas God gave us is somehow marred.

That said the solution to the above problem is a simple one—although many of us fail to recognize it—stop self-sabotaging your goals.

Does that sound too easy? Too cliche'? Sorry, but it's the plain truth.

We all make far too many excuses for why we choose (and understand in most instances it is a choice) not to exercise: no time, no money, no energy, no space, etc. Give. Me. A. Break!

Two things are required to cultivate a successful exercise routine: you and your body's weight. All of the special gadgets you see others using (weights, mats, bikes, elliptical machines, gyms, etc.) are just aids. Those things might help give you focus when deciding how to personalize your personal routine, but none of them are necessary for you to reach your goals.

Your body weight gives you the best challenge to building strength because you have to be able to control it as well as execute the moves. I can lift a 25 pound dumbbell 10 times with no problem, but if you challenge me to do 20 push-ups, I might need a break. Why? Because you not only have to concentrate on lifting it, but doing so with proper form as well—and that's not easy.

If you're worried about a lack of cardio, how about running in place while watching your favorite television show or doing mountain climbers in 30-second intervals. Have some stairs in or just outside of your home, use them as your stairmaster.

Want to build better buns? Try lunges...with weights.

Creativity is a great asset to developing a challenging routine that can bring you great results.

Don't believe me, just take a look at this guy...no weights, no gym, and no supplements. He's a work of art and he formed the foundation for that body by using whatever he had in and around his home. Oh and, by the way, he's almost 50.

My point is simple, there is no excuse for not exercising. If you can move, you can lose. It is that simple. And while I don't expect any of us to be able to duplicate what Herschel Walker was able to do, his dedication to doing a body weight workout everyday should serve as an inspiration for those of you still struggling to get off the sofa.

Now, get out there and move something!

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Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

Plateau. That's a kind way of saying your body has reached the point where you are no longer able to make any changes to it physically. You try in vain to lose that last five or ten pounds and you consider looking into that fad diet you keep hearing about because you're desperate to lose one last inch or two off your waistline.

It's a cruel joke, really. You push yourself and remain dedicated to the cause of being and living healthy and your body, inexplicably, decides that what you're doing is good, but not good enough. So, what can you do about it? How do you reach that next level of fit without driving yourself absolutely bonkers?

Well, one way is to change your regimen. This is something that I have suggested before and feel very confident is a great way to get over that proverbial hump. But, more than that, you have to get over the drama of the new attitude you've acquired from becoming so fit—your ego changed right along with your body. Trust me.

You have to reconfigure your goals once you hit that plateau (or wall as some say) and ask yourself what you want for yourself and your body now? Are you still simply trying to live a healthier life or are you looking for the physical manifestation of all your efforts—fitting into that size "whatever you want" pair of jeans or cocktail dress? It's an important question to ask because, quite honestly, the vast majority of us can always be fitter and eat healthier—these are things that are rarely overdone in today's fast food society.

So you have to look at yourself in the mirror and ask what's next? If you want to get over the plateau, that's easily done, change your workout and/or add something more to it that will challenge you and re-energize your bored body.

On the other hand, if you are looking for something deeper—perhaps an answer to why you are so obsessed with looking perfect or losing that last few pounds—then that journey will take a much more introspective approach and you will need to tap into the side of you that isn't satisfied with being what you are right now.

The only way to do that is to meditate, relax, journal, and seek out the memories that scare you to death. Find out where it was in your life that you first began to feel those inadequacies and make it your mission to correct the negative thoughts so that you can finally focus on the present.

In the meantime, expect setbacks as you tackle new obstacles and try not to get frustrated by the process of making adjustments to what was working so well before now—if you can. Being fit is only half the battle, the bigger challenge is in staying fit and being aware enough of your inner self to understand why that matters so much to you.

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Lady Gaga As The Next Oprah...For Real?

I don't know if Lady Gaga is the next Oprah or not, but I know Oprah Winfrey has definitely left some big shoes to fill. Here, one last look at her impact, her influence, and her legacy.

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You're So Vain

I often say of my daughter (who is still just a toddler) that she's never met a mirror she didn't like. I mean, literally, she is incapable of passing a mirror without admiring the beauty that she most definitely owns and I do her humility no favors by showering her with as many compliments and touts of how infinitely gorgeous she is on a daily basis. If there's one area in which I hope my baby girl never lacks confidence, it's that of self-image—so take that airbrush nation.

That said, I am also completely aware of the superficiality that can develop if you tie your self-worth into your physical appearance. There has to be more substance to your total make-up than just the glow of your skin, the build of your body, and the tags on your rags. You have to be every bit as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside, otherwise you are akin to a piece of artwork done without purpose—beautiful to look at, but essentially soulless.

Outer beauty fades, inner beauty doesn't. It 's that simple. Never forget to cultivate the spirit in as many ways as you do the body.

That means making time for others, being a voice where there isn't one, extending a hand when needed, and always remembering to do everything with purpose and from the heart. If you do those things, you will encompass a more enchanting beauty than you've ever witnessed before. That will be the beauty people appreciate every bit as much as that which you see in the mirror.

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Yoga: Moving Towards More Than Just Flexibility

Yoga is something that I have danced with, off and on, over the last 5-years, However, it is only in the past five months that I have come to appreciate the balance it offers in my life.

I find that I am more willing to accept the inconsistencies and curve balls thrown my way because I see the benefits in going with the flow rather than obsessing over the details. Even more, the beauty and simplicity of the things around me have become magnified in such a way that it's become impossible for me not to find some level of gratification in even the most mundane moments.

Granted, I still have times where my anger and frustration get the best of me but I feel, for the most part, that I am much more centered and focused on my life as a "work in progress" as opposed to a completed picture with no hope of getting better—I am rediscovering myself as a wife, mother, woman, and friend and enjoying the lessons I'm learning along the way.

I credit yoga for allowing me the avenue to do such things without feeling the pain and disappointment that I might have in the past.

It's as if I have come to accept my bad parts for what they were/are and decided to no longer let them define me. I finally started to realize that the only consistency in this life is that things will always change and my place in that cycle is up to me.

I guess what I'm saying is, the journey does not come in trying to overcome the obstacles that these "changes" represent, but rather in taking those obstacles as symbols of how much stronger your becoming as a person because you have found a way to overcome them on your own.

Yoga has opened up a world within myself that I might otherwise never have found and I am loving it.

Now...if I could just master that darned crane (see photo).

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Proof That Not Everyone Should Wear High Heels

This young lady may need to stick with flats for a little while longer:


Funny - Funny Videos

Ay yi yi.

Being Healthy Isn't The Same Thing As Being "On A Diet"

I cannot tell you the number of times I have made this statement since I embarked on my quest to become healthier.

People often misinterpret my decision to not partake in the potato salad at a barbeque, or eat a slice of pizza at a party, as a sign that I am "on a diet". So, when I respond that I've simply made a decision to not allow those foods into my body on a regular basis—if it can be helped—they respond in a perplexed manner.

Some say, "good for you, but there's no way I could do it", or the more flattering version, "if I had you're figure, I wouldn't worry about a slice or two of this or that". Well, as nice as the latter statement is to hear,  it belies a common misconception about living a healthy lifestyle—that it's a temporary fad, and not a life decision.

It's easy to latch on to a fad diet, a miracle pill, or a detoxification program and say that you're making a move towards losing weight, but being healthy is not about weight-loss, it's about choosing to make your body into something more sustainable over the long haul.

Personally, I stay away from red meat, eschew caffeine and coffee, and eat a diet that is as plant-based as possible (meaning lots of fruits and veggies, and very little—if any—processed foods). That's how I've chosen to live my life at this point—that works for me.

Is that a diet? No...it's my lifestyle choice.

The one thing I always hope to do when someone honors me with a question about what I do to stay fit is try to educate them with the things I've learned along the way first. And while I am by no means an expert, I try to give the most accurate information I can.  In the end, however, it's about what works for you.

My family isn't forced to eat what I eat—mostly because they still don't dig soy as a substitute for chicken or almond milk as a better option than a cow's—but I do make sure they get the best of my world and theirs by offering them whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and the healthiest snack options available—with a few treats here and there.

In time, as they are introduced to more and more of the foods that pepper and sustain me, they come to enjoy them as much as I do—albeit accompanied by what they call "real food" as well.

It all goes back to making choices.

Diets are temporary. They're great for looking good at your class reunion or fitting into a great outfit for a special occasion but, in the end, to live healthy you have to be committed to something bigger. And once you are, your life will change—hopefully for the better.

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