Get Serious About Getting Fit !!!

Hey you!! Yes! YOU!!! Its time to get serious about getting fit! It's time to do away with the excuses about not having enough time to workout.  Its time to start eating right. I'm challenging myself and YOU for the month of June to workout daily and eat right!! So who is up for a 30-day challenge??
I already am well aware of what my issue is. I am not consistent in the gym. I will start off good and then start falling off. Another thing I will do is eat everything that I know I shouldn't eat and then wonder why I'm not losing weight. One thing I have been doing is maintaining these 175 lbs. At one point I did go to 180 but I think I panicked and got back to 175.

Now I know for some people that doesn't seem like a lot and I know I have been told that I carry my weight well. But for a chick that is not comfortable being over 150... these extra 25 lbs  have been a struggle. So I'm ready!! I'm ready to get it off and keep it off. I was talking to a friend last night (who happens to be personal trainer) and I was telling him my plans of losing these 25 lbs by July. He told me that was not possible and I'm so determined to prove him wrong!! Although I know that losing the right way and the healthy way takes time, I still want to lose as much as possible this month and not back track because of bad habits. Here are a few  things that I am going to keep in mind during this 30 day journey!!
Know Your Triggers!!!
Everyone has triggers/ factors that contribute to weight gain and by knowing what they are and recognizing when they occur is a major factor in determining your success.  I know when my friends call and want to go to the Mexican spot, I have to decline. I can not be successful on my journey when I know that if I go I'm going to be eating nachos and drinking margaritas. For some people stress eating is a problem so you have to recognize things that stress you out and act accordingly. You have to be aware of whats going on in your life that works against your goals and find ways to combat it.
The Scale Is The Devil!!!

DO NOT ...... I repeat... DO NOT get on the scale during your journey!! This will only discourage you! Been there and done that!! I was doing so well with eating and working out and after 3 days I got on the scale and had gained a pound! I was so upset and I went and ate a bowl of ice cream. The scale can be very deceiving and its best just to stay away from it for a while. If you want to know if you are doing well, you can really judge by how your clothes fit.
The 80/20 Rule!!
Losing weight and getting in shape is 80% what you eat and 20% working out. So basically you can work out all day long, but if you are not eating right, its hard for your body to change. Once you actually reach your goals and you are in pretty good shape then you may can eat what you want sometimes, but for the most part, in order to maintain a healthy weight and body shape- you gotta eat right!!! Its best to make healthy eating habits a lifestyle and then it gets easier and easier thus becoming the norm.
DON'T GIVE UP !!!
That;s the bottom line! Just don;t give up!! You can do it!! I'm going to do it! I have done it before and I will do it again. If you feel like its too much, then get you an accountability partner to help you through. Or team up with a workout partner or even get a trainer!! No matter what you do, DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!

Good Luck on your journey!!

The "Fountain of Youth" is not real........ but it can be!!

Since there is no such thing as the fountain of youth, we have to find ways to keep our youthful appearance. We all know things such as smoking and drinking alcohol can have an adverse affect on out appearance. Not doing those things can help..... but what else are we doing to ensure we remain as youthful as possible? I will begin to explore and share with you the different things I am doing to age gracefully. Its true that some people just have damn good genes, point blank! But for others, staying youthful takes healthy eating, rigorous skin care routines and daily exercise in order to get the results that we want.
Today I wanted to share with you a product I ordered online from Amazon.com.  Its called Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay and its a mask that can be used on your skin and in your hair.  It can also be used for body wraps, foot soaks, and even insect bites. The clay comes in a jar as a powder and you have to mix it with equal parts vinegar and water.  I tried it on my face and neck. I absolutely loved it!! It made my face feel so tight and refreshed. My pores felt clean. One bit of advice..... It will get VERY tight and crack so once you feel a nice tightness I would suggest washing it off before it feels like a brick! LOL! Also you have to mix in a plastic bowl with plastic utensils. Do not use metal. I usually mix in my bowl where I can use the a lid to seal it so I won't have to mix it every time. I will usually make enough to use twice.
 I am most definitely going to continue to use this product twice a week and see what the results are after using it for a few months. Skincare is a very important part of a youthful appearance mainly because your face is the first thing people see. I want to continue to get those "you don't look your age" comments for years and years to come. If you want to try this product you can go to amazon and search "Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay". I have also saw where it is available on Walmart.com but I cant verify if its the exact same product . If you have tried this product please share your personal experiences (good or bad).

Stay tuned over the summer for blog segments pertaining to staying youthful as you age.  I will be discussing various ways that you can have access to the "fountain of youth" by showing you different products and tips that help you to age gracefully! This is not only for women. Men you can benefit from these products and tips as well :)
Thanks for reading!! Don't forget to comment & share!!

Age Ain't Nothin But a Number........Right?

Dating is already a headache for some.  But what makes it worse in when you include factors like geographical location, race, physical features...you know things like that. She has to be within x amount of miles from me. Or he must be over 6'ft tall.  Or how about the people you know that say they only date a certain race. You began to limit yourself greatly.  Its one thing to be geographically unattractive (you live too far away),  Yes, I know someone that has experienced that.....but it just gets even more frustrating when you are numerically unattractive.  Apparently age is more than just a number.  It can determine if you are acceptable enough to date. Soooo...what check box do you belong in?

• 18-25
• 26-34
• 35-45

And so on.......But why is it we limit ourselves to a box? Me...... I don't look at age as a determining factor as to if someone is dating material. I think compatibility, attraction, and being like-minded are far more important. For me, I have always been attracted to older men, and it has never been a problem.... until now. All of a sudden I'm too young. Yeah, me! Soon to be 40.....I'm too young! That's funny to me and a tad bit flattering. Perhaps its just an excuse to cover insecurities about getting older or we just weren't compatible,  who really knows.... but my question for you is.... Have you ever dated anyone that was much younger or older than you? How did that relationship work out ? What issues did you experience, if any? What was the biggest challenge? How did family/friends react to the age difference?
 I can say that my experience from dating younger guys (when I was in my 20's) was that they were so immature or didn't  really know what they wanted in life. It got to the point where as when dating outside my check-box, it allowed me to experience relationships on a much more mature level. I loved it...so naturally I deviated from and eventually eliminated dating younger guys to only dating guys my age or  older.  Am I prejudice against my younger guys....not at all. I may dabble in that pool again (now that I'm older :)
One thing to keep in mind....... if you are dating someone younger or older, sometimes you can be as much as a generation apart. Instead of seeing it as a big age difference, take the time to learn about each other. You may see that you have more in common than you thought. Focus more on those things instead of how your age difference. If you are dating someone older, remember that being older can mean being somewhat set in your ways. This is not a bad thing. Just recognize people are who they are and the longer they have been a certain way, the harder it is for them to change. You shouldn't expect them to anyway. This goes for any relationship. Always allow them to be themselves. After all, isn't that the person you fell for anyway. Lastly your age does not necessarily have to correlate with how you feel. You can be 60 and feel 40. Don't think you have to act or feel a certain way because you are a certain age. You are only as old as you feel.
Bottom line: Be open to dating and relationships regardless of age because you may end up happily surprised ....... After all, Age ain't nothin' but a number................. Thanks for reading!!! Don't forget to comment and share your experiences!!

 

HIV/ AIDS in the ATL....... What's really going on???

A recent news article detailing the HIV/ AIDS epidemic is Atlanta is alarming. Atlanta is being compared to a 3rd world country when it comes to the increasing number of HIV infections attacking Atlanta and the metro area. Click on link to view this story:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/2-investigates/atlantas-hiv-epidemic-compared-to-third-world-african-countries/263337845

Not only is this epidemic scary, but to know that 1:51 people will be infected over a lifetime in the metro area is even scarier. And what does this mean for those who are single and dating. Point blank you have to be careful!!! Casual sex is very dangerous and its time that we start thinking about safety to try and lower the number of HIV infections being spread.
Don't get it twisted, Atlanta is not the only area with high HIV infections so no matter where you reside, safe sex should always be a priority. Another thing that will help decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS is to get tested and to do so regularly. Even if you are currently or think you are in a monogamous relationship, you should still get tested at least twice a year. Its getting to the point where even if you are married, HIV testing should still be part of your routine health physical. Not everyone is faithful and stepping out on your mate can be deadly.
It sounds good to think we can find that ONE person, stay in a relationship, be faithful to one another and not worry about HIV, but the reality is.... that doesn't happen as often as we would like. We need to all be proactive in being educated and educating others about HIV/ AIDS and know what we need to do to prevent the spread of this infection. Point blank... WRAP IT UP!! Each and every time!!! There are no excuses! Be cautious of those who want to have sex without condoms, because that just means they are real comfortable with not doing so .............and you not the first one that person has tried to have unprotected sex  with and you won't be the last. Be serious about your safety!!!!! Get tested!!! Know your status!!!

Do What Makes YOU Happy!!!

We all have family members, friends, and/or associates who will always give you their opinion concerning YOUR life.  How much do we let the opinion of others influence us? When did we stop doing what makes US happy because we are so afraid of what someone else will say? Why do we base our life on what others think we should or shouldn't do. Its even to the point where we date people based on our homeboys/ girlfriends approval. If our friends don't think that person is acceptable enough, then we don't think they are acceptable. From career choices to where will live........ Why do our friends' opinions carry so much weight?
You may not have even noticed how much you become influenced by others. Have you changed a decision because of a friends' opinion? How did that change affect your life? Would you have been happier if you had went with your first thought before consulting with others? And most importantly....How do you know that your friends or whoever you confide in have your best interest at heart?

There was a point in my life where I was at a crossroads in deciding exactly what I wanted to do as far as a career, I had been to school, had 2 degrees (Bachelors in Business Management and Bachelors in Psychology & Human Services), and was working but it wasn't a "career". That's when I decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Special Education. Yes, I decided I wanted to teach! I received mixed reviews but I didn't let what someone else thought influence my decision. After all, its MY life- not theirs. And I am happy with my decision. I absolutely love teaching!!! I made the best decision for me! The same goes for relationships. No one knows everything that goes on behind closed doors with you and your significant other. Only you know how that person is with you and how they make you feel. Why should you care if someone thinks that is not the right person for you. Yet, there are always the ones that have to voice their opinion regarding who you are with...... but how do you let that affect you? Unless you are in a abusive relationship- others opinions shouldn't even matter. So don't go dumping your significant other over what your friends think!

You should always do what makes you happy, even if it goes against what others feel. It's YOUR life and you have to live with YOUR choices. If your choices are what truly make you happy then go for it!!! Bottom line..... Do what makes YOU happy!!!!

What Are Your Regrets??

We all have had times where we reflect back and think about the things we didn't accomplish, or didn't do or say............ and feel regret for not pursuing that "thing" that may or may not have made our life different. Or what about those words you never spoke and  now you can't because that person is gone. What about the higher level  position you didn't take at work because of fear. The girl that you let get away because you weren't "ready". You may have always said "next year" when thinking about completing that degree. So what are your regrets?

I recently saw a video on social media that was so powerful. It made me stop and think about the things I personally regret. (See video below).In the video, a chalkboard was placed on a street in New York City and it asked people passing by to write down their biggest regret. The comments were interesting. I immediately began to think about not only the things I regret but the biggest things that had a major impact on the course of my life. There are so many things and choices that I look back on and think......WOW, What if............ But one thing that I do regret was not continuing in my program to receive my specialist degree. But guess what..... its not too late. So now I must make the decision to either go for it or be ok with my decision to not complete my specialist and move on to other goals. There are other decisions that cant be changed. For example: Staying in an unhealthy relationship for too long. You can't go back and change that. But what you can do is move on, be ok with it and make better decisions next time around. I'm sure you can think of numerous things that can be put on your list and once you realize exactly what they are, then what?

When you realize your regrets, it should bring you to the  point where you decide whether or not you will change that regret to reality or let it go and move on.  Its always possible. Isn't it?  The chances you didn't take, the dreams that were not pursued, and words not spoken............. If its still possible when you come to that realization ....what are you going to do about it? Continue to dwell in regret or try to change it to the point where at least you feel better about it. Going through life with a list of regrets can cause you to feel a certain way about your overall self. Its not healthy to continue to live with a bunch of "what ifs" ....So lets make it a point to change those regrets to reality and if nothing else start yourself off with a clean slate!!!

Put all your regrets behind you......

Life Insurance...... How many of us have this?

It can be an uncomfortable subject for some, but it a necessary one. Most everyone hates the thought of dying and leaving their loved ones behind, but the reality is..... we all will die someday.  What you do right now while you are alive plays a major role in what happens when you are gone. Do you want to leave your family in debt trying to pay for funeral cost once you are gone? What about your unpaid bills. What about loved ones that need to be taken care of. We think about these things but why is it that we always find ways to justify not having a life insurance policy. I have heard everything from "Its just too expensive!" to "I just don't believe in life insurance." How we were  raised is a factor in determining our thoughts on life insurance. Also, sometimes- its just the fact that so many people have been misinformed regarding life insurance.
I have heard story after story pertaining to families not being able to bury their loved one and take care of the family once someone is gone. What if the deceased was the breadwinner in the family? What is the plan for providing once they are gone? These are questions that need to be asked...... and answered!
The absolutely best time to purchase life insurance is at a young age when the rates are cheaper. As we age the rates increase and some will find it difficult to make payments on those rising premiums.
If you currently do not have any type of coverage, its time to explore your options. Start by looking at your financial situation and figure out what type of coverage would be best for you. You have many options, but most find term life insurance to be the best value. The issue with term is the fact that it only last for a "term" or a specific time frame.  For instance, you can get a 20 year term policy for a low rate. But after 20 years the rate changes and begins to increase every year thereafter. Also term does not have any cash value. You can go with a whole life policy, but age has a huge impact on your rate. Also men tend to pay more than women. You can even explore the option of combining a term with a whole life and look at converting the partial term to a whole life over time. Also, there are some who have life insurance through their jobs. That's a great option....but are you planning to be at that particular job/position for long term?
There are many options when choosing a policy, and if you don't currently have one- make the time to talk to a financial planner or a life insurance expert sooner than later about starting a policy. In the long run it will benefit you and your family for the best!!!