BUT you do have to start to be great!
That statement rings so true, as recently I was reminded via Face Book's Memories Feed that popped up on my timeline! It showed me at 200+ pounds wondering if I would ever be able to
reclaim my pre-childbearing body back again from several years back! ....Yeah, that is me on the left wondering....
And then following that picture, a couple of years
later, showed me the amazing results I was fortunate to achieve after me committing to a fitness/wellness plan. My instant thought - though it was not always easy, it did not come from hoping and a wishing, BUT it is and was very do-able! And for others, for that reason I document my journey- for if I can do it, you can do it too!
1st Step - to greatness is Decide - Decide you want better ....no matter
what that "better" mark is for you....Decide.
2nd Step - Starting - Showing up day 1 no matter how you
feel....Show up.
3rd Step - Become Accountable to a person or people who will
encouragingly remind you of your goals and the health that you say you want
for your life. Become accountable!
[ Chronicle 2]
4th Step - Commit! – And as you commit, it’s
imperative to have a SMART goals
S.M.A.R.T. GOALS meaning -
Specific - Your goals should be specific enough you could easily write them in a short list. /
Measurable - Your goals should be measurable enough you can track your progress whether inches you want to lose, or steps you want to take each day etc. /
Attainable - they should be within reach of where you are at your present state. For example I knew 12 weeks after having a baby I could not run a Marathon, BUT I could began to prepare as if one day I would
/
Realistic - be real about where you are accept it and celebrate no matter where you are, you are BEGINNING A PLAN and /
Timely - your goals should involve a time frame does not have to be to the day, but within e.g. a month's time or 2 months time what you want to see happen as far as results with those goals.
For me, that was what I called Baby steps! Once you commit to baby steps, then....
5th Step - Be Consistent. As best as possible, be consistent.
Take 1 day at time and 1
step at a time and keep going… no matter how small they are.
I remember the waddle that came from my short stature carrying the extra pounds
of post-natal and months of breastfeeding…being winded at just the thought of
walking. And literally being winded after a few steps of walking. I literally had
to talk myself into doing it as I got up to do it.
I had a new compassion for being in my expanded version of
me, and even for others in the same plight as me.
Though I accepted
me, I knew it was not God’s best for me. Which I pause here,
because if you do not love yourself big, you will not love yourself small. Love
yourself for who you are in whatever state you are. Because if you are doing this to simply love yourself it won't last....
However, I knew with diabetes, heart, and other major health
issues that easily ran on both sides of my family I had to take
charge of my health and make that change that I knew I needed for me while
I was cognizant to do so.
So off I went with my first accountability partner, my
husband, to hold me accountable and be my encourager to this new goal.
He even was so great in his support of me, he would strap one of our toddlers to his
walking holster, and I the lighter newborn to me and we would both walk around
the block, him with me.
Over the first few days….
After becoming confident enough post-partum, I went from
walking around our small cul-de-sac in front of our home a couple of laps,
To the next few weeks:
Extending my walk to
around the neighborhood and as my babies got a few months older as toddlers, me
progressing to daily going for short solo walks.
To venturing out of the cul-de-sac
To traveling further ….around
several streets of our subdivision,
To venturing out of
our subdivision up the street passing several neighborhoods a few blocks…which leads me to my next point...
[ Chronicle 3]
6th Step - Challenge Yourself.
For example, for me once I got use to walking - I then learned how to walk, then small-jog across
every road crossing and walk to small-jog the next road crossing up to the end
of the road that led to our subdivision (1 mile up and returning 1 mile back.)
Eventually progressing to walk, then sprinting across every road crossing you
get the point... in both directions.
Progressing to eventually jogging slowly all the way up one direction and then
running/sprinting back the other direction ...the whole way until my body slowly but
surely began to respond…
More on this topic now below! 😘👊🏼
[ Chronicle entry #4]
7th Step - Change it up... Change,
For me.... and for most, I've
discovered when you do something repetitive everyday- consistency will take you
very far, but often growth happens, or progress happens when we allow change to
occur. And for me whether it was with fitness, or I must say even for my life overall....that included the need to change my routine
up!
As far as fitness is concerned though, after I had mastered my daily walk rhythm to a walk/jog rhythm, to all
jogging, to all running; I needed a change it up or even a shake up if you will.
I needed to challenge my mindset
to a different set of muscle memory....and in a sense, organized
chaos. For it takes more work in general for the mind and body when it
has to physically adjust or readjust to change....so change it was...
Over the everyday steadiness as she
goes routine...
I knew I needed to create this storm of organized chaos or
change to my workouts, so my body would be challenged to put in a greater level of work so I could move from
beginners mode to a more advanced mode....and therefore would not peak or
plateau doing the same rote daily routine........
So my husband and I a little over a year later, decided to one day together
CHANGE IT UP, and so we visited the closest local gym and off we went to
discover our new norm of working out…….
Yeah this is us ....about how we looked back in 2013....
So one of my most memorable gym
journeys in the ATL, following having children, was when I visited a LA Fitness
and actually I stumbled into a class which back many years ago at LA Fit was called Latin Heat ;) way before LAFit acquired Zumba licensing.
While my husband happened to find his way
into a spin class which was just the beginning for him as well…more on his story too at a later time... (smile)
…...My husband and I fell in love
with the idea of being held accountable.
#1 by all the gym fees we were
paying 😉 we needed to "make good" on! Lol. And...
#2 by all the energy the live classes offered.
As a sidenote: I truly believe that as individuals we naturally are created beings that thrive MORE when we are not an island to ourselves, or bump elbows with others "so to speak," or stand
shoulder to shoulder with others or are "among"
community to provoke, encourage, gleam from, sharpen, and push
one another further along in a gym or in fitness groups as these or online accountability groups as well.
So, after committing to corporate
fitness plan, following the solo months of pounding the pavement, street, and at times running on grassy fields or across rocky or gravel athletic tracks alone, my body needed a change and
change indeed happened for me inside the gym with music, dance floors, and a change-up the different formats of
workouts whether Zumba or Boot camp at the time for me. Different types of classes provided a variety or
buffet of means to' "buff"et' my body back into shape …no pun
intended. ;)
So to note, my initial post-partum pounds solo lost was 20 to 25 pounds
in total, before stepping foot inside any gym.
But the next level of burning and
toning and rest of my weight-loss happened inside the gym, among others, in a corporate setting with group fitness
as a part of my journey...this was part of my change....this was part of my journey
I appreciated the different styles of fitness each class offered. Even between
various Zumba classes each class depending on the teacher presented a totally different
style who each brought their own flavor. And to this day, it feels like yesterday that I met each one.
I am thankful truly to them each who for several
weeks, or several months, or couple of years allowed me to recognize the power of what each style
could do when committed to it!
Before
Zumba's trademarked classes (were acquired by LA Fit) I had the opportunity to
experience Latin Heat after meeting and dancing with my 1st instructor KoKo
who made sure everyone a part of the front row, rotating as we went and having
a big circle party time (soul train style at the end). It was so much fun while getting in
a great sweat, at first of which I was challenged getting back into the swing of things by the ever changing format of her free-flow class, and after getting the hang of it after a while, often lost track of time as it was so much fun! I got caught up in the music and smiling faces of others... And so for that I am always thankful for KoKo!
After Zumba was acquired, I noticed a new wave of different teachers subbed in to the gym....
And so it was, a few months later I am thankful to have met and began dancing with my 1st official Zumba instructor Karan McKinney - who
introduced me to Zumba at LAFit in a classic way. Engaging the class in all styles and
rhythms and forms of pure 'dance'! Whether a packed out room or a few, our AM
classes always were vibrant, and I enjoyed it so very much! She was always friendly
and very down-to-earth and embraced everybody the same that she came in contact
with….Her music had such a nice range of beats, tones and rhythms I never left without a sweat! Even to this day when I bump into her she is the same sweet person that
I remember from the 1st day...and actually was the 1st that dropped the idea that I should one day get certified myself as an instructor when she noticed my dance background...
And then when my schedule had to move to evening classes, because of going back
to work I met Yesi who for months after I would enjoy the evening classes…truly of how she provided a great party feel and flavor of dance. Coming in after a long day's work loved the variation and Miami party
feel I experienced. It was so easy to be freed from the day's stresses with
each song, great choreography, and poppin' atmosphere. I also found myself
among a packed out class, sweating even the more- as everybody clapped, shook
together, turned together, with big smiles with such a great style or flavor to
the dance floor! Never left a night session without once again a great sweat! I always felt a level of escape in her class...
And then there was Cherry Mae who I met one morning when I had to return back
to a day schedule of fitness as she subbed one of the classes for another teacher, I attended and began to follow. Intrigued and inspired from her theme of music and the thought that it's okay to SPEED UP a
routine! And when I say speed up, I mean SPEED UP a routine while getting in great toning. We
got in great jabs, punches and chest/ab pumps while at it too. And to songs that really grabbed
you. She also was one (the 3rd instructor) who encouraged me to go and become an instructor as well!
To this day, I am thankful for each one, the (variety
of pure original Zumba dance styles with (Karan), to vibrant party themes with Yesi, and double for my trouble speedy workouts
with power punches, pumps with (Cherry).
From each- over time- I grew, I learned, I appreciated the stylistic,
vibrancy, and high energy routines that jump-started my body into high gear and cardio
modes that I in-myself would not have obtained at the time when I was solo... and over time I saw my
body begin to metamorphosis back into a silhouette shell of the body I knew I had in me, that was once again my pre-baby, "pre"child-bearing mode body!
I am also reminded of the difference it was from going outside running as a teen to engaging challenging fitness personalities from "our-back-in-the-day" before You-tube ever was available by convenient click of a button from our laptop... workouts offered via VHS tapes (yes I said VHS tapes) ;) or local TV stations as a teen in my den-living room whether working it out as a fan phased with Jane Fonda's consistent energy, or Gilead's sunny workouts off the coast of Hawaii, or to even
Richard Simmons tearful testimonial workouts that helped people stay motivated to weight loss during the 80’s aerobic fitness era, I gleamed from them all. (as I pre-date myself if you don't know who in the world these people are- smile)
And over time, as I have evolved, as an adult- finding my way back to a fitness plan that worked for me - I realized it included the local gym
post-partum! I am still amazed how over time I quickly found myself becoming addicted. So much so it was becoming so
much harder for me to stop, than motivating myself I needed to go!
Oh and did I mention that this change included me rushing out to so many
classes- that one day my husband looked at me and said, “You know you are so dedicated
to the gym, you need to be teaching a class?!”
I laughed and retorted "You’ve
got to be kidding. I am NOT trying to be in front of other people!!! I am doing this for ME!"…. Lol. Yes. Go figure!.....
So now on to the next step!
8th
Step - Consumption..., CONSUMPTION!.... This segment is so much broader I will attempt to tackle
in a couple entries. So here is the first thought of a couple thoughts on Consumption....
How many of you have heard the statement “You are what you eat?”
We don't
have to go too far without knowing this very popular saying.... because it has
so many times often proven to be true. Our bodies actually become the type of
food we consume!
I am sure you can fill in the following blanks without my prompting in this quick
exercise....
If I eat fatty
food all the time as the core of MY diet I will eventually become _____
If I eat foods high in salt, sugar, dairy or in other words acidic foods all
the time, my body will eventually become _________!
OR
If I eat fibrous dark leafy green vegetables, or a diet full of a variety of
fruits vegetables, and lean protein, that are alkaline to me my body will
eventually become ___________!
IF you have no idea what I am talking about AND you are struggling to see a
remarkable change in your body, this blog entry is for you!
It often goes well in saying Junk In = Junk Out. It is not only a saying
but a reality. It starts as a thought and is a mind issue. As a man thinks, so
is he. How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself worthy of eating good
quality food? I realized right before I decided to get back in
shape, that my body was a temple. For all my fellow believers I know I can get
an Amen or agreement in this.... that my body is the temple of God! .....A
temple for God to live in and operate through! So why would I treat it or
settle for less. If I know that my Creator needs use of my vessel, my energy,
my vitality, my LIFE to operate through?...
ROMANS 12:1-2 says
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
So how often is that? Our bodies presented back to God are considered a
"present" or a "gift"...back to Him.
When we live by a higher standard not only physically, but spiritually and
emotionally, our thought life is sharpened, our discernment is clearer. We are
stronger and more able to think and act more clearly from the the detractors of
poor health. If I sit around all day dwelling on the negative reports of my own
or the negatives of others all I will have negativity, or eventually a negative
outlook on life... cynical to any possibility of change.
If I "think on things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things" (Philippians 4:8)..... eventually I will become or embody the
very essence of what I meditate on or give the energy of my mind to ....pure, lovely, good, praiseworthy things! The Word also mentions "As a man thinks in his/her heart so is he/she." Proverbs 23:7
So my thought and or my intents must be a priority before I even begin to
approach diet and discipline. If I choose to eat a certain way just to impress
others of a weight loss plan it will be just that....an impression or a plan.
no matter how short or long it lasts....it will be just that for others…. And…
when that audience adjourns from the performance often so does often the desire
or drive to keep going.
BUT when I go beyond to recognize my true audience of 1 (God) has called me to
live life more abundantly in Him through a healthy daily devotion, discipline
and diet unto Him, I will learn, I will look and I will BECOME to love or DO
better, out of my love for my own body as I, You, We are a reflection of Him!
So what are eating or feeding off today? More specifics to come next time....
You got this! If I can do it, you can too!
Of which all began from a decision…. to
want better myself.
Which brings me to a
pause until our next time!
More on this topic in the days
to come.... Stay true to yourself! You can do this!
