Work it out…

That’s right, put in work , Move your (tail), go berserk
Eat your salad, no dessert, Get that man you deserve -Kanye’s Workout Plan K. West

 

From 2008...at the Taste of Chicago...smh

“How tall are you and how much do you currently weigh” inquired Ms. Rena. “Uumm I’m 5’9″, about 161”, I answered confidently. “Ok, yes, you need to lose about 30 pounds”, she boldly declared. I sat there and looked at my phone to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Is this lady for real?!? That’s 30 pounds. Yes, I’m no Naomi Campbell, but geesh!! 30 pounds?!? At that point in the conversation my brain shut down. Ms. Rena, who I’ve mentioned before, is a family friend of one of my homies, and also battled with cancer more than once. Throughout this process, she has given me wonderful advice on nutrition, natural remedies during my treatments, and just great encouragement. So needless to say, I highly valued her opinion. But her suggestion of losing 30 pounds threw me off my rocker. It seemed impossible; I haven’t been 130 pounds since 10th grade!! She went on to explain that I need to have my body in the best physical shape it could be. Being someone who has been diagnosed with cancer twice at a weight I thought was acceptable, she suggested that I work to shed a few pounds in order to have my body in an optimal state. Exercise has to become a part of my daily life, not just for an event like vacation, a wedding, or a New Year’s resolution.

I'm such a fattie...sigh.

So my journey to 130 began this summer. I rejoined the gym, was attending Spin and Pilates classes, and eating fresh veggies, salads and fruit all day. It was quickly curtailed after my first chemo treatment. I gained 2 pounds in one day, literally. Blame it on the IV’s, steroids and drugs, but I gained 12 pounds over the course of 2 months. Every Thursday I went to the doctor for bloodwork and vitals, and stepping on that scale was becoming depressing. I was inching closer to 200 than 130…no matter how hard I worked out, the pounds kept coming. It was discouraging to say the least. My friends kept reminding me it wasn’t my fault and as soon as chemo was over, I would lose the pounds quickly. Well they were right, and within a few weeks I got back under 170. So now the journey begins again. I am DETERMINED to lose 15 pounds by my birthday December 1st. 

I’ve been pulling inspiration from so many places, but my 2 primary sources are my homies Tekeah and Nicole.  I have watched how they both never miss a workout, have found activites that not only challenge them physically but are fun, and how they have both used discipline to keep going and see results. And they have both also taught me you don’t need a gym to get fit! Nicole goes to Zumba and does dvd’s in the comforts of her home, while Tekeah makes her own workout routines and taught me the power of a good music mix and a jump rope. Their growth amazes me!

Me & my Fitness Muse Tekeah...WORK!

Read Tekeah’s blog here!! –>http://beingempowered.blogspot.com/

I was on the treadmill and rocking to my Ipod the other day and Kanye’s Workout Plan song came on. (Isn’t Ipod Genius the coolest thing ever?!) Anyways, I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically as memories of my senior year of college flooded my brain. I remember when me and my BFF Nicole joined a step class for the semester because we knew we were going to Miami at the end of the school year. Determined to shed a few pounds and also take what we thought would be an easy A, we showed up to Ms. Charles afternoon class ready and totally unprepared. Though it was very challenging, we made it thru and were able to shed a few pounds while having fun and getting fit. At the ripe age of 21, I had no idea that my physical health would be challenged in the next 4 years to come. Back then, my idea of a healthy meal was getting Wendy’s chicken nuggets instead of a burger. I really thought I was doing something.

In Miami July 08...I actually had cancer in this pic. Got diagnosed 2 days later

Fast forward 6 years to 2010. At 27, I am still trying to lose my “freshman 15”. Enough is ENOUGH! Why have I not been able to reach that goal? That question has forced me to be completely honest with myself, and the reason is my lack of discipline and consistency. I will lose 10 pounds, get siced, and stop doing the steps that got me to that point. Then rolls around the fall, Thanksgiving, me and my sister’s birthdays, Christmas and New Years, and I find myself once again writing out a resolution to lose 15 pounds.

So I decided this is it. 2010 will be the year I leave behind cancer, the freshman 15, and most importantly laziness. Last night, I put on my ipod, went out front of my house, and jumped rope to Beyonce’s “Green Light”, “Deja Vu”, “Get me Bodied” and “Freakum Dress”. I swear that chick’s music gives me superhuman powers!! Then I ran around my block 4 times, did ab’s and wall push-ups. I knew Beyonce, Nicole and Tekeah would be proud 😉

So stop making excuses and get to moving. You can dance in the house for 20 minutes, do DVD’s, take the stairs instead of the elevator, drink more water, take vitamins, and eat an apple instead of a cookie. Our goal in exercise should not solely be to improve the quality of our bodies so that other people will notice and admire us. Rather, remember that your physical body houses your spirit man, and we need to be in shape to carry out our God given assignments..with that being said, Get to WORK!!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (MSG)

Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.