Lessons from Iyanla

So many of us don't feel that we are enough. It's something about Iyanla that makes me want to get my life SO hard. I consistently end up writing in my journal. I identify with those people more than people in my real life. One thing that resonated with me is that she said to live in pain is easier than to be believe in yourself. This is so true for so many people, in all areas of life. There's a huge difference between a simple lack of food education and emotional eating. One can be an emotional eater who also isn't educated on food. Understanding the effects of preservatives and sugar for example, isn't something that everyone knows automatically. But for those of us who are emotional eaters, it's beyond that. Iyanla asked a great question: When no one else is around, what is the story that you tell yourself that helps you to stay in the pain? In other words, why do we choose to do the very thing(s) that contributes to us being where we are? Why don't we push ourselves to reach that goal? Why don't we believe in ourselves enough to believe that we can reach that long term goal? I'd be lying if I said that I've been working out like I did during my Spartan Race prep. I'd also be lying if I said that I've been making the best food choices. But I'm absolutely honest when I tell you that I've fallen off, but not without examining why. There's a journey involved here, and as we travel down this road we can't be foolish enough to believe it'll be perfect. Keep moving forward. Keep growing. Keep getting up if you fall off. Now go get your life! Make a plan, work a plan.

SPARTAN SPRINT

    I just finished the 2013 Spartan Sprint and I feel like a boss! Today I went beyond what I thought possible. I did the race in Tuxedo, NY and let me tell you.........it was no joke! The ENTIRE race was on hills. I was worried about how much I could run but ironically I spent much more time walking. Some hills were so steep that we had to climb them, hands and all.

   
        I have never been more proud of myself! I feel like I accomplished something significant because I have never been an athlete. In high school and college I didn't even attempt to play sports. And I hated gym from middle school until high school graduation.

   
       Near the end I became lightheaded and a little dizzy. I didn't think I could finish but my teammates were there to support me. After a break and some deep breathing I kept walking climbing up the hill. I was so close that I could see the finish line. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a challenge. We knew some of the typical obstacles that would be there (thanks to internet research) but we hadn't seen the course or the obstacles until we got there.

Being covered in mud wasn't as uncomfortable as I'd expected.  I  was so tired & sweaty that the water was actually refreshing. 

 As if losing 30 pounds (and counting) wasn't enough of a feat, I'm a real athlete now! I spent the first ten minutes after the race in utter shock.

 I could not believe that I had actually finished--and without doing burpees ( the penalty for failing an obstacle). And....I slipped several times but I never fell! 

After doing this, I am SO ready to run the next 5K that I do. I feel like if I can do this, I can do ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I jumped through fire. I didn't look as cool as this chick though. 

This reminded me of the speed and agility workouts with ladders from Asylum.

Sun's out, gun's out! 

The barbed wire seemed to last forever...but I didn't cut myself or snag my naps . Woo hoo!

         




Are you up for the challenge? If so, here's a few tips: 

• Do NOT wear cotton. That includes undergarments. I wore dri-fit type stuff and I'm SO glad that I did. 
• You can get shoes with traction-if you feel like it. I wore my same sneakers that I've had for the last year. I'm glad I didn't invest in some new shoes. Doing the race with muddy, wet shoes wasn't as difficult as I'd imagined. 
• Drink water like it's your job. I think I got lightheaded at the end because although I guzzled water the night before and had some that morning, I could have had more. 
• Train. Maybe this should have been number one. We did Tap Out, Turbo Fire and Insanity Asylum as a team, and we also ran (jogged) on our own a few times per week. We trained for 2 months and I'm SO glad that we did. Insanity Asylum really prepared me for the agility and full body muscle work that was necessary to get through this.
• Bring a shower. There were "showers"-a hose on  a wooden platform which did help. When I got back to my car I used soap and a gallon jug of water to wash myself more thoroughly. I brought old towels to dry off and change (I did a lot of work under that towel!) and riding home clean(er) was a pleasure. I also covered my floor and seats in garbage bags so that I couldn't mess them up. Another important move.

We put on our shirts after we washed off. We each had names based on our fave exercises. I'm Quad Queen

Would you ever do a Spartan Sprint? Let me know in the comments! 

Eat Your Vegetables

    Fiber makes things...well, move. Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of fiber as well as vitamins. If you thought vegetables were boring, clearly, you haven't seen this video.

Hey, we could all use a good laugh! But seriously, eat your vegetables. Low calories, good for you, and delicious! It's all in the seasoning baby!

10 Things Not to Say to Someone Losing Weight

1. "One tiny piece won't hurt!" You're right. It won't hurt. In fact, it'll probably taste absolutely fantabulous. But what you don't seem to understand is I'm AVOIDING this food because I cannot just eat ONE PIECE. Stop peer pressuring me, clown.

2. "You don't need to do this, you look fine!" Thanks. That's sweet. I am doing this though because I want to feel fine. So please be a dear and pass me a bottle of water and a Crystal Light packet and help me fill my daily water quotient, will ya?

3. "So-and-so lost weight last month and she said dieting was HORRIBLE." I. Know. It's. Horrible. Stop. Telling. Me.

4. "Well where can you go out to dinner?" Why friend, that's awfully nice of you to ask. I am physically capable of going ANYWHERE for dinner tonight -- I just can't eat the same quarter-pounder with cheese as you. PLEASE, don't attempt to make special arrangements for me if I don't say I need them.

5. "You're not going to eat that, right?" Right -- me putting a piece of chocolate in my mouth is one huge joke. You have NO idea that I saved up just enough calories by opting for an afternoon salad to savor this moment and now you're ruining it for me. YES I'M EATING IT. LOOK, IT'S ON MY TONGUE.

6. "Just don't lose too much weight, OK?" Let's focus on the here and now, OK?

7. "I hate that you're limiting yourself so much." Can we just, like, talk about something that isn't food? Let's go see a movie.

8. "You look so skinny today!" Thank you! That's an awesome compliment! But now I'm going to wonder what in the world I was wearing yesterday and why it made me look fat.

9. "What size are you now?" No. Just no.

10. "How much more do you have to go?" I'm sorry, I thought I was done? Cue feelings of nervousness, anxiousness, and who did I think I was kidding? syndrome.

What's the most annoying thing someone's ever said to you while you were trying to lose weight?

truth

Sometimes it's not what you're eating. It's what's eating you. 

Weight Loss and Tag

   I've spent the last few days really analyzing my actions in all areas of life. When it come to weight loss, I've been sabotaging myself on the weekends. I've spent the last five weeks exercising regularly. I am one of the few people who can do Insanity Asylum and still gain weight. Why? The weekends. I go off course on the eating plan I've created for myself and on top of that I straight up just emotionally eat sometimes. I have the solution to emotional eating. It's what's worked for me before and what is helping me to write this post. I realized something today.

Snackercise

I've been working out 3 times per week for the last three weeks.
I've also been snacking and abusing carbs. So I've gained a total of ten pounds within the last two months. Epic. Fail.
Tomorrow is a new day and not only will I work out, I'm going back to what's worked for me-veggies, fruit and meat only. Nothing processed and if it's white it ain't right. So anything made with flour  sugar and white rice and white potatoes are all out of the question.
I have exactly 3 weeks to drop the ten pounds I've put on....with lots of exercise and low calories it is possible, although difficult. Stay tuned....

Lesson Learned: Snackercise is ineffective. Working out is only half the battle.  Weight loss starts in the gym. 

Friday Fitspiration

Friday Fitspiration

Men Treat Me Different After Weight Loss (VIDEO)

Hey there! First let me say thank you to those of you who read my blog regularly. I really appreciate all  (three) of you! The blog now has an official home on Youtube: fitblackchicvids 
Check out my first video below or click here to watch it on Youtube.