Wait Til They See My Smile

Wait Til They See My Smile when I reach my weight loss goal!

To be completely honest, I’ve lost my weight for the past couple of weeks based on diet alone and not taking the elevator at work. But now I’ve reached a point where I need to start including high intensity workouts. My plan is to wake up an hour earlier to get my workout in. No more excuses! I’m 5 pounds away from my second goal. I set goals in 10 pound increments to help me feel accomplished and motivated. I’m working full-time in my career and studying for my MBA so time is very limited right now but like I said in the beginning no excuses.

I feel like I needed to reach my first weight loss goal before moving on and really putting in the work. In April 2010, I officially started my weight loss journey. This has been a work in progress for almost two years now. I lost 30 pounds initially in 2010 but Senior year got incredibly hectic. I was taking 6 classes one quarter trying to achieve a particular GPA so I can apply to my dream job and other positions in my field. Then I had multiple interviews in different cities for a month, extra curricular, and trying to balance everything was very stressful. I fell out temporarily and gained 20 pounds back. I had no structure or foundation of what I was eating. For the remainder of 2011 I went back and forth with working out and eating right while feeling horrible for gaining back what I worked so hard to get rid of.

Now it’s January 2012 and I reached my first goal and I still have a long way to go but thanks to Dr. Moreno’s 17 Day Diet I learned how to eat and how certain foods triggered different things in my body. Now I don’t eat any carbs 8 hours before bedtime, no food 3 hours before bedtime, limit my carbs to 50-100 per day for maximum weight loss, and make sure I get at least 2 serving of probiotics, plenty of vegetable, and low sugar fruit. Atkins has also provided a lot of information about carbs and my doctor told me that I’m very carb sensitive and this explains how I wouldn’t lose weight like I wanted. I was consuming around 300g carbs per day and I cut that to 50-100 until I reach my 4th weight loss goal. This makes so much sense to me and truly doing your research and learning how to lose weight and what works for your body is an amazing journey.

All of the information I used was free. I downloaded the 17 Day Diet online for free at first and after it worked I purchased the book on Amazon.com for $11 to support the author because it works. I didn’t have to pay $25 per month to have someone else count calories and exercise for me. I joined myfitnesspal.com and logged my own calories FOR FREE! They have an extensive database of food choices from every known restaurant and even generic options, recipe calculator, and forums/groups for support from people who are also losing weight. Weight watchers is a good program for those who have money to throw away and they need that “in your face” support from weekly meeting and etc. Weight watchers is not my cup of tea and I suggest anyone thinking about it to try myfitnesspal.com and the 17 day diet or Atkins! Personally it makes sense and it teaches you how to eat healthier.

Distance and Time

You are always on my mind, all I do is count the days, where are you now? I will never let you down, I will never go away, I really wish that you would stay but what would we do, All the days that you’ve been gone I dream about you, and I anticipate the day you will come home. No matter how far you are, no matter how long it takes him, through distance and time I’ll be waiting.

I really miss my boyfriend. We’re two hours apart. He works in our hometown, Cleveland, and I work in our state capital, Columbus. We’ve been friends since I was a Freshman and high school and he was a Senior. Due to the age difference we could never be in a relationship back then but we were good friends and hung out when he came home for winter breaks from college. It was about two years that went by and I didn’t hear from him as much and I didn’t expect to run into him at my high school job at the local record store the summer before I was leaving for college. He looked sooo good and it so nice to see him and catch up. I was just getting out of a toxic relationship and he was single. We starting “dating” officially and he asked me to be his girlfriend on September 2, 2007. Even when we both were in college he was 1.5 hours away and when he graduated and got a job in Cleveland the distance was 3.5 hours. We’ve never experiences being with each other in the same city for longer than 3 months over the summer and winter breaks. No he’s not in the army and no we aren’t states apart but it’s still a long distance relationship nonetheless. We see each other once or twice a month. It’s not as bad but it’s still hard when your best friend and the person you love more than anything in this world isn’t a short drive away. Some days I just want to get off work and be around him.

We might still be a year away from being in the same city together but he’s some things that help us being in a long distance relationship and may help you and your lover.

• Video Chat: Through Skype, Yahoo, or whatever else! This is great because you can talk and see that person everyday like they are there. You can see their smile, laugh, I miss you face, and just talk outside of the traditional phone call. There are other things but we’re keeping in classy here as always but I’ll leave that up to your imagination.
• Hobbies: When your thoughts are consumed with missing another person sometimes it’s nice to pick up a new hobby or finish a goal that you set for yourself. Personally, after graduating college I’ve been able to spend time doing things I’ve always loved but never had time to do. For example, scrapbooking, pleasure reading, personal graphic/web design, writing more blogs, writing songs and music.
• Working Out: working out released an endorphin that has been linked to happiness. Personally when I workout I feel so energized and refreshed for the day. I like working out in the morning because it can set the standard for the rest of the day. In the evening after work it’s calming to release the stress and thoughts from the day. Either way you look at it, working out and staying active not only benefits your health but can be one more thing you can focus on. Some workouts I recommend from home are Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, Hip Hop Abs, Rockin Body, P90X, Insanity, Wii Sports, Wii Just Dance, Wii Black Eyed Peas Experience, just to name a new.

Patience

In 2012 I’m really going to try to work on being more patient. Sometimes it’s difficult waiting around for something to happen that seems like it’s never going to take place. I’ve accomplished a lot of goals in 2011 but still there are a few personal and professional goals that are still in progress. I’m making the necessary steps to accomplish these goals but some of them are out of my control. I guess I’m more annoyed with the fact that it’s out of my control than the fact it hasn’t happened yet. I’m making great progress toward my weight loss goal, I started a MBA program this month to work towards that goal while working full-time. The remaining goals are completely out of my control.

I’m not giving up and I don’t really need any motivation right now. It irritates me when people want to read off tons of inspiration quotes like they are Rev Run and everything is supposed to be solved. Sometimes it’s best to just say ok well things will happen in due time. Stop with all the “hold on”, “it’ll get better”, “be patient” nonsense because it’s irritating. I’m well aware of how much God has blessed me and patience is something I need to work on seriously.

11 Pounds in 10 Days Thanks to 17 Day Diet!

On December 4, 2011 I started the 17 Day Diet from Dr. Moreno and I’ve lost 11 pounds in 10 days so far by working out 30-45 minutes per day and following the diet plan. This is NOT another fad diet and something that will cause you to gain everything back if you stay focused.

The 17 Day Diet Plan

Days 1 – 17 are to “Accelerate” on a low carbohydrate diet that provides around 1200 calories. Eat unlimited lean meat and no-starch vegetables, two fat-free plain yogurts and two low-sugar fruits, a bit of oil, green tea, and 64 ounces of water a day. Typical for any low carb diet, fat-burning and fluid loss is favored during those days.

Days 18 – 34 are to “Activate” by calorie cycling (aka calorie shifting or calorie zigzagging), which means that the daily calorie intake cycles and recycles from low to high over the course of several days. The goal is to trick the metabolism to prevent it from slowing down. Two servings of whole grains are added to the above to raise the average calorie intake to 1500 a day.

Days 35 – 51 are to “Achieve” good eating habits that last a lifetime. This phase is the same as “Activate” except that lean meat is no longer unlimited and more grains and fruit are added, along with an optional serving of alcohol and a 100-calorie snack. In other words, the low carb diet is ‘Out’ and a balanced low-calorie diet is ‘In’ sans the processed food.

Day 52 and on are to “Arrive” at a lifelong eating plan, which is a constant cycling through phases 1, 2 and 3 – until the weekends when you can splurge. But don’t binge, says Dr. Mike, and if you gain more than 5 pounds, return immediately to phase 2.

For more information:
www.the17daydiet.com/
www.webmd.com/diet/features/17-day-diet-review
www.amazon.com/17-Day-Diet-Doctors-Designed/dp/1451648650

I will more than likely end up doing more than one round of the 17 Day Diet because after cycle 3 if you aren’t at your goal weight you are supposed to start at cycle one all over again. So far things have been good, I can eat all the egg whites I want and two eggs per day which has been perfect because I love eggs and it’s really no different for me. I can eat chicken breast, ground turkey, turkey breast, tilapia, tuna, salmon, and two servings on yogurt, fat free cheese, and I’ve created some fabulous recipes for the first cycle. I can’t believe I’ve loss so much weight already. It’s scary but exciting at the same time. I’m ready to stay focused through the holiday and finally reach my goal weight. I’m so tired of every year saying “Ok this is going to be the year”, I’ve just decided to do it, work out, count my calories, and watch the weight fall off and it has.

This is a lifestyle change. I don’t want to eat like I was eating for the rest of my life. The 17 day diet cycle has a maintenance program that seems very practical for my life. You watch what you eat during the week and you’re allowed to splurge on the weekend in moderation. By the time I reach my goal I won’t be splurging that much anyway because after eliminating a certain type of food from your system for a period of time you lose the appeal for it. It just doesn’t taste the same. I’m doing well and I plan to keep it up throughout the holiday.

If you’re interesting in losing weight or getting in shape join me at myfitnesspal.com/classyhoney or follow my journey at fabulouslyfit.tumblr.com

Black In America: Silicone Valley The New Promise Land

Last night I watched the latest series of Black in America: Silicone Valley The Next Promised Land. I enjoyed this segment and agreed that there is a need to address the lack of Black entrepreneurs. In conversations with my mother, she expressed how disappointed she is with the generations that followed hers. We as Black people have become so dependent on other people to provide us with an income and a way to earn a living. Black people in the 60s and 70s owned businesses and hired other Black people from the neighborhood to work in their business and kept money within the family.

I personally come from a family of entrepreneurs. My maternal grandfather, rest his soul, owned his own trucking business. He would receive contracts from the city of Cleveland to haul trucks of dirt and materials to various sites. He also fixed cars in his spare time from his garage. My Aunt took over the business when he passed to do contracting. She would make it a practice to hire young Black men to help with contracting and to keep money circulating within the Black community. From there she opened a family garden center and we all grew flowers, arranged pots and hanging baskets to sell. At a young age I witnessed my family work hard and earn money themselves.

We are missing this entrepreneurial mindset in this generation and today’s Black society. It seems like everyone has their hand out expecting people to give them opportunities just because. My freshman year in college when my course load was insane but I wanted to earn some money on the side. I didn’t take the working part-time approach. I started my own graphic and web design business and earned money by designing and creating sites for small businesses, in particular north east Ohio. I personally wanted to work in corporate America, I love the environment.

Black in America pointed out that we don’t help each other out and we have this sense of entitlement. If you look at the Asian culture in America, many of their families own restaurants and beauty supply stores. Next time you stop in for your favorite dish or hair product take a look around. All of the workers there are either family or friends of the family. They start businesses and keep everyone in the family employed.

So the question is, why can’t more Black families and individuals become entrepreneurs? Maybe it’s the lack of capital and start up costs? Black in America pointed out that there is plenty of opportunities for Black entrepreneurs to apply for grants and investments along with people willing to invest in good ideas. The missing piece of the puzzle is actual Black entrepreneurs with a business plan or idea. Maybe it’s the lack of security? Starting your own business can be scary and unpredictable. People find security in receiving a check monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly to take care of their living expenses. Relying on yourself or others to generate an income can be stressful. At the same time no job is ever guaranteed, especially in this economy. Some fields are more secure than others but at the end of the day you never know.

I hope the Black in America segment influences more Black people to think about taking the entrepreneur approach.

Scared of Lonely? Give Yourself Time to Heal

I think everyone should have a solid relationship with themselves before devoting their time, energy, and love into another person. It’s important to love God, love yourself, and then love another person. For those of you who have different views on religion try finding serenity and acceptance of the universe. Be at peace with yourself.

I couldn’t help but think about Jennifer Lopez in this example. J-Lo has endured countless failed marriages and relationships yet she moves on too quickly. Just months after filing for divorce from her husband Marc Anthony now she’s dating her back up dancer? After every break up you need time to heal. When you have a relationship with someone that person becomes a part of you whether you want to accept it or not. After a break up it’s healthier to spend some time alone to regroup and evaluate the situation. Involving yourself in another relationship too soon can be problematic. You run into the rebound or “hero” situation where you find yourself looking for someone to ease the pain. Someone to make the lonely nights less colder. Then you wonder if you really like that person because they are who you want to be with or they were just convenient at the time because you were hurting. If you are constantly moving from man to man when do you have time for yourself? Time to think about the ended relationship and the lessons learned. There’s nothing wrong with being on to the next one but why can’t the next person be yourself?

Since when did being a stripper become socially acceptable?

So when I heard that Ne-Yo collaborated with Trey Songz and it was a true R&B song I was slightly excited. Although I’m tired of Ne-Yo’s music and his lack of growth I figured with Trey Songz on the track it would be interesting. Little did I know that this was yet another song glorifying strippers. Since when was it socially acceptable to get naked and bust it open for random strangers in a public club. I expect this from Trey Songz but how did Ne-Yo go from Miss Independent to this? There are too many songs that have been released in the past 4 years that glorify strippers. From T-Pain being in love with a stripper to borderline obsession then Travis Porter Making it rain. I’m simply tired.

I understand men go to strip clubs to have a fun drinks and a good time. There’s nothing wrong with that. But I’m tired of the media, in particular, some Black rappers and singers making songs that uplift strippers and hold them to a higher standard. This is why I enjoy Wale’s music especially Ambitious Girl. He raps about ambitious girls and praises those who are doing something respectable with their lives. Respectable in terms of earning a living without getting naked, shaking their goods for money in the club. It makes it seem like enrolling in college, studying, graduation, working 9-5, being an entrepreneur, isn’t good enough or deserving. It seems like the generations of children are getting worse and worse. These young girls are dressing more revealing at malls, clubs, hell even Wal-Mart.

I really hope that parents are censoring music from their kids especially their young girls. Teaching them that you should never resort to degrading yourself by stripping to pay for tuition, rent, or your children. I know plenty of women who work their way through school working multiple campus jobs, taking full-course load, and focusing on their grades so they can earn scholarships to pay for school. I don’t buy that excuse anymore. They want fast money and don’t want to work hard to earn it respectfully. Has our society downgraded so much to the point that it’s socially acceptable to be a stripper? I get it, strippers have been around for years but they have never been held on a pedestal and glorified like they are now. Not to mention the number of men who go to strip clubs to find girlfriends or will accept a woman’s past of stripping ok and ready to turn her into his girlfriend or wife. I don’t see how anyone would want to have a relationship with someone who has been ran through by more people than they can count on both their hands, men and women. But again that’s just me. I’m an old-fashioned 22 year old living in a society that praises sex, strippers, and children out of wedlock. What should I expect?