Small, Effective Changes Work!

Sooo....I got on the scale this morning. Something I haven't done in quite a few months. BUT it was good news. Although I still have a little ways to go before I get to where I want to be--about 20lbs smaller--I was glad to see that I've come down from that scary place in which I was heading towards...fast. That wasn't a place that I wanted to be. What's really good about what the scale declared to me this morning was that I don't have to run myself CRAZY to lose weight! It only takes small, yet, consistent changes. For example, since the latter part of August, I've been feeding myself and my family home cooked meals. Why haven't I always been doing that? I'm not sure...Actually, I am. I allowed life to get the better of me. Between my personal interest, church activities, writing demands, children's activities--cooking fell down to the bottom of the priority list. Then I found myself wondering how in the world I was allowing myself and my children to eat so much processed foods when I know it doesn't have a good thing for us! I had to remind myself of the "SUPERWOMAN" that I am. While I may not be able to or desire to cook EVERYDAY I can, at least, make sure we have something HEALTHY to eat at home (i.e salads, chicken sandwiches, soup), or I can prepare meals in advance like I used to. Back in the day, I would bake chicken in the morning as we got ready for the day. I may be a bit older but I still have that in me.

Exercising is the other small change I've implemented.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, it's so easy to exercise multiple times during the week. Crunches, leg lifts, dumbbell curls, push ups--all while watching your favorite T.V. program. Yep, it's that easy. And with the fitness center at my apartment complex, I've been hitting the treadmill approximately three days a week.

The combination of the two is working "small" wonders!

Overcoming Obstacles

Wow! That wasn't hard at all! Yesterday after work, I I hit the treadmill in the fitness center of my apartment complex for forty-five minutes. Then this morning I hit the floor for some ab work--something like 5-10 mins--bicycle crunches, side crunches, leg lifts. Still got to work early on top of that! So, of course, the question is, "Why don't I do this at least 5x's a week, if not everyday? It was certainly easy enough! The answer is just as simple: Excuses! Working, cooking dinner, doing laundry, helping with homework, social networking, writing, watching television, sleeping, etc. One way or another, they're all excuses.

Today in my fitness walk--similar to my spiritual walk, continual--I've been forcing myself to overcome these self-imposed obstacles, a.k.a excuses. In doing this, I find that I am not only less stressed, but experiencing more success. Over the last couple of weeks, my son and my daughter have both commented  that my belly is looking a bit smaller. How cool is that?

LaCharmine Jefferson,

Author of Unfinished Business, the story of one woman's addiction to the wrong man for the wrong reason & what she risks to get him out of her system for good.

Available at http://www.amazon.com/ & www.createspace.com/3370359

Website: http://www.lajefferson.com/

My Blogs:

A Day in the Life of L.A. Jefferson @ http://lajefferson.blogspot.com/
All Things Love @ http://all-things-love.blogspot.com/
Follow me on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/lajefferson

"Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

Why am I so happy, you may want to know? Unfortunately, it's not because my stomach was miraculously flat when I woke up this morning! Instead, I'm ecstatic because my gym membership has expired. After they took $250 out of my checking account 2wks ago to automatically renew my membership, without my authorization,
I'm extra glad to be free of them. This time I won't get suckered into renewing again either!

Even though I like hitting the gym when I find the time--not often enough--I found something better, more effective, and more fun. Zumba! If you're into fitness I know you've heard of it. Anyway, the fact that my gym charges an additional fee for their Zumba class I figure I might as well support an entrepreneur who does an excellent, exciting class instead if giving more money to a multi-million dollar corporation.

Now all I've got to to is get to the damn Zumba class!

LaCharmine Jefferson,

Author of Unfinished Business, the story of one woman's addiction to the wrong man for the wrong reason & what she risks to get him out of her system for good.

Available at www.amazon.com & www.createspace.com/3370359

Website: www.lajefferson.com

My Blogs:

A Day in the Life of L.A. Jefferson @ http://lajefferson.blogspot.com

All Things Love @ http://all-things-love.blogspot.com

Follow me on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/lajefferson

Confession of the Day: Belly Gazing

If it's true that we're predisposed to characteristics of our parents--good or bad--boy oh boy, did I catch a doozy from my dad. Particularly, during my teenage years, I can clearly remember my dad criticizing--that's putting it midly--people, especially women, for being overweight.

"Ughh!" He'd unapologetically say. "These women are just lazy, letting themselves go like that. Who do they think is going to want them with all that fat on their bodies?"

Think I'm exaggerating? I'm not! Seriously! He would even talk about my mother, who wasn't even a big woman. But just the fact that she wasn't as skinny as she was as a teenager and young adult was enough to be on his "unsightly" radar.

But there's good and bad news. The bad news is that I'm not nearly as bad as my dad, but, I do possess his critical eye. And, like my dad, my primary target is women because, unfortunately, society dictates that it's okay for men to get fat. They can still be considered desirable. Since becoming a skinnyfat, when I come into contact with other women, my eyes automatically gaze toward their stomachs. It's become somewhat of an addiction. Anyway, if the stomach is fat I cringe for two different reasons:

1. It's unsightly
2. It's like looking in a mirror at how I look to the outside world.

On the other hand, if it's flat--or close to it--a myriad of thoughts ramble through my mind. Among them are:

1. What did I eat today? What did she eat?
2. Are small stomachs genetic in her family?
3. How often does this woman exercise?
4. Did she have a tummy tuck?

Crazy, right? I know. Believe me, I chastise myself each and every time. But that doesn't stop me from doing the same thing over and over again. It's a vicious, insane cycle!

A Surprising Good Conversation: Health & Fitness Advice

Motivation and encouragement can come in the strangest of forms. On a recent unplanned--right now all of mine are unplanned since I have no real schedule--gym session I experienced such. After a mild argument with with my significant other I needed some time away from him, the kids, the house. Most importantly, I needed to exercise because I was seriously lacking and feeling every bit of it! It was about eight o'clock in the evening, which was pretty late for me but what the heck--it's summer time. The days are longer and if I'd stayed home I wasn't going to do anything but lay across my bed for about two to three hours watching T.V. before going to bed. I need to stop placing limitations on when I can and cannot go to the gym. In my current condition, I need to be at somebody's gym whenever I can get there!

Anyway, I arrived at the gym all pumped up to power walk away the frustrations of life with my favorite workout music playing through my iPod. I ended up choosing a treadmill  next to one that was occupied by an Indian gentleman who didn't, I couldn't help noticing, have any music player with him. Why does this matter? Because when I listen to my music during my powerwalks, I'm prone to sing along with my music and I'm somewhat inhibited when the people next to me don't have their own music to listen to. It's not my intent to aggravate folks during their workout. Before I could put my earbuds in my ear, the gentleman commented on my armband that held my iPod.

"You know, those really aren't good for you to wear while you're working out."

Oh boy,  I thought. Not only was this guy a "talker", he clearly was a "smartypants" talker." I just had no idea how much Mr. Smartypants Talker had to say! From the armband comment he went on to give his seemingly educated--or highly researched based--opinion on a variety of aspects regarding the tricks of the health & fitness industry to keep us unhealthy and unfit! Of everything he had to say, my most important takeways were:

 

1. "Swipe your gym card as much as you can," he said. Set a high gym goal, like -7 days a week--so you'll fall comfortably around 3-4 days.

 

2. "Throw all your Splenda out." Of course, I've heard the naysaying about Splenda and other sugar substitutes but within the context of his conversation, I made a absolute decision to stop using Splenda for good!

 

3. "Eat chicken, beef, & pork only 3 times or less per week." Again, nothing new but he just made it sound like the most senseable thing to do.

In the five years that I've had a gym membership, I've always avoided personal interactions, preferring to use the time for a little quiet time. However, after this experience I'll be a little open to random conversations with the "talkers".  Like my new Indian friend, they may actually have something worthwhile and life changing to say.

Beach Body in 2 Wks? Too Little Too Late

June probably isn't the best time to get beach body (as though I were close to that ) ready. Heck! By the time I get into a routine, here in Michigan, we're likely to be preparing for the fall. So, what exactly does that mean? Should I even bother trying? Or should I just go buy myself some better fitting, preferrably loose fitting, summer clothes? Matter of fact, my local Walgreens store has some cute loose-fitting summer dresses that would be perfect! I guess that's not the worst alternative. After all, I am in my mid-30's now. Not quite so young to be showing a lot of skin just because it's summer time. Times like these I'd give just about anything to go back in time to my 20-something year body that I wasn't satisfied with because I was so hung up over my less than flat belly. Talk about not appreciating what you have until it's gone. Oh well! There's always next summer or an upcoming vacation, or party, or some other event that I'll want to look good for.

Among the 1st things that I thought about this morning was that I havent eaten any vegetables in the last 2 days. That's bad, isn't it? By far this isn't the first time that I noticed this habit.

Now on the positive side I also didn't over indulge in any bad food either. Case in point, past night I allowed myself a treat for the past-- break & bake choc chip cookies. Drum roll please... I only ate 6!!! Why is this an accomplishment? I'll tell you. Back in the day I would have easily baked & ate the whole pack. So today, I'm celebrating progress and planning to eat lots of veggies over this Memorial Day holiday weekend.