Celebrating 30 Seconds!

I know you can't see it,but I added 30 seconds to my workout today. 30 whole seconds! 

 #ayeayeaye

I know you might be thinking, 'So what?' But I've learned that you have to celebrate the small victories along the way. Even the tinny, tiny ones when it comes to working out. Remember in my post, 'No More Comin' Round That Mountain', that I mentioned how Joyce Meyer, bestselling Author and televangelist, said people are salty because they don't take the time to set goals and enjoy their small victories along the way; so they watch, hate and shade those that do. No, she didn't say it that way but that's the way I took it. Anywho...we have to take the time to celebrate one extra minute on the treadmill or thirty seconds of jogging because usually we celebrate when we see the before and after.

We've all been on the Gram and seen a before pic of a thick chick and was like, 'Wud? You go girl!' Then kept scrolling thinking, 'I wish that was me.' But it can be, if you'd start. Just start girl. And when you add an extra squat, rep or few seconds to your workout, celebrate it. Don't matter if folk think you're crazy or not. Quiet as it's kept, they think you special anyway because you're so thick. So why not give 'em something to be positively salty about? I'm telling you, this weight loss thing doesn't have to be as technical and scientific as most would make it out to be. Lose your weight your way. Just be sure to celebrate the little you's along the way. 

 Copyright 2018 © Real Issues Ministries®. All rights reserved.

Hypocritically Healthy

Yay me! I've lost about 6 lbs. To us thick girls, 6 lbs is like 16! I don't know how I'm doing it, other than I'm not eating as much as I used to. I guess it's portion control; only, I'm not really trying to control my portions. In that, its not deliberate...well maybe it is. But it's nothing elaborate. You know how they tell you to buy the containers and precook your meals for a week? Yeah, its NOTHING like that. I'm just not eating 2 or 3 chicken breasts at a time. Instead, I'm butterflying one and telling myself its the same. A part of me wants to feel guilty for sharing my good news because you might not be doing so well. And if you aren't, that's okay. Everybody falls off every now and then. You'll be back on your grind in a minute. Until then don't feel guilty. 

But I wanted to share with you an article I read in The Atlantic about 'Being Black in Anerica Can Be Hazardous to Your Health'. In it, Kiarra, a 27-year-old receptionist for Maryland Community Health Initiatives who was 200 pounds overweight brought up a point I think many struggle with. She said that she 'worried that if she lost too much weight, the other girls in the club would think she was a hypocrite1.' She'd 'founded a club for plus-size women called Beautiful Beyond Weight, with some of her best friends. The goal was to help overweight women feel better about themselves. They put on fashion shows that she described as “Beyoncé big, but on a Christina Aguilera budget2.” Her desire to not be hypocritical was one of the reasons she remained overweight. And if the truth be told, some of you do too.

It's like the stripper who wants to stop stripping but she's afraid to leave the life because she's not sure how she'll take care of herself. She feels God tugging on her heart, but she doesn't trust Him enough to walk away. That's what can happen in this plus-size world of ours. We get used to being overweight, sitting a certain way, looking how we look all while eating what we want to eat. Only we know we want to get fine. Besides that, we know its best for our health that we do. But some excuse it and stay fluffy because they're too comfortable with who they've become. But can I tell you something? You will always be a thick girl at heart even if you lose all that weight. You know why? Because that big girl will motivate you to stay fine and help other big girls get like you. 

We're not supposed to stay fat. That's not the goal. I'm not saying become a size 2 or 6, but get to a weight where you know you're where you want to be; even if that's a size 18 or 26. Your goals aren't everyone else's. But don't let theirs keep you trapped in a body that's ready to come out. 

 

 Copyright 2018 © Real Issues Ministries®. All rights reserved.

SOURCE: 

Khazan, Olga. “Being Black in America Can Be Hazardous to Your Health.” 

The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 21 June 2018

2nd Selfie Ever

Hey there! You know what I decided to do...take a picture. I know that sounds silly, but I don't do pics. In fact, this is my second selfie...E-V-E-R. #frfr And what's even more weird is that this is the first pic I've taken in probably years. Yep! Years. Why you might wonder? One, because I am VERY PRIVATE. I'm not much for attention. Hence, this explains why I've been celibate for 15 years. Oh, I forgot, you didn't know that about me. Well, I told you I was private. Besides, I wrote a book about my celibacy journey, 'Real Sex Issues: Real Talk About Life Before, During, and After Sex.' But back to my thick girl journey. Here recently, in my prayer time, God let me know that I need to come out of the shadows and into the light. My invisible days are over but He's been so patient with me so that I can do it at my own pace. So without any further adieu, here goes.

 

Yeah, I know you can't see much, but that's the point. I'm letting you see what I want you see. I know it's not much of a selfie, but its me coming out of my cocoon. Peaking out of my bubble and doing me...in slow motion and the same is true for your weight loss. Your thick girl weight loss journey doesn't have to be the same as everybody elses. I see so many pics of folk in the gym, flexin'; showing pics of water bottles and plates. That's good and all. But sometimes you need to just ease in that thang. Your weight loss journey ain't everybody's business. But there will come a time when folk will need to see who you're becoming and its for that reason that I'm posting this pic. It's small strides y'all that make a difference. Me posting this pic is a huge stride for ya girl. Hope it inspires you to do the same.

Self-Sabotaging Dreams

Welp! I almost did it to myself again. What you might ask? Self-sabotage. I haven't jogged since Wednesday, June 6th. On that day, I jogged 2.267 miles for 34.05 minutes, but I haven't jogged since. Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't (and won't) totally self-destruct. I have worked out during that time. I'd walk outside at least two to three times a week; all the while, knowing I needed to get back on that treadmill because I wasn't just jogging to be jogging; I was jogging towards a dream.

Goals Turn Into Dreams

For some reason, since I left that dream of running on the track back in the 80's, that desire to run has not left. As I explained in 'Quitting out of Pride',  though I quit the team, that desire to run a marathon won't go away. Only it's morphed into a 5k which is what I've set out to do. But I thought it was only a goal. You know, something I can say I've achieved. But I now see that the goal has turned into a dream. A dream of running a 5k. To some that may sound small, but to me, its huge. That's because for so long, I've had a tendency to self-sabotage before I get there. I went two whole weeks without jogging. To you, that may sound ridiculous. To me, its a milestone because in the past, I'd go several months. To have it narrowed down to two weeks, is life-changing. My point. Don't self sabotage your progress. If you go one or two weeks without working out extra hard, that's okay. But in the meantime, between time, do something! That's your body. You don't have to lose your weight the same way everybody else does. Do you. Just remember, your weight loss is more than just a goal, its a dream that will eventually come true...as soon or as late as you want it to.

P.S. I almost forgot to tell you. After that two week break, ya girl did this...and so can you!

No More Comin' Round That Mountain

So, I'm learning to celebrate the small victories along the way and so should you. My small victory...

I'm at 34 minutes and 2.262 miles!!!!! What? Yep! Ya girl on her way to 5k. 

Though I wasn't planning on celebrating until I got there, I watched, 'Enjoying Everyday Life' this morning and Joyce Meyer said we needed to do so because this is why people are so salty. They're salty because they don't take the time to set goals and enjoy their small victories along the way; so they watch, hate and shade those that do. No, she didn't say it like that, but that's what I got out of it. Though I was never a hater, I will celebrate this small, yet monumentous  milestone. #nopunintended 

Wanting to Prepare 

I've been wanting to PREPARE to run a 5k for over twenty years. Notice I said wanting. I know that sounds bad, but its the truth. My weight has fluctuated so much that I'd only get so far, quit, gain the weight back, not work out for a while, work out, get so far, quit, gain the weight back and go round and round the 5k mountain for almost 20 years. Almost half the time the children of Israel kept circling their mountain due to disobedience and unbelief. Much like them, I too have been disobedient and circling this 5k mountain but...ya girl about to get loose. Yep! Less than three laps to go and I'm there! No more 'comin' round that mountain here she comes for me!' 

What's Your Mountain?

Whatever it is, take it slow and get it out the way. Yeah, it took me 27 days to add one minute to my jog.  But that minute is saving me years of not having to go around the 5k mountain again. Whatever you need to do to get past yours, do a little something every now and then. No, I don't jog everyday. In fact, the most I usually jog up to 2-4 times a week. But I keep my pace (4.0) and add a minute every few weeks. Try it! I'm telling you it works. You don't have to go at everybody else's speed. Do what comes naturally to your body type and weight; no matter how slow and awkward you feel...do you and know that I'm cheering for you every step of the way.

The Need for Activity

The last time I jogged was Tuesday, May 15th. I jogged for 33 minutes for a total of 2.196 miles. Well, a friend of mine had an emergency and is staying with me for a while which has set my workout schedule off. Not really. I just used it as an excuse not to workout. Don't you appreciate my honesty? :) Well, today was the first time I've jogged in a week and my body can tell. I jogged 2.128 miles for a total of 32 minutes; only because I didn't remember I stepped my game up last week to 33. But can I tell you, that week tried it! I mean really tried it! My breathing wasn't as sync and I had to take a deep breath at 1.75 miles. I'm thinking, WTW?!? Then I began to see that inactivity takes a toll on your body. I was down for seven days and my body was like, 'Oh this what we doin'? Now I understand why people worked out on their vacations.

All in all, today was pretty monumental for me. I see that I have to do something every other day if not daily in order to stay active. Even if I wasn't trying to lose a few pounds, I gotta do something to keep this 47-year-old body of mine going. Now I understand why no one wants to grow old. It's because when you get to a certain age, you think you no longer have to be active and when you succumb to that way of thinking, here comes the aches, pains, and fat. Oh, but I have said for years that I'm gonna be hot, even into my 90's and beyond should the Lord tarry. Now I know how to ensure I do. What a day this has been. Who knew I'd get an explanation of why I haven't been able to lose weight and how to grow old gracefully; all in one workout.

Plus Sized Billboard Music Awards

Last night I watched the Billboard Music Awards and I must say, I was impressed. Not with the performers because to be honest, the majority weren't what I expected. I must say though, that dat gum J-Lo did her thing and Ms. Jackson didn't have to do anything but show up. Aside from all that, what I was most impressed with is the audaciousness of their presenting committee. I don't know if they even have a committee that votes on its presenters, but whoever was in charge, kudos to you because I have N-E-V-E-R seen thick girls represented on prime time national television like that before. When I saw, Chrissy Metz from the hit television drama, 'This Is Us', come through that tunnel givin' it to us with that black little number, I was like 'Kill 'em with the shoulders ma'am.' 

Photo Credit: Make a Gif

What shocked me the most is that she stood there like she belonged there and you know what; she does. In fact, we all do! Usually in those situations you can tell that the person is a little uncomfortable, but not Ms. Chrissy! She literally graced the stage and was unashamed. And why should she be? She gave me all the inspiration I needed for the night.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

And when actress Rebel Wilson prounced down the walkway wearing her royal goodies...baby I was done! She owned that dress and rightfully so. She was stunning and unapologetic. #literally Singer Kelly Clarkson even had a few sprinkled as her background singers.

Photo Credit: JustJared.com

Ultimately, last night was a good night for plus sized women.Though I came for the music, I stayed for the plus sized fashions. Last night did me good. Though I'm still trying to lose weight, I have no problems about all this thick goodness. Those women displayed courage, boldness, and so-what-ness in the face of music industry mini's. No shade, but can a thick girl get some grade-A camera time too? Thank you to Ms. Chrissy and Ms. Rebel. Y'all just don't know...a sista sholl needed that!