Summer Swimsuit Motivation!

Yes, you read my title right!  My motivation this summer is to look good in my already purchased MONOKINI swimsuit!!! LOL!

Call it shallow, and call it what you want, but it's a real motivating factor for most women in the summertime.  Women want to look good or be able to put on a two-piece or sexy bathing suit without blobs of fat poking out everywhere! And I'm not the type to throw one on  if my body is not up-to-par! No, not me!  I'm consciously aware of what looks good and what does not!  But, I know, I know, that you aren't supposed to care what others think.....love yourself, love your body etc....... but  BOO HOO, rolls and curves are not the same thing!!! My routine for the summer, because I am not too fond of the heat, is to mainly tone up.  My weight goals have almost been met, just 5 lbs to go, so now it's time to add more muscle and toning.

These are my steps to reach my summer motivation goal in 1 month:

First, I am going to continue to eat healthy.  My refrigerator now only consists of lean meats, fruits, vegetables, some low fat condiments and a lot of water.  I did a complete overhaul over a month ago and it's paying off big time in my fitness endeavors.  I suggest you do the same thing.

Secondly, I am incorporating more strengthening into my workout.  I suggest if you are the type that don't like working out alone or at home, join a gym.  They have plenty of strengthening classes, and whether they call the class Total Strength, Weight Lifting, Power etc...  the goals are the same.  You CANNOT, and I will say this again, you CANNOT tone up properly or get fantastic AB definition without incorporating weight training into your fitness routine.  Not going to happen!!! You can maybe get flat abs from doing cardio and eating right, but not a six pack, nor those Angela Bassette arms from "What's Love Got To Do With It."  LOL!  I need her arms like yesterday!!

And Last, to keep my eyes on the prize, I will continue to run and drink lot's of water.  Running has now become enjoyable for me.  I have dramatically changed my mindset about running.  I stopped focusing on the miles, pain etc... that comes along with it.  I now focus on the positives, like better endurance, speed and longevity.

I know it's hard to stay on track if you have a family to take care of, because they eat differently and sometimes try to sabotage your lifestyle change, but you have to make the decision for yourself to be obedient!
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You have to ask yourself:

• What I you want most?
• Who is in charge of my body?
• Who controls my mind?
• Do I really want to die unfit?  Hmmmm..... think about that one.

Bottom line!!  It's your body, it's your mind, and only you control both of them, NOT your significant other, NOT your children, NOT your friends etc...  Only YOU!!

So, now I ask, what is motivating you this summer to get fit and healthy?

What Ya Rockin' With!!

I often wonder what keeps others motivated while running.  For me, it changes every day, which may seem strange, but I'm not your typical runner.  So what does it for you?

Is it focusing on your breathing?

Is it listening to the rhythm of your heartbeat?

Is it enjoying the time to meditate?

Is it becoming one with nature?

Or are you just plain running your worries of the day away??  LOL!  

The list could go on and on.  But, for the majority of us, it's what we are listening to!

Now, I'm not saying all of the above aren't great motivators, because in the beginning I ran a good four months without listening to anything but my GPS tracker updating me on my progress.  It was cool at first, but then I started to get bored.  I was tired of listening to the wind, my heartbeat, the birds etc.... I wanted something extra to enjoy my runs more.  

So, I decided that I'd try what everyone else was doing and make a playlist.  I didn't know what I was doing, what songs I wanted on the list or what was appropriate.  So, I began downloading songs that I thought would keep me pumped up like Eye of the Tiger, that Champion whatever song, Hip Hop etc...  I even threw in a few slow songs.   

When I set off on my first run with my new playlist, I thought I was going to be rockin'!  I thought I would just cruise along listening to my tunes and forget about the run altogether.  NOT!!  It was a disaster!!!!!  I'm usually an even paced runner and that never changes.  I can either speed up my pace for the entire run or slow it down and it stays the same for the entire mileage I decide to do.  But not the day of my first playlist experience.  I was all over the place.  When  an uptempo song came on, my pace sped up,  immediately followed by some slow song which slowed me down!  Not only was the music throwing me off my routine, I also went through all the emotions in the lyrics of the songs!!   NOT GOOD!  I had to shut the music off mid-run and become one with nature. LOL!  Needless to say, that run did not go as intended.  I had to regroup and refocus.  I had to do more research!  And by research, that means I had to ask around! 

So, after countless runs with different playlists, I was about to give up and go back to my silent, peaceful runs.  But then an Angel came to my rescue.  My girl, fellow BGR! Charlotte runner Crystal Blair, saved me!  She told me about this Pandora station she listens to which is all "Urban Comedy."  At first, I didn't think that would work, listening to people talk while running.  But hey, I was going to give it a try because I like to talk while running so what's the difference?   It was a blessing in disguise.  My first run with the Urban Comedy show was wonderful!  Not only did I forget that I was running, I laughed the entire time.  Granted, the people running around me probably thought I was on drugs, but who cares!  I don't say anything when I see people talking to themselves walking down the street!  LOL!  So if we can get used to people doing that because they are on their cell phones, then darn it, we can get used to people busting out laughing at any moment just because!  Man, from Kevin Heart, to Paul Rodriguez, Bernie Mack, and Kat Williams etc... I was rockin' and running with them all!  I cannot go running without my Urban Comedy!  I highly suggest you try it.

Either way, whatever you are listening to, make sure it's something that you enjoy!  Whether its music, comedy, or even a book reading, make sure that it's not conflicting with your pace.  Your listening selections should be in tune with your running pace, needs and goals.  And if you are one of those runners that don't like listening to anything, that's fine too.  

My next thing is to try listening to a book while running.  I just know it has to be a drama to keep my interest.  I have made a list of things that I'd like to listen to while running and I'm going to try each one.  I always say, I'd try "ALMOST" anything once! 

Whatever motivates you stay off the couch and keep moving forward is fantastic!  Just keep moving!!!!!

10 K....... ROUND 2!

So, here we go again!  

A year ago this month, I started my running journey.  And now with a few 5K's down, and a marathon relay under my belt, I am going to go another round with the 10K!  

At the 1st inaugural BGR! conference in Atlanta last September, I signed up to run the 5K, made a wrong turn and ended up on the 10K trail.  Let's just say that I started off pretty but it got real ugly towards the end...LOL!  But I finished! However, those who know me knows that I'm not one of those women who uses the term "At least I finished!" Heck, I always finish and usually better than I planned.  Needless to say, I chalked the Atlanta run up as an experience and kept it moving!  

So now the Queen City, yes Charlotte, NC, is hosting the 2nd annual BGR! "Sweat With Your Sole" conference this September and I am psyched!  Not only do I get to represent my city, I get to redeem myself and run my first OFFICIAL 10K race. And this time I will be prepared, hands down!  This time there won't be any wrong turns!  The only wrong turn I could make is to a shorter race and I don't think I'd have any complaints about that.... LOL!   

This running venture has had it's ups and downs.  However, I am still in it to win it and have inspired many of my family members and friends along the way.  I can honestly say that I made an assist in getting a lot of women off the couch and living healthier lives.  I am proud! 

How do you get started?  That is the question?

First, you have to be sick and tired of being sick and tired!  You have to get a big kick in the rear end, whether it be physical or mental that makes your mind say enough is enough!  I know I did a year ago when I was tipping the scale more than 20 lbs than I am today!  What was my motivation?  Honestly, I just didn't want to be bigger than my man!  Yes, I said it!  Hey, don' t knock my motivation because all of us are motivated by different things. 

Secondly, once you are tired, you have to take action.  Do a refrigerator overhaul!  Get rid of any food that you can't get from the outside isles in the grocery store.  The outside isles contain real food with little to no additives, like fruits, veggies, meat, dairy etc...  Being fit and healthy is 90% of what you eat.  Sometimes just changing your eating habits can drop the lbs without exercise.  And, once you change your eating habits, you won't even crave unhealthy foods anymore.  And nowadays you can find all the foods you love to eat in healthier choices.

Third, get active! Join your local BGR! group, and if your city doesn't have one, then you can be the driving force to start a chapter in your city.  But don't let lack of a BGR! chapter stop you.  You can download any of the FREE couch to 5K (c25k) apps and start at the beginning with running.  These apps take you from walking to running a full 5k in 9 weeks.  If you can't run, because of health issues, then walking is great as well.  And if you can't walk, then take it to the pool!   LOL!  Lack of exercise is detrimental to trying improving weight loss.  You just have to suck it up and do it!  All it takes is 3 days a week, for at least 30 minutes a day.  

So ladies, and gents, eating properly and exercising is the only way of getting healthy, fit and losing the lbs., aside from surgery.  Who wants surgery?  I have a few friends who had the surgery, but they are back to eating unhealthy and the weight is piling back on.  So I'd say surgery does not change the persons frame of mind.  It's a temporary solution for an ongoing problem!

The struggle is staying fit and being consistent and that takes discipline and motivation.  With 4 out of every 5 African American women in this country overweight, many of us should already be sick and tired!  A lazy mind produces ZERO results physically!  

I exercise because I must!  

I eat healthy because I must! 

I do both because I love myself!

Now, you must do it because you love yourself!