Making Healthy a Way of Life

So I know this guy...lets call him Mr. X. Have you ever met a person who just looks healthy? Not particularly muscular like Vin Diesel or the Rock but healthy? Well that's Mr. X. The thing about Mr. X. is I knew him before he went on his health kick. He wasn't overweight or anything, but he was just like most of us, a slave to fried, sweet, and salty. Now when I see Mr. X. he looks like he just completed a 3 mile run. Mr. X. inspires me. So I have asked Mr. X. to help me on my weight loss journey.

After having many discussions with Mr. X. Something he told me one day is stuck in my head. He said " I'm addicted," I was like " Huh? What do you mean your addicted?" Then he said this ," It's how I live." He said it so nonchalantly.

ADDICTED TO EXERCISE + EATING RIGHT

It was at that point that I realized why my previous efforts for weight loss were unsuccessful....I wasn't mentally committed. So this time around I'm doing it on my own; no trainer, no program, no magic formula, just me, prayer and God!!!

Here is my plan.....

1. I'm breaking my weight loss goal into smaller chucks, 10 pounds at a time.

2. Changing the focus of my goal. Instead of my goal being weight loss it will be to be make being healthy a priority with the perk of weight loss

3. I'm adding a challenge: to run for 30 minutes 4x a week, drink 8 glasses of water a day, and get all my food groups in everyday.....

4. Reward myself consistently for the good I do: my first reward will be a cute pair of running shoes

5. Check in with my accountability buddy ( Mr. X.) once or twice a week. Maybe we will get together and go for a run...


Ladies I have come to realize that being healthy is a choice that we make every moment of everyday. It is something that we must personally master and it's not easy. Being healthy should be a lifestyle not a goal, that's the only way to be successful....


How are you reaching your fitness goals? Are you taking it as serious as you should? Share.

Why Not Be Confident + How

Not feeling confident

"Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you.”

Cynthia Kersey

Self Confidence is a tricky thing. It is a reflection of what we think of ourselves. It can be seen in how we handle situations, relationships, predict success and hold us back from reaching our potential. Having self confidence is important in having a life worth living.

finding my confidence!!!!

self-con·fi·dence

realistic confidence in one's own judgment, ability, power, etc.

Before we get into self confidence I want to clear this up, people often assume that people who are loud and out their are confident,  that people who always have something to say and are the center of attention are the picture of confidence. This may be true. However to all you introverts out there this does not mean that you are not confident. It just means that your personality caters to intimate settings and calm and soft environments. This does not mean that you are not confident.

Having confidence hinges on one's belief in one's self., that is projected on to other things in our lives. Think about the story you tell yourself before you do something very important? Is it a positive story or a negative story? For example if you see your boy friend/ girl friend smiling at another person, do you tell yourself that something may be going with them, and that you are not good enough for some reason? Or do you think, hum he/she is cute, maybe they know each other from some time ago, and then ask him or her about it? If you picked the first option odds are your self confidence needs work....

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” 

Norman Vincent Peale

Here's how to work toward having more self confidence...

1. Change your thoughts!

 instead of thinking negative about everything, switch on the positive. Believe that you can do anything and you can!

2. Accept what you can't change and change the things you can't!

why dwell on things that you can't change or you don't have ? It will only make you crazy. Each day work on things that you can change to make you better, and be grateful for the things that you have today.

3. Compete and Compare yourself to yourself not to others!

Instead of focusing what others are doing, focus on you! How can I be better?

 

found that Confident woman inside.....

Are you confident? If not acknowledge it and work on it.....

Shameka

Fit Book +1

So I have this goal to loose 50 pounds for a number of reasons. Have you ever gained so much weight that you just feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortble in your own skin? Well thats how I feel at this moment. So I need to make a change. I have been making excuses for years about why I can't loose the weight. My number one excuse is that I'll always be over weight. Can we say self sabotage. Well I have finally called myself out. I know that if I dont get control now then in a few years I could be opening myself up for illness that I prefer to prevent such as diabetes. Plus, I have a lot to accomplish on this earth and I cant do it if I am not at my best.

With that in mind.....while I was in target I came across this:

It's a FITBOOK...it allows me to track my progress, list goals, record my nutrition and water intake. It is amazing. If you want to say accountable for your fitness goals than FITBOOK is for you. There is power in writing things down. You can pick FITBOOK up at your local TARGET or from AMAZON. Prices range ( depending on where you purchase) between $20.00 & $25.00!

I can't wait to track my fitness goals in my FIT BOOK! Getting started on my first 10 pounds!!!!!! I'll keep you updated!

Purty Persimmon by Wet & Wild

I fell in love with it as soon as I swiped the matte orange on my lips!!!!

What do you think?

$1.99@ CVS

I love this orange, perfect for a day out and about!!! The color is bright, bold and daring. It makes other take a second look in a GOOD way. Take a step outside of your comfort zone and find a daring color to rock this spring/summer. I have a couple that I will be making signatures.

Hey ladies I need your help, if you have ever been on a weightloss journey give me some advice. What worked? What didn't? I'm determined to shed the pounds! 

Why Not Be Who You Want to Be

“...be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be"
Henry David Thoreau

As a child I talked like a child, thought, like a child and did as a child. When I became a woman I think I left all of that behind...or did I? As children life is layed out in front of us in a strategic plan. Our parents told us what time to wake up, eat, sleep, how to dress, what to say, what not to say, what decisions to make, which one not to make, and the list goes on.... As we get older parents are suppose to back away and let us grow into ourselves figure things out and become who we are ment to be in this world. Well some time it just doesnt go as planned, either we get so use to being told what to do and how we are unable to think for ourselves and spend our lives looking for validation from everyone else.
Or, we become molded into others expectations of ourselves, and spend our lives fighting who we are as opposed to who we should be.

“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.”  Brian Tracy

So you are not competely there yet, thats fine, neither am I. The most important piece of this puzzle is realizing it. It's really sad if others can see that you are living below your potential and you can't. Once you know then you can plan your next steps. Think about it. Are you a Mogul who just wants to be a mom, or a mom who needs to be a Mogul, or you someone who lives for fashion but your wardrobe tells a totally different story. Are you a lawyer who would rather save the rain forest. Who are you? What are you? How do you describe yourself?

“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” Coco Chanel

We only get one chance at this thing called life. It would be really sad to spend it living in a box that others have put us in. I choose to be Shameka:

compassionate, ambitous, beautiful inside and out, vulnerable yet strong, a seeker of balance, a soon to be size 12, cool yet chic, writer, blogger, publisher, Entreprenuer on the cover of Forbes, world wide traveler, life changer, ME!!!!!! Thats all I want to be!

Share!!!!  Who are you?????

Olivia Pope: Style to Watch +1

I'm hooked on ABC's new show scandal. A drama created by Shonda Grimes the woman behind Grey's Anatomy, I should have known it was going to be good. It harnesses the power to pull me the depths of reality television.

Taken from the Internet

Olivia Pope, played by the fabulous Kerry Washington is in the crisis management business, and former right hand to the pres. Her style is simple, luxurious, with a hint of femine power. As the show goes on I can't wait to see what happens with her style.

Have you caught Scandal? What do you think of the new ABC hit?

• TO  DO SUMMER 2012....FALL IN LOVE

As things in my life change and I develop and grow. I realize that there is one area of my life that I want to work on, and that's my relationships, in hopes to find Love. I hate to say it but I have been singe for a very long time and I think it is about time to get back on the scene. So ladies here is my pitch:

I'm looking for a friendship that has the potiential to grow and develop into Greatness!!! Men only Please....

So my questions to you... if you are boo'ed up, how did you meet him? If you single and mingling do you have any advice?

Snacks for the road...

So I have been on a very difficult journey for a while. I have been trying to adopt a more healthy life style. Eating more fresh foods, cooking more, and staying away from those things I know will pack on the pounds. I must say that the minute I know that I am on the right track I am tempted or swayed by something rich and delicious. It doesnt help that I am always running around so keeping a healthy snack in my bag helps me combat those cravings. Some times snacking just isn't easy.

I must say that I love the simple things in life although I tend to make things a little more complicated than they need to be most times. Well that's just me. There is one thing that overwhelms me and I must keep it simple and that is snacking healthy. Here are my go to healthy snacks that survive the bottomless pit of my shoulder bag...

1. Bannana + peanut butter. It fills me up for the in between time.
2. Cheese n cracker, a great little luxury I save for quiet time at work or home
3. Kahsi dark mocha almond bars are great for the sweet tooth.

What do you slip in your bag to keep you going during the day? I'm looking for more variety in my snacking.


Shameka

Whats Your Story?

So I have recently been watching Opera's Life Class on OWN. If you have not been tuning in I highly suggest that you do. It airs on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. eastern standard time. The last two sessions that I watched were talking about your story. The dialogue that you tell yourself which either keeps you stuck or empowers you. At first I was a little confused. A story? Was their actually something that I was telling myself repeatedly that keeps me stagnant. I thought and I searched  my brain and I found that one little nugget has really kept me from excelling my entire life.

" Your not good enough, you don't deserve the best!"

Now the question is how did I form this particular story? Where did this belief of my life come from. Well it was birthed during various childhood experiences that mimicked each other. See I was a care giver my entire childhood, which meant I often sacrificed my needs and wants for the needs and wants of others. This required me to put myself second often. After years of being second I learned that I only deserved what was left, which often time was not great.

This particular story has affected many parts of my life. It affects how I interact with family members, co-workers, and even how I see myself.  When you think that you don't deserve the best it causes you to let go of opportunities for fear that you wont measure up. Now that I know my story I can work to change my story, change it to a story that empowers me.

Whats the story that you tell yourself? Does it keep you stuck? Does it empower you? I want to know what you think.


Shameka