Emotional Health

Yeah, now I'm on a roll with this posting thing (lol), and my topic is all (still) about taking care of youself, but particularly your emotional health. There are so many things that can rip us apart on a daily basis, but we have to surround ourselves with people that will build this up.

I must say, lately I've been much more sensitive and self-conscious than usual (could it be because my 29th is approaching?!? IDK, to be honest), but I've been having a hard time just taking care of me...

Here's the truth: I work three times, am in grad school part-time, and I'm trying to "balance" my life, but it doesn't work very well...Like a lot of women do, I think I can handle (and I do handle) a lot, but I don't allow myself the opportunity to just cry and vent sometimes. Well, guess what?!? I cried myself to sleep on Monday, and I don't think I need it anymore for a good month! Sometimes we just need a good cry to get rid of that baggage and all that guilt/pain and make room for the blue skies ahead...

Well, blue skies, I am ready for you...

Leaving the Negativity At The Door...

Part of building up your weight loss plan, to me, is also ridding yourself of the negative thoughts that we, as people, sometimes let creep into our minds. Things like, "You'll never be able to lose...," or, "That dress won't look right, even if you did lose all that weight." We can be our own worst enemy sometimes...BUT, in rare instances, so can others around us. Not just negativity about our weight loss, but others can project just negativity, in general, on us.

Why is this coming up? Well, as none of you may know (lol), I've started dating again. Yes, throwing my hat back into the ring. I've been trying an online matchmaking service, and, let me tell you: this one, in particular, claims to have great success rates, but it ain't happening in my neck of the woods! I have found some of the most self-centered, stubborn men EVER on this site.

Recently, I went out with one gentlemen who questioned my religion as being Christianity and told me, in more ways than one, how "we" were not compatible. BUT, when I said simply said we weren't, he scoffed at it and stuttered over his words. Dude, I'm not 12...I can "take it like a man."

This may seem like one of the most random posts I have ever done on here, but, it all brings me to my final point: I left his place we he kept on going on with the negativity...I walked out on his negative words. I walk out (ignore) my own negative thoughts and words - or at least I attempt to. We do so much beating up of ourselves on a daily basis, we leave very little sometimes for our supervisors/bosses, siblings, parents, etc. So, "let up" on yourself every now and then, and try to leave the negativity at the door. Your livelihood will probably thank you for it :)

Beyoncé Move Your Body (Full Choreography)

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE fan of Beyonce...I love that she is on board with the First Lady's fight against childhood obesity, and, therefore, has done a remake on her party favorite, "Get Me Bodied." As if "Get Me Bodied" wasn't already a workout within itself (especially the EXTENDED version), I love this version too! Enjoy "Move Your Body!"

It's been a long time...

I'm not even sure if anyone is reading this, but, to be honest, THIS isn't about anyone BUT me. There have been many developments since the last time I've written, but I am newly dedicated to working on my plan...I recently visited to the doctor, and she shared with me (which is no real BIG news, but it is important) the three things ANY person can do to re-invent their weight loss and get their life plans in order:

1. Get adequate sleep: How many of us can honestly say we get 7-8 hours of sleep a night?!? And, with the invention of DVR, and tv that can be watched online via Amazon TV and Hulu, watching live TV has become a thing of the past! So, no need to really stay up late to watch tv shows that can be watched later...and, if you see a change in your energy, isn't that extra hour or two of sleep per night really worth it?

2. Exercise: My doctor - and the federal goverment - recommends at least 30 minutes a day...of course, when she told me this, I looked at her perplexed...fitting in 30 minutes just to do my own nails, these days, is a TRIP! But, a great way to fit it in is doing it first thing in the morning. Get it out the way and, in the evening, when you get home from work and are so tired, guess what?!? Your exercise is already done!


3. Eat a balanced diet: "Duh" to this one too, right?!? Adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet is great. Also, pulling from more sources of protetin - besides red meat - can add additional nutrition to your diet. I have been experimenting more with new sources, like quinoa and brown rice, with my meals. Aspargus has also become a favorite of mine too! So easy to fix, but yet such a great flavor!

I wonder if anyone else can think of great ways to jumpstart/reinvent your diet plans...do share, if so :)

When the going gets tough...

...the tough get going! Lately, I've found myself slacking in the working out department, but I haven't changed my eating habits. In fact, I've incorporated more water and liquid-based fruits into my diet with a hope of taking in LESS calories than I usually do. This is all in hopes that a big pay-out of getting to my target weight loss by December will happen...

In looking at how I've slacked on my cardio, I've thought of other ways to get in exercise every now and then:

1) Parking further away from the entrance to the mall and other stores: Every little bit of walking helps, even the long walk to the store from the car :)

2) Taking the steps instead of the elevator: At one of my jobs, I enter on the second floor, but have to go down to the first floor. I take the stairs to and fro when I work there instead of waiting for the elevator for just one floor. I think this also helps not to aggravate the other people who work in that building and just watch me go inbetween one floor :)

3) Dancing: I love dancing and never feel like I'm working out when I bust a move. By dancing up a storm, I am getting my cardio in, enjoying myself and being sociable with those around me - three of my favorite things :)

What are some ways you still get your exercise in even when it's tough to fit it into your day, or you're tired?

But, I don't want to mess up my hair!

So, as some of you may know, I've been growing out my relaxed hair (it will be a year next month that I will have gone without a relaxer...yoo-hoo!) Over the summer, when I first started to think about my weight loss goals, I went ahead and got my hair braided so that I could deal with the warm weather, sweat and workouts. However, last month, I took those suckers out and was left wondering how in the heck I would care for my hair, and workout and lead my busy lifestyle all at the same time!

Then, I found this great brochure online that came out of a story regarding black women's hair care during workouts. The thing is, for a black woman, our hair is so much more coarse and thick than white women's, so our hairstyling, on average, takes much longer than it does for a white woman. The wash-and-go days are not as easily done for a white lady as for a black lady. So...I've been perusing the article, trying to get some inspiration and ideas of what my next hairstyle with me. I'm not afraid to try something new, cut something off, add something in (lol) to keep it professional but also funky.

I'm attaching the link for the site below so that others can take a look at it. Props to Harvard for starting this initiative!

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/sisterstogether/hair.pdf

http://www.powerabrightfuture.com/gallery?id=1532&cp=vote&affiliate_id=Inbound11

Speaking of better health, this is a great grant my school has applied for. Help us vote for our school and the chance to win $50,000 towards new playground equipment so that our students can play safely and benefit from regular physical activity :)

http://www.powerabrightfuture.com/gallery?id=1532&cp=vote&affiliate_id=Inbound11&sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4cb670305ab3d25e,0