Relax and Take Note...

With everything finally starting to get moving in the health and wellness category of my life, but some bumps in the road poppin up, I thought now would be a good time to regroup and reanalyze my workout and how I am going to conquer the next 25-30 pounds without hurting anything or inefficiently.

Mo Runnin, Mo Problems
So, I started to get a bit discouraged with my run routine because of the shin splint recurrence. I haven't quit the C25K training, but I haven't been on the treadmill since Wednesday morning. I felt like I needed to slow down. My competitive nature had me wanting to attack each week like GRR! but the fact remains that I DO have shin splints and I DO have the wrong shoes and I do not have time for an injury that leaves me incapacitated. SO I have to slow down. In two ways. Firstly, I have to slow down my speed (I'm currently running at 4.8-5.0 and walking at 2.8-3.0). Secondly, I have to master a week first before moving on to the next. It's called condition training. Athletes do it all the time. I have to condition my body and that shin splint to the work I am putting in, before I can ask it to do more than that... or I am setting myself up for painful failure. So, on week three I will stay until I feel more comfortable to move on. In fact, I may stay on week 3 until I get the new shoes I absolutely need. Then try to move on to week four run intervals in the proper shoes and try those out on my shin splint since Fleet Feet has a 21-day return policy.

Beefing up Le Cardio
So I had been running and not much else for cardio with an occasional Turbo Jam here and there. I've decided, I really have to ramp up my activity on the cardio side for now and focus on more strength training after I break the 160 barrier. At 155 in 2006, I was still a little flabby in the back area. So at 160 I will start beefing up my strength training, but for now, I am going to take that down a notch, because strength training makes me hungrier because of the calories I'm burning, but I don't actually know what my caloric intake should be on those days and I feel I am still to early in the weight loss process to try and gamble. I want calorie restriction, muscle conditioning and THEN I'll work on getting stronger. For now, I just need to keep my muscles present (don't wanna lose em or weaken them with so much cardio and NO strength training) with endurance lifting. So I will do my C25K three times a week (75 minutes) and elliptical (150 minutes) and Turbo Jam 2 times a week (100 minutes) for a total of 325 minutes a week. Turbo Sculpt for strength, Thin Thighs for lower body for FOUR weeks.. and then reevaluate on Monday August 17...

Chocolate City Dreamin
My goal is to break the 160 barrier before exiting the month of July (three pounds in two weeks). But also I am trying to lose about 5 more to be at 165 by the time I tentatively travel to DC for some work I am negotiating and trying to line up. I will run into some old faces from my 150-lb days, so it's mighty important to stick to the plan so I don't arrive too much over weight. lol

Serenity is nigh
So, I have found the final piece (chaise lounge loveseat) to add to my Serenity Room. A room I am creating in the upper level of my home where I can pray, meditate, watch girly movies, have a cocktail, sing... well, you get the point. Somewhere where the boys aren't allowed, unless I say so. Think of it as my Claire Room from the Cosby Show! I will definitely post some before and after pics of the small renovation. Also, the measurements have been taken for the closet. The upstairs is gonna be niiiii. I pick up the chaise toma. :-)

Back to the grill again in the a.m. I enjoyed my rest days and am excited to get that cardio counter UP.

Entering Year Two of Locdome

I am so excited to be completing my first year of Locdome till death do us part... I think back to 2002 when I first went natural for the second and last time. I was always admiring locs but never had the determination or commitment to get them... plus I looooved my loose hair. Adored it even. I loved my afro puff, and chunky twistouts... over the years I'd even learned to love my hair in twists, boxbaids and the occasional extension hairstyle or cornrowed style. It was so much fun... and I would find myself saying, "locs aren't versatile enough for me... I could never get them cause then what can you do with them?" The answer is: a lot! Granted my babies are just starting to get that "drape" affect, but I am already seeing the flexibility. It helps that my locs have plumped up to be a really good size from my little comb coils I first began with. And it's nice to feel my hair moving and blowing in the wind. I never experienced that when I was fried out (relaxed). My hair would get to a certain length and stop. I've already surpassed it with my natural, healthy, God-given mane. And I look forward to all the up do's and pin-ups and curly loc styles I can stand. I still haven't yet decided how long I will let them get, or when I will color again... but trust me that the possibilities are endless. Do we have our days where they are rude and unruly? Sure... I mean, look whose head they're on! :)

But I can truly say that I have enjoyed every minute of it. And my hair is a true representation of who I am.. natural, wild, easily tamed, and beautiful. I went to the My Black Is Beautiful tour yesterday. And despite being a little poorly organized it was great just to be around like-minded sisters who care about our health, hair, skin and love... I saw locs to die and envy for and got so excited about the journey to come. It's been fun to learn new things about my hair and how to care for it that I didn't do well when I was a loose-hair nappy.

I mean, I maintain my own locs! That is huge for me ya'll... the little tomboy who still doesn't know how to cornrow... the girl who had to practice just to learn how to two-strand twist her hair! Craazy. So it's a thrill to be here for me. And now that cowrie shells and tams and headbands and ponytails are starting to take flight... whew... I'm just excited. Happy to have a head of healthy, NATURAL, hair. Growing as it should be without unhealthy manipulation or assimilation to how they think my hair should look. I cherish you today, hair. And everyday.

This follows along with this blog because we all need to be healthy from the inside out. And this includes our hair. If our hair is healthy, that is sayin a lot about the inside, what we're feeding ourselves, and how it's coming out of us via hair follicles and our skin. Even though, my skin has been going through a thang lately, but I digress.

At any rate, about to get out and go for my five-mile walk and then I have to put in some work later for a new contract I picked up for June. Yay... forward!

129 Days to Peace...

Today is the first day, of the rest of meh life... it sounds corny, but today... for me, it's true. I really need "a change gone come" around here. Having my sun 14 months ago really made me see a lot of things differently... and for him I was trying to make certain things work in my life that just aren't meant. I've had to refocus and center myself... but it is a seemingly difficult task with the wrong influences. Having him has truly changed me as a person, and I should follow suit in all things so that I can be the best mother he deserves. I'd like to believe I'm a good person, so why negativity always seems to find me, I am not sure. But today is the day I take more ownership of how things in MY life progress and keep them natural and positive and great. So with that said: I am instituting a sort of "challenge" for myself. There are exactly 129 days left until the first of 2009. (Nuts how fast this year went, but I digress.) So with these 129 days, I will take myself into my own personal "next level."

So of course, I have some goals.

1. Get Back Active: Exercise at least 3 times a week. It can be a walk, a bike ride, an exercise DVD, a dance class, whatever -- but I must get in at least three days.
~ I have registered to take my re-certification exam December 6, 2008 in Schaumburg.
~ Tone, tone, tone!

2. Remove 20 pounds... for good!
Genesis 1:29 ~ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Coincidence of this Bible verse? I'm sure, but who cares. I need to get back to eating those whole-grain, organic, things of the earth and away from what I had started resorting to... more flesh than veggies, more processed junk that life foods, etc.

3. Enjoy life... enjoy my child... and let no one take this happiness, love from me.

4. Save some duckets. Buy a home. The goal is to buy a home early 2009.

My moment has arrived. I give thanks for all that encompasses me and has made me who I am today... but tomorrow is not promised, so I must begin to live for my present.

I recognize now that which is truly important... I abhor being stressed out. I look on with envy as certain friends of mine are always golden. Either they hide it well or they truly are happy inside out. I crave that. I will have that.

I want to be free. I sense the divine order of all things in my life approaching me... and I welcome it with open arms. And then I will release it unto you and others... let's spread positive energy.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Rejoice with me! We just brought in Day One...

Jah Bless.