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Category Archives: Inspirational

Surviving the Holidays

06 Nov

This is a great time of year. We’ve officially entered the Holiday season. I’ve already seen Christmas movies on television. As wonderful as this time of year is. It’s also a dangerous time of year for weight loss. Weeks and weeks of healthy eating, working out, counting calories, etc can be undone in the last 8 – 10 weeks of the year. Especially for me. It starts with Halloween and the abundance of candy that comes with it. That gives way to my birthday. From my birthday, we speed towards Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving comes work pot-luck luncheons, department holiday luncheons & parties, sweets, egg nog, Christmas candy, etc…. The end of the year is indeed a treacherous minefield in the battle for health and wellness. If you’re not careful, the progress made throughout the year will be replaced with weight gain and feelings of guilt, shame & remorse as you head into the new year. Thus putting you behind the proverbial eight ball on January 1, 2014.

So how do you navigate this time of year? How do we make it across the minefield without stepping on a land mine? Well there’s no set way of dealing with it but listed below are some things you can do to help safely navigate the holiday season. They’re not listed in any particular order.

  • Water, water, water
  • Use smaller plates
  • Eat a healthy snack before going to holiday parties
  • Remember proper portion sizes
  • Create daily or weekly goals to help you maintain focus
  • Find an accountability partner
  • Limit alcohol
  • Don’t skip meals
  • Maintain fitness regimine
  • Keep a food journal

By incorporating some (if not all) those tips, you’ll definitely put yourself in a position to go into the new year with momentum. The goal isn’t to refrain from enjoying the holidays. However, for me, it was more important to maintain the progress I worked so hard for throughout the year.

By following these tips, I was able to maintain my weight loss through the gauntlet that is the last two months of the year. It definitely wasn’t easy but it was worth it when I met January many pounds lighter.

Enjoy the holiday season but don’t lose focus on what your goals are. Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing.

 
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Posted by on 11/06/2013 in Exercise, Fitness, Health & Wellness, Healthy, Inspirational, Nutrition, Weight Loss

 

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November Update

02 Nov

Here’s the update for November. I had quite a bit going on last month and I forgot to take October’s picture. By the time I realized I hadn’t done it, it was almost November! 😦 No excuses though.

We’re entering the holiday season. Can you believe it?

Click to see the November update.

fyi – Click on the picture to enlarge it.

 
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Posted by on 11/02/2013 in Exercise, Inspirational, Nutrition, Weight Loss

 

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Tameka’s Success

02 Oct

I have a special treat for you! It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. (That will be changing very soon.) Life has a way of happening at times. However you just deal with it and move on. So that’s what I’ve done.

At any rate, today’s post comes from one of my dear friends Tameka. She has made an amazing lifestyle change and I asked her to share a little bit of her story with you guys. She’s an incredible person and I’m so very proud of her.

Take a look at Tameka’s Story. I know you’ll be inspired as I was.

Thanks for sharing this Tameka!

 
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Posted by on 10/02/2013 in Inspirational, Weight Loss

 

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Look Harder

02 Aug

Rafiki: Look down there.
Simba: That’s not my father. That’s just my reflection.
Rafiki: No, look harder.
[touches the water, as it ripples Simba’s reflection changes to that of his father]
Rafiki: You see? He lives in you.
Mufasa’s ghost: Simba.
Adult Simba: Father?
Mufasa’s ghost: Simba, you have forgotten me.
Adult Simba: No. How could I?
Mufasa’s ghost: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.

That dialogue is from one of my favorite movies The Lion King. In that scene, Simba is wrestling with who he is and who he is. (Yes you read that right.) Who he is and who he is.
He’s Simba. A scared lion who is filled with doubt, guilt, shame, fear, and unbelief. A lion who has run away from his past mistakes and poor choices. Yet, that very same Lion is the sole heir to Pride Rock and is the rightful king. In fact, everything the sun touches is his kingdom.

How can he be both? How can he be both a king and a nomad? Full of fear yet full of strength? Which one is the real Simba? The reflection or the lion looking in the water.

A major lesson was taught in that scene. What was the lesson? There’s a difference between fact and truth. The facts were Simba abandoned his family, played a role in his father’s death, and was living a life unfitting of the King of Pride Rock. A life ripe with pain, agony, and anguish from his past.

And the truth? Well, the truth was simple. He was the rightful King of Pride Rock and had all the rights, power, privileges and authority that come with such a title. He was strong, fearless, courageous, full of valor.

You’re probably asking “What in the world does this have to do with weight loss?” I’m glad you asked! It has EVERYTHING to do with it. At one point I was the fact filled Simba. I wrestled with the same things he did – doubt, guilt, shame, fear, and unbelief. Basically, my past. Past attempts at weight loss, past bad decisions nutritionally, etc.. However, this last time, I “looked harder” in the water and saw my truth.

My truth was I was powerful beyond measure. I was a conqueror. An overcomer. Once I realized that truth, I was ready to return to my weight loss journey just as Simba returned to Pride Rock to take back his kingdom. In my case, my kingdom was my health. And I did so with confidence knowing what I was and who I was.

So whenever you feel the facts dominating your thoughts, might I suggest you remember Rafiki and Simba at the river on that clear, dark night in the jungle. If you don’t see your truth immediately (And you very well might not), it’s okay. Look again. Look harder and the reflection of truth concerning who you are will become clear.

Remember facts can change (and will change). The truth however, remains constant.

 
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Posted by on 08/02/2013 in Exercise, Inspirational, Nutrition, Weight Loss

 

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July Update

02 Jul

Okay, We’re in July! The 2nd half of 2013 is upon us! June was an okay month. Definitely not my best month. I completed another 5k and decreased my time. I admit I coasted quite a bit in June. But I’ve refocused and set goals. I have two weddings in October to attend. (I’m in one.) So that provided a goal for me to work towards.

Click to see July’s update.

fyi – Click on the picture to enlarge it.

 
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Posted by on 07/02/2013 in Exercise, Inspirational, Nutrition, Weight Loss

 

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Why This Time Was Different

28 Jun

I get e-mails from time to time from people who read my blog. Some are weight-loss related. Some are words are encouragement or notes of similar stories. Every now and then I share them (and my response) through the blog. Below is one of those e-mails. Well a portion of it anyway. Of course it was used with permission.

Antuan,
I’ve been following your blog for a while now. You’re an inspiration. I quit on my goals every two or three weeks but I find myself drawn back to your blog and your words give me hope. It’s like you’re talking directly to me. I have a question. You mentioned that you tried multiple times but this time was different. What made this time different?………..

My response

Hey! First, thank you for following and reading my blog. I don’t take that for granted. I’m humbled that it helps you. To think I was really close to not starting the blog. Also many thanks for e-mailing. I enjoy reading the emails. I actually wish I got more. They inspire me like crazy. lol

On to your question. (Great great question by the way!!) I’m going to answer your question with a question. lol

“There were 3 frogs on a log in a pond. One of the frogs decided to jump off the log. How many frogs are now on the log?”

The answer is 3. The frog merely decided to jump off the log. He didn’t follow his decision with actions.

This time around not only did I decide I would change my lifestyle, I followed that decision with actions. I just kept taking action that went along with the decision I made. I took action when I felt like it, when I didn’t feel like it, etc… And the biggest thing? I didn’t beat myself up when the action I took went against my decision. I knew in the grand scheme of things my actions were headed in the right direction. (Check out my entry on having a short memory)

Make sense? I hope that helps. I can’t wait to read your e-mail about how your life has changed for the better and all the success you’re having with your weight loss!

-Antuan

Here’s the post I made reference to in my response. Check it out.

 
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Posted by on 06/28/2013 in Inspirational, Weight Loss

 

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June Update

03 Jun

Okay, May has come and gone. I accomplished a good bit in May. I completed my first 5k. Increased the intensity of my workouts. Learned a lot about myself. Can’t wait to see what the 2nd half of the year brings. Can you believe it’s already June? I think I’m starting to see progress.

I didn’t quite get the same pose for this month but next month’s pose will be the same as the previous two.

Click to see June’s Monthly update.

fyi – Click on the picture to enlarge it.

 
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Posted by on 06/03/2013 in Exercise, Inspirational, Nutrition, Weight Loss

 

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Ripples of Success

23 May

This week has been one of the best weeks I’ve had. Thinking back to when I first toyed with the idea of starting a blog, I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to open up and be transparent. In retrospect, that was probably one of the best decisions I made. I was nervous about the first entry. It took me almost an hour to hit the Publish button. It seems like it was yesterday. My hands were shaking, my heart had exceeded its normal pace. I sat there staring at the screen reading and re-reading the words I had written. Finally, I got a surge of courage and hit “publish” and quickly closed the laptop. I often wonder if this is helping anybody besides me. I think of the impact it is having on others. Is it even having an impact? The last few days have confirmed its impact. I once heard a statement that resonates with me to this day. “You have to understand who wins when you win.” That statement repeatedly plays in my mind. This blog has become much more than a place where I document my trials and triumphs. It’s a piece of me that I’m giving to others to let them know they could do it too. Weight-loss or any other goal or dream you have. You can do it. Don’t believe it? Just read some of the blog entries. I have no idea who reads my entries. However, I was blessed to find out that a special group of people have been following me on my journey. I haven’t met this special group but I know them. I know them because we are all overcoming things and becoming better people. I was so humbled to find out that this blog was impacting their lives. I was told that I inspire them but I want them to know that they inspire me. water-drop-globe-ripple-environment1 I remember one of my favorite analogies because of them. The ripples of success. What is that? Well if you take a rock and drop it in a stream or lake. There are ripples that spread out from the point of impact. The place where the water meets the rock represents the impact you have on someone’s life. The ripples? They represent the spreading of your impact to others indirectly. That’s what’s happening with my blog. I’m impacting others and one of the ripples has reached a special group of friends. To those friends, I say thank you. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for letting me know the blog is helping. Do me a favor please. When you all go to the pond, take a second to drop a rock in the water and watch the ripples. Look at them to see how far they travel from the place of impact. Resolve to be the rock and let your impact have far-reaching ripples of success.

 
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Posted by on 05/23/2013 in Inspirational, Weight Loss

 

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Lesson from Mile Two

20 May

188

Today I had a great experience. I ran and completed my first 5k. All along my goal was to run the entire 5k and not come in last. I prepared for weeks. I ran the course multiple times training for these few minutes. My outfit was picked out weeks ago – complete with shorts to match my shoes. A shirt that I wasn’t comfortable wearing but needed to wear for motivation for my next 5k. (Yes, I’m hooked.)

My playlist was set. An hour and five minutes of songs that would help me run 3.1 miles. I’ve learned many lessons through this process. Lessons like I can do whatever I set my mind to do. Growth is found outside my comfort zone. But I was reminded of one the greatest lessons at mile two.

There I was running… Hitting my zone…. Music was blasting in my ears. I had talked myself out of walking twice by this point. Then I saw this little boy up ahead. Sweating, walking, head down. I saw his mom urging him to continue. He was having no part of it. For whatever reason, our eyes met. At this point, I hadn’t uttered one word to anyone on the course. After all, I was focused. I was competing with me, myself, and I. Goals needed to be accomplished and nothing would stand in my way!

Then it happened. I took my earphones out for the first time. I introduced myself.”I’m Antuan. What’s your name?” He looked up at me, with his hair disheveled, sweat on his face and said softly, “I’m Matthew.” I asked him if he was okay. He just looked at me. “How old are you?”, I asked. “Eight”, he said. I told him I was new to the area and needed a friend to help me finish this race. I asked him if he’d help me finish the race. He said yes. I then asked his mom if it would be okay if Matthew and I finished the race together.

Once she gave her approval, we gave each other the fist bump and started off on the last mile. We ran it slowly, at his pace. At this point, my goals were a distant memory. For one mile, Matthew and I talked, jogged, encouraged each other, and vowed to finish the race together.

204

We finished it. Crossing the finish line together. (Ahead of his mom as a matter of fact!) He looked up at me and said “We did it!” I replied, “We sure did buddy. We sure did.”

206

The lesson in all that? There’s no greater joy than helping someone else along the way. We all need each other to accomplish great things. No man is an island. I was reminded of that today.

Matthew helped me way more than I helped him. He reminded me that we’re in this together. We can accomplish more with others than by ourselves.

After the race, Matthew sought me out and brought me a banana and water.He told me this was his second 5k. I responded “Whoa! You’re amazing, buddy! This is my first. I hope to run as well as you one day.” The smile on his face as he ran off was priceless. That smile, that moment, was worth far more than any goal I set out to accomplish with this 5k.

Thanks for the reminder, Matthew.

 
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Posted by on 05/20/2013 in Exercise, Inspirational, Weight Loss

 

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3980

18 May

3980. What is that? That’s my race number for my first 5k. A 5k that starts in less than two hours. Who would’ve thought I’d be running (yes running!) a 5k! My goal isn’t to come in first. My goal is to run the complete 3.1 miles and not come in last(hopefully). I’m excited, nervous, anxious, proud all at the same time.

I’ve trained for this so I’ll be fine. For the past 8 or 9 weeks, I’ve been building up endurance and destroying the “I can’t” monster weekly. These last few weeks I’ve had quite a few accomplishments – Running for 5 minutes straight, running a mile, two miles, three miles…

Proving to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. So now it all culminates in an hour and 26 minutes. I can’t wait to check another item off my list.

See you at the finish line……

 
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Posted by on 05/18/2013 in Exercise, Inspirational

 

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