mytam302’s BodyBlog

The past few days have been difficult.  They are releasing my father from the care center this weekend.  The nurse said that he was recovering from hip surgery very well however he still needs assistance and supervision.  His appeal to stay another week at the recovery center was denied by the insurance. That means I’ll have to fly up to Dayton this weekend (I’m the only sibling with no small children) and make sure he transitions well to one of his church member’s home until we are able to bring him to GA on Nov 30th.  Workouts? I’ve been showing up.  My mind has been distracted. I haven’t been paying attention to the weights; I just make sure they are not too heavy and I go thru the motion. I did find out that I love doing squats on the Smith machine (100 lbs).  It jumps my heart rate up to cardio levels). When I’m really not focused I’ll just go do some squats.  In between exercises I’ll do squats.  If I’m bored, I’ll do squats (this was kinda new for me this week).   Eating? No binges (praise the Lord) 75% clean but no sweets however (had a piece of fried chicken).  I haven’t been logging my food but making sure I make healthy substitutes. I know this is not the way to accomplish my goals but I’m not going to let myself slip back into old habits and I don’t have the energy to press forward.  This week I was just holding. While in Ohio, I’ll watch what I eat .  I’ll make sure I workout at the hotel’s gym and I’ve already packed my protein shakes, fruit, and some tuna.  

I am big on community service and for about 3 years I’ve been going to the Trinity House on Bell St in Atlanta.  I love volunteering there especially during the  TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) dinners.  The men there are recovering from drug and alcohol abuse and transitioning back into society.  At the TEAM dinners, we eat (dinner sponsored by the guest) and share life.  They share their struggles and how the overcame and I am always encouraged and blessed when I visit.  Most times I try to say something very encouraging but this time, I needed them to speak into me.  Yesterday evening during my visit, I shared my family crisis with them and how it threw me into an emotional eating frenzy and how I struggled to stay on my program.   One of the recovering addicts, who used drugs since age 16, now 34, told me the most encouraging thing.  He has been clean for 100 days and he said, ”Tammy, with any addiction anybody can stop but to stay stop is the challenge.  When we break our program or good habits, it makes us become someone we don’t want to be and we go places and do things our better self would not do”.  He also told me when crisis come, buckle down, recommit to your goals and good habits, trust in your God, and know the struggles you overcame in your past, has prepared you for this crisis.  At that moment, I recommitted, my internal struggle was broken as this brother 100 days clean set me free with his words of wisdom.    

I know it is almost laughable why black women make excuses for not going to the gym.  One of the top 5 reasons is their hair.  Well I got my hair silked-out this weekend.  (This term is reserved for natural hair with no chemicals; when heat is applied to the natural hair it maximizes the length of the hair).  It is fun having versatile hair but it is also challenging.  I have enclosed a couple of pics. 

  These pics are the front and back of my hair today; keep in mind I have not exercised and the length is past my shoulder blades.  When I work out, I generate a lot of heat and moisture in my head causing my hair to swell and draw up (as to why some women get relaxers, or weaves to restrain this process).  My challenge this week is to be faithful with my morning exercise and eating clean AS WELL AS try and look cute with silked hair… HA!!!  Right!!!! LOL!!!  Who am I fooling…

So here is the plan Sparky, this pic   is a wig I chopped up to look like my hair (cause I don’t have long straight black silky hair).  Just in case at the end of the week, I look like a chicken head, this wig should cover me until I get my hair done over.  Looking forward to another successful week!

I know I am an emotional eater.  I planned all of my foods for the week, I did not skip workouts, and I still emotionally ate.  My weight loss was okay not that great.  My trigger came from a situation I could not control but I tried to control it via eating.  While in Ohio this week, my father fell when a friend’s dog jumped on him and knocked him down.  He was admitted in the hospital and we few my mom up to be with him.  He had to have emergency hip replacement surgery.  Surgery went well.  He will be in rehab 4 weeks.  In the end, I could not control what happened to him but I did revert back to some old habits.  I estabilished false eating patterns with my prayers and stress.  I ate my food and candy bars, cakes, chips, crackers, vodka sodas, etc….   for about 3 days straight.  Then I caught myself.  To regulate my sugar cravings, I started putting a little cinnamon on everything.  To try and catch up my program, did a couple of 2 a days and wrote my feeling in a a journal to gain control of myself.  I don’t want another week like this, it was tooooo emotional!!!  Back on the horn.  Headed to a SNBF show, will come home and start planning my week again! Woot!

     Training- My program is going very well from post a couple of days ago!   Tomorrow is cardio- I’m gonna try something new with my cardio, and I’m excited.  Food-My planning takes in account all of my activities.  I had a long meeting and a dentist appt shortly afterwards today.  Couldn’t stop to eat so I took a bag of sliced cucumbers and 2 oz of chicken breast and ate them in the car on the way to the dentist.  Woot! In case of emergency, I keep protein shakes in my car and at my desk as well a handy piece of fruit or a serving of veggies (sliced cucumbers, carrots) handy. I carry a bigger purse to accommodate my new life style and healthy snacks.  Some people keep coolers in their trunks.   

     Water? I have to go to the lady’s room every 60-90 min. I’m at ¾ to 1 gallon a day.  Today my dentist procedure was 2 hrs.  I found a good break which was after the drilling and said, “I need to go to the ladies room”.  I always try to make myself go prior to meetings, and planned events. I always make myself go before I get on the road and before I go to bed… Oops, it’s bedtime, well I’m out, gotta go!  

Building the body sexy, lean, strong and beautiful!!

Removing all excuses and taking no prisoners, I’m in the zone!  

Food: Just finished cooking for the week (veggie soup lowl glycemic), fish, chcken, grilled zucchini and barley are my staples. My baggies and plastic containers in various sizes are my friends. Had to buy some more protein powder, frozen berries will help the taste and reduce my sweet cravings (also fresh apples and grapefruit left over from last week).  Funny thing, the more I give my body the food it was designed to digest, I feel better and I performs better.  No more frozen Weight Watchers or Healthy Choice meals for me, too many perservatives that goes right to my fat cells.  I freeze leftovers and make my own ‘frozen meals’.  

Workout (thanks to China for sharing): Mon-chest/bis- finish with cardio  /Tues-back, hamstrings and traps-finish with cardio/ Wed- cardio/ Thursday-shoulders and triceps-finish with cardio/ /Friday heavy leg day, cardio focus on legs (stair climber, side squats runs)  .   Ironed my clothes for the week so I can leave 10 mins earlier in the morning and not feel rushed when I get to work. I’m not going to short change my exercise time or meal planning time in the mornings, those are good habits that I am developing that makes my body happy.  

I feel my swagger and my stride! Woot!

Today WaynesWorld  and renew1  made post Friday as to why some women of color
 give excuses about their fitness based on their hair.  I must confess it was a
difficult experience, for me to to deal with the  transitions of my hair and various
looks because society isn’t ready to embrace the kinky, curly, wavy, knotty, nappy
hair we can have.  The first pic is how I wear my hair now (twist, twist-out).  The
2nd pic is a style I had the nerve to wear to work.  One of my Asians co-
workers said I looked like I had a ball on my head.  The Caucasians looked at me
like I was going to start something and pull a weapon out of my afro. 
My  comrades threw up a fist sign and said “Power to the People”.   Amazing how
our hair styles can cause different reactions to different people.  Now the last two pics
(last Summer) were from when I decided not to wear wigs,  weaves, extensions
and a  ponytails anymore (BTW,I did not wear that afro and those puffs in public). I
look now and it’s funny, back then, it was difficult time for me.  So the next time you
hear a woman of color give excuses about her hair and working out (not sure about
the other excuses), just be patient with her and understand she needs time to self
actualize to  embrace her  health and especially what she decides to do with her hair! I had a two year journey
and still trying to work it out!!! LOL!!!! 

This weekend, I’m going to visit my parents; they live about 25 miles from me.  My father had surgery out of state and my mom is on a eating/fitness program that she asked me to help her with.  My mom is doing realy well, she has already lost 10 lbs.  I get to measure and weigh her and do her hair when I go visit.  I need to rest my eyes on my father he’s getting up in age.  He also wants me to look over his will- I pray my emotional eating don’t take over me.  I’ll pack my food for my visit and make sure I pack an extra healthy snack and bottled water just incase things get uncomfortable.  Have a great weekend!

What is going on??? Yesterday was donuts on the bins, today peanut butter cups! Good and strange thing- I’m not tempted… I’m doing right by my body because I’m feeling good, fit and healthy from choices I am making. Last year I would have been the primary person grabbing the freebees. This was how I slipped the first time. This year, I am choosing to commit to mastering the basics of good habits from October 22, 2009 until Nov 22, 2009 prior to the holidays. I have decided to commit to my health and do the following:

 1) eating clean wholesome natural foods 90% of the time;

2) eat 5-6 small meals a day;

3) working out at least 5 days a week (weight training with cardio) and

4) Drink at least 100 oz water a day.

I will also commit to not eating “white stuff” (flour, bread, sugar, white potatoes, etc). I’ll start here. If I master these good habits before the holiday festivities, my good habits will guide my choices when temptation knocks at my door during “family fun and food celebrations”.

A ‘thoughtful’ coworker just put an assortment of dunkin donuts on the bin across from for all to enjoy…..  I opted for my meal 2-Protein shake and carrots. Great workout this morning, my body is loving how i nuture and challenge it. No cravings for simple carbs here; my body is satisfied.  Bad habit, I’m gonna break you.  My goal has greater purpose than this moment of self gratification.  My desire for my next healthy meal is over whelming! Woohoo, go Tammy! go Tammy! go Tammy!