Archive for Heart to Heart

Making Your Own History

Congratulation to The New Orleans Saints… WHO DAT!!!!!

February is Black History month not to mention my birthday month as well. But seriously with all that African Americans have contributed to this nation I think it’s an honor that America has set aside 1 month to recognize and honor African Americans that have been an asset to this country.

Many people not just African Americans are not recognized for their accomplishments until after they’re gone. Why is it that? Did we not notice all they achieved while they were alive? Or is it we (as a nation) really didn’t see the value in them until AFTER they died. What good is honor once you’re gone?

I want to really ponder that question today. Think about the legacy you’re leaving for your family. Are you making a mark that cannot be erased? Are you making the necessary changes to your life to ensure that you live a long, happy, for-filled life? Life is more than the things you have or how much money you make. Life is living, loving and learning. Living today as if it was your last, loving like you want to be loved and learning how to be wiser and smarter than you were yesterday.

I want every reader of this blog today to stop for 5 minutes and make a little history of your own. Make history by starting small and look at your life and see where you can make an adjustment to become more health conscious. It only takes 1 move to make history!

Living the Dream

Living the Dream…that’s what I realized this weekend. I am living my dream!!! It all started Saturday morning with an awesome, fun, belly dance class with the ladies of the I Love MY Body fitness group. Then I went to speak at my first women conference at Greater New Hope Christian Assembly.

We’re all created for a purpose. You may be asking yourself “What is my purpose?” The easiest way to find your purpose is to get involved in something that you like doing. You enjoy it so much that you would do it for free. Your passion for the thing will be your reward. Never give up on finding your purpose. Even if it takes years to find your purpose continue to search for it. You’ll be glad you did.

I’ve done a lot in my life from going to nursing school, starting a nurse staffing agency to inventing and getting a patent on a medical device. They all brought me happiness and a sense of accomplishment in one way or another. But nothing can compare to the feeling I felt on Saturday. After all that I’ve done I now know that I’m doing what I was created to do. The passion I have for health and fitness was revealed so clear after I stepped down off the podium on Saturday. No words can describe the feeling I felt in my heart.

I’m not a person that gets nervous very often so I wasn’t nervous about speaking I was more concerned if the ladies would get anything out of what I was talking about. Guess what? They did! Seeing the attentiveness, note taking and questions showed me that these women where serious about getting healthy and they wanted my help. I felt right at home speaking from my heart. The desire to assist women reach their body image goals is something I don’t take lightly. When a woman listens to what I suggest and agrees to follow the 21 Day Challenge I take a very personal interest in her health.

I’m Living my Dream and I know that this is just the beginning. I will take the 21 Day Challenge to every woman that is willing and ready to make a life style change. I’ll strive to teach women to Love THEIR Body, not that of someone else but to be happy with the body they have and make the dietary and physical adjustments as needed.

I challenge you today to start living your dream. Step out and do something you’ve had a desire to do. Do something that you really enjoy. If you’re not sure what your passion is, be open to try something new. You too could possibly stumble upon your dream…like me.

2010…MY NEW YEAR

As we say good bye to 2009 on Friday have you thought about what 2010 will hold? What did or did not happen this year that you want to happen next year? Who’s life did you touch, change, impact, hurt, or empower? What goals have you and your family set together? What would you like to change about your health that may assist you in living a long happy, whole life?

I asked these questions to make you think. Not just make the same resolution year after year without seeing any results. I really want you to think about the upcoming year. As women we plan so many things but we often times fail to plan for ourselves and our future. Despite being wife, daughter, sister, trainer, educator and friend, I am LaMonica first and that means I need to do what’s in LaMonica’s heart, not just me but you too.

You’ve heard me say this a lot and I stand by it…”If you don’t take care of you, who will?” Who’s going to be there for your family and friends if you get sick or die? I’m saying all of this because this week I realized that life is too short.  We never know how short until something happens that makes you pause for a moment and think, “That could have been me or my loved one.” If you don’t take the time to eat healthy, rest (good, sound, worry free sleep) and exercise you could be causing more damage to your body than you think, damage that could be permanent and irreversible.

While I’m not saying anything new we’ve all heard this stuff before but this is coming from my heart. Ladies I want you to be healthy inside and out, mind, body and spirit. High blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, obesity and coronary artery disease are things that YOU can prevent.

So as we leave 2009 let’s leave all of the bad eating, no exercise, lack of sleep and stress in 2009 and go into 2010 with a made up mind to be healthy, fit and fabulous. Much love!

Happy New Year!

Dying To Be Thin

Literally there are hundreds if not thousands of women, and young girls that want to look like the models they see in the magazines and bill boards. We live in a day and time that if you want it get it. Sometimes that means doing whatever it takes to look a certain way. From plastic surgery to starvation women will do almost anything to be thin….even die.

Plastic surgery is big business in the US. There are so many things that surgeons can do now that didn’t exist about 20 years ago; from botox to labiaplasty. Men are also getting plastic surgery done, i.e pectoral implants. The cost ranges from $60 for a micro peel to $10,000 for liposuction (5 areas). One surgery that is being done now more than ever is gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery is just what is says, according to Web MD it makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. You feel full faster than when your stomach was its original size, which reduces the amount of food you eat and thus the calories consumed. By passing part of the intestine also results in fewer calories being absorbed which leads to weight loss.

I’m not a against plastic surgery, it’s just not for me. There are too may risk factors that you have to consider when think about going  under the knife. Anesthesia, infection, blood clots, hemorrhaging, brain damage, and decrease blood pressure are just a few of the major complication of plastic surgery. If you have a pre-existing medical condition( heart disease, diabetes,high blood pressure)  get evaluated by your primary care physician first to ensure that you will be able to tolerate the surgery.

As a nurse I highly recommend that if you decided to have ANY type of procedure done, make sure you do your homework on the surgeon and the procedure. It’s not enough to find someone on the Internet and allow them to operate on you because they have a “nice website.” Interview the physician ask questions, talk to previous clients and finally make sure they are board certified to perform the surgery. You’ll be surprised at the number of physicians that are not board certified.

Again plastic surgery is not me,  but it maybe something you’ve thought about. If so, do what you need to do for your happiness and peace of mind just educate yourself first. I’m willing to do what ever it takes (without surgery) to have the body image I want. And you can too all it take is a little discipline .

Treat Yourself…You’re Worth It

That’s right ladies I said it TREAT yourself! Women today have so many roles to play that often times we put entirely too much pressure on ourselves to be the perfect wife, mother, sister, daughter or friend. Oprah has said that the hardest job in the world was a stay at home mom. I would have to say that I think the hardest job in the worlds is being a WOMAN!

As a proud African American woman I have realized that my ancestors went through so much for me to enjoy some of the rights and privileges I have today. Their strength to over come many obstacles from slavery to fighting for women rights has proven that women are alot stronger than men think. We have the ability to adapt to almost any situation and find a way to make it work. When I say we can make it work…Ladies we make it work. I can remember as a young girl how my mom, a single mother of 2 did whatever she had to do to provide for me and my brother.  Once I was older she explained how at times she just didn’t know where the money was going to come from. But guess what? It came and she made it work.

Today I want you to forget about what needs to be done, where you have to go, what bills you have to pay and treat yourself. You’ve earned it. The mere fact that you’re reading this blog indicates that. You at least see the value in having a healthy body and that in itself is very commendable. So go head and have a treat.

Your treat can be any thing that you may not normally get a change to indulge or participate in. Try treats that are not centered around food. Here are some treats that I think you may enjoy:

• Hot bubble bath with soft  music playing
• Reading a book outside
• Going to the spa
• Staying at home and watching lifetime all day
• Having your favorite meal cooked for you or going to your favorite restaurant
• Buying yourself something new (i.e. clothes or shoes)

Whatever you decided to do to treat yourself enjoy quality time alone. Key word is alone. Hire a babysitter, ask a family members to watch the kids even let let hubby go hang out with the guys. Whatever it takes you deserve that quite time alone something I like to call “ME TIME.”

Who or What is Inspiring You?

 Where does your inspiration come from? What inspires you to do what you do? We all have a reason as to why we do something. For me my inspiration for 21 Days to My Healthy Body comes from you! Just seeing the transformation of many of the women on the challenge inspires me more everyday. Health and fitness has been apart of my life for as long as I can remember.  I think I was bitten by the fitness bug when I was a little girl and use to watch my mom workout with her Jane Fonda video tapes. Speaking of my mom I would like to congratulate her on her 15 pound weight loss with the 21 Day Health and Fitness Challenge, Go Mama!! Sorry for the side note just wanted to give my mom a shout out for doing such a great job.

Maybe my inspiration can from years of cheer-leading, gymnastics or possibly my fascination with the body and the birthing process. What I know for sure is that I love doing anything that pertains to nursing, health and fitness; be it teaching, training, or working with attorneys on medical cases I enjoy it all. So my question again is, Who or what is inspiring you?

Everyone has something that they’re good at. Each person has been blessed with a God given or God inspired talent. Even you! The key to finding that hidden talent is to know yourself. Knowing what you like and dislike. What makes you happy and sad? What gives you peace and joy? Simply put…. What is it that you desire? That’s the first question that needs to be addressed. Then once you know your desires then ask yourself; what in your life would you like to see changed, improved or adjusted? I have this little equation that I use that helps keep me inspired. DESIRE+ IDEAS+ PLAN =CHANGE. Let me explain how I use the equation. I write down certain desires. The desires are then classified according to time. For example, losing weight. When I wanted to lose weight I was very specific as to when I wanted to accomplish my weight loss.  Next ideas, I write down all the ideas that come to mind as to how I can accomplish the goal; Going to the gym, not eating fast food and drinking more water. From there I make a plan on how to implement the ideas; Working out at least 3 times a week, partner with someone that will help me be accountable.  Then once I act out on the plan it will yield the change.  When I use the D.I. P. equation I am always successful at what I’m working on at the time. By the way this equation can be used on anything. I encourage you to try the D.I.P. equation you will begin to see that obtaining your goals may not be as hard as you once thought. It may take you years of DIPPING for you to end up doing exactly what you desire but don’t stop. The key to success is being consistent. I DIPPED into some many things that when the 21 Days to My Healthy Body was birthed something just click in me that I knew I had found what I was created to do. 

 My passion for health and fitness is directed at women only because as a women I can address lot of things that we as women go through when it comes to our body. So what better way to address these issues that I face than with other women? Trust and know that I too experienced the same emotional and physical issues you face when it comes to weight and body image. Hence the reason I can be so open and relate to how you feel, because I’ve been there, done that.  I am a firm believer that you learn by experience; experience in knowing what to do, and what not to do when it comes to weight loss and exercise.

Finding your inspiration is not difficult. It’s acting out on the inspiration that’s hard. Sometimes we make it harder than it has to be by doubting ourselves. Your mind starts to talk to you and say things like, “You’re not going to do that, are you?” “You won’t be successful so why even waist your time?” “You don’t havethe money or the time to do it?” These are just some the statements my mind told me when I stepped out to do the 21 Days to My Healthy Body. And as you can see I spoke to those negative thoughts and decided to go with my heart and I’m so glad I did!! Seeing the lives of women change by doing the 21 Day Health and Fitness Challenge has brought me so much pride and joy that I smile and get excited every time a new person downloads the free report knowing that their life is about to change. As I contiue help women develop the “I Love My Body” attitude I know that it’s a small seed that will change a woman’s life forever and the lives of others around her as well.

 I would love to hear from you and know what your has inspired in pursuit of your dreams. Then use that inspiration and develop a D.I.P. and you’ll begin to experience the same joy and happiness that I do with the 21 Days to My Healthy Body!

Let it Go….

I couldn’t wait to write today’s blog; this topic was on my mind every since a high school class mate left a message on my FB.  Members of the 21 Day Health and Fitness Challenge received a heart felt message that I thought was something all ladies needed to hear, entitled “Are You Allowing Food to Kill You?” The comment left was “People use food as a stress release.”  So my question still remains the same, “Are you allowing food to kill you?”

We all have things that we have to deal with on a daily basis but how we choose to handle them will determine our victory over it. Stress is not good for the body at all. Some people say that they can handle stress but the truth of the matter is you may think you can handle the stress. Externally you can  fake and pretend that nothing is bothering you but internally it’s World War 3 going on. The chemical process of stress leads to several different health issues that you may not be aware of until it manifest as a physical sign and symptom and by then the damage has been done.

For example many auto immune disorders can be caused by stress. One that I know all to well is Polymyositis. A very close family member was diagnosed with it several years ago. The doctors ran so many test and everything came back negative, then finally after a muscle biopsy the diagnoses was made. Polymyositis affects less than 20,000 women between ages 35-50 but the shocker is they don’t know the real cause. Most literature says that stress could be the cause. 

Now that lead to my second question ” If you’re stressed then how do you handle that stress?” My class mate said she used food to help her manage stress. This leads to another question “What kind of food are you eating?” I’m pretty sure it’s not celery and peanut butter. More than likely it’s processed food, high in sugar and  fat. You want something that’s going to make you feel good. Women tend to use food as a comfort mechanism and that can lead to unhealthy eating practices thus weight gain. Next thing you know you’ve gained 15-20 pounds and don’t remember how and when you put on the weight. So you start dieting and you lose 10 pounds. You’re feeling good about your weight loss and believe that you will have the remaining 5-10 pounds off in no time. Then BAM! An unexpected life changing event happens and  you start eating and eating and eating. A month later the weight you loss is back and then some.

If you eat for comfort let’s look at how we can help you deveolp better coping skills. When something happens that may cause undue stress, deal with the stressor first. Then, if possible remove the stressor from your life. Second, set boundaries or limits as to being involved with the stress. For example if it deals with work leave work at work. Try not to take it home with you. Third, channel the negative energy from stress into something else; like your favorite hobby. Then the last suggestion, do things that make you happy puts a smile on your face.

This is the only life you have. Treat it with all the value it’s worth because once it’s gone it’s gone and the thing you were stressing about wasn’t even worth it.