READY… STEADY… GO!
1 of 17
I Begin at My Beginning.
Yes, we’re already 18 days into 2022. And, yes, the rest of the world may have a 17-day advantage on their “road to a better me.” But so what? I have decided to let my beginning be just that—mine. After all, this is my journey. Why should I let the dropping of some crystal ball at midnight dictate when I start working to achieve my goals? This is all about me. More importantly, building a more positive me. I make the rules. So, less focus on being disappointed that I didn’t yield to conformity, and more thought to hitting my starting point.
2 of 17
I Never Forget to Love Myself.
Self love is important. We nurture and take care of the people we love, but oftentimes forget to take care of ourselves. So, I’m giving myself a pass to put me first. Because I’m at my best and can give my greatest to others when I’m spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically fit.
3 of 17
The Importance of Treating Me.
This goes hand in hand with self love. I’m a constant giver. I like to be generous. But I also feel that it’s important to give myself treats every now and then. It makes me feel good to do nice things for myself. It doesn’t have to be anything big, expensive, or extravagant. Nor does it have to be a special occasion. I appreciate me, and I like
to show it. Especially now that I'm beginning this phase of self-improvement.
4 of 17
Push, Not Pressure. Drive, Not Detention.
Today, as I begin doing a more vigorous exercise routine, it's important to remember that there’s good hurt, and then there’s bad hurt. Good hurt, or “the burn,” is the body’s natural reaction to movement and activity. Bad hurt is caused by overexertion, the body not knowing how to respond to activities that are pushing it beyond its limits. The kind that could lead to injury, which is counterproductive to what I’m trying to accomplish here. In the past, I’ve been guilty of overdoing during exercise. But in speaking to my doctor and listening to my body, I have come to realize that I don’t have to treat my body like it’s on punishment in order to get in shape. Yes, it’s perfectly okay for me to have a fire-under-my-belly approach, but it’s never okay to put my body through pain and discomfort that will cause more harm than good in the long run.
5 of 17
Start Slowly.
I’m starting out with a goal of 50 crunches a day. But if on Day 3 my body can only handle 25, so be it. One is better than zero; something is better than nothing. The important thing is a) I don’t give up and b) I don’t overwork myself into a hospital bed. Knowing that I’m on my way is good enough.
6 of 17
My Motivation.
Some folks use special occasions to whip that body into shape. Some just want to look good for the new love. I’ll admit, mama does want to get into shape so she can look her best this summer, but my motivation comes from a deeper place. My family has a history of diabetes (my grandmother and all her daughters, including my mom), and I'm trying to prevent it before it gets me. My sugar levels are great right now, and I want them to remain that way for the rest of my life. So I'm paying very close attention to my eating habits. Healthy eating and exercise will improve my chances of avoiding that dreaded diagnosis.
7 of 17
Set a Schedule.
I like to wake up early, start my workout at 6 a.m., and keep the day moving. If I sleep any later, it becomes so difficult to get up and I don't even want to hear the words "work out." Setting a schedule to do it the same time every day gets me amped and ready to go.
8 of 17
Slipups Never Have to Equal Giving Up.
Chocolate is my weakness. And I always go overboard and eat more than I should. But overindulging on junk food isn't a pass to give up. It may take a bit longer to reach my goals because of my slipup, but I’m not going to let lapses derail me. I will still get up at 6 every morning to exercise. And I will still continue to eat healthily. I may stumble, I’m human after all. But the important thing is to remain focused on what’s at the finish line—a healthier me.
9 of 17
Set Realistic Goals.
I’m not a teen anymore—celebrating my 50th in a few weeks. And my metabolism has slowed to what sometimes feels like a snail’s pace. When I was younger and used to take dance classes, I ate candy bars every day to keep weight on because I would lose weight rapidly. Now I’m lucky if I lose a pound a week. So I know that setting unrealistic goals for myself will only set me up to fail. I know I can't expect to drop 10 pounds in my first week healthily, it just doesn't work that way. So I’m pacing myself (keeping up with my daily exercises), eating healthier (the one-candy-bar-a-day diet ain’t working for me anymore), and making more realistic moves toward achieving a healthier lifestyle (Cadbury, I'll see ya when you and I can have a more responsible relationship).
10 of 17
My Scale Is Not My Enemy.
Sometimes I feel like stomping my scale to smithereens. I mean, at times I swear I see it smiling at me when it knows it's about to give me bad news—real evil-like. But when I get back to reality, I realize that I can't be angry with an inanimate object just because it's telling me the truth. So I’ve adopted a friendlier approach to dealing with Mr. Scale. No, I’m not quite ready to forge a friendship. But now I look at it as my trusted companion. Never my foe.
11 of 17
Make Time to Breathe and Appreciate Life.
Our world is a beautiful place, and we need to make time to show it love and appreciation. We get so caught up with our tech devices that we often forget to appreciate nature. To inhale, exhale, and give thanks for nature’s gifts. So in the last few weeks, I have made a conscious effort to get my face out of my iPhone and iPad every Saturday morning to take a long walk in the park. I leave the phone at home so that I can focus on and appreciate my surroundings. If only for a few hours.
12 of 17
Perfection Is a Myth.
We’ve all looked through magazines pointing to perfect celebrity bodies that we wish we had. Well, I’m here to tell you that magazines create illusions that render us delusional. There’s this great magical tool called Photoshop that retouches pictures to such unblemished perfection before they’re published that stars often don’t recognize themselves when they see the final results. As someone who has worked in publishing, I have seen celeb photos untouched, and then the results after they have been retouched. Trust, we’d be perfect too if we walked around with a digital eraser or stamp tool that magically zapped away all of our flaws. But we don’t, and neither do the celebs. Comparing myself to a fantasy is unrealistic. So I’ve decided to embrace my “flaws” and uniqueness. I don’t care what Beyoncé has that I don’t. Hurray for her. She’s worked hard for her assets. Here, now, starting today, I’m working on mine.
13 of 17
Diet: The Ugly Four-Letter Word.
The word “diet” always conjures up unhealthy connotations because I associate it with words like “starvation,” “pills,” “hunger,” and “eating disorders.” So I prefer to use the term “healthy eating regimen.” And that’s what I wish to attain. I know that there are some things that I need to eliminate from my eating regimen because they’re just not healthy for me, and I'm working on that. But I have NEVER, and will NEVER support or engage in the ritual of fast dieting. It doesn’t work. It doesn’t work. It doesn’t work.
14 of 17
Travel, and Then Travel Some More.
I live to travel. Everyone should visit as many countries and regions outside of their home bases as they possibly can. Traveling shows you different perspectives on life, the world, and people. Leaving your hometown can be scary, but it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and observe different living experiences. Not only do I learn about the world outside of my own when I travel, but I also learn something new about myself each time. Traveling is equal parts enriching and enlightening. However you decide to do it, just do it. As I said before, our world is a very beautiful place, and it’s meant to be experienced. And I want to continue experiencing as much of it as I can.
15 of 17
Appreciate Home.
“My reason for traveling is to make myself eager to come home,” remarks Downton Abbey’s Maggie Smith, during an episode in which her character Violet Crawley had just come back from one of her fabulous holidays. I couldn’t agree with her more. Yes, I love to travel, but having a home base to return to after my exploits is as equally a treasure as seeing the world. So to paraphrase Grandmama Crawley, it's comforting to have a place to which no matter where I roam or for how long, I will always feel eager to come back.
16 of 17
Thank You and a Smile.
We sometimes get so caught up in ourselves that we take the people in our lives for granted. Folks like the cashiers at the grocery store or the bus driver who makes sure we get from point A to point B safely every day often go unnoticed. They become so tightly woven into the fabric of our daily routine that we sometimes forget that they’re there making things easier and more manageable for us. We never stop to think about the possibility of them not being there. So, I have decided to make an effort to say daily thank yous to everyone in my life, including those whose presence make my day run smoother. And it never hurts to give thanks with a smile. Those two words and that small gesture go a very long way to show respect, gratitude, and appreciation.
17 of 17
Never Succumb to Fear.
Life is scary. So it’s okay to be scared. Especially in these trying times, when we don’t know what’s going to happen from one day to the other. What isn’t okay is letting fear stymie progress. We have to live life to the best of our ability and not use fear as a crutch. Instead, use fear as fuel. So I say, bring on the fear. I can handle it.