What a difference a year can make!

April 30, 2010….this date will forever be celebrated as the anniversary of the start of my “Lifestyle Evolution”.  This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated two major milestones; our 7 year wedding anniversary (which was celebrated a week later), and one year marking the loss of nearly 40 pounds of baggage from my life. Something that is even more exciting; my husband has recommitted to chancing his lifestyle as well, and has lost 18 lbs in the past few months. I am so proud of my life partner. I have prayed for this day for so long.

A year ago I began what at first seemed a daunting, but not impossible journey.  I committed from the inside out to change my life in a way that would make me and those around me better.It was a personal challenge and a plan I’d attempted countless times before. However, this time around…a year ago, I knew it would be different. Under no circumstances could I afford to turn back or become derailed again.

I cannot believe it has really been an entire year!  WOW!!!! What a difference a year can make. Here are the stats:

April 30, 2010:

Height 5 foot 1

Weight: 183.5 lbs

Waist- 34.5 inches

Pants Size- 14 (and TIGHT!!! Some of my pants were 14/16.)

Shirt  Size- XL

Confidence- Low, Energy Level- Low, Self-Esteem-Sinking even lower

April 30, 2011:

Weight : 145 lbs

Waist-29.5 inches

Pants Size- 10 (and they are LOOSE!!!)

Shirt Size- M (and LOOSE)
Confidence-Solid, Energy Level-HIGH!!!, Self-Esteem-Better and improving daily! 

 

For those of you out there that know what calories are and HARD it is to burn just one alone, you will appreciate this: 134,750.  This massive number represents the number of calories I had to burn in order to lose 38.5 pounds (it takes the burning of 3500 calories to lose ONE pound). I fought for every single one of those pounds, too. 

Anyway, I am not going to keep raving about my weight loss, as excited as I am. I am just so proud of myself for sticking to it and maintaining this lifestyle change.  I only have 15 more pounds to lose before I get to my goal weight. I am going to stay the course and focus on continuing to lose, maintain and tighten.  As far as my regime, cardio continues to be a critical and regular piece (elliptical, strider, treadmill when possible and lots of walking.) I dropped the gym membership a few months ago and began something new; I have added P90X into the mix. I finally kicked it in gear and I am now in the second Phase (Wk 6, Day 1 began today). This system is helping me to increase my endurance, strength, and improved the tone and definition of my body. I am doing things I never imagined I could do and growing stronger everyday in so many ways.

As I have been going through this journey, I have been told countless times that I have inspired and motivated others to begin doing the same. I am so grateful for this. Many people have touched, encouraged and inspired me along the way as well and that has kept me going. I plan to pay it forward and have a few ways of making this happen.  I am working on a draft of a Wellness Proposal that I will submit to my employer. I would like to put some sort of fitness newsletter or program together that can be shared with team members across the country.  Additionally, I want to get out in the community and perhaps volunteer at local fitness facility to assist others that want to make a lifestyle change.  And among a few others ideas in my head, I am continuing to work on a book that I will publish once my goal weight is reached.  I don’t want notoriety, I just want to lift others up and return the favor.  

My question for you is simple; what can you do to change your life and that of those around you?  What is holding you back? Is it you, maybe?  I held myself back for all of my 20’s. I lived inside of a box…inside the dimensions of a prison I created for myself.  I implore you to stand up and FIGHT for yourself. FIGHT for a better life…….I  know that it CAN be done. You just have to want it…and you have to make time for the best personal trainer out there…JC!  

Thanks for the support. No matter what happens, whatever God's plan is, I will never be a prisoner inside of my own body again. Check back soon for updates! God bless!

Make It Work!

-Seven Verses Deep (Kia)

Living by the Four P’s

One day several weeks ago, I was watching a video on YouTube that was sent to me via a link from a friend with a note that said something to the effect of, “This Cat killed ‘em. Check this out…it is a must see.”  I sat at my desk not knowing what it would be about. I clicked on the link to see a fellow poet in action. He was all over the stage talking about food and the abuses we do to ourselves with it in this country. He was blunt, creative and had so much conviction in his delivery. The audience sat there as he spewed on and on about the injustice and selfishness of our human race….about how God intends for our bodies to be temples but we gorge and neglect ourselves to the point of sickness and even death.

 I shed a tear and nodded along with the rest. His delivery was powerful and his challenge clear; get up, get moving and live as a testimony. Live as a testimony. I strive to do this, and Lord knows it is not easy. So how do we do this? How can we begin to speak or encourage others when we ourselves aren’t living by what we speak?  The first step is to get your mind right. How is this done? We must first start by living by the “Four P’s”. 

What are the “Four P’s?” you may be asking yourself.  In my life, I have defined them to be the following: Prayer, Patience, Persistence and Perseverance. Prayer is critical. It is our direct link to God. It is a source of power….it is intermingled with our faith. Patience is key. It took God 7 days and nights to go through the process of creation. We must realize that life is meant to be lived…not rushed through. It takes time. And as my wise Grandparents have always said, “haste makes waste”. Persistence, you need it. You have to keep pushing, and fighting, and striving. Perseverance is linked with persistence, but I attribute this more so to die hard passion in spite of it all. You learn this as you go through the journey. 

I am 11 months into my journey to a better me. I have been exploring the world around me and my inner self. I have learned much about the endurance of my spirit, the needs of my soul, and the weakness of my flesh. I have had mountain high moments, and trench deep pain and failures. I have stumbled, I have fallen….but I never quit…not even once. Through sickness, disappointments on many levels, and injuries...I have kept going. I must thank the Lord above for the strength He has filled me with. I could never have done it otherwise. In fact, at one point in my life it was much easier to turn away and to do the exact opposite; quit. 

I began this journey with at first one goal, to lose weight. With each passing day, week and month, that goal expanded and grew into a holistic journey. I have written before about working to create a new, refreshed and improved “me” physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. But now, more than ever, this is grounded in me. My gut is screaming for success…for completion….for the pain of this race.  I am craving sweat, letting tears flow….bleeding from the inside out and becoming fully vulnerable so that I may be all the way used up. I truly feel I am evolving and growing stronger every day. I am working harder to apply the “Four P’s” to every aspect of my life. 

Though I have traveled a great distance, I am not there yet. I must keep running. I must keep praying, being patient, persisting and persevering; as must you.

Make it Work,
-7 Verses Deep

Stumbling Blocks

Sometimes connected in strings….sometimes in stacks, others are spaced apart of deep wells in between them.I’ve been climbing, rising, skipping……and have fallen short many times along the way.  One thing I can say has remained consistent; the desires of my heart.  I won’t reveal my ultimate reason at this time, except to say I feel so close, yet so far away.

My husband and I had a basic physical at the end of last week.  I weighed myself prior to the tech coming to our home because I didn’t want to be surprised by what was said. I braced myself for it…I  knew I had probably gained a few after the week long trip back to my home town the beginning of January.  The damage was not as bad as I expected…but it was still bad enough to make me feel like a failure.  In total, I gained back 3.5 pounds. 

This is the first time since beginning my weight loss journey where I have actually had a gain as opposed to a loss.  I think I felt better about things when I was in plateau mode a few months back.  Now, I am back to what I weighed right before the Thanksgiving holiday……..153 pounds.  

Again, I knew it was coming.  But, how could I go all the way back to my hometown after a year and not enjoy my Grandmother’s cooking?  How could I pass up dining out with family and my best-friend with a baby on the way?  Guess I over did it a little. J But it sure was good! :)

Oh well, onward I press. I am far from perfect and though I was and still have some disappointment in myself, I am taking it better than I would have last summer. Still, I cannot allow this to continue. The past few weeks my workout regime has become steady again. This week it is all about cardio (treadmill, strider, jogging and circuit training with weights).  I will be pressing it hard working out twice a day. At the same time, my husband and I will be in detox mode for the remainder of this month. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, beans/legumes and lots and lots of water.  I am determined to lose another 15 pounds by the end of April.  

I have taken ownership of my fitness journey and no longer using scapegoats when I slip. I challenge you to do the same.  At the end of the day, we must be accountable for our level of activity, our drive, our focus…our intake and our thoughts.  The good news is it is never too late to start again. Here we go! 

Still making it work!

Tired...but not down for the count!

1/27/2011

Happy New Year!!! It has been a few months since my last post. Feels good to be back to the blog!

Since my last update, I've shed a few more pounds. As of 12/31/10, my total weight loss since May of 2010 is 34.5 pounds. This is a major feat for me and I am so happy to begin the New Year without having "losing excess physical baggage" as my resolution. I have, however, set a new goal for myself.  I plan to lose about 25 more pounds by summer.

I joined a gym before the Thanksgiving holiday and I absolutely love it. Weight training and circuit work have become a bigger part of my routine than before; the results speak for themselves.

Over the past several months, I have received overwhelming support from family, friends and strangers. I get email after email, text messages and phone calls from so many people seeking support, advice and or tips to aid in their own journey for personal fitness. It's meant so much to me and gotten me through some painful and challenging days. 

Funny...I've had so much success, but some days it still feels like it's not enough. I've watched myself go through a metamorphosis from the inside out. Yet, my spirit and mind are still lagging behind. They can't seem to catch up and it's been wearing me out. 

There are still things in my life I have yet to deal with. And if it is not the suppressed or the deliberately submerged memories or pain, then it is the end result of them staring me in the face or constantly invading my thoughts and dreams. I am praying to God for strength in overcoming those challenges. I know if I do not succeed in doing so, everything I have done is pointless. 

Remember, this transition is not just about the physical; the spiritual and mental have always been part of the equation. I must admit to myself that I have not given as much time or effort to those areas as I should. Painful memories, regrets....those are the emotions I need to reign in so not to go back to that dark place harvested and nurtured by emotional eating. Healing.....I need to take more time out for that.

This is not a resolution.....but a personal commitment that will lead to a better, more fulfilled me. Time to reign in and conquer the ghosts, the demons, the pain once and for all. Time to let go. JC got me this far and I know He is with me every step of the way.

So, what to do?  What is my POA?  Well, for starters I must feed my spirit and my mind.
I will pray more specifically and intently, more consistently. I will study my Bible more often. I will practice meditation and get involved in at least one organization to support the community in some way. I will give more time to the talents and gifts I have been blessed with; writing, painting, drawing and counseling. I will get back to loving some people from a distance; as hard as it may be. Basically, I will go back to my roots.

Along this journey I continue to peel back so many layers of my being. Layer after layer....level after level...so many dimensions. True elevation involves:
1. Reflection
2. Expression
3. Acceptance
4. Ownership
5. Adaptation
6. Revision
7. Action/Movement
8. Determination/Passion
9. Deliverance
10. Endurance

Step by step.....I will.

My Life: Volume 33: Chapter 6, pg. 27:
"---and as I turned the corner, I knew things would not...could not be the same. No looking back; not even a peak over the shoulder.This was a game changer...and everything within me is far beyond this game."-Emotional Lyricist (Me)