What Keeps Me Going?

So it's been over two years since I've embarked on my very own Slim & Sexy Campaign. Here I am today, I've kept off 75 pounds and gained some muscle. I'm much happier, healthier, and comfortable in my own skin. So why keep it going? Why should I still blog about these things? I mean I've gone through the hard stuff, I can just move on with life. So to answer the question as to what keeps me going? A few things actually. Starting off with me. I've busted my ass to get to this point in my life and its still a constant struggle for me. I don't think everyone can completely understand how I feel unless they were the size that I started out as. My friends sometimes say that I exercise too much or that I shove the blog stuff down everyone's throats. But try to understand that going from a large size to being fit and healthy, it does things to you mentally and emotionally. I'm on the road to self-love and I'm not turning back. Also, family and our genetics. I'm genetically predisposed to be fluffy. I've got relatives with diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, you get what I'm saying. If I just one day completely stop eating healthy and the exercise, back to fattyville I go. Can't have that for myself. I have to set a good example for my little cousins and in the future, my own children. These things truly mean a great deal to me. Now on the lighter side of things, clothes are expensive!! I threw out anything over a size XL. So I'm gonna fit in all those tight shirts and jeans if it kills me. Lastly, you guys keep me going with this blog. All of the feedback I've gotten from everyone is motivation enough to keep the Slim & Sexy Campaign alive. That is exactly what I plan to do =)

Damn, That Could've Been Me!

Hello readers, its been quite some time. I've been looking for some inspiration to write and I found it on MTV of all places. (Go figure) I'm a fan of the show "I Used To Be Fat". The concept of the show and the hard work that those kids put in to losing the weight.  Every single time that I watch that show I say the same thing to myself: "damn that coulda been me"!!! All those weight-loss shows, all those opportunities to make some money. I could've had some tuition paid for, a car, extra cash for some bling. I mean really guys??  You REALLY couldn't make that show the summer I went to college?? Well, good thing cause I kinda went junkfood crazy that summer, but anywhooo. It's all good though, I'm just gonna hold out and hopefully Oprah could use a topic about a newly slim & sexy man. *crosses fingers*

I LOVEEEE Peanut Butter!!!

Random post but I felt like throwing it out there. I truly love peanut butter, and on top of that it's good for you. Peanut butter is a good source of energy and protein and it goes great with just about anything. Wheat bread, wheatbable crackers, granola bars, bananas, you name it I've tried it once. The organic peanut butter is of course much healthier for you and if you're ballin and fancy to pay for it go ahead. I'll stick with my skippy. Now, you shouldn't go overboard with it like I do, but peanut butter is the greatest!!! hmmmm!!!!

Working Out Has Big Benefits

I'm not sure how much I still have to emphasize just how important regular exercise to your everyday life, but I'll keep on saying it. Regular exercise is so beneficial to your everyday life. Obviously, the weight-loss is a plus. Also, it does wonder for your social life. For example, when I was fluffy I had about -0.6% confidence. Now a few years and a hundred pounds later, I've found my confidence or "swag" and its been great ever since. My boss said that I got my groove back (cuz i'm stella -__-). Anywho, I'm comfortable in my own skin nowadays and loving life. Another major benefit is energy energy ENERGY. Back in the day, I just wanted to lay down and never wanna get up. You gain a newfound energy and you just wanna get out and hang out and do fun things. To go from lazy to energetic, I attribute that to the working out. Also, I know this one will get you, you get to eat more if you exercise regularly. Now when I say more I mean a few small meals every few hours to keep your metabolism. So don't go out to a fast food place and binge on fries (hmm fries). Now that I'm running regularly, I'm hungry like never before!!!!! So I need a little more food to fuel my system. So basically, make the change for the better and the benefits will come slowly but surely.

REMIXXXXXXXX!!!!

I'm on a roll with the clever post titles huh? huh? Anywho, in my last post I was talking about the inevitable plateau that everyone reaches on their weight-loss journey. The pounds aren't melting away so quickly as before and you get frustrated. No problemo for the solution is quite simple: switch up your workout routines. Variety is key. I'll write that again VARIETY IS KEY.Gotta keep pushing and challenging yourself. Reach your limits and push yourself to go past your limits. The satisfaction you gain from busting your ass is incredible (not to mention you'll get an incredible ass haha). You'll be seeing results in no time. For example, I suggest that you read up on different workout routines and incorporate them into your workouts. Some DVDS I recommend include anything from Billy Blanks, Jillian Michaels, and Jackie Warner. The last two woman scare the crap outta me (no seriously they do). They'll make you sweat and get you burning the calories in no-time. Another person to look to is Ahmad Baari. His workout videos on youtube are such an inspiration and motivation to me. I wanna look like that in my 30's. Here's the link to his page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/makingthebest09

Also, just look online and read magazines for different exercises to do and you'll have plenty more success and weight lost.

GOING......GOING.....slow down.....

This happens to everyone on their weight-loss journeys, even myself. When you're fully engaged in your workouts and you're consistent with it, the weight just tends to fly off (Thank God). After awhile, you're body gets used to those workouts and you hit a plateau. This plateau means that it can become a little more difficult to lose the weight. If you've ever watched "The Biggest Loser" or any other weight-loss show, there's always that week or two where the weight becomes harder to take off. To be honest, it can get a little discouraging. When I hit a plateau, I was kinda pissed. I wanted to keep going and get as small as possible. But it wasn't gonna happen, at least if I kept doing the same routines everyday. This is the point in time when you need to rearrange your workout plans and try out some new things. DON'T BE A QUITTER!!!!!!

What's Up, Doc?

Hey everybody! So this morning I went to the doctors for a physical. This was the first time that I got a check-up since my doctor told me to lose weight. So that was about what two years? Yeah, it's been a hot minute. My friend Gabby said that I can't legitimately give health advice if I won't even go to a doctor. It's not that I didn't want to go, but I just didn't make the honest effort to go. Time was just not on my side, but that is not an adequate excuse. You need to see your doctor a bit more regularly than every two years. Even if you show no signs or symptoms of illness, it just has to be done! I went in and safe to say they were pleasantly surprised with what they saw. My doctor said that it was remarkable that I was able to lose all the weight and to keep it off was an even greater achievement. I honestly do get embarassed when people say nice things like that, but at the same it's always nice to see that people think so highly of me. I left that building with a clean bill of health and a newfound feeling of accomplishment. So, today was a good day =).

Push-Ups... p-p-push it real good!!

One of my favorites and most effective, the basic push-up. If you're not able to get in the gym and lift the weights, push-ups are all you truly need for chest work. Now, the problem with doing push ups is that people occasionally do it wrong. When you're going down, you don't sink your hips down (I'll try to get some footage for examples.) You want your body to be straight as a board ______ when going down. Your hands have to be underneath your shoulders for the standard military push-up. I couldn't do one push-up in the beginning. Fast-forward to two years later. I can do up to 50 at one time (awesome for a former fatty). Sometimes I'll do 10 sets of 10, 4 sets of 25, 2 sets of 50 (sometimes 60 if I'm really feeling it). After a good set, my chest is sooooo pumped and I love it. Nowadays, I can do the pec dance lol. Just like running, variety is key for push-ups. There's the clap push-ups which are pretty intense (ouch)! Then there's the clap push-ups while taking flight (-___-). Really really hurts but one of the best to do. One-arm balance push-ups, diamond push-ups, you name it I've done it at least twice. It's one of the best exercises to do and I'll try to get some videos up of me doing some of these things.

Give It A Run!!

*Reggae voice* Give it a run! Give it a run! Parachute!! Parachute!!

Don't mind my reggae moment. Anywho, now I'm moving onto different exercises that I've incorporated into my workouts the past two years. Lately, I've been getting into running. Let me tell ya: I absolutely hate it, like seriously. Butttttt it gives you probably the best results for burning fat and getting toned up. I have plenty of friends that do track and actually enjoy running like my buddy Eben (aka Mr. Flash). The more that I do it, the better the results I'm getting. My main area of focus is my little gut. The advice that I would always get is that I need to run and they would get one of these in real life: -____-.  But like many times of my life, I do things when I feel the time is right. So I started running this summer. My trick is, if you're running laps on a track, you walk around one lap and then run the second. Just keep alternating. Interval workouts burn more fat than running at a steady, continuous pace. Even on a treadmill, walk two minutes, then run at three minutes. Trust me, running is the great way to go. I'm slowly but surely losing my gut, so I'm gonna keep on getting my miles in.

Hello Gym -____-

The one place that I hate and love (but mostly hate) at the same time. Now I told you guys a while back about my first trip to the gym. Yeah, I almost died. That first week was killer. Scratch that, that first two months sucked!!! It was all a process. First I went three times a week for about a half hour. Those little bikes were my friend. I wouldn't dream of "running" on that "treadmill" thing ewwww. Lifting weights wasn't my thing either, I just stuck to the bikes for a minute. That was my thing. After a few months, I bumped it up to four days a week at 40 minutes each session, and using the stair climber and the eliptical. They're both great cardio machines that will have you breaking a sweat. I was still resisting that treadmill though. The main reason was that: well I run kinda funny. It's hard to explain but my feet drift off to the side and I can't run straight. But anywho, I also started the sit-up routines and felt a new kind of pain. The more pain I was in, the better my body looked. So I figured that I was doing something right. Once again, it's all a process. You want to start off slow in the gym and gradually work your way up to the big leagues. Which I had to do, and I continue to do.

SCREW YOU MUSCLEHEADS ! ! ! !

Another post inspired by my gym trip. This one dude pissed me the hell off. This jacked-up big steroid-looking fellow got on the treadmill next me. Now normally this wouldn't bother me BUT..... He had on the same grey undershirt as me, the same type of shorts. Only difference was that every one of his muscles were just popping out, while some of us pudgy people just trying to get a decent workout in. He just HAD to run faster than me too. As if I don't have enough issues as it is. If you're a person in really great shape, kudos to you. There's just no need to have to flaunt it EVERY moment of the day, like SHEESH!!!!!! This may sound like a jealous rant, but moreso I'm annoyed if anything. I feel that sometimes this group (called muscleheads) do things like this on purpose to make other people look bad. If you're one of those with this kind of attitude, just remember that karma is a funny thing and you could be that fluffy kid, just saying. SCREW YOU MUSCLEHEADS! ! !

Get Away From the Mirror

I got some inspiration from my trip to the gym today. When I went to go change my shirt, I stared at myself in the mirror. To be honest, I didn't like what I saw. I felt that I was too fluffy, or I need to get rid of the jiggle here. For someone with low self-esteem as myself, my whole mood shot straight to hell. I think staring into the mirror while going through this process can distort your perception on what you look like. You can be in good shape, but you'll find something that you feel is "wrong" with your body and focus on that. Constantly beating yourself up isn't gonna help the situation. My advice to all those who want to successfully lose weight should avoid the mirror at all times. If you feel the sudden urge to do so, look in the mirror and try to pick a part of your body that you actually like. For example, I like my smile and my overall size. I like being a big dude. I wanna tighten up that jiggle jaggle of course, but I can't let it consume my thoughts. This weight-loss journey is a constant battle between how I view my body versus what is really there. I'm continuing on as a work-in-progress.

Showing Some Love

A little break from all of my stories and bringing some shine to some of my awesome friends. Hopefully, all of my readers from different countries show some as well and take a look at all of these links:
http://oglifestlye.tumblr.com/
http://kingreatness.tumblr.com/
http://lovevillain.blogspot.com/?zx=8a190d9b868efc56
http://qu3eng.blogspot.com/


ENJOY!!!!!

Karma is a Funny Thing

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Ok, now this next post may be a bit mean of me, but hey its the truth. So I tweeted about this yesterday and I just to elaborate on it some more. Now of course a few years ago I was a fatss. And with that, I was bound to get teased by my peers, it just comes with the territory. Doesn't mean it didn't hurt any less. I would go home upset sometimes at some of the things that were said about me. For someone as sensitive as I am, every little thing said about me would hurt me. I was called carl winslow, fat albert, uncle phil, black santa, you name it I was probably called it. At lunch, I would be soooo embarrassed to eat my food because I felt that people were watching and laughing at me for being the fat kid. Even girls that I tried to talk to in school, wouldn't give me the time of day. I always had "nice personality". What kind of bullcrap? I was the nice big black kid for all four years of high school. Once college rolled and began to lose the weight, I noticed that some of the kids from HS seemed to be finding it. Those guys that used to make fun of me began to look like me. And of course I just chuckled to myself. THe kicker really happened when some of these people started asking me for weight-loss advice (hahahahahah). Now I could be complete jerk and name names, but I'll be nice. Be careful of how you treat people because it can come back to haunt you big time. Karma truly is a funny thing.