Operation Warehouse to Brickhouse: Day 79 – Shaun T Insanity Fit Test

Now friends, I know you’re wondering…why in da heck…is she JUST doing her fit test this late in the game??? LOL. Well,  it’s because I think I’m superwoman and don’t need no stinkin’ fit test, let me just get in it to win it…

BOY WAS I WRONG!!! LOL

As I’ve explained before, this whole thing started off as me just working out and updating everytime I did to keep the accountability factor going. Never once did it dawn on me to track my progress! Silly I know but it’s the truth and that’s the point of this website, to give you my real life view of what I”ve done, what I’ve learned, and what I’m doing to get better and be better.  Well anywho, here are the results to today’s fit test:

  1. Kicks – 98
  2. Jump Squats – 34
  3. Knee In’s (I think that’s what it is) – 91
  4. Power Jumps – 20
  5. Globe Jumps – 6
  6. Suicide Jumps – 5
  7. Push Up Jacks – 4 (I know…LOL)
  8. Low Plank Obliques – 22 (I suprised myself)

So what I”m going to do is create a log every week of everything I do to track my progress, what I’ve done, how much I lost that week, and how much I lost so far. I’ll also place pictures every month or so to truly give you an idea of how far I’m coming along.

Hope everyone is still doing their thang.  As you can see, I am not perfect and the weight is coming off slow but I”m still pushing.  Because everytime you workout, you add more value to your journey. If you’ve messed up before, well it’s alright, today is a brand new day, so get it right!

I returned and saw under the sun that – The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.”

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

 ”But he who endures to the end shall be saved. “

-Ecclesiastes 9:11

-2 Timothy 4:7

-Matthew 24:13

Operation Warehouse to Brickhouse: Day 77-P90x Back and Biceps

Sigh, WOOH!!! That was CRAZY!!! I did it this morning with my new red bands. I was growing out of my 5lb and 10lb weights and I was gonna go broke buying dumbbells everytime I grow out of them so I had to find a new solution. So, I’d been asking a church member Ryan, whose one of the founders of a weight loss program hosted in New Orleans called Don’t Weight To Lose for some red bands, but fortunately for me, I’d realize I already had some.

A while back, I ordered Billy Blanks’ DVD’s and they came with these red .5 weighted bands and I thought to myself…hey…I can use these…LOL. So, that’s what I did this morning with my Back and Biceps workout and it worked out GREAT!!!  I’m going to make resistance bands a natural part of my workout going forward.

I hope everybody is having a great day today and keep moving forward!!!

Hunger Get What Hunger Want

It’s 5:30pm…you’re just getting in from work. You forgot to take out the salmon for the salad and you just remembered you don’t have any greens for your salad.  Everything else in the house that’s healthy is frozen solid and the closest thing to satisfying your hunger is that chocolate cake you said you wouldn’t have anymore of after Sunday and left over pizza.

What Do You Do?????

If you’re anything like me, you’re going to get something to eat to get that hunger off your back.  It’s not the most ideal thing to do but you ‘re not thinking of the most healthy, you just don’t want to be hungry anymore. It tends to happen to me all the time, especially last night, which delayed my work out this morning. It has alot of do with why my hunger has been out of wack and i”m still fighting to get it under control. Eating 6 small meals a day at a suitable time of day so that way I’m able to take on all that I have to do, including my workout. I find that when you’re not hungry, you don’t think or obsess about food; it’s when you’re hungry that you begin to go crazy.

So What Do You Do?

Plan Ahead

Planning your meals ahead of time can certainly help you keep what you eat under control. When you come home to thawed out salmon, salad fixings, fruits, veggies, and other healthy treats, not only will it satisfy your hunger, but it will ease your mind to know you’re sticking with your plan to get healthier. Often times when I eat unhealthy because I’m hungry and it’s whats closest, I feel bad because I feel as though I’ve taken a step backwards. So always put yourself in mental and physical position to move forward.

Operation Warehouse to Brickhouse: Day 76 – Shaun T Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance

So, I started this morning with Shaun T’s Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance!!! Trust me people….it is really INSANE!!! LOL.  I’m really getting the hang of working first thing in the morning; it helps me to focus and it gives me energy for the rest of the day. I don’t know about you all, but if I don’t get my workout in when I’d originally scheduled, it kinda burdens me and I can’t stop thinking about it until I do it. If I never get around to it; then I’m stressed…lol.  Take for instance yesterday; it was a bad day workout wise because I didn’t workout A T ALL!!! :( I was supposed to begin my morning with the workout I did this morning, and I obsessed about it all day. I tried to set my day up so I could do it later on that night but when I got home, I was STARVING!!! All of my healthier foods were frozen and by the time I ate, it was time to go to bed and prepare for this morning. 

AARRGGHH!!! (smile) 

I’ve decided to  fix that by doing my P90x Back and Biceps workout later on tonight, MAKING SURE I have eaten and that all other things are out of the way.  That’s the thing about daily tracking; you get to see where minor to major realities can get in the way of doing other things you need to do and you have to fix these issues so they don’t continually hinder your progress. I don’t want to feel the way I felt yesterday ever again, and I’m going to do my best to see it doesn’t.

Love me for who I am

As I’d mention before in It’s What’s Inside That Counts, this is usually a term used to be complacent and this term is no different. Often times we tend to get offended if our significant other asks us why we let ourselves go or why we stopped taking better care of ourselves. When you think of it, it’s asked and inquired in love because your significant other wants the absolute best for you and when they see you falling down, its natural they pick you back up, literally and figuratively.

 But as an individual when you look at yourself or your life, and you see room for improvement or ways you can do better, then by all means do better, never settle for the mediocre. Whether it’s a loss of weight, stress, drama, no good friends, bad habits, an unhealthy sex life, excessiveness of anything (all things negative), or whether it’s a gain of spiritual growth, power, wealth, knowledge, intellect, being more loving, caring to your family and friends, being a better person in general (all things positive), you should always strive to be the best you that you can possibly be. Always go for the upgrade, and make your life as invigorating as possible. I’m not saying your love for self and other’s love for you should be conditional, but if you see you need to do better but refuse and use that as the excuse then you’re only hurting yourself.

Trust me, I’m well aware of the pretentious, shallow, and superficial reasons for weight loss (amongst other things) to fit to the different conformities and social conditionings, but please remember ladies and gents, not to mistake your attempts of betterment to be based on the aforementioned. So while you may think other people do not love you for who you are when they suggest how to better yourself, remember it’s to your health. They wouldn’t love you for who you are if they didn’t care. Ain’t nobody mad but the devil, let’s keep it that way.

The Benefits of Working out with a friend

One of the hardest aspects of completing a weight loss journey is staying motivated. What truly helps that problem is when you have a like-minded friend with you to help you along the way, give you a push when you’re being lazy, and encourage you to keep going. And like manner, you can do the same for them. That’s one of the reasons I started this website. I believe the accountability factor truly helps to keep on keeping on. I love being asked “Hey how’s “Operation Warehouse to Brickhouse” going or, “Did you workout today?” That helps when the strength is starting to fade or when the laziness is starting to make its way back in. You know alot of people feel as though, “Well, nobody’s calling me on it so…it’s ok to goof off and be a slacker.” So, believe me, I absolutely LOVE the inquiries about my mission. You are all a great help. Because not only is it me who I will let down if I don’t continue in this fight, but it is all who are keeping up with me whom I will let down as well and it would break my heart. Stay tuned friends; you’re not doing this in vein. I’m gonna run on and see what the end is going to be.

I look to you all as my virtual fitness friends and it’s a great way to stay motivated even online. It’s also great to have a fitness friend offline as well. However, this friend must be a like minded individual who is just as motivated, grounded, focuses, dedicated, passionate, and committed to the goal just like you are. Often times we want to seek our closest friends, closest relatives, or someone whom we feel could stand to get in shape and that’s natural. However, that closest or best bud may not be nearly as driven as you are and that’s a recipe for disaster. Say for instance, the friend who is suggest going to the local watering hole rather than the gym is the equivalent the friend who suggest you skip class knowing you have to take a final exam. You’ll both end up looking crazy in the end, well in this case, out of shape.

So its extremely helpful and beneficial to have someone who is just as serious about getting in shape as you are. It helps if the goals are similar, but not a necessity. You may be a weight room kinda guy/gal whereas your friend may be treadmill fiend. Sometimes, just knowing that you’re friend and motivator is nearby pushes you forward. More than likely, there won’t be too much talking going on anyway so it really doesn’t make a difference.

Also, you feed off each other’s drive. Kind of like a monkey see, monkey do factor. There may be times when you don’t feel like working out, but when you see your friend up, about, and moving forward to their goal, it pushes you to do just the same. It’s very important to not become the “dead weight” friend who gives up too easily, moans and complains all the time, or allows laziness to overcome your better judgment. Just have fun. That’s really what it’s all about; getting in shape and having fun. Make it more interesting by setting up incentives and planning trips when you reach certain goals. I promise you, there’s nothing but benefits to reap.

Operation Warehouse to Brickhouse: Day 74

So I began my morning the way I wanted to yesterday, with P90X Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps. My goodness it wore me OUT!!! Its push-up savvy and although I can’t stand push-ups, this will definitely help me overcome my fear. I have that same endorphin rush from yesterday, and I feel so energetic, that’s why I LOVE LOVE LOVE working out. I’ve made a conscious decision to continue my workouts in the morning because once I’ve done it, I can focus on other matters knowing that my fitness journey is still on pace.

A lot of times, our daily routine tends to throw us off track and I’m well aware of that. Especially this CHRISTmas, it was a fine test of what I can do during busy times, and I was good…let me be honest…just ok. Unfortunately, I’d gotten sick the week after New Year’s so that pushed me even further back. I’ve realized that I’m doing well but I can do better and I will be better. If I want optimal results I have to give optimal effort. My pushing play and staying the course is great but it’s time to give it all I got; no matter the sacrifice, struggle, or strain. My eyes are open, my focus is stronger, and the next 286 I pray God favors me with strength, courage, wisdom, and life to see this through. Yes folks, I’m making this a 360 day mission because I want complete change mind, body, and spirit. I’ve never stayed dedicated to a weight loss journey no longer than a week or 2; so every day since has been a personal best for me. However, I refuse to fall into that month 3 pitfall which seems to be inevitable to those who are trying but aren’t truly motivated. With the Lord’s favor, my motivation, and to those who have joined me in my mission as well as missions of their own; I’m sure we will push through. I’ve went as far as creating a whole website for it (lol). It’s not just facebook and twitter friends with the updates, but any and everyone who can search my name or my content.  I want to know what the other side of perseverance is like, and this time, it will happen.

\o/