Category: Wellness
Let’s Share the Health!!
Of all the tremendously amazing developments that have come about for Imani Wellness in this awesome new year ( and we apologize for not posting all of them yet 
, partnering with The Vitamin Shoppe to be an advocate for Total Wellness Living has been one of the most exciting! After their awesome presence at Imani Wellness’ very first LiveWell Expo this past Jan, I was absolutely over the moon when they asked us to participate in their National Wellness event at our Potomac Yard Vitamin Shoppe location. This promises to be an incredible event!!
Enjoy free samples, education and activities! The first 50 customers receive a Gift Bag (while supplies last).
Gift bag will include:
- 3rd party product samples
- Amazing Wellness Magazine
- Muscle & Performance Magazine
- Renew You booklet
- Weight Management Support booklet
Product Samples From:
1. Nutrex
2. Nordic Naturals
3. Boiron
4. Aubrey
Now, you all know what a boundless bundle of positivity and fun we are so come on out and add your energy to the fun at the Potomac Yard store between 11a and 2p this Sat, March 2nd. Tons of fun, games, and wellness education by Yours Truly and many other wonderful wellness providers available to you here in NoVa. And we may even have a foot race or push-up contest – so dress athletically!
Looking forward to seeing you all there!!
LiveWell!
TB
All I Want for Christmas Is a Reality Check (Thrive Guide Pt 2)…
We all get wrapped up in the holidays, present tinsel-covered company included. The trouble starts when we allow the glow of twinkling lights, the buzz of egg nog and the lure of nostalgia to color our expectations. You know what I’m talking about: the perfect family, gathering around a immaculately set table, filled with locally sourced fixins, prepared by the calm, cool woman of the house, who’s spent all day preparing the meal for her completely appreciative brood. Through some holiday miracle, she’s managed to escape the “not mandatory but you’ll look like a jerk for skipping it” work holiday party, dedicate her week to rivaling Martha Stewart in decor sophistication, convince her children to put their phones away and still make every last-minute guest feel welcome and fill every awkward pause in conversation.
While this image may seem familiar, do you actually know anyone like this (who isn’t one Elf on the Shelf away from a nervous breakdown)? No, of course not. This woman is a work of fiction — a dangerous ghost of Christmas Never. This holiday apparition can be seen lurking around the ER this time of year, it’s busiest thanks to what many health workers I know call the Holiday Heart Attack. Not an actual heart attack, this psycho-somatic manifestation of the angst, pressure and other heightened expectations is side effect of our pursuit of The Perfect Holiday.
So how do we stay out of the ER and off one another’s last nerve? One approach is to get back to the bare-boned, tinsel-free basics. Forget the gifts, the lavish parties and all the trappings and simply celebrate family and the birth of Christ. And many who know me know I’ve taken this approach a few times, especially after a large investment or purchase (my first home and my second home) or during a significant transition. My inner Holly Jolly was silenced by a much louder Save It Sister who kept reminding me that it’s not responsible to spend money I needed to save. If people in your life can’t accept that, too bad! They can celebrate with the side of the family fully wrapped up in the craziness.
If a Christmas blackout sounds too extreme, then follow my Five to Thrive, not just Survive the Holidays tips.
1. Celebrate the past. Take a moment to revisit holidays you’ve experienced and revel in the moments that you cherished. Share those memories with new people in your life and ask them to share their good ones, too. Write down the things that made those moments great.
2. Plan on it. You’re less likely to be overwhelmed by “everything you have to do” if you are the one deciding exactly what you want to do. Create a list of Holiday Awesomeness. Put only those things you can feasibly and without significantly raising your heart rate make happen (host or re-create) or request to have happen.
3. Spread the joy — and Christmas list. Your friends and family don’t magically become mind readers in December. Talk to them about the kind of holiday celebration you want. If this is the year for the big blow-out, they need advance notice too. If it’s a quiet romantic Christmas with your Hunny, they need to know so as to not take it personally. Don’t ever expect to get what you want if you won’t be bold enough to ask for it! You never know who may want to help or who needs to hear someone else ask for what they want in order to be empowered to ask for what they want in their own life! Along with that be sure to allow people to help you, in a capacity that is comfortable for you, if they offer to do so
4. Back to life, back to reality. Remember you’re living in the real world where tough things happen. You may not be in the merriest of moods this year, your spouse may be going through a tough time at work, you may have lost a loved one. . For example, my family lost our matriarch Thanksgiving 2011. Last year was a challenge — and this year has been tough at times. But, we were all clear that while we were struggling, the most important thing we could do for one another and for my grandmother was to be together. I cancelled some clients to travel to Richmond early for Thanksgiving and stay longer after Christmas to be present for my family and to receive their love as well. Always start with a positive frame, but remember that not everyone may be ‘up’ this year.
5. Cut yourself some slack -- starting with the calendar.
Check your calendar and list of those you wish (or need) to celebrate with. Choose the best time for everyone to come together. Some events will have to be missed, some may be amplified either way make your plans work for you. Remember the Amazing Holiday experience you designed for yourself in Step 2. If your grand plan or solitary snugglefest have to wait until next month or next year, put it on your dream board and remind people as it nears, so they can adjust as well.
Attitude and gratitude matter this time of year more than ever. Be the experience you hope to recall without regret when you look back in 2013. Smile, laugh, dance, cry — just do so with authenticity. Regardless of what you plan, what you hope, what you forget to pack, what happens or what you buy, remember to be joyful, grateful and loving in your celebration. And leave the Ghost of Christmas Never off the invite list.
Jingle Bells!
TB
* expertly edited by Amanda Long – she’s super awesome
Being Ok…
From the Desk of LaTasha Barnes:
In our pursuit of our dreams or higher achievements we often times burden ourselves unnecessarily with the pressure and angst of being the greatest. While being the best is a worthwhile goal, sometimes it is not a feasible possibility for certain endeavors, given the affect of life circumstances (i.e. time constraints, fund depletion, illness, etc).
We all recognize that under ideal circumstances we can all be ‘The Greatest of All Time at (insert goal)’. But this is real life, and in real life you don’t always get your ideal situation every time. Sometimes in the process of achieving your goal you will be tested 1) to see how badly you want it, and 2) to see how well you can stay engaged in the rest of your life while working towards or having achieved the goal.
When the factors of life seem to weigh on you and you begin to stress about doing the best, rather than simply being your best given the situation, that is when you need to 1) thank God for the opportunity and the lesson you are learning and 2) accept that you may have to just settle for an ‘ok’ performance rather than a perfect one.
I know I work hard to do be my best at every opportunity and my closest friends and fam probably see me as a perfectionist 
but with everything we are working on and towards in Imani Wellness and Urban Artistry sometimes perfection is not a true possibility – even if I like to think so (always acknowledge reality, but stay insanely optimistic). Sometimes you have to step back from the work at hand and accept what is. Sometimes you have to choose to just complete the task rather than shine at it. In the grande scheme of things, sometimes the simple completion of 1 task of 10 is more valuable than a prize winning completion. Sometimes performing ‘Ok’ is good enough.
I say this to you not to give license to naysayers or to negative mindsets and behaviors, but to encourage you to give yourself a break from time to time. We all work hard to build and maintain our lives, dreams and families, sometimes your ‘perfect’ picture comes after a not so perfect struggle/event. Sometimes we have to be Ok with not being perfect, in order to be ok we have to commit to a few ideas.
1) I am choosing to acknowledge that Ok is Ok on a regular basis. Just because I am capable of being the best, doesn’t mean I HAVE to be the best at every turn. 2) I am choosing not to sweat the small stuff and to let stress roll off my back like a polished marble statue in the rain. Stress only makes me look like the work I do is weighing on me and tearing me down; I am building my dreams full-time or working my current situations to be able to build my dreams full-time therefore EVERYTHING I do is exciting, gratifying and energizing to do. 3) I choose to differentiate between my best, my good, and my ‘Ok’ performance. I know that each situation along my journey will require a different application of knowledge and effort, and given my circumstances I am accepting of the effort that will continue to move me toward my goal.
Simply put: Progress, no matter how small is still a win
Always begin a thing with the intent to win!
Just some thoughts from my journal after a discussion with my wonderfully loving and accomplished husband regarding his level of stress and a current situation we are navigating.
Be Ok, with Ok
Live Well
TB
Compression Passion…
Functioning as I do between two physically demanding careers, dance and fitness, I am always on the lookout for the latest tools, tips, tricks and products to aid me in performing my best. I know that the science of compression garments are not a new thing, I’ve used them back in my Powerlifting days in my bench shirt with great results and even further back than that in middle school with the Neoprene Sleeve I wore around my thigh to mitigate a torn quad in order to continue competing in track & field events.
Since beginning to travel extensively for both careers the greatest affecter (I think thats how I want to phrase this to my physical performance has been the pressurization and elevation of air planes and the resultant swelling of my legs and feet after journeys like the one we just took to St. Petersburg, Russia. Normally during flight, I have twinges, twitches and sometimes spasms and deep aching as my muscles endure the imposed sitting position and pressure of the cabin for hours on end. After a DVT scare a few journeys ago, Belarus back in Jan, I vowed to belay my assumptions that stocking were for little old ladies and snagged a pair of Miracle Socks. The insistence of my fantabulous massage therapist, Amanda Long ( along with her stories of athlete deaths due to clotting – Thanks again A were helpful in helping to complete my purchase.
Now the science is this:
Anti-Embolism Compression Stockings
These stockings are are used to support the venous and lymphatic drainage of the leg. Like gradient compression stockings, anti-embolism stockings deliver a distributed amount of compression at the ankle and up the leg. This compression, when combined with the muscle pump effect of the calf, aids in circulating blood and lymph fluid through the legs (in non-ambulatory patients).
Like I said before compression garments have been in use athletically for years and employed to improve the efficiency of muscles by stabilizing muscles and improving circulation/ lactic acid removal. (summarized from Wikipedia and Mayo Clinic websites)
The results were this:
ABSOLUTE AWESOMENESS!!
Using the compression socks in conjunction with the recommended in flight exercises, i.e. ankle flexion & rotations, leg extensions, knee raises, etc. my in flight and post flight experiences were absolutely incredible. I wish I hadn’t been so silly as to not try these before! Rather than feeling like a stuffed sausage in a too small casing below the knee, as I usually do after a long flight (7+hrs), I felt invigorated, supported and ready to go.
Even though the Miracle Socks are the brand sold in informercials, the technology and results were still the same according to web reviews, and might I add they were infinitely more stylish than some medical offerings
The gradual compression of the stockings felt a little snug at first fit but eventually felt comforting as the flight went on. I had significantly less muscle spasms, twitches, twinges as well. I only felt them a few times during the flight and only above the knee (which is making me consider trying the thigh high versions on my next flight) but it was incredible.
I will definitely have to venture back into the athletic compression garment world and report on the results of my performance with them. Especially with options like these:
But in the meantime, I am 100% a fan and advocate of compression stockings for airline travel. Not having to deal with the pins & needles sensation of trying to regain normal circulation in my feet after a flight or over analyzing every palpitation, swollen area and cough for fear of DVT are absolutely wonderful!
Of course they are invaluable for extensive travel but I would even expect that they feel great after a short hop as well. Try them yourself and let me know your thoughts.
Live Well, Travel Well
TB
Workplace Wellness at its finest…
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! That is the only way to describe the wave of excitement surrounding us right now.
I recently attended and exhibited at the 2012 Healthiest Employers Expo hosted by The Washington Business Journal at the Grand Hyatt, September 20th here in DC. It was an amazingly successful and informative event attended by over 400 representatives from the DC areas Workplace Wellness champions. Every business from start-ups to the well-seasoned sharing and receiving creativity and motivation to develop bigger and better wellness opportunities for their organizations. While I will certainly be bringing along my new trainers and staff to next year’s event it was a blessing to have moments to myself to take in the awesomeness of the confidence and purposefulness that one year can bring along with growing and empowering your network.
I first attended the Healthiest Expo in 2011 – WBJ’s very first event, and did not use the table I purchased because I didn’t have anything to really exhibit – or so I thought at the time. I was blown away by how many visionaries in the wellness industry were operating here in DC ( and scheduled to be exhibiting or speaking at the event), and by blown away I mean I was intimidated and thought my little personal training business wasn’t something no one wanted to know about 
While manning the table for my strategic partner Dr. Jen Faber, President of Kinetic Health Alternatives, I was thrilled to learn that many of our concepts and areas of service (training, assessment, coaching, nutrition education, leadership, team building, etc.) where severely untapped. With this awareness I set out from the expo with a few contacts but more than that a firm mind to clearly define the Imani Wellness niche, our brand and to solidify our corporate offerings so that next year we would not only have information to present, but proven service and obvious passion for the corporate wellness mission. With the awesomeness of the Personality Driven Media team and it’s President Ryan Prucker we spread our word, chicly and fiercely and one year, numerous speaking engagements, scores of individual clients and a few corporate ventures later it was time for the expo again.
Not only was I so amped that I couldn’t get to sleep the night before. I was so aware of how unique and awesome Imani Wellness is, and can be to any wellness program (individual or corporate), that I didn’t even feel nervous when a representative ( that I was dying to chat with the first year but was too awestruck by, who is a head honcho for ONE of the largest network radio conglomerates in the US – i’ll let you figure out which group ), came over to my table. Not me chasing her down after a presentation – she came to me interested in what Imani Wellness can offer and how we might support their community health awareness events and internal wellness education programs … … … just because I looked excited and passionate about being there. I am claiming right now that not only will she ask me to spearhead their education and outreach efforts but that Imani Wellness will have to amplify our education accreditation to teach other trainers and coaches our method to fill the need of this one corporate wellness venture alone. The angel investors and other funding to support the needed staff for the 15 other interested firms will come simultaneously as well. We were on fire if I do say so myself… and I do What was even more motivating was to look across the next table and see my strategic partners just as engaged and just as excited about growing with their “dream” partners too.
Our first year my smile and this was our presence :
With our uniquely effervescent energy, attentive delivery and full service wellness availability and a year of fantastic growth and success this was Imani Wellness’s presence in 2012:
If you haven’t been able to tell, this was a truly transformative experience for me and several others in attendance this year. While this expo first and foremost was begun as a way to motivate organizations to go above and beyond to see who could create the best health conscious cultures and workplace wellness programs for their employees, it has served as a platform for the innovative of wellness services and experiences in the industry and affirmed the commitment of program managers and providers alike to give their absolute best to this burgeoning industry …. and this is only its second year!
If my own overflowing joy and excitement weren’t enough, I also had the pleasure of inviting a budding wellness professional I had the pleasure of meeting at a local community fair to come to the expo and luncheon. When first we met, Lauren, who is an aspiring Wellness Coach, immediately expressed her desire to touch more lives, inspire greater change and see people commit to healthier ways of being (sound like anyone else you know She had just begun her business and was trying to do as much as she could to get it going. Knowing how motivated I was coming out of the expo last year I knew it would be just as inspirational to her as it was for me, AND BOY WAS IT.
She was talking about her ideas for this company, and that community, for this project and this person she met…she was FULLY locked in to her vision for her business’ role in this areas wellness industry and for it’s future growth. As I already mentioned there were an abundance of great contacts made at this event that I have already begun to follow up with, but all that aside to be able to provide someone with access to the opportunities that inspired me…was priceless.
I cannot thank the folks of WBJ and United Healthcare enough for hosting and sponsoring this keystone DC wellness industry event. I sincerely look forward to sharing the life changing, awe-inspiring and just downright fantastical (YES- I said fantastical!) partnerships, experiences and growth that result from this event.
DREAM.BELIEVE.ACHIEVE.
LB
Be a Superior You…
Short and sweet blog today. A great deal is on my mind but the most glaring topic is the level of nutritional education retained by my awesome clients. I came across this wonderful list of easy to eat Superfoods and couldn’t wait to share it with you all.
Here is a list of the top Superfoods that you should be consuming daily… for creative suggestions on how to incorporate these items into your meal plan reach out to me and we can get you set up with a custom nutrition plan that is chock full of the good foods.
So here they are, the Top Nutritious Superfoods |
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Want to learn more? Just look them up. Discover the best amount for an effective response in your body and enjoy the results!.
Live Well,
TB
No matter how you try…
It’s almost the unofficial start of summer and everyone and their sister are scrambling to make their last minute efforts to get swimsuit ready. Master Cleanse, body wraps, 3 -4 hours of cardio…all in effort to look the way they envision themselves stepping on to the beach or pool side this season.
Many of you have even come to me or other trainers back in Feb all in hopes of having that rock hard body that you dream of every night. You even have pictures of your ideal self posted up around your home and office to encourage you to keep working hard. While reticular activation, good support and an expert trainer are all fantastic steps to take toward getting the body of your dreams there is still one component that many of you neglect.
What you put into your mouth WILL show up on your body. If you are going insanely hard at the gym 3-5 days a week and using that to justify regularly putting the oversized burger, super sized vegetarian casserole, carrot cake, iced coffee drink or other indulgent, fattening, carb overloading, sugar coma inducing, bloat and gas generating food into your system – YOU WILL NOT LOOK DESIRABLE IN A SWIMSUIT! No Matter how hard you try!
Here’s the thing folks. If you already have visible 6 pack abs and live clean and lean most of the time – as in 25 days out of the month, you can feel free to enjoy a cupcake or three at the BBQ or have a second helping of the mac & cheese. You’re in the maintenance stage and have figured out what works best for you in terms of enjoying food and nourishing your self. Way to go! Pass the motivation and encouragement on to someone you know so they can enjoy life with you.
For those of you have identified a goal weight or just simply don’t like the way you look in a swimsuit or au naturel, are engaged in a regular training program to achieve that weight but refuse the meal plan or nutrition guidance – DO NOT be surprised when you don’t look the way you want after 3 months of training. Especially when you’re still eating pots of pasta, buckets of Hagen Daaz and the like every other night.
YOU CANNOT OUT TRAIN POOR NUTRITION!!!
This fact is not contingent upon alternative eating practices – just because you are vegan or vegetarian, etc. does not mean that unwanted pounds won’t find you. It is imperative to nourish your body in accordance with your level of activity and wellness needs. This is best done by a certified professional, medical or sports related, and can go as far as to include healthier variations of your favorite foods if you communicate these things to them. If you have a trainer or coach that is skilled in meal planning or giving nutrition guidance count yourself lucky – but remember to FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY PRESCRIBE FOR YOU! We don’t’ issue meal plans for our enjoyment or to deprive you of good tasting foods. Your body’s functionality is infinitely more important than how yummy something tastes.
You CAN be your healthiest self and have a physique that gets you noticed if you follow a complete wellness regimen including proper nutrition. There are no shortcuts, magic potions or incantations to achieving your best bod other than hard work, total faith & commitment to the journey and a balanced supportive diet.
Eat smartly to Live Well!! It is just that simple!
Sticky Support…
It has been a hectic and awesome few weeks since our honeymoon. Competition season for the urban dance community is in full swing and so is our training. Despite all our best efforts to stay our healthiest, when you have an increase in dynamic physical activity sometimes our functional compensations get the better of us.
Whether your ailment is the result of overzealous training, chronic or genetic conditions you don’t always have to halt your training when pain weasels it way into your program. Sometimes a little extra support is all you need to make it through the last essential workout or maybe even the event itself.
Having to work daily to overcome the effects of joint degeneration, Piriformis Syndrome, IT Band Syndrome and other complicated and ANNOYING conditions I have turned back to the ever sound and proven method of Athletic Taping. This practice provides, support and often times great pain relief that allows me to continue training. But traditional tape can often wear off with sweat and in the middle of activity you don’t really have time to completely re-tape your affected area. I thought this was just how it would be until I met my new best training assistant over a year ago…
HELLO KT TAPE!!
This stuff rocks!! Not only have Olympic athletes subscribed to the awesomeness of KT Tape but amateur athletes and non-athletes have as well. Having been familiar with the benefits of taping from my high school athletic career, I was overjoyed to read about the innovations and all the functional applications that are possible with KT Tape and similar products.
Just a brief description from their engaging website (www.kttape.com), this incredible Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape is an incredibly strong, elastic athletic tape that reduces muscle pain, increases mobility, and enhances athletic performance. KT TAPE provides relief and support for muscles and joints and can be used to prevent or treat hundreds of sports injuries, from finger jams to turf toe and every condition in between.
It is still, and always is, in your best interest to be seen by a medical professional to get an accurate diagnoses of your pain or dysfunction to determine which muscles or joints are the true trouble spot before you go taping yourself. While your there you could also ask your doc for their opinion on any supplementation that might aid in your recovery, that is of course if you’ve found a quality doc that knows the benefit of supplementation. Once you’ve got your diagnoses follow the amazing helpful How To videos showing you how to effectively apply the KT Tape.
In my personal trails I applied the tape to alleviate pain from Turf Toe and Piriformis Syndrome. Being a dancer and trainer I’m on my feet constantly and place my body into some challenging positions so of course was worried that the tape would wear off quickly …boy was I wrong. This tape lasts for DAYYYYYYS, through showers, sweat and dressing, when applied properly. My first trial of course lasted only 2 days, not the best but it worked well. Second application SUPER success, using alcohol to clean and dry the skin and using the firm rubbing to ensure adhesion. This time the tape lasted for 5 days! I was beyond excited and pain free for a full week, including the few days after the tape wore off. I purposely did not reapply the tape the 3 days after my successful week being taped to see how long the pain free training would last after the muscle support was removed and it was phenomenal! No crepitus, sharp pains or muscle tension for a full 2 days after. I love love love this stuff!
Now there are many other athletic taping manufacturer’s out there and you should do your due diligence and decide which product works best for you. For me – I love the pre-cut tape and all the fun colors that KT Tape makes. I’m even more excited to try their Pro tape version which reportedly lasts up to 8 days through showers, training, pool use, EVERYTHING… with all the extra conditioning I’m engaged in to stay healthy and perform my best I know it is really going to help a lot.
Plus like I said …I loooove all the amazing colors besides what better excuse is there to wear neon green and hot pink together…
Delayed Grati-vacation!!!
Yes those big cheesy grins are the best way for me to describe how Rick and I are feeling right now!
After almost nine months or marriage (awesome nine months) we finally logged off, powered down and went on our honeymoon vacation!
While many typically visit the islands or some other tropical location (which we will be doing soon enough) we decided that only a place as multi- faceted, sophisticated and flat out awesome as we are was the place to celebrate our love… VEGAS BABY!
It was truly a romantic, wonderful, exciting and profitable trip ( we are now big fans of Craps, BlackJack and Roulette . Our relaxing and rejuvenating couples private Spa day was amazing! Our romantic and fun dinners were exquisite and life changing in some instances ( new favorite Vegas dessert – the Valrhona Chocolate Custard at American Fish in the Aria Resort… Heavenly!)
The gambling and sightseeing were fun, entertaining and reinforcing of our awesome team work!
Most importantly this vacation was educational.
Rick and I pride ourselves on being excellent communicators and those closest to us will undoubtedly agree. But for as much as we talk we hadn’t fully communicated our personal goals and hopes for our marriage after we said ” I Do.” Sure we discussed insurance, bank accounts, family trips and relationship boundaries with some loved ones. We even discussed our faith and our worship & study practices, the possibility of children, buying a home and caring for our aging parents. Despite all that we we’re still feeling somewhat disconnected from one another when we set off on this adventure.
It was truly amazing having the time to discuss our mutual and individual goals, desires, dislikes, concerns, hopes, likes, renewed passions and interests and even changes we’ve discovered in ourselves and each other since our fantabulous wedding. Being able to have time to share our excitement, fears and hopes with out the alarm sounding the next pending event or appointment gave us the chance to truly listen and hear what the other was saying, rather than paying a respectful ‘wow’ to each others’ news … and then asking it to be repeated later that day or in the week because we weren’t really paying attention :p Don’t misunderstand me, we’re never patronizing to one another but our lives are busy and we support each other beautifully and loving through it all but we were still missing some pivotal points of connection because we’re both overwhelmed with “being there for each other” versus “being present.”
Support is a wonderful thing to have but to know that your significant other is truly present in your daily life is a blessing. Rick and I now recognize what each other needs more of to keep our marriage as beautiful and fun as it has been up to this point. We also recognize the things we have done well.
Having waited to take this celebratory trip after working together through the angst of the wedding, two career changes, the Juste Debout win & the insanely awesome growth of Urban Artistry, family health and relationship issues, the passing of friends, the passing of my Great Grandmother Elizabeth Harris, the family holidays after her passing, personal health changes and concerns, plus the ins and outs of business ownership and dual educational pursuits the trip seemed soooooo much more rewarding, and a little deserving!
To think that the smorgasbord of events I just listed all occurred within the last 11 months almost seems surreal, but (as I tell my clients after they complete another of my insane, but awesome, workouts) … We made it!
We returned home rejuvenated, encouraged, recharged and feeling more loved, supported and blessed than we ever dreamed ( or affirmed ) possible! We understand even more than before the need to truly be present, not only for each other and our families but to be an effective, contributing person in this world. We all should take a moment to connect with the world we move through on a regular basis and see how beautiful our lives can be when we are present for one another.
To my super awesome, handsome, incredibly loving husband Rick … Thank you for being you Hunny Bunny, I Love You!
Ain’t No Free Lunch…
With all the scuttle around the web lately about the Southern Fried Diva – Paula Deen its been hard to hold my tongue. I chimed in with a few scathing Facebook & Twitter posts that conveyed my disgust. For some serious insight check out Charlene Prucker on her blog ‘The Wandering Vegan’ she, very rightly, chides Deen’s decision-making ability in eloquent fashion. With the recent announcement that Deen’s long time publicist resigned months before Deen’s revelation because she didn’t believe Deen was doing the right thing – I couldn’t hold it any longer.
First, not only has Ms. Deen attempted to remove all accountability for her actions by insisting that she has always stressed moderate consumption of her Southern delicacies. Then she very irresponsibly (and insultingly in my opinion) endorses to the American public that it’s ok to abuse and destroy the natural order of your body. Eat what you want, then, take this pill, which I’m being paid to promote to you, and it will fix it.
As my Great – Granny Ms. Elizabeth Harris always said “Precious, I don’t care what nobody tell you, ain’t no free lunch.”
The body absolutely cannot thrive, let alone function properly, when it’s constantly processing muck. Dear friends, there is absolutely no way around hard work and the rewards it yields. You may have a boost in growth in performance but it is only an advance of rewards to be paid on the work that you are putting in. If you don’t continue the work necessary to sustain your success it will revert back to null.
If you don’t already recognize we’re not just talking about your nutrition and fitness choices friends. This adage holds true for every aspect of our lives. You will never get something for nothing; no matter how good the deal may be in your favor you are still giving something for it.
I have, during my off seasons, given in to the decadent desserts and lavish dinners that my strict fitness competitor diet restricted me from during a training season. These indulgences were very immediately followed by the type of bloating and cramping that bring to mind the pain and torture of a New Year’s Eve hangover - which elicits the life saving cry to God “ if you rescue me from this, I will never (insert promise) again!” Those symptoms are instant, and do resolve in a few days but they are still the consequence for over-indulgent behavior.
Type 2- Diabetes has been deemed by some to be the life altering consequence for over –indulgent behavior according to NIH.
“Type 2 diabetes usually occurs slowly over time. Most people with the disease are overweight when they are diagnosed. Increased fat makes it harder for your body to use insulin the correct way. Type 2 diabetes can also develop in people who are thin. This is more common in the elderly. Family history and genes play a large role in Type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight around the waist increase your risk. “
While I will be the first to applaud the success of anyone who changes his or her health and life for the better, we should never allow a preventable disease like Type 2 diabetes to be our motivator to achieve better health.
If diabetes has already entered your life, it may not be too late and you may not need to subscribe to the “Paula -Deen-cure –for- the -Paula -Deen –lifestyle.” An individually customized diet and exercise program can bring about significant improvements in blood flow, blood pressure and even increase the body’s energy levels. In many cases these lifestyle changes can make medications unnecessary or removable from one’s treatment program.
We can save ourselves! Choose a diet that will work with your body and your wellness goals (that of course would first require you to truly know what’s good for YOUR body – visit a functional doc or dietician for that – blog coming soon). Second, choose a fitness program that develops your body and improves your daily functioning as well as your outward appeal (don’t just look good, feel good and move … good). Lastly, set the example for those who surround you and show them that wellness success (or rejuvenation – if necessary) IS possible!
