Greetings,
It seems as if it has been forever since I last checked in. Although it has been a while, it was for a very good reason. Sometimes we have to stop and regroup, which is what I have done. For the past 7-8 weeks I have been making some important life changes. Of course I was already doing that, but as I emphasize often, change is continuous. While we may work to improve in one area, we always have room to grow in other areas. Throughout my journey my main focus has been mental and emotional repair. What I came to realize is that once we make significant changes in one area, one must work on other areas as well to maximize progress. With that being said, I made the decision to work on my physical appearance and overall health.
For many years I have struggled with weight issues. This is a struggle many of us face. In my case I was shedding mental weight, but I needed to work on my health and physical weight as well. Over the years I have allowed my weight to be a shield so to speak. I became complacent with the issue of obesity. Convincing myself that I was not concern with my weight as much as I really was, I made no effort to change this part of me. That all changed however about 8 or 9 weeks ago. Venturing out and attending the Black Women's Expo, proved to be a life changing experience. While at the event, I engaged with several authors, some I had met previously, others I had not. Dr. Ian Smith happened to be one of the best selling authors that I had the pleasure of meeting. Being familiar with him from various television shows, I was anxious to see what new weight loss strategies he was now introducing. Although I was inquisitive, I had no real goal of attempting a program. In the past I have tried several diets, gimmicks, cleanses, etc. I never had the will power or enough interest to stick to any plans. While in line waiting to get my autographed copy of Dr. Ian's latest diet, Shred Revolution, I chatted with a lady who was already on the diet. She reported good results and talked about the program with such conviction that I felt compelled to give it a try.
I am pleased to report that I did indeed try the plan and was able to stick with it. What I like about Shred is that it is NOT a diet, rather it is a lifestyle change. A lifestyle change that has become my own and I am continuing to reap the benefits from. The lifestyle change promotes a plan of 6 weeks, 4 inches, 2 dress sizes. I have to admit I was hesitant at first, but as I began to read the book, I was convinced that I could possibly stick with it. My first week was a little difficult, but not nearly as difficult as I figured it would be. In all of my previous endeavors, I could never stick to a workout plan. Not with Shred! The requirement of 30-45 mins a day, 5 days a week became easier and easier to follow as each day passed. By the end of the week, my mind had been conditioned to continue with the plan, and a weight loss of 4 pounds in the first week encouraged me to continue as well. As I continued to see progress, I was motivated to keep going. Early morning walks cleared my mind. Midway through week 2 I began to notice that not only was I gradually losing the physical weight, each mile I walked seemed to drop off a little mental weight that I was continuing to carry.
Initially, that seemed silly to me, but each week I was feeling lighter and lighter both physically and mentally. I was eager to share my experience with those close to me and by the end of the 6 week regimen, my mind had been completely transformed, I was down 21 pounds and I was feeling better than ever. My ability to handle stress had improved even more than it had previously. I am more health conscious, have more discernment regarding making healthy choices, and most importantly, I have been able to continue to keep my exercise at an appropriate level. This is a definite lifestyle change and has proved to provide more than just weight loss benefits.
With my new lifestyle change, my mind has less clutter. My vision is less blurred and I am back on track to completing my goals. It is amazing how things happen. Dr. Ian Smith and Black Women's Expo changed my life for the better. As I continue to experience the effects of this lifestyle change I am confident that I will be producing some of my best work yet. Although I was making positive changes and in a better place, I have gained even more insight and determination to pursue my goals and dreams at an even harder pace.
Remember, positive change is always good and it is always constant. Whatever you set your mind to do can be accomplished with positive reinforcement.
Stay tuned for more updates and new material to be posted.
~PhatPhat~
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