Eat What You Like....Hanging with Friends

I am still feeling good and on the workout wagon.  I had a great friend come into town and we had a wonderful weekend. We ain't and drank and lived it up all night.
I ate so much I normally wouldn't but its OK.

I don't feel guilty

I don't regret it

I do plan to do it again


Nkenge

Back In the Swing of Thing...

Ive took about 5weeks off from my daily gym routine.  It started out as laziness and ended up being mandatory. I had an operation that prevented me from going to the gym for 4weeks.  My rest period is over and its time to get back into my routine.

I have for the last 3 days been back to my normal two a day workout. I'm so happy to report.  I have dearly missed going to the gym.  I missed the feeling of accomplishment, seeing the regular instructors, and even the sweat.  It felt so good to let the toxins out my body through good old fashion sweat. 

I also weighted in on Sunday and my CURRENT WEIGHT IS: 250.1lbs...
I'm pretty happy that I didn't gain and I continued my slow but steady decline in my weight! Like the tortoise I guess slow and stead will win the weight loss race in the end.

Have a good Week and Enjoy your workout!

Nkenge

Hi Ho Hi Ho...It's off to work I go...

Well me and the 2700 other dwarfs that teach in the state of Texas are headed back to work for our 1st days of school. I have been busy this summer preparing. A lot of the time neglecting my workouts and diet due to late night prep work.

I won't say I am the perky super teacher but this year I plan to try to be.  I will be back on my routine and I am going to challenge my students to work for their best also.

Materials Used: Sheet protectors,fabric tape, cardboard, white paper

My husband has always supported my career and this year is no different. Since I had surgery he will be at the school helping me set up my room and decorate.  He also made my student white boards. He finished them in about an hour. THE MAN IS TALENTED!

Finished Product Student Whiteboards!



Thanks for Reading,

Nkenge

Classes, Classes, and More Classes!

This week I managed to make it to the gym so far 2x a day. I'm trying my best to keep up that pace for the next two weeks.  I have learned that I get better calorie burn from group classes. This is fine with me. You work those forgotten muscles and get pain(in a good way) in news spots.
I tried a new class tonight. Body Pump.  I have passed this class a few times on my way to kickboxing.


They always seem so serious. The class requires you to pull out lots of equipment see:

LOTS OF STUFF. 

 I was slightly overwhelmed when I came in. Luckily, folks at the Y are friendly and helped me get it straight. I will say I liked the class. Its a good strength workout.  Also, it got my heart pumping.  Its good for all fitness levels like it says.   I recommend switching up your routine every now and again. Had it not rained I would have been in my usual water exercise class. The rained forced me to try something new. I liked it and will be back again.  It felt good to hang in with people who have been doing the class. Slowly, very slowly I'm getting into better shape.

Nkenge

Summer Sizzling Weight Loss Challenge

I joined a 8week workout challenge on YouTube.  Hosted by DivaSlimsDown.  It is promising to be a great way to keep me motivated. I love competition.   The stories from the other ladies are get motivation. Its really therapeutic to be in a group where you can see that people really do understand you and are in the same place or were in the place as you.  (READ THESE ARE MY PEOPLE)

I will be uploaded a new video tonight and I checked my weight since I was traveling last week I didn't make it to the gym until this morning.

Nkenge

The link to DivaSlimsSown page

http://www.youtube.com/user/DivaSlimsDown?feature=g-all-c

The link to my entry video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep9ezTEra9A&feature=plcp

I hope you follow my progress and the progress of all the ladies.   

The RULES:

You MUST like these facebook pages:
1. http://www.facebook.com/CollageVideo
2. http://www.facebook.com/HolabirdSports

-You MUST be a subscriber
-You MUST be 18 or older to enter. Or have your parent or guardian consent
-You MUST be in the USA or Canada for video response entries. 
-To win the prizes you Must create a video response by June 10th.
-Create weekly video updates of how your weight loss journey is going. Updates are due on Mondays: June 11th, June 18th, June 25th, July 2nd, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd and July 30th is your final update. It should include pounds and inches lost plus your final body shot. 
-Participate in the facebook weight loss challenge group

Traveling on Healthy

I am on the last day of a family trip. My niece graduated from High School and is heading to nursing school.  I knew traveling with my family would be hard on a diet but I didn't know it was be so difficult.  I didn't exercise. But I did dance like nobody was watching.  I didn't eat on program but I did feed my soul.  I didn't get much rest but my spirit was refreshed by my family and friends. I had a few good healthy cries at seeing my baby walk across the stage and metaphorically become and adult.  In short I had a great time.  I will be back to my routine on Tuesday. Oh, and all my family noticed my lifestyle changes and commented on me losing weight. It felt GREAT!
I learned this weekend to not be so rigid with my plan. To relax and be flexible with myself and my goals.
Congrats to All the 2012Grads I proud of you and those who supported you where ever you are.

Me the Hubby and Kids with  The Grad!!!

Nkenge

Holiday Curse

I do know what you do for the holidays but the holidays for me and my family is generally about two things:
1-Being with my family and friends
2-EATING


After catching up with my family and friends we tuck into some of the best food you have ever seen or eaten.  Since I'm so far from my parents and siblings I spend most quick holidays (a day off work or two) with my 
in-laws.  I love my in-laws they are the best and they BOTH can cook.  My father in law makes these cheese biscuits that I can literally eat an entire pan of.  My mother in law can cook anything. They lady could turn leather into some crave worthy.  So its Memorial Weekend and I've already haven't step foot into the gym since Thursday.  I had fried chicken and fries on Friday after work, followed by salad on Saturday( a decent day), followed by meat lovers pizza on Sunday, God only knows what my mother in law has cooking up for Monday!!!!  


So here's the dilemma:

1. Do I get up Monday and make my swim class (YES, Okay, maybe).
2. Avoid everything with gravy, grease, and fatty meat on Monday (Not going to happen)
3. Make it to the gym for at least 1hr. to make it up for the totally AWESOME meal I plan to consume on Monday.(YES, Totally doable

How do you manage the holidays?

Ribs or Manna from Heaven?

Cheese Biscuits fit for Queens

There is No Crying in Aerobics

Tom Hanks said "There is not crying in baseball" in one of my favorite movies. A League of Their Own" I'm sure if my morning aerobics instructor had seen me shed tears after a class she would have said the same thing. "Nkenge, There is not crying in aerobics"

I take a aqua aerobics class 3 times a week. My instructor is a 5ft tall, 40-50ish, Asian lady named Mona.

I knees are going south due to my weight and I was told that this class would be a good workout without all the impact to my knees. My 1st thought was my hair. Girls of African decent and our hair do not mix well with water.  I wanted to go ahead and give it shot so I went to my 1st class. 

Mona, scanned me up and down with narrow eyes and said "what is your name" Worse mistake ever. For the next 50mins I heard my name repeatedly. Straighten your leg, more power, faster, more, less this way that way...

Needless to say I hung in there for that class and a month more.
One class at the end o the month really broke me down and hurt my spirit.
Moaning Mona made me feel like I was the most uncoordinated person in the world. I was so frustrated and couldn't do anything right.

That day I took my shower after class and let a few tears fall for the last time. I told myself I would never let anyone make me eel bad about myself again. I was doing what I thought was correct and pushing to my personal limit. There's really nothing else any of us can do. I've keep up my classes and have found some really fun ones to replace that morning class. I will go back eventually. But when I do I will be quicker to speak my peace and get the little lady off my back.

Nkenge

The Clock is my Enemy

I think it is a C.O.N. spiracy.  My husband,the kids, even my clock is against me.
I set my clock for 430 so I could make my 530 water exercise class. For some odd reason my trusty clock that rings daily didn't go off. So I slept until 7 which in a way I really needed.

Oh well, I will be back at it on after work. KICKBOXING CLASS. At least Charles never made me cry and I'm up to one 8 pretty solid push ups.

Spin Class

I'm still not feeling 100% but I plan to go to spin class today (beginners class). I will update this late...

Pray for Me!

********UPDATE*******

I made it through my 1st 30min. spin class. It wasn't that bad BUTT. The Butt is still in pain 3hrs later. Those seats are criminal. I would have don't much better with out the seats and the literal pain in my behind. 

I plan to take the class again this week. 

Adventures in Exercisng 1.0

Last night I went to my gym to take a cardio class. Nothing big or so I thought.  The class was called Night Club Cardio. Its described as a fun class using current music and dance moves to burn the calories.

The class was full, the music was good, the only problem I discovered is that I CANNOT DANCE.
I had no idea who bad I was until confronted with a wall to wall mirror that didn't try to spare my feelings.  I should be put in jail for murder on the dance floor. I was killing those moves(not in a good way).
The worse part of the whole thing was that my calorie counter had the nerve to say I only burned 300 calories in a 45min class from hell.

I wanted to leave after the 2nd song but waited until the cool down to bolt out the door embarrassed, dazed and confused.

Needless to say I wont be back anytime soon, if ever.

Nkenge

Weigh In

I finally am back to 90% and decided to go to kickboxing. I struggled after only a week out sick.
I survived out o breath but I survived. I was delirious by the end but it felt good to be back at it.

I has been a month and before stumbling out of the gym I hopped on the scale to see my 1month progress.

DRUM ROLL  PLEASE>>>>>>>>>>>>>

261.6 .....Two Sixty FREAKING One....


Me and the sweet baby Jesus did the happy dance. Right in the middle of the locker room.

It feels like a major milestone in my head. I'm down 10 lbs

Feels so good to say I lost 10 pounds and I never want to find them jokers again.

Nkenge