It's been awhile......

Hi folks. It seems like an eternity since my last post. I am trying to get in at least 1 post per week. These last few weekends have been busy busy busy! Over the last 5 weekends, I think I have gone to 5 showers (baby, bridal,  engagement, etc). While it has been fun, I am beat from the weekends out.  I have one more left this week. I will be heading to the sunny Florida for my cousin's engagement party which should be pretty awesome. I am dreading the drive. I waited too late to find a flight....so I got screwed! Lol. Oh well. At least I will be getting out of this dreadful cold weather. Amen to that!

Aside from the showers, I have been on an organizing frenzy!  I am spring cleaning purging, sorting, labeling for the last couple of weekends as well. I realize that I have a slight OCD with organization, order and structure. I hate not knowing where things are or having to find them and I also hate clutter.  So I am taking on a very big project of organizing my ENTIRE house.It's something that I have been wanting to do for awhile but it's been a daunting task so I have avoided it but I can't take it anymore. I will try to take pictures and post them along the way on my organization frenzy. My husband thinks I am a maniac because I get the urge to organize at the most random of times in the most obsessive way. LOL. It doesn't help that we are complete opposites in terms of organization.Throwing everything in an industrial bag, away from sight is organization enough for him coincidentally my father used to do the same thing! *Sigh*

I have nothing really exciting to talk about this post. I am tired and sore from walk/running 5 miles today. I am in Week 4 of my '6 week to a 5k' training program. YAY! I am stuck at a 15lb weight loss now. I think I need to add weight training. I think I will do that starting April 1st. Adding a new routine this week would lead to an epic fail because I am heading out of town. It would be best that I start that when I come back.

Sorry for the uninteresting post but I am sure I will have much more to share when I come back from FLA. Now off to bed!  :) Good night.

Sustainable Living.......

The title of this post has nothing to do with the lifestyle of living off the earth's resources in the most efficient, resourceful, and green way.  It does, however have everything to do with a lifestyle that I am gradually trying to adopt. The lifestyle that I am talking about is more about living more consciously and seeing things through a more realistic lens.

In the recent weeks, I have made some significant shifts in how I approach and view things in my everyday hustle bustle.Any endeavor that I have attempted and/or any changes (big or small) that I have made I have asked myself the question, " Is this sustainable?" I don't know how that habit originated but it is one that has helped me keep things into perspective and really think about the choices that I make especially in terms of goal setting and living.

How many times have I, you, we made declarations to ourselves like I WILL NEVER EAT SUGAR AGAIN or I AM GOING TO EXERCISE 7 DAYS A WEEK 4 HOURS A DAY or  I AM GOING TO READ THE WHOLE QURAN, BIBLE, and TORAH EVERY MONTH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE or  I AM GOING TO PRAY ALL DAY EVERYDAY WITH ONLY BREAKS FOR BATHROOM AND EATING or something else equally outrageous and unrealistic? I know I am guilty. LOL.

What I have realized is that the frustration that comes with goal setting or making those declarations is not from being unable to achieve them but it's the insanity in making a declaration that was unrealistic and unreasonable in the first place! I think that much of those goals/declarations originate from a place of hurt, insecurities, shame, disappointment, hopelessness, desperation, and so much more. Those origins create enough fuel to create that superman/superwoman ambition which quickly burns out when we realize that we are humans and not a fictional character. Then we get mad at ourselves thinking that we f*ed up again....and of course the cycle continues.

So I am guessing I got tired of the cycle and decided to shift the origins of my declaration/goal setting. In asking myself whether what I was choosing to do was sustainable, it made me also think about the importance of maintaining that action over a long period of time. It makes me think about what I want to nurture and what is most important to me and what is the most fruitful for my mind, body, and spirit. The simple question of "Is this sustainable?"created many AHA moments. For some reason, this question brought the things that matter to me most, my most fundamental needs to the forefront of my mind. It makes me think about why what I am doing matters and why it will benefit me when looking at the big picture.

I think I will continue the practice of asking myself that question. Try it the next time you decide to do something that requires consistent effort over a long period of time....think....

Is this sustainable? I'd love to know if it helps you too.  :)

Have an awesome weekend!!!

Oh by the way a quick update on my health regimen...
Week 1 - Started changes to my diet. Only eating seafood, fruit, and veggies.
Week 2 - Followed the same eating habits. Added exercise. Made it to the gym 4 times. Walk/Jogged. Total of 13 miles
Week 3  - (This week) - Made it to the gym 4 times. Walked/Jogged. Total of 15 miles

POUNDS LOST after 3 weeks ----- (Drum Roll Please!) 14LBS!!!!!!!!! And several inches. I didn't take measurements but I can tell.

GO ME! Alhamdulillah! (Praises to Allah!!) Yay!

Spirituality & Wellness is like Hand in Glove

I took a few days off because it was the weekend and I had to do some running around. I didn’t get to re-vamp my blog design but I will get to it eventually.

This weekend was quite relaxing and the weather was beautiful. I really enjoy being outdoors because I lose track of time. To my surprise I walked a 5k in an hour which was awesome. More so than getting my walk in, I got a chance to think about a lot of things.

One of the things I asked myself was how I got to the state that I am in? Alhamdulillah (Praise and thanks to Allah) I have achieved quite a bit in my life (school, marriage, work, friends, career, etc.) but throughout achieving all those things I have always struggled with two things. A recurring thing for me is my struggle with weight and spirituality. And in contemplating on this I realize that they both go hand in hand, for me at least. They fit like hand in glove.

When tragic or unfortunate things happen in our lives, it can truly shake our faith. For some it causes them to question their faith, some lose their faith, some just aren’t able to grasp anything at all and down spiral until they have fallen flat on their faces. There is a quote that a friend of mine used to say, when you fall to your knees that is the best position to pray. (The quote is not verbatim). That is a profound quote because I have done the falling flat on face thing one too many times. LOL

For myself, I had fallen into the not grasping anything at all category. (No judgment) I am being honest here. And I down spiraled spiritually and along with it went my wellness. I was too overwhelmed to understand how I was coping and I went into a baking frenzy. LOL. I was off from work for a bit and watched too much Paula Deen and we all know she cooks with a ton of butter, sugar, and bacon. Luckily, I don’t eat bacon but the butter and sugar were enough to pack on the pounds. That’s kind of where it all started. The weight gain at least. With weight gain comes lethargy and laziness. That depression isht is NO JOKE! And for a person like myself who was happy and bubbly by nature, I fell into a place that I had never known before. I had to keep up the façade when I spent time with family and friends because people didn’t know me any other way. So I limited the time I spent with them because that faking business takes a lot of energy. It was a dark sucky place. Thank Allah I am no longer there and pray for God to never allow me to get back there.

Eventually I had to make a conscious decision to get better so I sought help and became proactive.  It took me a while though and it is a constant work in progress because it is easy to start bad habits and soooooooo hard to break them. I had to accept who I was and really embrace all the hard work that it would take to transform into the person I need to be.

Any method of coping without the element of God consciousness is a set up for defeat. God consciousness is so crucial. When we forget that the whole reason for our existence is to please HIM and that nothing that we are struggling with is absent of HIS infinite wisdom, it really makes things bearable. In the Quran, there is a passage that says:

 “With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knows but He. He knows whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read).” – Quran 6:59

Doesn’t that make your heart melt? Allah knows me, you, and us. God knows you and your struggles. When I have gone through tough moments or bad days when I have felt hopeless, it is because I have forgotten this mere fact. That’s why it is important to always read the words of Allah because he reminds us to chill because he has our back! (In simpler terms.lol.) 

So this is another part of my journey….. to strengthen my relationship with my Lord.  That is such a big part of who I am and having experienced the sweetness of faith at certain time periods of my life I KNOW I am not on my “A” game. Quite honestly my spirituality has been neglected because I have become distracted, complacent, and downright lazy. I have no legitimate excuse. No, I am not being hard on myself or negative but I am being real with myself and you.  I am not on the high horse of religiosity and I would be the last person to claim that I am a good little Muslim girl because I am a certified human being and that comes with flaws.

 Although this has already been long-winded, in a nutshell I firmly believe that if my spirit is right, it will in turn feed my soul, I will become better in decision making, and in turn develop overall better wellness. This is my theory and maybe through this process I will prove it to be fact.  

Who knows maybe this might be very interesting to document for a PhD research topic? Then again…..naaah. I think I am done with the school thing. LOL.

Pizzazz.Glitz and Glam!

This blog is not reflecting my style enough. I need some pictures, fireworks and more color. I really need to hook it up because it is a little too plain jane for me right now.  Of course I have to figure out how to do that which takes energy and focus. Eh! Don't get me wrong I love the sunflowers, especially the one huge sunflower in this picture. Did you notice that the other flowers are facing the other way? I did not notice that until after I posted the pic and went back to my blog a few times. Once I realized it, I loved the picture more. Can you guess which flower I am?  Yea that's right (pointing at) -->self<-. LOL.

Maybe my picture choice wasn't  just random, nor coincidental. Maybe it is symbolic! Maybe it represents exactly where I am. Standing out amongst the bunch. Hmmm...something to chew on. Maybe just maybe...it represents mores. :)

Anyways, I think I am a very colorful person and it's just not colorful enough! I need to get Lisa Frank up in this piece!!!  (You would only know what I am talking about if you were raised in the era of Lisa Frank during elementary school).See below or google Lisa Frank!!!

So that is my project for this weekend or next week. I am going to work on really customizing this page to the best of my abilities so that it better reflects me. For now I am liking the sunflowers, they will do.

Snowquestration...YAY!

Alrightie guys...so I almost forget to do a post today (already.lol) even though I was off today.  We were supposed to be getting a "snowstorm" which turned out to be just sleet and rain in my area. I wanted to run around my house with joy when I learned that my job was closed but instead I resorted to watching my eyelids and running around in my dreams. Take that mr.snooze button! Whenever I hear that work is closed for inclement weather it brings back that childhood nostalgia of staying home from school!

It's pretty ridiculous how frantic people become when they hear snow is coming. People literally lose their minds. I boycott supermarkets around that time because it is pure insanity. People....do we really need 10 cartons of eggs?Like any Caribbean family,  I always have an enormous sack of rice sitting around in my house that lasts about a good 2 years.LOL. I won't go hungry.   I think that meteorologists get some kind of kickback for predicting events that won't happen. I truly this so....no really....think about it!

Check out this video.... it is sooo funny. Why do people behave this way when a storm is predicted? 

Today was my off day for exercise. Yesterday I got in 3 miles of walking.So far I am staying on track.  :) Even though I was home I stayed on track with my eating also. YAY! *Pats self on back* One day at a time.  I turn 30 in August this year. God willing. My goal is to lose 30lbs by 30. If I lose more...great but I am really going to try to hit that goal. It is totally reasonable. I will keep you posted on how I am doing.

I have to hit the sack now. I have some reading to do and I have an early start tomorrow.

Ciao! Smooches.

Let's get this party started......

First order of business. Health. Oh joy! I have been on this struggle to get my sexy back for what seems like a century. I've been up and down the roller coaster for too long. I am dizzy from all the dips and turns. So enough is enough. My problem...was never not exercising or not eating well. I actually enjoy exercising quite a bit as long as it is fun. My problem was not doing both simultaenously and consistently. Consistency is key as cliche as that sounds. Boooooo to cliches but hey... it fits. This time I will jump on the back of consistency and ride it like cowgirl. LOL.

In order to motivate me in the challenge of consistency in exercise and eating well I have made three changes and have committed to them wholeheartedly.

1. I have signed up for a 5k in June which I intend to run/jog the entire way. It is certainly achievable.  I have paid my money so I will certainly be there come hell or high water. The run is called Color Me Rad in Philadelphia, PA. I will be running it with my sisters and some new sister friends that I have made over the last few months. So this should be fun! I started my 6 weeks to a 5k training program. And yesterday I managed to jog/walk 4 miles under 1 hour. I am hoping to cut that time down significantly but this program forces me to pace myself and not try to go Usain Bolt in a day. I will follow the program to a T. We shall see how it goes!

2.  Eating healthier. Over the last three weeks I have basically adopted a pescetarian/vegetarian eating style. I am not committing to it long term but I think it is a good start to a new eating style. Nothing too rigid just a bit more conscious clean eating. So far so good. It is not difficult at all. I definitely feel better. Cheers to the shrub eaters!

3 Juicing. My little sister Surayah introduced me to the Nutribullet and I love it! It is just $100 but aids in the whole juicing process. It has helped me fit in more healthier foods in my diet. I try to get in fruits, veggies and nuts in my smoothie. I have about 18 oz of fresh juice for breakfast everyday and I have been doing that for a few short weeks. It is such an easy way to get those good foods in your system and it definitely makes a huge difference.  

Why have I made only 3 goals? Well, because I have the wonderful habit of over commiting and diving into the deep end clearly knowing I only know how to paddle. It's not long before I end up calling for a lifeguard to save me. That lifeguard is usually a delectable sweet treat or two or three...basically one too many. I am NOT ashamed to admit that I have fallen into gluttony! LOL. You know you have too. Shoot! But what I have learned is not to bite off more than                              I can chew. <----another cliche (I guess they do come in handy.eh). Otherwise I will surely crash and burn. I am pretty charred right now and it kind of sucks Lol.

*Dusting shoulder off* I GOT THIS! Ain't no thang but a chicken wang!

Okay on a more serious note, I have been reading a lot of books about wellness/health. I have had reality slapped in my face with the struggles of some dear friends who are currently in the fight against cancer, diabetes,  high blood pressure and so much more and I truly believe that all of it is preventable.  I am inspired by the changes that they have made! You have to fight like your life depends on it.....because IT DOES. And so I am making myself accountable for the things that enter my body.  I am so over the fad diets and deprivation. Instead I am aiming towards a transformation beyond just a fab body on the outside. I want to be divalicious on the inside TOO!

Screw Perfection..Embrace it all.

So I have edited and deleted my first sentence in this blog several times in the last few minutes. That's probably why I have been a little unsuccessful blogging in the past. I am a bit of an over thinker and a perfectionist. For a perfectionist and over thinker, blogging can become daunting. It takes more time than it really should because you spend more time thinking about what to write instead of just writing and you spend time thinking about what to think instead of thinking. While those traits can be looked at as positive traits, for me it like a double edged sword. I can certainly make well thought out decisions and plans but I think  about every single possible scenario under the sun before feeling certain that its the right choice. That takes time and lots of energy and it can especially screw you when shit doesn't go your way....because often times it never does. I don't say that in a pessimistic way but when was the last time something went exactly as planned?  Perfect scenarios? Perfect results? So I say....SCREW PERFECTION!LOL. It's for the birds.

So why start blogging now? I need to challenge myself. I need to be accountable for my thoughts and actions and sometimes you don't recognize how you are or what needs improvement or what just IS until you actually consciously make the effort to put the mirror up to your face. *Me Singing Michael Jackson - I'm talking bout the man in the mirrorrrrrrrr oh yeaaaaaaaaaaaa...I'm asking you to make a change.....oooooh" LOLOL. That is my one moment of corniness for this post....or not!  Well, you get the point. I want to use this as an outlet to learn how to express myself without over thinking and without the perfection because shoot...I am not perfect...all the time just most of the time. LOLOL. Just kidding.  :)

So why the blog name? 365 days of vigor? Well because I think that's how we are supposed to live. We are not to live a life of mediocrity so I will no longer let mediocrity be the baseline for how I make choices that are the most important for my life.  There are a few definitions for the word vigor.
Vigor is defined as:

1. active bodily or mental strength or force

2. intensity of action or effect : force;

 

I have to push myself with intensity to taste the sweetness of life because complacency is not an option. In all aspects of my life, whether it be health, wellness, spirituality, work, marriage, family, relationships I am going to embrace it all with fortitude, patience, and faith. I will blog my way through it all as I challenge myself over the next 365 days that will in turn lead to a lifetime of vigor.