Tag: transformation

Motivation, Planning, The Journey, Weight Loss

Life Happens

Nadina P

Be it as it may, life happens…

We live in a culture of enjoying life with family and friends, and for people in the south it all revolves around food.  The food tastes great, but it is very rich in fat and sugar.  My life has followed this same path.  Since my adult life began at the age of 18 I have experienced life by gaining unwanted weight. This came from the combination of enjoying life and stress.

Stress comes from stressors in our life that can be good or bad.  Our body then responds to the stress.  Each response is different and for me when I am stressed I eat.  This has caused me to gain the weight I now want to shed.  I want to remember all of these life experiences, but I have learned it is important to exercise and eat healthy.

I have had time to reflect on the choices I have made.  We cannot live in the past and dwell on what we could, should, or would have done differently.  This is not a “New Year’s Resolution,” but a “Lifestyle Journey.”  This is my Journey of Redefintion!

How are you redefining your health?  What are you willing to do to accomplish the lifestyle goals in your life?  What baby steps are you willing to take to get to the destination you envision for your life?

 

Motivation, Planning, The Journey, Weight Loss

Time is Not an Excuse

Nadina P

Many times we delay doing things in our life due to time.  Just with almost every aspect in life we must take the time to plan.  We already know that there are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week.  This is a fact that is not debatable, what we do within this time is at our personal discretion.

I want to lose weight and become healthier.  In order to accomplish my goals I need to do a better job managing my time in order to prepare myself for success.  I’ve learned that in order to lose weight, I need to meal prep and dedicate time to exercising.  My schedule does not allow me to go to the gym 3-5 days out of the week.  So to fix that problem, I purchased a treadmill and some free weights.  Now, what’s the excuse… I don’t want to take the time to wake up earlier in the morning and make a commitment to exercising.

Just as we have to devote time in our lives to accomplish tasks, we have to devote time to meet our health goals. At the end of the day, I am responsible for my health. I go to work and operate a small business. I use time as an excuse because I like to “sleep-in.”  Well “sleeping in” does not benefit me because I am still tired at the end of the day.

How do we fix the problem?  Well first things first, acknowledge that I need to plan time within my schedule to get my exercise daily.  Next, I need to stick to it.  I need to use the same dedication I have for others with myself.  I need to include getting myself healthier as a top priority along with my family and my career.

Finally, in all things I have to change my mindset and believe that I can and will get on track.  Even though life can be challenging at times, I must know within my heart that this is only temporary.  The chaos I call life does balance itself out.  I know that those sacrifices I’m making now will be a great reward in the future.  I believe that time is on our side.  We can be creative to find time to improve our health and for me that’s physical and mental health.  Life can be a mental drain just as much as a physical drain.  The difference is realizing that we need to take time for self.  Taking time for self means taking a deep breath to relax and not be stressful.

Let’s try this!  Make a goal to find at least 30 minutes of “me time,” after the house is quiet to gather my thoughts and ideas and unwind from a busy day.  Find the time to accomplish everything you need to do within the 24 hours a day you are given.

 

Motivation, Planning, Weight Loss

Recharge You!!!

Nadina P

Have you ever used a device so much that the battery drained completely? Or maybe you’re like most of us and plug it in when it drops to 10 or 20 percent. Either way, the first thing we do is recharge it back to full power.

Our bodies work the same way.

When we constantly give energy without restoring it, we eventually run on empty. Recharging our bodies means being intentional about what we put into them — and sometimes that requires a reset.

Detoxing is one way to help restore balance. Every day we are exposed to chemicals and impurities in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the products we use on our skin, and even the cleaners in our homes. Over time, these exposures can weigh on our bodies and affect how we feel.

Choosing to nourish our bodies with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods supports the natural processes that help cleanse and renew us from the inside out. When we care for what’s happening internally, it shows externally in our energy, focus, and overall well-being.

Is detoxing easy? No.
Is it possible? Absolutely.

It requires a made-up mind, conscious choices, and a plan. Success doesn’t happen by accident — it happens with intention. Think positively, prepare ahead, and commit to becoming a cleaner, healthier version of yourself.

This year, choose you.
I know I am.

 

Motivation, The Journey

Staying True

Nadina P

When thinking about your goals and aspirations in life, it’s important to stay true to yourself. It’s easy to get distracted by everything happening around us. We start out with great intentions, but sometimes we set unrealistic goals and expectations that leave us feeling discouraged or even depressed when we fall short. If you’ve felt that way, you’re not alone.

The older generation used to say, “Just live.” As I’ve gotten older, I understand that saying more and more. Life isn’t meant to be a constant race toward perfection—it’s a journey.

So how can you stay true to yourself?

  1. Accept who you are — flaws and all. Growth starts with self-acceptance.
  2. Set realistic, measurable goals. Make them attainable so you can track real progress.
  3. Understand that baby steps matter. Lasting lifestyle changes don’t happen overnight.
  4. Find healthy ways to celebrate success. Food isn’t always the best reward—especially if you’re working on your health.
  5. Stay positive throughout the process. Some days will challenge you more than others. Keep things in perspective.

Try not to overthink everything. Stay busy. Stay active. As the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” Consider adding a daily affirmation app to your routine—sometimes we all need that little boost. Limit the negativity you allow into your space, both in person and online. Be intentional about the company you keep.

At the end of the day, hold yourself accountable. Commit to taking at least one small step forward each day while staying aligned with who you truly are.

Just my thoughts.

Planning, The Journey

Planning…Is it Necessary?

Nadina P

How important is planning?

To the optimistic and realistic persons, planning is essential in life. How often do we plan on a day-to-day basis? Stop and think about it. We plan for the smallest of things. Think about this, we have a routine for even the smallest events in our lives. For instance, we have a morning routine. These are the things we do each morning whether we are conscious of our movements or not. The same applies to our nightly routine. There was trial and error to see what works best for our situation.

For example, Friday nights are reserved for “me” time. This is the time that I can enjoy myself. I like to get off work, order curbside to-go, and indulge in an adult beverage depending on my week. During this time I either read a book (African American Romance) or I watch a good Romantic Comedy. After I finish my nightly hygiene, I can fall asleep early or late, but my family understands this is my time. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part this is my Friday plan.

Let’s look at the big scope in life. Working and earning a stable income for ourselves and family is the goal while saving for retirement. This all takes planning. Plans allow us to put things into perspective and devise ways to make it happen. Planning helps to think about if/then scenarios so we can hopefully avoid common pitfalls.

2025 make a plan, adjust it as necessary, and execute. Keep in mind your plan does not need to be perfect, because if you are honest with yourself nobody’s plan is. Know that the plan is a “living” plan and as life happens your plans have to adjust to keep up.

My plans for 2025: 1) save a specific dollar amount; 2) lose 15-20 pounds; 3) create a healthier lifestyle of eating (family meals included); 4) enjoy self-care/self-love days; and 5) exercise at least 3 days a week

I challenge you to take the time to make a plan for your goals that you want to accomplish. Remember your plan should be flexible and achievable.

Motivation, Planning, The Journey, Weight Loss

The S.M.A.R.T. Choice

Nadina P

Too often we fall into the never ending abyss of helping others and putting ourselves last.  As a result, we are often too tired to do anything that will improve our health and well being.  Often times taking care of my family, work, maintaining a house, and being an entrepreneur – all of my time to read novels and exercise are cut short.

When trying to lose weight and to be successful, we must make small goals.  Yes, I would like to wave a magic wand and be able to run/jog 2-3 miles a day, but that is not the case… right now.  Yes, I am starting out by walking.  This is a small step but it has huge results.  This goal has me waking up at 5 am getting on my treadmill and walk 1-2 miles.

This is one of my S.M.A.R.T. goals.  My next goal is to increase my water intake.  This is something that I struggle with because my taste buds have become accustomed to having flavor throughout the day and especially with meals.  My goal this week is to drink a minimum of 48 ounces.  I know it is not the daily recommended intake, but it is a start and it is more than what I am consuming now.

Remember to take the time to do something for yourself daily.

Let’s redefine ourselves the S.M.A.R.T. way!

Let me know what your S.M.A.R.T. goals are.  I like to break things up in phases.  I am on the journey of improving my lifestyle for me! Let’s do this!