Maintain and not gain - Everyday trials

Greetings to All,

It is been a long while since I've blogged. Please forgive me.

Like many of us, I have gone through some trials and tribulations regarding my journey. Don't get it twisted, just because I reached my goals back in 2010 does not mean I don't continue to struggle each and every day.

Yes, I have the tools and knowledge available to me to keep my weight where I want it to be, but, I am human. Do you know what that means? It means that each and every day is a trial for me.  Sound familiar?

Look, it is was as easy as pushing the "easy" button, then we all would be claiming the victory of weight loss...but, that is not the case.

There are days when I just want to throw it all in and go for it (pies, cakes, pasta, breads, etc.). Every time I look at food or smell it in my nostrils, I have a discussion with one of my many selves. You know what I mean. The one self that tells you, "no, don't eat that...it's not worth it", and then the other self that says, "gone, Girl...eat it...enjoy it...it won't hurt you".

I fight with these feelings on a very frequent basis. What helps me get through?

Several things:

1. Knowing that Allah(God) is on my side and has equipped me with what I need to get through these trials.
2. Having the knowledge of right and wrong. Having better educated myself on food, portions, the effects of food on my mind, body, and soul, and the short/long term effects on my overall health. (note - I thank The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad for giving us the book series called "How to Eat to Live")
3. Knowing I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to.
4. Realizing I, too, will have my good and bad days...but, that doesn't mean I have to beat myself up each time I slip.
5. Remembering to get back up and restart my journey whenever I find myself falling.
6. Remembering...I AM WORTH IT!!!!
7. Finally, telling myself I have "no excuses!!!"

Why am I sharing this? Well, here is an update on my journey. I've gone up and down in my weight since 2010. Believe it or not, I found/gained 23 pounds back as one point or another. Did I let that defeat me...heck no!!!!

What did I do? I remember who and whose I am. I am mighty, powerful, valuable, strong, and faithful. I know what steps to take to get the weight off and I refused to gain anymore than I already gained.

I got back on my feet, checked myself, readjusted my eating habits, and went for it. YOU can do it, too!!

Look, you are not in this alone. We all have our challenges in one shape, form, or fashion. When you have a bad day, don't linger in pity and completely get off course. Recognize your errors or faults, recalibrate, and resume your journey. Yes, it's not an easy thing to do. Yes, you are going to want to reach your goals overnight, but the reality is..."struggle is ordained and after struggle comes ease" - The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

To date, I am down 13 pounds and plan to work my way back to my goal.

Remember...You Are Worth It...Just Do It...No Excuses!!!

"I Can't Take It Anymore"... Overcoming the desire to quit

How many times have you looked in the mirror wishing for the clear evidence that all of your hard work, eating right, and exercising have truly paid off? Maybe you are looking for a smaller face in the mirror, thinner arms, a smaller waistline, or some visual sign. What do you do when you don't see that sign?

I know that this is a long and hard journey. DON'T give up. Stay in it for the long haul. Even if you don't see the noticeable differences on the outside, how do you feel on the inside? Do you have more energy, do you feel more confident in yourself?

I encourage everyone to take pictures of yourself along your journey.Those living with you may not notice the difference in you right away but when you and your family members look at your pictures, you should see some differences.

How about those clothes? Have you lost a few inches here and there? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then keep forging forward. Something that you are doing is working for you.

Give yourself some time to get it all together. As I've said several times before...it didn't take you a day to gain that extra weight and it won't take you a day to get it off.

Take the small victories as they come and wait for the big ones. One day, you will have people stopping you in the hallway or on the street asking you, "What have you been doing? You look good! You've lost a lot of weight!".  Even if NO ONE ever says those words to you, you have to answer to yourself and God as to what you have done to get your mind, body, and spirit back on the right track.

Here are some quotes from 588 Days! Balancing Act of Faith, Family, & Finding Time for ME in the chapter called "I Can't Take It Anymore":

"I encourage you and I to keep forging forward, particularly during those times when you just want to throw in the towel. Those should be the times when you dig deep into your inner strength and call about your faith to get you through. Those should be the times when you recognize all of the hard work you’ve done so far and congratulate yourself for coming this far. Those should be the times when you reassess your eating and exercise regimen to determine where improvements could/should be made that would yield you your desired results.

Below you will find some quotes from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan that reaffirm to me that the struggles, trials, and tribulations I was experiencing on this journey were ordained and I was not alone.

“Brothers and Sisters, each time we turn away from the struggle to overcome difficulty, there then is deterioration of character and there is destruction of the Will---and the Will is that within you is God’s gift. It is His Essence that He gives to man and anything that deteriorates your Will destroys you ability to cope with the problems of life. Struggle is ordained.” ~  Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan – page 3

“Struggle is ordained by God. God is not a vicious God. He is a Loving, a Beneficent and Merciful God, but He ordains struggle. Because without struggle, you cannot bring out of yourself that which God has deposited within you. It is something that has to be brought out and it is a struggle overcoming difficulties that manifest your own gifts and your own sublime qualities.” ~  Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan – page 3

“’Impatience’ is defined as an ‘eager desire for relief or change; intolerance of anything that thwarts or hinders.’ Thus we see that it is a force which is natural and which is characterized as a desire. Desire feeds the Will, therefore, the desire to be relieved from the irritation of waiting over a protracted period of time comes into conflict with the desire for any goal which requires patience to obtain. One force must win over the other.” - Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan –  Building the Will, Part III Study Guide #7

“Impatience, or the desire for relief or change, may be removed from us, not by yielding to this natural force, but by seeking refuge in Allah (God). Whenever impatience threatens to cause us to turn away from a desired goal, we must go to Allah (God), the Lord of the ways of Ascent, in prayer. Prayer will give us the security and peace of mind that will relieve our irritation. It is that frame of mind that we then must re-identify with our desired goal. The desire (and the willingness to be patient in order to obtain it) will then return.” Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan –  Building the Will, Part III Study Guide #7

“It is written in the Holy Qur’an, which is the Book of Scripture for the Muslims, that Allah created man to face difficulties. God has brought us all onto this Earth to face one difficulty after another and it is the facing of these difficulties and the overcoming of these difficulties that helps us to improve our character and improve ourselves” ~ Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan – page 2

Although these times seem frustrating, disappointing, filled with anxiety and doubt, these should be the times when you kick it into gear and press on. You’ll be amazed at yourself when you do!"

"Remember...You Are Worth It...Just Do It...No Excuses"

Think Before You Eat - what do you use food for?

Food...let's think about it. What do you and I use food for? Do we use it to maintain our life? Work through stress and disappointment? Socialize with our friends and family? Relieve boredom? Has food become your best friend and comforter?

Now, after you've answered the above questions, reflect on how your use of food has contributed to your current condition. Are you happy with your current condition? If not, what are you going to do about it?

Here is an exert from 588 Days! Balancing Act of Faith, Family, & Finding Time for ME in the chapter called "The Childbearing Years" -

"Additionally, I could have, and should have controlled my eating. I shouldn’t have made food my comforter and friend. I should have utilized food for the purpose that it served which was to provide nourishment to me and the baby, not to take away my pain, as well as take my mind off of my disappointment in myself."

Here is a video tidbit that might help you - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cR5EmZJAvo

I hope that something from this blog will help you on your journey.

"Remember...YOU Are Worth It...Just Do It...No Excuses!!
http://www.findtimeforyou.com/

Tips for the summer and holidays

It's the beginning of summer. School is out, graduation commencements/parties have begun, the family reunions are planned, the weddings will start soon, and the grilling season is on and poppin'. What does this mean for your health journey?

Hold on...don't give up. YOU can still work on your journey in the midst of temptations of summer and its festivities.

Here are some tips from 588 Days! Balancing Act of Faith, Family, and Finding Time for ME" in Chapter 17 entitled "Let's Hit the Road":

Let’s say you aren’t going to eat out at a restaurant but rather you are going to eat all of the lovely food prepared for the family reunion, wedding, or somebody’s bbq. How do you handle this? Here are some tips that might come in handy:

1.    Eat before you go to the event. If you find foods you know you can eat and are the right portion size BEFORE you go to the event, then you might not be so tempted to eat the spread that will be laid out in front of you.

2.    Bring your own food with you. If are able to stop at the grocery store or maybe go to a place like Subway® to buy yourself a sandwich, you can bring your sandwich or food with you to the gathering. That way, you are still in attendance at the gathering and can still control what and how much you eat.

3.    If you find yourself indulging in the food that is being served at the event, monitor your portions! You don’t have to sit there and starve, but you can partake in the delicious food, within reason!

Stay focused but yet have fun. Time spent with family, friends, and co-workers can be enjoyable. You don't have to overindulge to have a good time. Think before you eat!!!!

For your own copy of the 588 Days! book, visit http://www.findtimeforyou.com/.

Interview about the "588 Days" book with Bean Soup Times and Brother Toure Muhammad

Enjoy a radio interview that I did for the "588 Days!" book for Bean Soup Times with Brother Toure Muhammad - http://beansouptimes.podomatic.com/entry/2010-12-24T11_34_28-08_00

Why do I eat the way that I do?

Root Cause-I had an epiphany that many do on their journey. It's about facing your thoughts/fears/emotions/feeling in order to get to the root cause of your circumstance.

Without facing your situation, you are bound to repeat your habits & tools for coping. So many of us turn to food to help us cope but look at where we are now. Did you think that you would have gained all of this "extra" weight?

Figure out how to not turn back to your old habits of coping. Find a new, healthier way!

588 Days! - Why did I write the book?

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH (GOD) THE BENEFICIENT, THE MERCIFUL.

I believe in the Golden Rule that says, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you!” Another similar saying that has been taught to me via The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is, “You should want for your Brother or Sister what you want for yourself!”

I did not write this book out of vanity or the pursuit of fame and fortune. Quite the contrary! My goal for writing this book is to inspire women, mothers, youth, or anyone else that is embarking, or wishes to embark, on their own journey towards better health and weight.

I am by no means a professional trainer or one that has a degree in medicine but what I do have is faith, a strong will, dedication, and personal experience on my side.

We all need help and support in finding ourselves and becoming healthier. Consider me as that friend or sister that is here to help you, not to hinder you. I will be that friend we all need that will tell you the truth about yourselves and what you are going through. I’m not here to sugar coat the details and aspects of a health/weight loss journey. I am here to share my experiences and help you with your own personal journey.

Throughout this book, I will help you to face your fears, deal with your present and past, challenge you to take it to the next level, and praise you for your successes. Additionally, I will give you a glimpse into my life and share with you my joys, pains, sorrows, triumphs, challenges, and rewards.

Come on and get ready for some “tough” love. We are about to commence the journey of a lifetime. Are you ready to meet the New YOU?

          Your Sister,

          Sister Lorraine S. Muhammad

http://www.findtimeforyou.com/

Welcome to the New YOU!

Greetings and As-Salaam Alaikum Dear Friends and Family!

Welcome to my new blog! I pray that this blog will provide the opportunity to share our health and weight loss journey, experiences, trials, and successes.

We all need support to get through our individual journeys. This blog can provide the inspiration, motivation, and support that many of us need to make it through to our ultimate goal (better health and well-being).

May Allah (God) bless us all as we strive to weigh properly and take control of our health!

Peace!

Sister Lorraine S. Muhammad