What is Joy?

What is Joy?  Joy is a woman trying to gracefully navigate middle age (age gracefully) by making intelligent and intentional choices as it relates to food, career, exercise, and relationships.  Sounds pretty impressive, huh? In reality, I am trying to fight off weight gain and surround myself with people who do not get on my nerves.

However, I meant what type of tarian is Joy?  There are levels in this veggie game and they are as follows:

• Raw Vegans combine the concepts of veganism and raw foodism. They do not  consume food and products of animal origin, as well as food cooked at a temperature above 48 °C (118 °F).^[1] A raw vegan diet includes raw vegetables and fruits, nuts and nut pastes, grain and legume sprouts, seeds, plant oils, sea vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, and fresh juices.
• Vegan: Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. So vegans of course do not consume red or white meat, fish or fowl. They also do not consume eggs and dairy. Vegans do not use honey or beeswax, gelatin and any other animal by-product ingredients or products. Vegans typically do not use animal products such as silk, leather and wool, as well.
• Lacto Vegetarian: Lacto-vegetarians do not eat red or white meat, fish, fowl or eggs. However, lacto-vegetarians do consume dairy products such as cheese, milk and yogurt.
• Ovo Vegetarian: Ovo-vegetarians do not eat red or white meat, fish, fowl or dairy products. However, ovo-vegetarians do consume egg products.
• Lacto-ovo vegetarian: Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not consume red meat, white meat, fish or fowl. However, lacto-ovo vegetarians do consume dairy products and egg products. This is the most common type of vegetarian.
• Pollotarian: Much like the pescatarian, this “semi-vegetarian” diet restricts meat consumption to poultry and fowl only. Pollotarians do not consume red meat or fish and seafood
• Pescatarian (Pescetarian): While technically not a type of vegetarian, these individuals do restrict their meat consumption to fish and seafood only. Pescatarians do not consume red meat, white meat or fowl. This is considered a “semi-vegetarian” or “flexitarian” diet.
• Flexitarian – A plant-based diet with the occasional meat item on the menu. These folks do their best to limit meat intake as much as possible and they have an almost entirely plant-based diet. This is not technically considered a “vegetarian” diet, but we commend the effort!

Right now I am trying to decide where I fall in this spectrum.  This week, I have been a Raw Vegan, an Ovo Vegetarian and a Lacto-ovo Vegetarian.  I guess that makes me a Joyatarian.  In all honesty, I have to say that the Ovo Vegetarian and Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian occurred because I forgot I vowed not to eat dairy or eggs. At least I did not have chicken or fish (smile).  Please don’t judge me. At any rate, I think I am going to listen to my body.  This is a work in progress, so I may not know where I fall in this spectrum for a while. 

Now on to my noteworthy meals today.  At lunch, the cafeteria was servicing fish tacos with a spicy pineapple slaw.  I decided on the taco stuffed with the spicy slaw, salsa and cheese. I also had a side salad of tomatoes, artichoke hearts and feta.  Lunch was pretty darn yummy.

For dinner I decided to go to another raw vegan restaurant.  I ordered the lasagna. That lasagna was a piece of raw heaven.  I did not miss the meat nor the noodles.  I will order it again, because it was awesome and I want to determine the flavors so that I can attempt this recipe at home.

I did not get much physical activity in this week, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Cheers to our health.

Living the Veggie Life

Yesterday, I announced that I was leaving the world or carnivores and joining team veggie.  Of course the main question is why?

My answer is why not?  It’s that simple.  Well, really it isn’t that simple.  Let me give you some background information as to how I arrived at this state. 

My doctor and I have this routine.  Every three months she draws blood, writes a refill for my blood pressure medication and I ride off into the sunset until we meet three months later.  In addition, if she doesn’t call me that means my blood work is fine. Well unfortunately, this time I received a call. It turns out that my cholesterol is high and now she wants to put me on cholesterol medication.  This isn’t the first time she has mentioned my cholesterol. I have promised to lower my numbers by my next appointment, but I didn’t.  My diet was less than stellar and my exercise regimen was sporadic at best.

Now, I have a prescription for a medicine whose side effects are more dangerous than the condition it treats.  That was my wake-up call. That’s my why.

I decided to try a plant based diet.  I am going to document this journey.  I will write about what I eat, how I feel, what I am doing for physical exercise and heaven forbid, I will even come clean when I backslide.

I am committed to making a lifestyle change and get off of these meds.  Welcome to Joy’s Journey Living the Veggie Life.

A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE: A NEVER ENDING JOURNEY

I am on a never ending quest to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and clean eating.    I consider this an ongoing lifetime journey.  At times this journey is challenging, other times it is more humorous, but I can honestly say that each step of the way, I am learning more about myself and the process. Below are some of my more valuable lessons

Exercise and Fitness is not a life Event- It’s a Lifestyle:  I am learning that it is more important to get healthy, eat clean and lose weight over the long run, than to prepare for a special event.  In the past, dieted and exercised myself into a tizzy in anticipation for an upcoming vacation, reunion or even doctor’s   appointment.   In the last two to four weeks leading up to the special event, I  have the discipline of a monk, monitoring every morsel I put in my mouth  and logging countless hours in the gym so that I fit  that cute leather dress or I do not get lectured by my physician for being overweight.  I continued this cycle for years.  Diet and exercise for a few weeks and then once the event ends, my bad habits return-eating whatever I want and exercising occasionally.  Then, an epiphany occurred.  If I can monitor my food intake and exercise for a short period of time, why not do this all time?  I want to look good and feel great long after my college reunion. Why not make necessary sacrifices in my lifestyle maintain these positive changes over the long haul?

Do not be Afraid to Ask for Help:   I admit it- I do not know everything and sometimes I need to reach out to others who know more.  This is a very difficult lesson.  I experienced some dieting and exercising success on my own.  However, I didn’t get the life changing results I sought. Time to make a decision: (1) Continue to do the same thing and receive the same results, expecting something to change (which is a sign of insanity) or (2) Seek the advice and guidance of someone who use fitness to transform lives on a daily basis.  I chose option 2.   I solicited the help of a personal trainer and my life and my body (albeit sore) has not been the same.  My trainer specifically designed an exercise and eating plan that coincides with my fitness goals and lifestyle.  Each session my body is challenged in a way, that I could never do by myself. Working out with a trainer, I see visible results in a few days, while working out by myself, results take much longer.

I Must Push My Body:  Results do not come easy and I run my butt off literally and figuratively. Doing twenty minutes on the treadmill and lifting weights aimlessly without a routine in the weight room did not give me the results I desired.  I now push my body to the highest level of exertion (sometimes it feels like death is rapidly approaching).  It is the constant battle of joy and pain.  Oh the pain I feel after doing hundreds of jumping jacks and squats, but oh the joy the feels my heart when my once snug jeans fall off of my rear end without a belt.

Surround Myself with People who Share or Support Goals:   Supportive friend and family, near and far are a source of my motivation on the days I just want to give up. I love the fact that my mother and I discuss diet, exercise and most importantly shopping for smaller clothes. My mother is on a similar journey and she is my greatest inspiration and my biggest cheerleader.  I also have online communities filled with kindred spirits who want to live healthier lives.  Websites like Spark People, Fitbie, The Eat Clean Diet  and Black Women Do Workout are incredible resources for recipes, diet plans exercise tips and moral support. These websites are a wonderful forum for me to share my triumphs and trials with friends hundreds and thousands of miles away. It is a great feeling knowing I am not alone in my journey.

However, all of my positive changes do not mean a thing if I surround myself with saboteurs. Saboteurs are not just the people who offer me that extra piece of cheesecake, but the people who discount or belittle my desire to live a healthier lifestyle.   The people disguised as well- meaning friends and family who have my best interest at heart.  I know myself better than anyone else and if I want to lose those last 15 pounds even though some may say I look fine- I will. I do not need the negativity in my life.

 I Hold the Keys to My Success:   The most important lesson is I alone determine my success or failure on this journey.  It is up to me.  Every day I must make a conscious decision to live a healthier life and I must live with my decisions. Will I exercise for an hour and eat the fruit for a snack? Will I hang out with my friends at the lounge and sip on Mojitos? Temptations and distractions are constantly thrown my way and sometimes I succumb to temptation. I do not feel guilty.  I keep trucking on my journey. The choice is mine.  Will I choose success or failure?

Sexy Strength: Where Stilettos Meet Weight Training

What do you get when you mix six inch stilettos with 10 pound weights?  You get one heck of a full body workout. However, this is not a Stiletto Fitness class where you learn a sexy dance routine.  This is a hard core, body sculpting fitness routine where you do squats, abdominal work and upper body exercises wearing your favorite pair of high heel shoes. Carl Brown, an Atlanta, Georgia based fitness trainer and owner of Xtreem Training is the mastermind behind this innovative exercise plan.

Brown has many exercises that you can do in heels.  Imagine squats.  You know that exercise where you stick your rear end out and bend your knees, trying to get your rear to touch an imaginary chair.  Under normal circumstances you regard squats as a pain in your…ahem, butt.  Now imagine doing squats while standing in your six inch stilettos?  This move now becomes more challenging, but oh so effective.  Another exercise to consider while wearing your heels is the pelvic bridge.  You are lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet are hip width apart.  Easy so far, right? Now you lift up one leg in a 90 degree, the other leg remains bent and attempt to lift your pelvis in the air.  You are working your calves, your legs, your butt and your abdominals. The exercise variations go on and on. Bet you did not know that your cute shoes would do more than set off your new sundress. 

You may ask why exercise in your heels?  According to Carl Brown the answer is two-fold.  He says,” my clients lift weights to achieve toned bodies, but they want to feel feminine in the process.  Why not put on some heels and feel girly while you pump iron?” He also adds, “Wearing heels requires that you have more control of your body.  You need a strong core to maintain your balance.  With your feel elevated off of the floor, the exercises become more challenging.”

Now you may be excited and ready to rush to the closet, grab your heels and squat your way to a new toned body. Not so fast.  Do not try these exercises at home.  Brown designed these routines so that you can receive Xtreem results.  . His training is not limited to training in heels.  He has an arsenal for fitness programs ranging from early morning boot camps to kickboxing training.

Brown is a former Olympic Track and Field competitor and with over twenty years of professional experience and can help you get into the best shape of your life.  He knows what works and tailors exercise programs and eating plans to fit your fitness level, body type, weight loss goals and lifestyle.

Are you ready to get Xtreem? Go to the Xtreem Training website to learn more about Carl Brown and his training programs.  If you do not live in the Atlanta, Georgia area, have no fear.  Brown can design training programs and eating plans for you long distance.

Managing My Time and My Workouts

We are told that workouts should be scheduled like the other appointments in our lives so that we remain consistent. When you are able to maintain your regular routine everything works out fine. However, there is nothing like an aggressive deadline at work or an untimely illness to throw us off of our A games.

That happened to me.  I am in the process of a 4 week fitness boot camp that I designed for myself. Well,  Week 1 of boot camp life went along as scheduled. Then comes Week 2.

Week 2 brought a new work assignment with an aggressive deadline, that would require many extra hours. I had two options. Option 1, blow off my workouts and dive head first into my assignment or Option 2,  revise my schedule and set aside some time in my busy schedule to workout.

I chose Option 2. The old me would have ignored my workouts and try to 'make it up' the following week. However, I realized that I made this commitment as a lifestyle change and not just a temporary project 'to lose a few pounds' for an upcoming event. So I re-arranged my schedule to make sure I worked out.

What I discovered was that my mini workout sessions were a welcomed break from the computer and I felt more invigorated afterwards. Lifting the weights and doing High Intensity Interval Training was a welcomed stress relief.

I learned a valuable lesson. Life can get pretty hectic, but with effective time management, everything can fall into place.