I was always shy and introverted. Our family's not very close, and my older brother in particular would made me hate me body so much. He'd say the most hurtful things, that I'd never get a boyfriend because I was fat and not sexy. That he couldn't believe we were related because he was so hot and well I was ...well, not. And he was. and he had the supermodel-esque girlfriends to prove it.I grew up with such a horrible self image that I never went out, ...EVER. I didn't see a nit club till I was 22 and I felt so outta place I didn't venture out again. It also didn't help that I worked at my sister's (who looks like a supermodel herself), clothing store and would watch her clientele, these skinny girls try on these beautiful sexy outfits that I wouldn't even think of wearing. And to make it worse I'd over hear them criticizing their perfect bodies. uuugh!
Now don't think I never tried to lose the weight, I did. Yup all the typical diet blunders, starvation thing. the lo card thing ( that lasted about a week..I like my carbs, dammit!). Umm lets see, oh yes I'm ashamed to say, I tried the cabbage soup thing and almost fainted in public. None of 'em worked. What did work: Well read below. But what I can say is that there's no formula. YOU have to do your research and find what works for YOU. It was when I started reading and learning about basic nutrition and that I worked out a plan that I could stick too.
How I started. One day I was hungry while shopping with my sister. I was never a fan of shopping. I hated trying stuff on, ya know. While she was trying her millionth pair of capri pants. I was starving and we happened to be near to GNC store. Not sure why but I thought hey why not get one those energy bar thingies. To make a long story short: there was a website on the wrapper. I went home looked it up, and it changed my life forever.
Now I can’t even remember the website cuz all it did was wet my appetite. At first it looked like a website for only professional; athletes and bodybuilders, but the more I read the articles the more it peaked my interest. It broke everything down so simply; nutrition basics, sample meal plans, exercise demos and animations. I was hooked.Now this got me started, but as I became enthusiastic about fitness and nutrition I googled more fitness sites. I came across http://www.bodybuilding.com/, a fitness cornucopia. They had thousand's of articles, recipes and products to choose from. It was here that I learned about how the rite supplements can help me with my goals.
And as I did more research. i learned that there's just some basics to this whole thing, there was sort of the same general advice on all these body building sites. I learned the tricks of the trade.That it's not a diet but just eating the rite foods to fuel your body correctly. That you need to EAT to lose weight and get leanThat weight training if or everyone. you need to build muscle to burn fat!and so much more
But now I needed a goal. A finish line if you will, that red tape you come busting through at the end of a big race. And I knew immediately what it would be: To participate in Trinidad's Carnival. Now I don't know if you know of this event, if not i highly recommend you Google it, it's indescribable. But in nutshell ti involves Dancing in the streets of downtown Trinidad in a very skimpy costume, (You're probably more familiar with Brazil's Carnival, but they're pretty much the same.) Why, Carnival? Well cuz I'm from Trinidad originally, and every year I'd feel so left out the carnival events, it was part of my culture and i'd always feel stupid when people would ask me about taking part of it and I'd say no. Yup. parading in a beaded 2 piece bikini and headdress (and being completely comfortable ) was my goal. And i had 2months and 2weeks to do it.
So enough babbling. In a nut shell here's what I did:
- I ate six meals a day. Every meal had the rite balance of proteins carbs and fats. This where protein powder and bars came in handy for quick meals. Add a scoop of the powder to oatmeal and fruit and Presto! a meal.
- I learned about portion size and control. Planned my meals ahead of time. And when I couldn't I learned how to make the most healthy choice of what was available. There's foods that will actually help you burn fat. There's good carbs and bad carbs (and the same goes for fats). Drank lots of water ( i know everyone says that but it also helps you feel full).
- Drank my fair share of tea too ( no calories, plus green tea's got lots of added benefits!)
- Had healthy snacks, like blending cottage cheese yogurt fruit and protein powder. Putting dark
- chocolate chips in my oatmeal. There's tons of healthy recipes out there.
- Did cardio 3X a week for 20 mins. Added more sessions as the weeks progressed and I grew stronger.
- Weight and resistance training 3x a week, Now I was too timid for the gym when I started out by buying some cheap free weights and some home videos. Then as my confidence grew I joined the gym. I usually would do upper body Monday. Friday an lower body then reverse it the next week. Like to keep it simple :)
- I walked every where I could. 30 mins to work . to the mall. supermarket. wherever!
- After doing my research I supplemented my diet with a few supplements. I used CLA, fish oils, Sesamin. Whey Protein was my staple as it helped when I needed a meal replacement or quick snack. and It’s the best to have after a workout. I took a multi-vitamin. (very important)I read articles on different websites daily to keep motivated. When it comes to your body Knowledge is Power! Learn about it. The effects that it has on your body. Learn about weight training and how your muscles work. I read alot. And it wasn't just one plan that helped me, it was educting myself, reading different oints of views and arrivig at somehitn that I thought would be best for me.
- Allowed myself a cheat meal or two a week.
In the end. I had my day in the sun, parading the street of Trinidad....in a skimpy beaded bright pink bikini. I got down to 135 by the time Carnival came around. And today, I can't see myself going back to the way I was. I'm healthy, confident and just feel great overall. ....and I actually have 6-pak (I've always wanted one of those :)It feels good to write this and hope it inspires at least one person to make the commitment and just do it. In the end the excuses are just that excuses. Get out of your comfort zone. If you feel afraid, than that usually means your doing something good.Good luck to you.
