To Be GREAT...

Today, I am saddened by the death of Muhammad Ali but inspired by his life and his legacy that will remain long after this day. History. Legend. Icon. MAN. Although, boxing is my LOVE, Ali represented so much more than that to me. Next to boxing, when I think of Muhammad Ali the word "Freedom" comes to mind and for many beautiful reasons. And because I believe that he has transitioned to another state of being in which he is at peace; I pray for his family, his fans, and all who loved him up close or from afar. May you find peace and comfort in all the GREATNESS he left for us to enjoy. REST WELL CHAMP. ❤️

Now, there are a limitless number of things we can all learn from Ali. You don't just become great without doing certain things. With GREATNESS come HARD WORK!!! My teammate Big Boo says it all the time (paraphrasing) "everybody wants to be strong but don't wanna lift no muphuckin' weight!" Or something like that... LOL!!! Rarely can you elevate your existence by being stagnant. You have to make moves, you have to put in WORK!!!

Sacrifice is always in the mix of being GREAT. So many of US are not willing to sacrifice certain people, places and things in our lives and THE SAME SPOT is where we will continue to stand. Still. Holding on to what we have grown accustomed to or feel we need  in our lives versus letting whatever it is go, as it is truly hindering our progression. That is our poison. I will be the first to admit,  this is me. I am beyond loyal and most times loyal to the wrong people. Those who truly could give a rats pink a$$ about me, where I'm trying to go, and what I'm trying to do. I'm sure most of you can relate. Change in this area is an immediate MUST in order to continue moving forward. Progressing. 

Dedication and commitment can't be played with either. For me, extreme is what keeps me engaged. It's not always the best approach and it can be looked upon negatively by others. However, my all in or don't phuck with it at all has worked more in my favor than not. And at this point, who gives a phuck what it looks like to others. People are either going to support you or find reasons to hate you. Therefore DO WHAT YOU DO, HAVE NO REGRETS, AND NEVER STOP!!! Individuals who are committed and dedicated, reach their goals. They succeed. They attain GREATNESS! 

Freedom... The other word that comes to mind when remembering Ali. 

To be GREAT you must be free. Free from the negativity within you and around you. Free from worries about what others think. Free from caring about who's gonna like you and who's not. Free from limitations of the mind and spirit. Free from making excuses for your current state and free from making excuses for the state of others. Freedom is essential. Mandatory. 

Will being GREAt be an easy task? Not at all. And there are varying levels of greatness. Most of us will never be remembered as Ali, Prince, or Michael Jackson but we can without a doubt achieve our own level of GREATNESS! CREATE YOUR GREATNESS! Your legacy! Do not allow anyone or anything to hinder your acceleration towards being GREAT. And most importantly be your own biggest fan! Let go of desiring the approval of others because in the end, only what you think matters! Now, let's get started!!! 

Short & Sweet

On Wednesday, the leg day was BRUTAL and totally effective. People really think I'm joking when I pray to walk the next day. I'm totally serious!!! The first half of the day I spent walking like a toddler and at times it felt like my legs were totally gonna give out on me. Lol! MY CREW GOES HARD!!! And the craziness of it all is that I LOVE IT!!! 

So...over the last 10 days I have not been able to engage in lifting that involves intense arm and shoulder movements due to a pinched nerve. However, Wednesday was my first day back lifting with D.F.C. since my nerve issue started so I'm marking that as my Day 1 of a personal journey (or goal oriented focus) within the journey. I'm going to allot the next 18 months to attain this goal which is totally doable. Oh and no, I won't disclose the goal you will just have to see it unfold over this time. Sorry! Lol! You already know it's related to fitness; enough said. :-)

Now, because I have been out of lifting heavy for over a week I went to the gym (on leg day) with just that in mind...Lifting heavy. And I did. Even though I was not happy with the overall quality of my lifts, I was able to get 2 very shallow 330lb squats in. My teammate Eric recorded it and because it was not my best work, I wanted him to just send it to me. However, due to technical difficulties he was not able to send it so he posted it on FB!!! Lol! I still owe him a karate chop to the neck for that! It's all good though! I am starting to realize that some days just in the gym may not be slated for greatness and I will eventually swallow that tough a$$ pill. Sometimes it takes me a minute to snap back to reality and see things as they truly are but I DO eventually get there. Live, Learn, & Lift Heavy ishT!!! Haha!!! 

On a more important note, the Lunch On Us event is quickly approaching. Saturday, June 18th myself and many others will be walking around downtown Chicago providing lunch and other items to individuals who are homeless. If you are in the area feel free to join us!  We will meet at The Bean at noon and give to others until it's all gone. Even if you can't make it or contribute, please make it your business to do something for those who are in need. It just seems so basic for one human being to help another human being but most don't and for many reasons. However,  of those reasons, have faith that your kindness will in some way be a blessing to another. That is all. 

~me

GIVING GIFTS...

I can't even begin to express how truly amazed I am by the encounters I have with complete strangers. Over the last few days my head has been in a different  place due to a family emergency. It hasn't been focused on anything but that, so fitness, the gym, and other things have taken the backseat (until my team posts some gym related vids...).  :-) Well, this morning I was in WallyWorld and had crossed paths with a woman a few times before she actually stopped me.

I rarely go out by myself. Most times I have someone with me just because. I have no problem with being in a gym setting alone but for the most part, when you see me you will see with someone (NessNess). Anyhoo.... So back to the lady that stopped me. By the way her name is Dee. She stopped me and said, "Do you box?" I responded, "Well... I train boxers and I know how to box. Why do you ask?" She informed me that she saw a video of a boxing match in which I was working the corner. I asked if the boxer was male or female and she said male, So.... It was either a Jerome "Bam Bam" Brantley or Dustin "The Destroyer" Pearson's fight (Both great boxers in my opinion)!

Anyhoo... She began to tell me her story which wasn't a pretty one. I won't go into details but she has a deep story; one that really moved me. She ended up in tears and I ended up giving her a hug. Yes, i the middle of Walmart. Then she said, "Can you please teach me how to box?" Immediately, I responded "OF COURSE!!!" I know, I know... When am I going to have the time to teach her to box? I will find the time. If you know anything about martial arts (or any task that challenges you physically and mentally), then you know the empowering effects it has on those who partake. If I have the resources, I have to give them away. 

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR VERY SPECIFIC REASONS. THE PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER ARE NOT PLACED ON OUR PATHS BY MISTAKE. In these encounters we have to do what our gut informs us to be the RIGHT thing and trust that it's just that; the right thing.

Yes, I  know this post isn't really related directly to fitness, well kinda... Anyways, it is directly connected to the things I am passionate about; doing the right things, fitness, and giving my gifts away. 

~me

Lunch On Us...Helping's The Real WORK!!!

My posts are normally related to physical fitness, and this post may come full circle back to that (or maybe not), but this post is really going to be focused on giving back.

I have done a lot of things in my lifetime but my children are BY FAR my greatest creations. EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM are just genuinely good people, who care about others, and will go out of their way to help another, and it makes me so very proud. For example, my daughter Brandi has been packing 100 lunches, 100 waters, and other items, packing her car up with a stroller, wagon, and kids, driving downtown Chicago, 1 day every summer, for the last 3 years, to hand out lunch and water to individuals who just so happen to find themselves living on the streets of downtown Chicago.

Many people see these individuals every day and walk right pass avoiding a conversation or even making eye contact. Rarely, do you see anyone say good morning, ask them their name, how they are doing, or take a few minutes to hold a simple conversation. Well, I'm proud to say that me, my kids, and my grand kids do just that. We stop, we chat, we feed, we shake hands, we get names, we give hugs and yes sometimes we give money. It's the least we can do. To make those who are so very overlooked and looked down upon know there are people who still care.

On June 18th, 2016 a bunch of caring individuals  (Brandi, kids, grand kids, myself and  the rest of D.F.C.) will continue the annual Lunch On Us Day. We will be provide bagged lunches, snacks, water, and other personal items to displaced individuals all around downtown Chicago. We will meet at The Bean at 12pm, then head out to serve lunch, hold some convos, and focus on making some people smile and reminding them they DO matter! 

If you are interested in joining us, you can find us on Face Book at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1024303940970843/

We are continuing to collect donations to make this day a success. We are still in need of cases of water and toiletries (trial size items such as toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, etc..,).  We are good on toothbrushes!!! No matter what, on June 18th we will give what we have and give it freely!!!
~me

BEST CHALLENGE YET!!!

In an attempt to re-introduce more cardio into my life (as I have been focused on lifting heavy) I am trying to incorporate just moving more. For the last few days I have been doing 45mins on the stair master followed by 15 mins on the treadmill. Today, I decided to ditch sleeping in got out of bed at 4:30 to leave the house by 5:15 to head to Swallow Cliff to climb some stairs and jog on some trails. Swallow Cliff is located in Palos Park which is nearly 1.5  hours from where I live, but I have been wanting to make this trip for quite some time and decided today would be the day. I solicited my daughter Brittany, and two of my classmates/colleges Ona and Michelle to go with me. Michelle and Oana had already done 1 round on the stairs before me and Brittany got there. They appeared to be excited for more!

Okay, so I purchased a new camera that has amazing quality and came with all sorts of mounts for me to film this adventure. I had the camera strapped to my hat and thought I knew what buttons to push to get it to record but obviously I didn't! I didn't get any of the Swallow Cliff footage that I had hoped for, so I will have to go back soon and do it correctly. Figures. We do have a couple of pics and Brittany did sneak a video...

The stairs at Swallow Cliff are NO JOKE!!! My legs are strong so that was not the problem. But halfway up each round, it felt like my lungs were going to hop out of my mouth. My cardio is not what it used to be. Even those who are in good shape cardio wise would have a time with these stairs. If you ever have the opportunity to get to Palos Park you HAVE TO hit the stairs at Swallow Cliff. I would like to get D.F.C. out there! I had on one of my D.F.C. hoodies and while I was on the trail people were running behind or passing me up yelling WORK!!! One guy was like "You betta WORK!!!" I did get video of someone yelling WORK!!! at me as we were heading back to the car. It's was pretty amazing!

So we ended up doing the stairs 5 times (up and down) and then we did 5 miles on the trail. The picture does not display just how evil these stairs are. Dem stairs are da debble Bobby Boushe!! Honestly, I like them, but I really love the trails. I jogged some and I walked some. However, when I decided to start jogging, I turned around and  Michelle and Oana were gone!!! They text me saying they wanted to say goodbye but I was not in sight. I think they waited for me to get out of sight before they took off. Lol!

Brittany walked her 5 miles which is great especially on those trails. There are a lot of hills, a lot of dips, and a lot of horse ishT!!! The entire yellow trail is 8.1 miles, so the next time I go I will have to do the entire yellow trail. Here was Brittany's perspective of me for a lot of the time on the trails.

 Speaking of horses, I may elect to go ride horses next Saturday. I know Brittany would love that! We used to have horses when we lived in Arizona. Well, I had a horse and Brittany (who was young) had a horse/donkey mix that hated everyone but her. LOL! Anyhoo... Every Saturday I aim to do something a bit off the cuff, adventurous, and keeps fitness in mind. Now that I know how to work this camera (after the fact), I will be filming these excursions and you will see them soon on a project D.F.C. is working on (shhhh... I'm not supposed to be talking about it).

Before I go, yesterday I got the best 90 min massage. I will be going back for another one on Wednesday and every week after that. For me there is no other option. For whatever reason, my IT bands, Sartorius, and periformis just don't respond to my SMR but totally respond to the massage therapist. If you have never had a quality massage, YOU MUST TREAT YOURSELF!!! You will feel better in every way and it is truly good not only for the body but for the mind and spirit as well. Do your research, then make an appointment! :-)
~me

FUEL THAT FIRE!!!

As I stop and think back to the day (well not the exact day, I have a horrible memory for dates) I made the decision to change the way I treated my body, I still feel that same determination today. For me, I get so caught up in the "process" that I forget to reflect and recall why I started this fitness thing in the first place. 

Weight wasn't a problem for me until 1993, up until that time I was always between a size 7 and 9 and a weight between 125 and 135lbs. After 93, I don't know what happened. I was a stay at home mom not doing too much on the activity side which was a huge shock to my body. Growing up I was into EVERYTHING! Gymnastics, track, cheerleading, bowling, tennis, and hiking.   But after 93, all that ended and the weight just consumed me. Now, every now and again I would find it in me to drop some weight but the motivation never lasted and I would gain what I had lost and 10lbs more. Try doing that over a couple of decades and you've got all sorts of ridiculous weight to carry around. To go from 125 to 300+ lbs... I'm shaking my head as I type this. People always ask why I say 300+ pounds and not give an exact number? Well, it's because at one point my doctor told me I was 297lbs and at that point I refused to step on a scale again, but I'm 1000% positive I gained an additional 15-25lbs after that weigh in; if not more. I didn't want to know. I didn't EVER want to hear 3hundred and.....anything! Ignorance was certainly bliss on one hand and slowly killing me on the other. 

It was just 2 years ago that I really was able to get a handle on this weight thing. It started with a spiritual change which lead to a change in my perception of myself, others, and life in general. That was the point in which I was determined to rid myself of that old Kim and create a new Kim. That was my focus and what drove me then. Now, my determination and focus comes from really loving life, fitness, and desire to see just what the future Kim has in store. :-) 

I'm still dealing with weight loss pitfalls and struggles. It's not like just because you lose a significant amount of weight that you are done working. That NEVER stops! I'm constantly setting goals and working to accomplish them. This is a lifelong change that will require your attention until you decide you no longer care and you stop or you die. I only have control over one of those options and quitting is not a trait embedded in my DNA. 

Though it is not easy, you have to keep going! Find whatever it is within you that got you started and will keep you going! Don't let your life be cluttered with things or people that stall your goals and keep you from being a better and healthier you! And when you need that motivation or extra push, CREATE IT FOR YOURSELF!!! All extra pushes from outside sources is gravy....You've got this! 

~me

LOVE, RESPECT, AND TRUST

D.F.C. had an amazing dose of WORK!!! this morning! I'm so proud of the guys as their gains both in strength and esthetically just continue to present themselves every session I train with them. I'm sure I'm making gains as well and although I write my numbers down I rarely compare them. So, what I will lift is determined by the coach (3reFit). Today was chest day and the movements he had us doing REALLY put it on us. You may think what I am about to say is a joke but it truly is not; TYPING THIS ENTRY HAS PROVEN TO BE DIFFICULT AS I KEEP CATCHING A MINOR CRAMP IN MY RIGHT TRICEP. NO JOKE!!! Although today was chest day, more than just the chest muscles are engaged or assist in the movement. Well this tricep is letting me know she showed up and put in some WORK!!! LOL! I've said it once and I'll say it again... I LOVE MY TEAMATES!!! We slayed that ishT today!!!

  Anyone who knows me, knows that I can be super impulsive, I love and will accept any challenge, and I tend to have the desire to do EVERYTHING that comes to mind. Sometimes it works out for me and sometimes I have to be reminded to JUST CHILL! That's a good thing. Not only does it take some pressure off but it helps me to reflect and put things into perspective. Well actually, my teammates break it down for me and then I take the hour long ride home in silence thinking about what they have said and it does me good. I think I've said it in previous posts that sometimes we have to get out of our own way. Well, I obviously still leaning how to do that. It's all good though as I NEVER claimed to be perfect, so I may have to be reminded again at some point which really frustrates some. But as long as they don't ever completely give up  on me I'm good! I'll say it again!!! I LOVE MY TEAMMATES!!!

 Okay, let us talk about this word KETOSIS. Lord, KETOSIS is a double edge sword. I think I was in ketosis nearly 1 month and the first two weeks were hell. The 3rd week was great and this week I had more carbs than I had been eating and I feel sick as hell!!! Like nauseous sick. So, today I am no longer in KETOSIS (well that's what my pee says. Ketone levels are measured via urine. I know TMI, but  it's part of this fitness thing)! That being said, Tomorrow I will again restrict carbs to 20 per day with the exception of hard training days (Legs, Back, Chest) and increase my fat intake. I'm done consuming food for the day today. I am focusing on rehydrating and I had the BEST protein shake with added glutamine, creatine, and L-Carnitine. I had to pop a potassium pill for this irritating tricep spasm! LOL! I LOVE THIS ishT!!! It's crazy how something that you avoided for decades becomes something that you can't get enough of. I spent so much time making excuses and avoided working out for DECADES and now I can't imagine my life without it and all that comes with it; the GOOD and what appears to be NOT SO GOOD. And the best thing about it, I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALONE!!! There are so many amazing individuals out there trying to do right by there bodies and I have so much respect and hope for them. Some are experiencing what I have experienced in the past, some are going through exactly what I am going through, and some are where I am likely headed but have never been. It is truly NOT an EASY process. Anyone putting in that EFFORT deserves and should COMMAND RESPECT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS! And what a PROCESS it is! I am learning to TRUST IT! Honestly, I feel that today is my turning point from learning to TRUST IT to TRUSTING IT. Seriously. Today's team chat really did me GREAT!!! Boy I tell ya, GOD truly is IN CHARGE and KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING! He puts people in our lives for very specific reasons and not only for the fitness thing but for the LIFE thing as well. The things that I learn and am beginning to understand can and are applied to other areas of my life and it's a beautiful thing. We are all beautiful WORKS IN PROGRESS and FOREVER EVOLVING TO BETTER STATES OF BEING. That's why this and the people traveling through this with me means so very much. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world and I will say this one mo'gin (interpretation-one more time!) I LOVE MY TEAMMATES!!!

~me