Combating Cancer with Exercise

10 Mar

I received an email a few days ago from someone that came across my blog I was surprised to find out that she wanted me to share an article about the benefits of exercise while going through cancer. I haven’t had to deal with cancer on a physical matter but I’ve lost very close loved ones to it so I am pleased to be able to share this info with anyone that might need this in their life right now. Without further ado here’s the article I hope you guys like it and I hope it helps someone!

“As cancer sufferers begin to come to terms with their diagnosis, they will likely find that exercise can be quite helpful. Most medical professionals recognize the benefits of cardiovascular and many other workouts. Men and women who have been feeling a bit down about their condition should try some aerobic or strength-training activities. In addition to lifting their spirits, exercise will also allow them to take part in events with their closest friends and family members. Groups might even choose to set aside a certain day each week to go on a slow jog through town.

Individuals who have not previously engaged in any sort of exercise regimen can do a number of things to prepare. They should certainly try to follow a healthy diet. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will all provide the body with the vitamins and minerals it needs each day. When the body receives the correct nutrients, it will perform much better. As men and women begin to develop a cardio workout schedule, they can tweak their diets accordingly. If they are going to be doing some strength training on certain days of the week, then larger amounts of protein will be needed. Grilled meats are usually always better than their fried counterparts.

Once a diet has been settled upon, exercise enthusiasts can choose from an unending array of activities. Though running and jogging are usually very popular choices, some men and women might instead want to swim laps at the local aquatic center. Older individuals will find swimming easier on the joints. If they are suffering from both mesothelioma and arthritis, for example, then they will be looking for activities that place less stress and strain on the bones themselves. Water walking is a close cousin of swimming and can be just as effective when it comes to getting the heart rate up. Most local pools have certain hours that are set aside for adult swimming activities.

In the end, exercise can also bring cancer patients together with others who are going through similar struggles. By banding together to run a few miles or swim a few laps, most people will experience a spiritual awakening that will allow them to fall in love with life all over again. Energy levels will surely skyrocket as well as the quality of life. In addition, a general appreciation for family and friends will come to the forefront. As long as your speak with your doctor and the exercise regimens themselves are adhered to, the benefits will be compelling.”

This article was given to me by a reader named Melanie

Enjoy the process

6 Mar

Sometimes while im on a fitness journey we can get so caught up in how we should look th hat we forget why we even started it.  You can start to hate working out, get frustrated because you haven’t reached your goal,  or just flat out quit! Well I’m here to tell you don’t because you’re doing great!  It’s okay to still enjoy life at times we feel that if we have that glass of wine or a slice of cake we will set ourselves back but as long as you don’t eat the whole cake or drink the whole bottle you’ll be fine. Enjoy the new you meaning the healthier wiser you, you know now when enough is enough and how to not over indulge. Enjoy this lifelong process because this is not just about reaching a goal weight or certain dress size it’s a experience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life!  Like I always say treat yourself don’t defeat yourself!

Stepping away from the scale

16 Feb

I’ve spoken before on not worrying so much about the number on the scale but lately I haven’t been taking my own advice. I’ve been trying my hardest to reach my goal by a certain date that I’ve gotten bored with my workouts and just overall tired of it all. Trust and believe I’m not giving up but I’m seriously going to have to leave my scale alone at least for a good month. I want to restart and focus on why I started my journey in the first place. I wanted to lose weight of course but I also wanted to feel better, be healthier and get fit. I’ve accomplished those things on this journey and a lot more. No I’m not at my goal weight and I’m not toned like I want to be, but I know I will get there in do time. So my goal until the end of march I to leave the scale under my bed and concentrate on being healthy and strong! Wish me luck!

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Check your heart, burn the calories!

14 Feb

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Since I’ve been working out one of the things that I feel I must use everyday is my heart rate monitor. I started using one because I wanted to be sure I wasn’t over estimating my calorie burn with mfp app and sure enough it was. Since using this I’ve also learned how to push myself harder as to before because I felt my heart rate was high but it wasn’t and now I can make sure I’m getting the most of my workout and not kill myself lol. The question I get asked most is where did I get it! Well mine was purchased from amazon but best buy sells them and I’m pretty sure dicks sporting goods does too, and they sell for about 50-100+! There are many brands and varieties on the market so choose what works for you best!

Eww That’s what it is?

9 Feb

This whole post is copied from Global Knowledge facebook page a friend of mine posted this so I wanted to share it so here it is again this is not my original post it belongs to Global Knowledge Facebook page!

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Can you guess what McDonald’s food item this is????? Say hello to mechanically separated chicken. It’s what all fast-food chicken items are made of. It’s chicken nuggets, patties, and the meat in fajitas… In addition the processed frozen chicken in stores is made from this.. Basically the entire chicken is smashed and pressed through a sieve… bones, eyes, feet, guts and all. It comes out looking like this… There is more, because it’s crawling with bacteria, it will be washed with ammonia, and soaked in it.. Then because it taste gross it is re-flavored artificially. Finally since it is weirdly colored like ‘Pepto Bismol’ pink, it is dyed with artificial color.. This is what people eat and feed to their children… Enjoy !!!

 

Get Support

8 Feb

Whether it’s someone at home or even a follower(s) on a social network I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a support system in some kind of way. Trying to lose weight is already stressful and hard as it is but when you go at it alone it can be even harder. When you have someone who is on your side for support you are more likely to succeed because you can tell them your goals and you know someone else is rooting for you to make it as well.

Yes some people can be very judgemental so it’s important to choose your support system wisely if you know the person(s) is always negative or isn’t so much on a healthy path their self I would stay away from them as far as for support they will not only make you stumble but could possibly make you quit all together.

For myself I use my social networks I have of course my own page and I follow other fit blogs and such it helps me to see I’m not the only one that struggles sometimes and also gives me ideas on becoming more fit. The only thing to be aware when following other people on social sites is to not compare your progress with theirs because you are not them and yes I’ve been a victim of this and even recently so I had to say to myself “Krystle your journey is not over and will not the be the same as anyone else’s so stop comparing and start noticing your hard work” Looking at all the fit women can be overwhelming at times so take a break if you have too but remember you’ll get there too in your own time!Another support system of mine is my husband he is my right hand man he let’s me know how well im doing and comforts me when i don’t feel like im doing enough.

So ask yourself who can you depend on? and who will support you on this lifelong journey?

Black Girls Workout Too!

7 Feb
Black girls workout too DVD!

Black girls workout too DVD!

Yes Black girls do workout too! If you have not heard about this mother/daughter fitness duo then you are so late! but seriously you should check it out especially if you’re a black woman but not limited to. I purchased this DVD and received it on Monday feb 4th and was very excited to receive it but before I go into my thoughts on it I want to just let you all know a little bit about the instructors.

The mom is Ellen Ector she is a mother of five yes I said 5 and is 60 yrs young, why did I say young well if you google this lady she looks freaking amazing for her age I pray that I’ll look like this when I reach that age, and she has her own fitness studio in Atlanta GA. called gymnetics fitness she has trained celebrities like Kandi Burruss, Nicole Ari Parker, and Niecy Nash just to name a few. The Daughter Lana Ector is totally hot and you can tell she puts in hard time in the gym and I ain’t mad at her! she calls herself the “fitness Vixen” which I think fits her perfectly, she is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist and I believe she is about 26, 27 ish but you can find out more on her and her mom and their products and stuff at their website.

Now for my honest opinion on the DVD remember I purchased this myself so you don’t have to worry if someone paid me for this LBVS! The workout is about 40 minutes long so it doesn’t take up too much of your time which I love, it consist of things like squats and lunges to help you get a lift in the glutes, has a nice arm workout which you will only need 5lb dumbbells, a hardcore ab workout and a mini kickboxing routine.

I enjoyed doing all the workouts except the kickboxing IDK if it’s because I’m just so used to Chalene’s style or what but it didn’t do anything for me. Now for the rest of the DVD I did enjoy doing the actual exercises but I hated the editing it was like some things were cut out, moved around and such, I know this is their first dvd so I’ll give them a break on the editing. Other than that I really think women of any race should give it a try even if it’s just to add a little more to your current routine it will get your heart pumping and you will feel the hard work the day after especially if you don’t already workout or it’s been awhile since you’ve worked out. Inside the dvd also comes with a diet plan which I did try but no it’s not for me lol and a recipe to a fat burning cabbage soup which tastes pretty good IMO. The program only cost me like 30.00 total that’s with shipping included you can purchase the dvd at the above link or here.

 

Getting Extreme with Chalene!

6 Feb
Chalean Extreme!

Chalean Extreme!

I’ve been doing the Chalean Extreme Turbo Fire Hybrid for 5 weeks now and when I started I was weighing in at 169lbs when I weighed myself at the end of my 4th week I was down to 163lbs. I wish it was more of course but I can’t complain any lbs off is great in my opinion. What can I say about this program? Well if you know me or have been following me for a while then you know I absolutely love Chalene Johnson and her workouts, and this program is no exception she is very motivating in the workouts but still pushes you to go your hardest, before this program I’ll admit I was very weak I mean even working out with 5lb weights was hard for me at times but now I’m lifting up to 17.5lbs on my good days! Lol.

My arms are still a work in progress you can see my biceps when I flex now but the back of my arms are still flabby (OMG!) I’ve always hated my arms though even when I was small in my teen days the back of my arms were always out of shape so I knew when I started this that they would be a little harder to tone up.

Even though you are mainly lifting weights you will still burn calories and break a sweat and have to have your water and towel nearby. The workouts are about 30-35 minutes long so they don’t take up much time at all but I’m doing the hybrid with turbo fire so my workouts are about one hour still not that bad in my opinion. Since this is my first time really lifting weights I’m learning so much about lifting like I had no freaking Idea that lifting would make me so hungry, I mean some days I feel like no matter what I just can’t get full. I knew that muscle help your metabolism but geesh I wasn’t prepared for hunger strikes!

I still have 7 weeks to go till the end of the program and I’m not sure if I’ll look exactly how I want but I can tell I will be more toned and defined by the end but who knows 7 weeks can bring lots of surprises I promise to update my progress at the end of month 2 wish me luck!

Where Has She Been?!

6 Feb
Getting fit by spring!

Getting more fit by spring!

Im going to start off by saying SORRY I have neglected my blog and for many reasons are they good ones? Well no, but I felt I wasn’t getting any feedback on my post, I’ve been busy at work, I am a wife and a mom with 3 children as well. I haven’t stopped working out or eating clean though if you follow me on Instagram or on the Facebook page then you’ll know that!

I’m still doing the Chalean Extreme workout and I’ll let you all know how that is going in another post lol. I must admit that when I first started this blog I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I had no Idea how hard and how much time you really have to put into your work to be successful at it so that’s why I took my month-long hiatus.

I really missed writing even if I don’t have thousands of readers this is what helps me keep calm and be able to share my two cents without being judged too bad, this is my blog and if you don’t like what I say then you know the rest. I hope everyone that is on a fitness journey is doing well and reaching their goals, fitness is a lifelong journey I know at least it is for me. So if you all can stick in there with me I would be very grateful because this whole blogging thing is still new to me but I do appreciate all of my IG followers, fb followers, twitter followers, tumblr, and my blog subbies! Thanks for the love.

Happy New Year!/NEW WORKOUT!

4 Jan
The New Workout Plan

The New Workout Plan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hey everyone sorry it ‘s taken me a few days to post for the new year but I started it off with a cold I’m still stuffed up and congested as I’m typing. Anyways I hope everyone’s year is off to a great fit start, with plenty of fitness goals that you will all accomplish this year. I know most people always pick weight loss as their new years resolution but end up quitting by January 10th this year I want you to promise yourself if you are one of those people ,that you will not give up no matter what. Starting next monday january 7th I will be starting a new/old program what’s new about it? well I just ordered Chalean Extreme which is a dvd workout that basically says muscle burns fat! It’s by my all time favorite instructor yessss Chalene Johnson and I’m so excited to start it. What’s old about it? well my fit people I’ll be doing a “Hybrid” workout while doing the Extreme dvd’s I’m going to also incorporate my Turbo Fire workouts with it to burn more calories and to help me lean out.

While on this hybrid program I’m going to try my best to eat clean at least 95% of the time my goal for eating will be to eliminate all alcoholic beverages, no sweet snacks like cookies, cakes, etc. and to only eat lean meats, fruits and veggies. I will try to prepare my meals ahead of time including snacks and lunches that I take to work and I will also be taking my herbalife products (shakes, vitamins, etc.) I can’t explain how motivated I am to do this for myself I’m just so ready for the changes that I know I will see and feel once I stay dedicated to fitness and nutrition plan.

If you are starting a new workout routine or nutrition plan please share it with me I would love to hear what you are doing to get our life journey started or back on track with!

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