Summer of Swim....

Last year, I set a goal of wearing a 2-piece swimsuit on my family vacation to Hawaii.  I worked hard in the gym to look as fly as I could, but without stressing myself out. I had a ball in Hawaii, I mean who couldn't? I felt super confident in my own skin rocking a few 2-pieces.  Check out my summer suits of 2015.

Ava & Viv top, Lane Bryant bottom

Forever21 Plus Tribal Print suit

Swimsuits for all, GabiFresh Collection

Swimsuits for all cover-up, Lane Bryant top and bottom

Benefits of fitness...to me!

If you've read my blog from the beginning, you know fitness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle has been the theme throughout. Weight loss is a casualty, if you will of fitness and exercise.

This past year, I've had many 'aha' moments as I've continued my journey.  Simple things I enjoy are so much easier with less weight. While I don't live by the number on the scale, I do weigh myself weekly. With that being said, I don't let the number on the scale be the only measurement of progress. Here are but a few recent 'simple things' that have made me want to continue to lose inches.


° attending Warriors games this season. I've always felt like a stuffed sausage sitting in those seats! Lord help me if I have my jacket and a bag. Feeling comfortable is highly unlikely.

° wearing clothes these days is fun! The constant tugging and pulling of my pants is so annoying! I should invest in suspenders to hold my pants up!



° my skirts now play ring around the rosey! Manufacturers put tags on clothing for a purpose to identify the front/back of the article of clothing. When my skirt swivels around, it's not comfy, at all.

° recent travel has been nice, too. I mean, I have a little room in the seat and the arm rest stays in its downright position. Again, I'm usually a stuffed sausage in the seat and I'm constantly pushing the armrest down. Pretty embarrassing when I'm not traveling with family.


° airline bathroom use has also become less stressful.  You see, for a germaphobe  like me, touching public restroom anything is just gross to me. I mean, I use toilet paper to lift the bathroom seat. An airline restroom is not a large space. Struggling to get all of my width into an airline restroom without touching the walls is difficult. What a discovery when I no longer had to shimmy myself in there!

All of these discoveries display my progress in a way so absent from the scale. What a motivator to keep going. To keep waking up at the crack 'o dawn to get my ass beat (with love) by The Inner Athlete trainers. To keep finding moments where I can see my progress without getting on the scale.

Make time for yourself!

I've been working out at The Inner Athlete off and on for over a year. The Inner Athlete is a private fitness studio and the cost is a bit more than what I'm used to paying as a member of 24 Hour Fitness. I can assure you that the level of service and fitness experience at The Inner Athlete is not at all like 24 Hour. And that's a great thing! In my previous position, I couldn't always make the classes or I was too tired to workout.

Last summer, I left that job and was unemployed. Funny thing...now I'm off work and couldn't always afford to attend classes at The Inner Athlete. In fact, I cancelled my 24 Hour membership.

With time on my hands, I told myself I have NO excuse to not workout. With my hiking group, Black Girls Run chicks, and #keepupwithalondra challenges, I had an arsenal of fitness activities to busy myself. I had time for those 7am weekday walks at Lake Chabot or to meet a hiking buddy for a Tuesday morning hike. I also committed to utilizing the gym in my complex. Alondra's challenges in many instances required use of the gym...(insert groan, here). The gym and all of the equipment scares me. I'd rather walk, hike, or use my light weights and bands at home and call it a day!  Ultimately, I made the time to get my activity in for the day.  After all, I did have a goal of rocking a 2-piece swimsuit in Hawaii, which was fast approaching. 

One year ago....

After being employed in an extremely stressful position for almost two years, my manager and I agreed the posisiton wasn't a fit for me and we decided to part ways.  The firm where I worked was very generous with their separation package, if you will. I utilized my employers resources to speak with a career coach to update my resume, I was able to speak with our internal recruiters about current openings, as well as brush up on my interviewing skills.  I did not have a bad experience at my job, the position simply wasn't for me.  In fact, the stress had begun to take it's toll on me and medical issues were becoming more evident.  I've never been one to put things in the 'stress bucket', but I had to own up to the reasons why I wasn't sleeping well on a nightly basis, why the lump in my thyroid was growing and starting to hurt, why I was eating ALL of the wrong foods, and of course, gaining more weight. I honestly didn't know how my job impacted my health until I no longer had to go into the office.

The day I said I would leave, I got the best night of sleep than I had in almost two years!  It was amazing!! 

While I had the resources to assist with my new job opportunity, I found  myself relaxing more and 'catching up' with my life rather than focusing on my next job. It was during my time off that I really began to really think of the things that mattered most along with doing things work prevented me from doing.

During my time off,  I was able to spend time with my niece and nephew on a random Wednesday.  The best time, after surprising them at their taekwondo class, my niece invited me over for dinner.  I hadn't planned on joining my brother and his family for dinner.  I suggested my niece ask her mom if it were okay for me to join.  My niece and nephew were so very excited!  Of course, they asked if I would take them to Lunardi's around the corner from their class for a donut. It would be their desert.  Those kids!  I couldn't say 'no' to them.  There were many random days spent with my niece and nephew.  Attending my niece's drama program, and going to Santa Cruz were all such great moments. I caught up with my 'mom' friends and their children.  I spent time working out. Randomly going to my moms house to lounge on her bed.  Sigh...  I was enjoying life!

I had six glorious months off.  I wouldn't change much.  There were struggles, for sure, but the good outweighs the fear of uncertainity, for sure! 

In January, I got a random call from a manager at my old company.  He asked if I would help out until he found a full-time staff member.  Long story short, I became the full-time staff person.  I'm back at the company I had left, only in a different capacity and department and it's great! I'm still holding onto my stress-free life with no regret!  I'm glad to be back to work and for the organization.

What a difference a year makes.  It can bring a whole new perspective on life and how life is lived! 

 

Plus-girl in a bikini top!

I'm not sure how my head knew to think it was not okay for me to wear a two-piece swimsuit. As in a bikini top and bottom and NOT a one-piece.  

I've always been pretty confident in my own skin and of my plus-size self...until I hit the beach or pool.  I've always worn a one-piece suit or a tankini, once I discovered them.  My belly had to be covered at all times.

Last year, I recall browsing my fashion bloggers and coming across articles on plus-size swimwear and seeing pictures of two-piece suits. Bra tops with high-waist bottoms.  Bra tops with fringe and low bottoms.  My thoughts were, 'how hot are these suits!'  And, 'I can't wait to wear one!'.

As I continue to think out loud. I wonder, if maybe the fashion industry told me it was not okay for me, a plus-size woman to wear a two-piece swimsuit? I hadn't really seen them in my mainstream fashion mags, nor in the blogs I had followed.  Until last year!! 

I told myself that in 2015, I would rock a two-piece suit while in Hawaii next summer. I even started following a few other bloggers who were all about flaunting their curves and 'stealing' a few pics from their websites for inspiration. A few pictures even made it on my 2015 vision board.

GabiFresh introduced me to swimsuitsforall along with her sexy swim line.  I KNEW I had to have one! I found one and can't wait to rock it in Waikiki!  Check it out, here!

 http://www.swimsuitsforall.com/Gabifresh-DDD-Cup-Sea-Reef-Plus-Size-Underwire-Bikini

Target introduced me to Ava & Viv. There were some cute swim wear, but it wasn't until I saw my blogger friend in my head, GarnerStyle rocking the cheveron print bikini top with palazzo pants that inspired me more! I already owned the pants and never would have thought to wear them to the beach as a cover-up, but the top?! Gah!! I died and knew I had to try it on!  I bought it and planned to debut it Memorial Day weekend in Cabo!

http://garnerstyle.blogspot.com/2015/04/just-beachy.html

And so, I did! Wore a bikini top pool and beachside.

At first, I was hesitant and uncomfortable because I only saw the 'traditional sized' woman in a bikini. But after a few seconds, off came the cover-up and BOOM! All my glory was out for all to see. I gave no damns and strutted around proudly in a bikini top!

I expect the same attitude when I debut my Gabifresh suit in a few months, as well.   Giving NO Damns, that is!!

Happy Mother's Day, mom!

How does a child thank the woman who gave you life? I mean, my mom labored for 36 hours to bring me into this world! She doesn't let me forget this fact, either!  I'm not sure how one can love another who caused me so much grief and pain. It's something I wonder about at times.  Growing up, mom taught all of her children to be good people, live our lives well, and to be honest. 

Today, I think it dawned on me how to say thank you to my mom for being my mom, but also for teaching me how to be the woman I am.  Here are a few thoughts that came to mind:

Be a kind person. Sounds easy, right? Even when you don't like another person still be kind. You never know what the person is going through. Your positive behavior and/or response just might turn things around.

Give back to others. Mom says when you have, you give. There is always someone out there less fortunate than you. This isn't always a monetary act of giving.

Always do your best.  No matter what.

These are but a few items that popped into my mind as I pondered a way to wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day.

More than anything, I simply wanted to acknowledge my mom and thank her for being a loving, kind, HELLA funny and generous woman. She's always had her mom game up, but for me, during the last 6-8 months her game has been on full-tilt! Always encouraging.  Always reminding me to believe in God and His works. Always reminding me to enjoy the time off I had.

Mom, thank you! Thank you for all that you've done and for the things you have yet to do. Have an amazing Mother's Day today and everyday! I love you more than these words could ever express.

Pooh
(yup, this is what mom calls me)

Fit Friends

Since I left my job, I've really taken the time to get back on my fitness game.  I mean, I had NO EXCUSES!  I was off work.  Had all the time in the universe to pretty much do what I want to do, besides look for a job. 

Over the summer, I became involved with a few hiking groups and attended several Black Girls Run events.  I usually get out on my own, but I have really enjoyed the fellowship and getting to know my fit friends.  A few of us have even hang out outside of our fitness groups.  What a time to get out and enjoy some fun times!

An on time God....

Six months of unemployment status is quickly approaching and needless to say, I'm growing more concerned.  My job leads have all but dried up with no new leads on the horizon.  To top if off, I had been hearing from folks at my job club meetings that unemployment benefits expire after six months with no extensions.  Surely that couldn't be correct, I thought.  I've worked since I was a teenager and collected a total of $450 in unemployment money, EVER!  And besides, my claim expired 8/4/15.  That is what my continuing unemployment form stated.

I met up with my friend, Chris from church for a 'wisdom walk' around the church hood.  We would have the best conversations about Imani, work, what we want to do when we grow up, relationships, etc.  They truly were the best!  This day, a Thursday, I was really feeling the pressure of not having a job.  I said to Chris, 'If only I could find something as a transitional job that meets my salary expectations, I would be alright.  I simply want to work at this point and I'd be willing to take the significant pay cut if it would get me back to employed status.'  Chris reminded me to stay faihful and God will hear you.        

After hearing the comments about expiring unemployment, again at Job Club, I finally gave the office a call to confirm for myself.  Boy, was I glad I made the call and I was sent into immediate freak-out mode!  Truth would have it, my unemployment would be expiring mid-February.  Today is January 30th!!  I had a contigency plan in place, but I hadn't expectecd to use it so soon.

OnJanuary 31st, I'm getting ready to head into San Francisco to celebrate my friend's birthday finale.  My little brother calls me to ask if I'm still looking for work.  Before I could fully respond, he hands me over to his boss.  The manager of the operations at the company I left six months prior asked if I could help his team while they looked for someone to fill an open position.  It was a temporary position and the compensation was just what I needed. I accepted and began working, February 3rd!

I was elated.  I was thankful.  I was blessed. I honestly cried tears of joy and thanked God.  God heard the prayers I said aloud and the prayers of my heart.  He knew what I needed and He knew He wouldn't fail me.

God is so good!  And all the time, God is good!!   

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Day of Service

Today, many people honored the legacy and memory of  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in a Day of Service throughout their communities.  This year, I was able to participate in the activity with my Black Girls Run SF Bay Area ladies by supporting the Alameda County Food Bank (ACFB). 

We were shown a powerpoint presentation to gain an understanding of the food services ACFB provides to the community along with other services they offer.  We were given safety instructions and than we were sectioned off by groups and assigned our sorting tasks.  My group sorted and bagged pears.  There was a mix of BGR ladies and others in my sorting area, but we all quickly began to chat to learn what brought us to ACFB , where we worked, etc as the time quickly passed.   Each conversation flowed with ease.  Later in the morning, we were given an opportunity to tour the facility.  It was a warehouse filled with pallets of dry goods, shelves of food in a make-shift 'grocery store', a huge freezer and refrigerator, and trucks for staff to load food to make deliveries to the community agencies that are served.  I must say, it looked like Costco. I'm not sure what happened, but I found myself tearing up as I thought about my current situation of unemployment.  I thought about how blessed I am that while my situation is temporary, I am not in need that requires food assistance from ACFB.  I felt thankful.  I felt proud.  I felt humbled.  All the while thinking that if I were in need of food assistance, I could go to ACFB for help, with no questions asked.  On some level, I think I was reminded that things could be much worse for me, but they're not.

I'm so glad that I participated in this day of service.  I'm filled with such gratitude that I have great people in my life.  I'm glad that for 2.5 hours today, I was able to make a difference in my community and that a family will enjoy pears that I had a hand in packing.

Today was a good day!

For more information and to volunteer at The Alameda County Food Bank, visit:  http://www.accfb.org/