Welcome!!! I have decided to take a journey deep into my inner self to discover a deeper sense of peace and maybe even to get some of life's most puzzling questions answered. Feel free to join me on this journey and leave your thoughts...

Friday, January 21, 2011

Myra’s Weight Loss Challenge


How it works: Complete 2-3 goals from each of the 3 categories daily. At the end of each day, add up your points. 30pts/day is good the first week, the next week, 50 or 60 pts/day and so on. Then keep track of your weekly/monthly progress.


The reward: Trip to the mall to try on smaller clothes, lower cholesterol/high blood pressure/insulin level which will help you promote a longer, happier life; you come up with your own rewards!



Category 1: Fitness Goals

Today I will…

1. Do 1 hour continuous cardio exercise (walking, hiking, biking) or (2, 30-min. sessions; 3, 20-min sessions; 4, 15min sessions) <10pts>

2. Limit physical convenience (take stairs, park farther away from door) <2pts each>

3. Do 1 hour of continuous stretching or attend yoga class; or (2, 30-min. sessions; 3, 20-min sessions; 4, 15min sessions) <5pts>

4. Do 30 min or more of strength training (weight bearing exercise such as push ups, sit-ups, weights) <10pts>





Category 2: Diet/Nutrition Goals

Today I will…

Drink half my weight in ounces of water; 200lbs=100oz/day; (max of 1 gal or 128oz) <10pts>

Count carbs and monitor glycemic index; balance carb with fiber at each snack and meal <10pts>

Increase fiber intake; Eat 5 or more servings of vegetables/day or 2-3 serv./meal. (Corn is grain/carb, not veggies) <10pts>

Eat no more than 4-6oz of meat/day or eat no meat and another source of protein such as legumes (beans), peanut butter, etc. <10pts>

Eat 5 small meals/day. <10pts>

Eat healthy early morning breakfast. <5pts>

Take a multi-vitamin <2pts>

Drink a fiber supplement <2pts each>

Take Omega3(fish oil) or Omega 3-6-9 (fish oil, flax seed oil, borage oil) <2pts>

Take probiotic supplement or eat 2 servings probiotics (yogurt, buttermilk, kefir) <5pts>

Just say no to alcoholic beverages or have ½ serving <2pts>




Category 3: Stress Management Goals (Cortisol reduction)

Today I will…

Have a professional full body massage; 1hr <10pts>

Go to church service <10pts/day>

Sleep 8 or more hours <10pts>

Monitor my circadian rhythm (awake with daylight, sleep at nightfall) <10pts>

Rest if I feel run-down or ill. <10pts>

Attend a support group <10pts>

Practice safe sex (Adults only!) <10pts/day>

Get organized <5pts>

Get a full body massage from a friend <5pts>

Have a relaxing professional spa treatment (facial, spa pedicure or maniciure) <5pts>

Do 15-min relaxation exercise (meditation, massage chair, handheld massager, bath/soak, etc.) <2pts each>

Journal <2pts>

Fun activity (1 -2hrs of karaoke, dining-out, movie, etc.) <5pts>

Positive Affirmations for Meditation

1. This is a feel-good mantra which was taken from a book by Iyanla Vanzant.

"God is where I am, whole, complete, and perfect."
"God is whole, complete, and perfect."
"I am whole, complete, and perfect."

(repeat for 5 -10 minutes daily)




2. "God is good. I deserve everything that is good."

(repeat for 5 -10 minutes daily)

For me, the mantra above is about free will and choices. I made this one up to help me bring into focus things that are good for me like salad and exercise. After meditating with this, better choices become second nature.

For me, the means don't justify the ends and the ends don't justify the means... For example, starving myself (means) is not good for me, even though losing weight (ends) is...therefore I make the "good" choice or best choice, which is not "bad" for me in anyway...and the best part is that I will do it all subconsciously.

My Point of View - Drugs and Alcohol

My Point of View - Drugs and Alcohol


Don't get me wrong, I will associate with someone who uses drugs and we can even b friends (as long as it doesn't effect me), but I can't date sum1 who uses drugs or abuses alcohol never ever! That relationship would NEVER work because of the person I am...trust me, I know this from experience.


My motto: When you see someone is sick and about to vomit, you step to the side so they don't vomit on you! ...and in all fairness, drug addiction is an illness. You know, let me get out of the way...clear of your path of destruction! The only prob is when that person is sick/high on a mind altering substance, and you love them. You might stay to help and end up getting sprayed with that vomit...n the sad part is that they can't see, remember, or appreciate what you've done for them...and then come the lies! OMG


I am the type of person who never has and never will smoke anything (I hv asthma but I keep it under control)...and I rarely drink, on tha real...I can go the rest of my life and never hv any alcohol. Now do I like the occasional margarita when I'm out at a restaurant w/friends? sometimes...just depending. I'm the type of person who likes to hv my mind free and clear.


Honestly speaking, I feel that ppl who abuse alcohol and pills prescribed for them have a problem and should seek treatment...and as far as illegal drugs, EVEN marijuana, that's not acceptable to me EVER. You may disagree, but I feel that ppl who mess with illegal drugs (anything from selling, to using, or just holding it, any of that) don't care about their life. 1. Most times possesion of illegal drugs is a felony...the last thing I want is for sum1 to check my background and see that I hv a possession charge, not even a misd charge...totally not worth it to me. 2. And if its not approved and regulated by the FDA, I'm not putting it in my body...hell, some of the stuff they hv approved I don't want to put in my body...real talk.


Fortunately for me, I don't hv the need to use drugs...now if I had been kidnapped, raped, tortured, and beaten, and maybe if I was suffering from PTSD...but then again, psychiatrists can prescribe drugs and offer treatment that will help and not get a person caught up in an endless cycle of addiction... MyPointOfView



It's funny how we see all these Hollywood stars in the media partying w/drugs and stuff like that. They think it's cute, but they know it will not effect their livelihood...most times they pay the fine, do their time in jail, then get out and legally make a million dollars with an album or doing a movie. REGULAR ppl throw their lives away when they get those kinds of charges then the only work they can find is illegal work so they're doomed to struggle!



Did you notice that the last 3 United States presidents have dealt with addiction? Bill Clinton- sex addiction (in recovery), George W. Bush- alcoholism (in recovery), and our current president, Barack Obama- nicotine/tobacco (in recovery). Both Clinton and Obama admitted to breaking the law by using illegal drugs, and it has been reported by former associates of GWB that he did as well. That says a lot about our culture! To take it even further, Pres. Obama's father suffered from alcoholism and the Bush daughters may as well (although D.U.I. doesn't necessarily mean alcoholism).



I confess that I'm addicted to carbohydrates! So I can relate to Bill Clinton who admitted being addicted to greasy food...after he had a heart attack...but that could hv been caused by the stress of being a U.S. president.