WARNING!!! RANT ALERT... Crew of the Commando

Every so often I will rant. Ranting is the act of sharing strong/heartfelt thoughts about an issue that is bothering you or making you feel uncomfortable. This is not meant to defame or offend. These are just my thoughts. Please be aware: mild/suggestive language is included. !~)

Oh My Gosh!! Where do I begin? I was at the gym and am always observing others workout regimens, intensity, etc. My friends often describe me as "not missing a thing". I think alot of it is because I'm always watching. I guess that's why I went into the helping fields. Anyhoo, I'm at the gym this day and notice a woman working out. She is really going to get it (I get excited about seeing people go hard. It gets me pumped up and makes me work harder). She is toned and in great shape. She has on a nice little sports bra and little biker shorts. She looks to be in her late 30's/ early 40's. I'm thinking "You betta do it Boo".

I'm working out and she's working out. I notice that we both are working arms today. We're generally in the same area and finally cross paths. She sits down at the pulldown machine in front of me and as I get ready to do my cable pulldowns, I get the freaking shock of my life. This chick has a hole in her crotch and right as I'm laughing and turning my head, I get the shock of my life. SHE IS TOTALLY COMMANDO!!! I start to scream "Why, Why???" in my Nancy Kerrigan voice (bad joke I know, but it fits with the mood).

Let the rant begin...

Why do women go commando in the gym? What is comfortable about that? As soon as I got home, I immediately went to the Internet and did some searches on this issue. I came across some blogs and really was amazed at how many women were admitting that they went COMMANDO in the gym. Many of them said they do this for one of two reasons.

Reason 1: "I don't like the way my panties feel when they are sweaty". So instead of putting the sweat on your panties, your solution is to put the sweat on your pants or shorts you have on instead? The same pants or shorts that have been on the machine I'm about to sit down on and use? NO, ladies, NO...this is not the answer. Crotch sweat on the seat is not cute Ladies.

Solution: If you don't like the sweat from your undies, then bring a clean pair to change into for the ride home. No harm in that.

Reason 2: "I don't like for my panties to ride up when I'm working out and I don't want to pull wedgies in the gym". Are you serious? You'll pull your wedgie out any other time. Stop trying to look cute in the gym and focus on your workout. Pull the freakin' wedgie...nobody cares.

Solution: Wear a thong, wear boy shorts, wear grannies, wear boxers... the point is wear something.

It's obvious that you are going to sweat. Sweat is inevitable in the gym. That's the nature of the beast. Sweating, while therapeutic and encouraging, it just doesn't feel great. During my workout, it makes me feel like I'm really putting in the work. Afterwards it makes me feel self-conscious because I think I stink. I especially hate boob sweat (just being honest with my people) as I imagine most women do, does that mean I'm going to go braless. No way. I just bring an extra set of "after workout" clothes so my drive home is comfortable.

All in all, this blog isn't going to change the "Crew of the Commando's". I'm sure these women will continue the "Brigade of the Panty-Less". Before you do, PLEASE do me favor...If you're going to go commando, can you at least make sure your crotch doesn't have any holes in it? Geesh...

LMBO!!!!! Ahhhh, ranting is therapeutic for the soul.

NapturallyFit

WARNING!!! Short Rant Alert....BWDW...

Every so often I will rant. Ranting is the act of sharing strong/heartfelt thoughts about an issue that is bothering you or making you feel uncomfortable. This is not meant to defame or offend. These are just my thoughts. Please be aware: mild/suggestive language is included. !~)

I was perusing the ever popular YouTube as I so often do for natural hair guidance and styling tips. I also look for figure competition videos and vegetarian competitors/exercise enthusiast. It helps me learn new workout techniques, recipes, just some awesome things on there. YouTube is my Google. What can I say, I'm a visual learner. Anyway, I run across a video with this dude talking about an epidemic running across the country and then her proceeds to discuss his take on black women and exercise. More specifically, he says that we're lazy and we don't exercise..... WHAT!!!! (breaks screeching). Dude let me tell you something...

BLACK WOMEN DO WORKOUT!!!!!

Are you serious? We workout. I see tons of Black women in the gym getting it in every single day. There is not a day that goes by that I don't see a black woman at the gym. Contrary to popular belief, we care about how we look and want to keep it tight, keep it right!! There's a young lady that even started a movement with this very title. Check out her facebook page, the link is below. I'm sick and tired of people thinking so negatively about black women. We have been holding it down for our community for years; playing mommy AND daddy, providing for the family, taking care of the household, all of this plus more.

We exercise, we care about our health, we want to be physically fit, and most of all.....

WE LOOK GOOD DOING IT!!!

http://www.facebook.com/BlackWomenDOWorkout

NapturallyFit

New figures...

This is going to be short and sweet.

Ok. I have some new figures that I'm very proud about. A few blogs ago, I was feeling a little discouraged about not seeing the results I felt I deserved given the work I was putting in. Well people, persistence is the key because I am finally starting to see my body change. I stare in the mirror everyday. I look at my body all the time and that activity alone makes it difficult to see any changes in your body. I'm not stage ready yet, but I'm getting there definitely.

I of course had to take new pictures with Beast and this time I was not as nervous I had been that first time. As soon as I started to do my quarter turns, he immediately began pointing out features that have changed since our last pictures. My legs and stomach are smaller. I'm starting to get some D'Angelo action going on "How does it feel?"!~) My back is wider and my arms are bigger. I asked him if I needed to weigh myself, but he said no which I knew he would. You see in the fitness world the judges don't really care about your weight; It's more about symmetry and your physical appearance. But with Beast's comments in my head, I had to see if my weight had changed. IT DID!!!! I've lost 4% body fat and 6 pounds gone.

WOO-HOO!!

NapturallyFit

Trying to do Right....

So its summertime. After choosing to do a show in October, I didn't factor in all of the things I would be missing out on in doing so, especially summer. Now because I work for the school system, I have the summer off and everyone knows what that means, VACATION!!! Yes, glorious vacation. It's what we all look forward to through the year. Let's get to the point.... training is HARD as HELL in the summertime. I am literally missing out on all of the things I look forward to: fresh fruit, ice cream, salads, smoothies, SUGAR. I can't have any of those things. I did not realize this until my coworker, CC, made that statement after showing her my "diet". Guess what, I've been pretty consistent. I say pretty because as long as I'm home and can control my environment, I'm straight. I don't buy the stuff I can't eat and so I'm fine. This gets a little tricky when you add that glorious factor we all covet...VACATION!!!

Twice already, I've left the comfort and sanctity of my home and have had to make due with what I could. The first time was last month when I travelled to Dallas to complete a Residency for school. The second time came when I went to VA Beach for the Fourth. I remained consistent and was even teased a little for my dedication. When I went to Dallas, I was without transportation and I knew this going in, soooooo I prepared like crazy. You should have seen me in that kitchen preparing protein powder, vitamins, oatmeal, almonds, peanut butter, protein bars, and tuna. I even found a ride to WalMart to get more stuff when I got there (Thanks LW). I went, ate as clean as I could, and did my workouts. I felt great when I returned home and did not feel as though I let myself down. I even found my colleagues supporting me and looking out for me. It was nice to have people encourage your choices rather than question or discourage them. Virginia Beach was no different. Hubby was all on board with my schedule. I did the same packing, and by this time, I had increased my workouts to twice a day. Guess what? Ya girl was in the gym twice a day, ON.....VACATION. I woke up and went to the gym and when we returned to the room after out daily outings, I went back. I was proud of myself and found it funny that I was looking forward to going to the gym just so I could write and say that I had done so.

Moral of the Story....Working out and eating right on vacation is completely doable. There's no need to use your vacation as an excuse to let yourself get off track. So, I am going to share with you my tips on planning a vacation and staying true to your fitness goals:

1. Look for a hotel with a gym. Every place I stay, I look at the photos and hotel description to verify whether or not there is a gym. I WILL NOT stay at a hotel without a gym (if I can help it; so far so good).

2. Think about your transportable foods. While I could not take everything I usually eat, I made sure to take the ones I could as well as take dry foods that would substitute for something that I could not take. For example, I eat egg whites daily. Well, unless I smuggled a hot plate (freshman dorm style), there wasn't anyway I was having eggs daily so instead I subbed my eggs for tuna. Tuna has about the same nutrition as the eggs especially the protein.

3. Take your workout clothes. That's always the first excuse "I didn't bring anything" or "Wow they have a gym, I should have brought clothes". Along with packing your bathing suit, sandals, etc, make sure to pack your sports bra, exercise clothes, and sneakers.

4. Research the gym and your exercises. For each day I workout, there are specific body parts that I work on and therefore use specific machines. Unfortunately, the hotel gym is not your local gym. Therefore, I make sure to know some exercises to do without the use of machines or dumbbells (DB's) that will give me just as good a workout as a machine or DB's. There are many apps on the iPhone that can help with this. I use iFitness.

5. Eat out like you're eating at home. Just because you go to a restaurant doesn't mean you have to go Willie Nillie on your eating. Whichever meal you would have eaten at home, choose a restaurant that will give you a selection as close to that meal as possible. Besides, most restaurants have a "Low Calorie" or "Light Portions" section of the menu, so NO EXCUSE.

6. Have fun. Hey, you're on....VACATION!! You're allowed to treat yourself once. Just don't go crazy or you'll be living with cheaters remorse !~) Don't tell Beast, but I did have some ice cream but I shared it with the Hubby and we walked the entire length of the boardwalk, return to finish (If you've been to VA Beach, you know that Boardwalk is hella' long).

Hopefully these tips will help you. I have to complete another Residency in a few weeks and this one is much longer than the first. So, I'm already planning in my head how i will do this. I'll keep you informed on how I'll do...

NapturallyFit