Down 55lbs #BePatientWithSelf

On June 7th when I reached a goal of losing 45lbs I was so excited and even more excited about the possiblity of losing 20 more by the end of the summer, I was thinking the end of August. Here it is 19 days later and I've lost 10 more pounds for a total loss of 55lbs. Wow!!! I may need to sit and recalculate my goals. By August I may have exceeded my personal expectations.

What this means is that not only am I closer to my summer goal but I am halfway to my overall goal of losing 100lbs by the end of the year. Some mornings I look at the scale and I am speechless and excited. Bless my girlfriends because they receive texts really early in the morning with my latest results. I'm learning that saying no is not bad at all, actually I am believing that it is making me stronger. I'm also learning that my weight loss journey is encouraging to others. When people give compliments I'm all smiles and simply humbled. 

Last week I went to purchase a new bra and when I was sized the salesperson said a number and it didn't match the size of the bra that I was wearing. I did a pump fist and yelled, "Yes!!!!" I've been so focused on the pounds that I didn't even think about the inches. Lol. People have been asking for a picture. I just may have one taken soon. It may be with this post or with the next one. I can't lie, this feels so good. I didn't do this for a man or a job. I didn't do it to be accepted or to grab attention. I did it for Arlinda. I did it so that I can have the energy and determination to fulfill God's purpose in my life. 

Losing the next 10lbs mean so much to me. It'll take me to a weight that I have not seen in 10 years. 10 years? That day will be two things; emotional and Spa Day!!!!!! Remember #BePatientWithSelf

All Things Work Together

#ChooseToMove

Our Family Honors Cincinnati Police Officer Sonny Kim

Today our family stood in line, with so many others who serve and protect our city, at the Cintas Center on the campus of Xavier University. We simply felt it important to come and honor Officer Sonny Kim and to come and hug and say hello to our friends that are police officers. Going through the line was an experience that showed so much love, care and concern for everyone attending. On the path there were tables of water and snacks. There were chairs lined up so people could sit and wait. Everyone received a blue ribbon to pin to themselves. Children clung to their parents and some peeped around their parents knees to sneak smiles at other children in line. 

As we moved closer to the room, where Officer Sonny Kim would be viewed, we saw many officers visibly in pain and in tears. That hurt so bad to see and it took everything in me to be strong and make it through the line. The slide show, the tables and tables of beautiful flowers and seeing the Kim family seated and receiving so many people further showed the love of our city and the incredible grace and class of the family of Officer Sonny Kim.

Today was a true sense of community, I feel blessed that we were able to be a part of the showing of support for Officer Sonny Kim and I'm hopeful that our city will heal and grow into a stronger Cincinnati.

What The Heart Wants

(Written while listening to This Woman's Work by Maxwell)

You could be on the straight and narrow path

Then he shows up

I wouldn't call it temptation

No....

That's too harsh

How about the love that's

 Not available

That's

 Not easily accessible

It's complicated

But your heart 

 Longs for

 Dreams of

 Imagines that

If I could make time to, find time to, I would give the heart what it wants

Knowing that at that moment

Time stands still

As a simple kiss takes you to your heart's destination

I wouldn't call it temptation

No....

That's to harsh

To Describe

What the heart wants

Get Behind The Chair ~ Redefining Your Groove With Rhonda Patmon

After being in a collegiate course for a month I went back to fitness class last night and it was hard to get back into the breathing of things. Lol The instructor called for a break, I'm thinking I was late to this class and even the break isn't enough. I was winded but I tried to hang in there. Then it was time for the chair exercises and I hear our instructor say, "Get behind the chair." In my mind I throw a three year old temper tantrum and think, "I don't want to get behind the chair." I got behind the chair. 

You ever hear people talk about their "Day Ones"? Rhonda Patmon is my Day One instructor. When I went to my first class and I had to figure out if I was at home in the living room dancing to Pandora or in a fitness class. Did I hear Heavy D, Sunshine Anderson and Drake? What???? Her song lists will keep you moving. She even incorporates line dancing, I had to figure out the Biker's Shuffle by practicing at home. Rhonda's energy is magnetic and she makes the class challenging and fun. I need both. I honestly can't remember the last time I went to a fitness class, heck I think it was at the Friars Club, when it was located in Clifton. Now that was a long time ago. 

Rhonda shared some of her story with me. She is a kidney recipient and she used dancing and exercising to get herself back to health. We are all so fortuante. In November I began a journey to a better me. I prayed to God to help me to be a cleaner eater and I also prayed for assistance in helping me find a class that I would enjoy and would attend on a continuous basis. God answered. He knows how much I love music. 

Now on Tuesdays I can be found at the Woodlawn Recreation Center working out to music that ranges from MC Hammer to Drake to R. Kelly. We line dance (my struggle area lol), we dance, we increase our heart rates and we look forward to the next Tuesday. 

Being away from a month was rough to say the least but I'm glad that I had something to miss. Something to look forward to. I even have friends that go with me, some initially think that the music might not be appealing to them and when they show up they ask, "Are we coming back?" Of course we are. Our groove has been redefined and we are loving every minute of it. 

We love you Ms. Rhonda and we so appreciate Markesha Blackmon for her vision, Hip Hop Redefined, and how it's blessing so many women in our city. 

Ms. Rhonda Patmon

Anthony Brown & group therAPy - Worth (Official Music Video)

Difficult Day In My Mirror

Many things in life could have you so jacked up that you easily forget that you are ok, that you are enough. As a matter of fact you are more than enough. 

God created us all on purpose for a purpose. Yesterday I had a difficult day in my mirror but I'm thankful for a God who sees me better than I see myself. 

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 1:24 KJV)

45 Pounds Gone #BePatientWithSelf

I'm writing this blog on Friday June 5, 2015. The goal when I wake up one day over this weekend is to get on the scale and see that I have hit another milestone, a total loss of 45lbs. It's been over a month since my last update and well losing the next five pounds wasn't the issue rather it was gaining some of the weight back that I had lost. This weight wasn't lost in a day. I've been trying to lose this since April. #BePatientWithSelf

My goal in this process is to be transparent. There was a  point when I had gained six pounds after I lost the 40. How do I know? I get up nearly morning and one of the first things that I do is to get on the scale and record the data. I've seen that number creep up and it was discouraging and but at times it was self-inflicted to be honest. One day I had a chocolate covered doughtnut from Buskens. I did. I did. I'll admit it and I had a Tiger Tail and a vanilla latte too. Thank God for an incredible accountability team because they ask often. "Are you still on track?" "Are you working out still?" My favorite reaction is when my younger son, who is nine mind you, sees me mess up and immediately yells to my older son, "Alex!!!!!!! Mommy is cheating! She's eating......!" I mean really? Lol. The inner support staff at home is quite interesting.

Trying to slip stuff in to my new way of eating has had it moments. Sometimes it's downright discomforting and I run back to my path. Then when I'm doing really well my friend spoils me and brings me carrot cake from The Cheesecake Factory. Flag on the play as I shout, "Not fair!"  That cake is everything perfect though. It's so moist and it's served with three dollops of whip cream. Again, #BePatientWithSelf

So, I have had minor setbacks but I continue to press forward. My next goal will be to lose 20 more pounds by the end of summer. I think it's possible, especially if I stay away from #hespoilsme. Lol For the next milestone my friend Stephanie has already decided we will celebrate by having a spa day. Ahhh!!! 

Keep me in prayer as I lay aside this weight that I have carried unnecessarily. I gotta let it go. I'm so, so thankful for Tyler, Alex, Enjoli, Stephanie and Quay for all of their support. Now, it's Sunday morning and I am so reflective and so appreciative of God's plan for me. For years I have carried the weight of hurt, disappointment, and low self-esteem. I just hear God say to me, "Arlinda those days are over, let it go." Each day I'm working on becoming a better me. 

Be blessed and stay encouraged!!