Sunday Musings~ What Inspires Me

It's 10:40 Am on Sunday. I still have an hour before my Sunday Yoga and stretch session. So I thought I'd put down what inspires me to work out and eat better. It's like a top 10 countdown.

10~ Tucking In My Shirt... Although I am not extremely overweight. I have that little lower pooch in in my lower abs. And I hate it. I would like to be able to tuck in my shirt, be it in a skirt or a pair of pants without that sticking out.

9~ Not Trying On Clothes...Of course when I was younger, with a hot bod I never tried anything on. Cause I knew it would look good. I wasn't self conscious, cause the body was right. Now I hate shopping. Cause not only am I disappointed with how my body looks..but I HATE trying on clothes. It's annoying. I'm one of those "Is this my size? Wrap it Up, I'm Out the door on to real life" kind of women. I wanna be able to get it, and GO!

8~ To Wear A Badgley Mischka Gown... I am not a total Fashionista. But I do love clothes. And my favorite designers are Badgley Mischka. I love their line of "Modern Vintage" gowns that I see at the Oscar's and Golden Globes. They are just classic and beautiful, sexy , yet tasteful. My hubby says if I get to my goal, he'll buy me one.

7~ Vanity...I would be LYING if I said I wasn't vain. I AM. And there is the awful truth. I had grey hair coming in, and I pretended like it wasn't bothering me..BUT IT WAS!!!.. and there you have it. I miss being able to walk into a room full of people, and totally feel all the eyes in the room on me. I use to hate the sneers and "whisper whisper" of other women. Now , actually ..I long for it. I know that's wrong. But I had the body to wear what I wanted, and I did. I could feel the attraction of men from left to right, to up to down. I use to get hit on so much, that I got annoyed with it, cause it seemed so constant. And now..DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN!..and I realize, that I should have enjoyed it when men and some women hit on me. I know that as I get older, that won't happen as much. Let's face it we live in a society that worships "YOUTH". I mean. I've been with my hubby for almost 15 years now. But I do like knowing that others find me attractive and sexy.

6~ The Possibility Of A Long Life Span . The people in my family tend to live a long time. My paternal great grandfather died at 96. And he smoked a pack of cigs til the day he died. My Paternal great grandmother lived til she was in her nineties, and she died of a genetic kidney disease that runs in my family. There are so many people who lived until there 80's and 90's in my family on BOTH SIDES. And we are talking people who lived on cigarettes , alcohol, and the standard soul food diet so pervasive in the Black community. So genetics is on my side.I figured, heck, With the knowledge we have now about healthy diet and exercise, if I don't meet with an untimely accident or a catastrophic illness, I could very well live to see 100 and beyond.

5~ Oxygen Magazine. I love this magazine. Unlike "Shape" and "Fitness" mags, I love that the magazine focuses on women who have strong bodies, and healthy eating habits. It doesn't slip in make-up and beauty ads in on you. It's all exercise, supplements and healthy eating. The women aren't sticks. This is my magazine of choice .Check Out The website

4~ Fitness Model Maggie Diubaldo...her body is an inspiration. I know most women like the stick thin models of Cosmo & Vogue magazine. But Maggie is a frequent Oxygen cover girl. And her body is DA BOMB in my opinion. I know most women are afraid of lifting weights, cause they don't want to look too masculine. But for me, Maggie is the perfect example , that a woman's body can not only be tight , healthy, strong and MUSCULAR..but FEMININE as well. I use to be afraid of weights . But she shows me that strength and muscles are beautiful. She really makes me want to work.

3~ Victor,My Husband... Why he inspires me. His love and understanding. He is real and truthful with me, without being hurtful. Of course when we met, I was young with a hot body. I worked out , I looked good. I could wear anything . Then I got pregnant ,which changed my body and metabolism (I use to have the metabolism of a hamster on crack). I miscarried at 5 1/2 months in April of 1997. And all subsequent attempts to conceive have failed. So we have no children. But I still have the weight . And through it all..everyday Victor calls me beautiful . He calls me on the phone, or leaves me a message that always starts with "Hey beautiful". But he never lies to me. If I'm wearing something that isn't complimenting my body, He'll tell me. In all this time. Whenever we discuss weight loss and exercise, he always tells me. "Just tighten up and tone the middle", I love every inch of you.But if you want to wear certain clothes that's the only thing you need to work on "..And that's the thing. I'm a realist. I know esthetics matters. Too many women believe that they shouldn't. But I'm not going to fool myself into believing that my hubby , on first seeing me thought .."Look, there's someone I could have intellectually stimulating conversations with for the REST OF MY LIFE". Of course not. Not that I'm an idiot or anything. I am fairly intelligent ..at times. But unlike a lot of men, Victor would never call me "Fat" or make fun of me or say things that demean me and my self esteem. To many men believe that those tactics work. I want him to have the body he fell in love with again. By being understanding and supportive, he has earned that from me. A man who would do the opposite has not earned a woman making a lifestyle change only to please him.My man has earned all my efforts , because of his love and continued support.

2~ My HEALTH & STRENGTH. ..I work in a bank. So I see all people of all ages and backgrounds everyday. I have to look at ID's all day long. And I am so amazed when I see people younger than me, who are obviously not healthy. I'll be 36 on October 9th. So you can best believe the shock in my mind when I see overweight young people . I mean OBESE. I wonder what there lives will be like when they are older. Also when people come in , and the air is on full blast, yet they are sweating profusely , and I KNOW they haven't been outside, cause they work in the building. Then I see people like one of my favorite customers. She'll be 102 in Febuary. She wears her high heels, has ALL her faculties, and can tell you what's in her accounts to the penny. Even though her grandson escorts her in sometimes, it's usually only on the days he gets paid, and she usually handles ALL her business on her own. I want to be like her. I don't want to be a physical burden to any one. I don't have children, and I am unable to have them. So I probably won't have anyone to look after me if and when I get old. I know I will have to do it myself.

1~ MYSELF. I love how working out gets my endorphins going. I love how good I feel after a great workout. That natural high that comes along with it. It may all sound cliche', but cliche's are usually true. I feel like I can do anything when I workout. I know that this is something that when it's done, it's truly FOR ME & ME ALONE...Plus I want to show off my beautiful tattoo on my lower back.

Well those are the things that inspire me. What inspires you? Please tell me. Some of yours may turn into mine. And then we have inspired each other.