Mental Health:Learn to talk about it

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and I want to be as transparent as possible and speak from the heart. Many times when we as individuals are going through something we keep it to ourselves and bottle it up. It wasn't until last year that in dealing with depression and anxiety that I had to seek out a therapist. Now, many times I've heard that black people don't do therapy, or we deal with it in our own way. So my question is what is the way we deal with situations of depression and anxiety? 

Oftentimes many problems get brushed under the rug and never get dealt with properly. Emotionally holding those problems in takes a toll on your mental health and causes more problems. My mother passed away three years ago, and I was there for everything from after her death. I thought that going back to work would help me cope with the fact that the woman who gave me life is no longer here on earth. It masked the situation, but I never grieved properly. I felt that I not only had to be strong for myself, but for my dad and siblings, and other family members. Boy was I wrong! Two and a half years later it catches up to me. I buckled down and started speaking to a therapist and meditating. 

In speaking with a therapist it opened my eyes to understand that I needed to be in the company of others who were dealing with the loss of a loved one. I joined a Griefshare group on FB, as well as I began to build my relationship with GOD. Once I did those things a weight was lifted and I could be there for my husband and daughter. I had to understand that I had to take time for SELF and do what made me HAPPY. 

Don't ever feel like speaking with a therapist or counselor is negative or brings negative connotations. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Speak your truth and find your peace!

Fit while living with an Autoimmune Illness

Life at times can be hard, especially if you live with an Autoimmune Illness. There are times that everything hurts and we are unable to move out of the comfort of our bed and/or home. I am here to share with you that a Low Impact workout is ideal and can help you maintain your health. 

The world would have you thinking that you have to be in a gym for 2-3 hours, and you have to do Cardio the whole time your there. I'm here to tell you that you don't need to do that, but get the blood flowing and move at your pace. The ultimate goal is to be more active and maintain or increase your fitness level. The gym can be intimidating, as you have many individuals who are experienced in working out "fighting" for certain pieces of equipment; you also have various classes that you are unsure if they match your fitness level. As novice gym goers there is also the various pieces of equipment that you're not quite sure how to utilize, and is there someone that can show you how to use the equipment PROPERLY! The answer is YES! There should be floor staff available to assist you.

Now also understand that if there is a genuine fear or level of being uncomfortable in a gym setting...bring the workout to you. The reason is due to your illness, it may keep you away from the gym; but let's bring you a workout that can be done at your pace and on YOUR time. If you have workout equipment (dumbbells, bands, kettlebells, etc.) a workout can be created around what you have in home. The other focus  is using your bodyweight to ensure you are burning calories.

As a Certified Personal Trainer, I do an initial consult and have potential clients fill out paperwork to ensure I know and understand what limitations (Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, etc.) They must be cleared by a medical professional before continuing any workout plan with JaiFit. Once I receive and go over the forms we create a plan that works with their schedule. We adhere to the set schedule and been have now begun their journey to a healthier, happier and whole lifestyle.

I work with various individuals from all walks of life: Youth through Senior Adults. Each age group is given a workout based on ultimate goals and what they want to accomplish. Never let your illness hold you back from achieving goals, but tweak the workout to be most beneficial to you!

Total Health & Wellness

Total Health & Wellness

When we look at what is happening in the world today, we have to look at the total health and well-being of our lives, and take stock in knowing that what we do now impacts us forever. As an individual that lives and breathes fitness, I understand all to well that in order to lead; I have to share that knowledge with my family and friends.

I changed my lifestyle to reflect a total health change. When we think of a lifestyle change we think of just the surface and what we can physically see; such as our meals and our exercise routine. We look at what we are putting in our bodies, the foods we eat and how those foods are prepared. We also must take the time to change the products we clean our house with, and lastly, changing how we store our food and what we use to store foods.

When we make a change for the better, we feel better. It's all about baby steps and making one change a time until you have made the complete transformation. I know it ultimately seems like a lot, and it seems more time consuming than anything; but when the good outweighs the bad then we can consider that SUCCESSFUL! So let's delve into the Total Health & Wellness process!

When we look at our overall health, when it comes to food...natural whole foods are best! Oftentimes, we see people taking the step to change their eating habits and lifestyle, but they are unsure of where to start or begin. Whole foods are our fresh fruits and vegetables, the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fats; and the ultimate key to health is our WATER intake! As our bodies are made up mostly of water, we also have to stay hydrated and replenish what we use. Another key to understanding this lifestyle (not DIET) is eating the rainbow, and foods in their natural state. Brown rice, cane sugar (brown), whole wheat, oats and whole wheat pastas. Carbohydrates are a necessity, so when you hear people say cut out carbs......DON'T! It's about eating balanced meals inclusive of complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbohydrates (processed).

As a nutrition coach, it is my duty to ensure that you understand the process. During the coaching process, you go through steps of understanding why your eating patterns are such, mindful eating and tasting the food, as well as how you feel when eating (happy, sad, settled, angered). There is also the natural medicines that assist in building our immune systems (Seamoss, Black Seed Oil, Elderberry Syrup, Moringa, etc.) just to name a few. Let's use what comes from the earth to live longer healthier lives.

Next, we have to think of the household cleaning products we use in our homes. Are they safe? Free from harmful chemicals? Safe for use around kids? I have to admit, that I was taught to use bleach, Lysol and other products to clean my home. If you didn't have the smell of bleach, your house wasn't considered clean and sanitized. There are various products that are better not only for the environment, but your family's health. I recently joined an online shopping club, and I have to say the products do the same as the other brands and you can clean inside of your home without having to open every window. Let's make environmentally friendly choices to complete the package.

Lastly, food storage is key and I know that many of us grew up with our families using plastic Tupperware, and once the microwave came out it was easier to store and heat our food. My husband and I have done a complete overhaul of our kitchen and food storage containers; and that meant using glass containers that are better, don't stain and don't add carcinogens to our food upon heating in a microwave. We also got rid of the microwave, and decided on a counter top convection oven that does EVERYTHING! It was an adjustment, but I am still getting the necessary nutrients from my food, and I feel better about the choices for my family and I. Cooking is now becoming more enjoyable for myself, as I and my husband are working together to provide the BEST for our family! No expense spared!

As you go on with your daily life, please be mindful that when you think about your health and well-being please think of the total package! Your life is not one dimensional, so why would you life it as if it is one dimensional.

Total Health & Wellness!

Healthy Weight Loss

Many of us have weight loss goals, as well as we want to live a happier and healthier lifestyle. Now, in order to do that we have to adjust our lifestyle to ensure that whatever goals we strive to meet, we do it successfully. Please understand that working out 2 - 3 times a week, combined with proper eating habits will assist you in your weight loss goals. Fitness is my passion and my first love, and I've been in this field for over twenty years, and I have watched this field evolve and grow over time. I myself have grown along with many of my cohorts.

What we need to understand is not everyone, and all body types need to follow the same meal plan; as we are all built differently and physiologically it doesn't work that way. I am a lover of all foods, and I am also a lover of working out, but what I can say is what works for me may NOT work for the next person. It is important to understand your body type, so you know how to formulate your plan on losing weight and/or gaining muscle. The three body types are: Ectomorph, Endomorph and Mesomorph.

1. Ectomorph: Lean and long, with difficulty building muscle.
2. Endomorph: Big, high body fat, often pear-shaped, with a high tendency to store body fat.
3. Mesomorph: Muscular and well-built, with a high metabolism and responsive muscle cells.

My body type category is Endomorph and that requires me to focus more on Cardio (HIIT) Workouts, Weight Training and watching my caloric intake. As I know my body, I understand that a safe healthy weight loss is 1 - 2 pounds per week. I know, your going to say that doesn't seem like enough to fulfill my goals. Well I have news for you, IT IS!! When you focus on trying to get the weight off fast, instead of focusing on healthier choices that don't focus on water weight there is no added benefit for losing the weight quickly. Water is KEY! Then its all about portion sizes, how you prepare your food and what you are consuming and when you're eating. You must also remember that you lose inches first then you gain muscle and finally you lean out.

I recently trained some young ladies, and our training included working out twice a week, and a meal plan was provided weekly. This provided them the understanding of choices and living healthier to be better athletes, and they had not only the full support of their parents, but also their coaching staff. I am proud to say that many of my girls lost inches, and gained muscle; but the ultimate outcome was for them to understand how to eat to live. They understood that this new way of life is a work in progress, and they had more energy, endurance and agility. The weight loss will come, because you have to remember that the weight did not come overnight, so be patient and stop looking for the quick fix.

Battle of the Carbs - Complex vs. Simple

CARBS!!!

There is a never ending battle of whether or not Carbohydrates should be a part of our everyday eating habits; first, we need to have a better understanding of each.

Let's begin with Complex Carbohydrates....these are the foods that provide a more stable source for energy, as they also take longer to digest. They are present in foods such as breads and pasta. Our bodies take these sugar molecules and convert them into glucose, which is used for energy; as it also raises blood glucose levels for longer to produce a more lasting elevation in energy.

Now, let's discuss those Simple Carbohydrates! These are in foods such as table sugar and syrups, that is made up of shorter chains of molecules and they are quicker to digest. Simple Carbohydrates also produce a spike in blood glucose. What we also have to understand is that many fruits and vegetables contain simple carbs, but they are rich in micro nutrients.

Not all carbs are created equal, so cutting them out altogether can do a disservice to your health and weight. Instead of doing away with all carbs, turn it around for the better and focus on building your eating habits around whole grains and replace the refined grains.

A basic list of carbs to keep are:

• Brown Rice instead of White Rice
• 100% Whole Grain English Muffin instead of White
• Whole Wheat Pasta
• Eat an Orange over processed Orange Juice
• Snack - Popcorn over Potato Chip

Eating habits high in refined carbs contributes to an increased risk of atherosclerosis and other conditions such as diabetes. This is a lifestyle change and should not be taken lightly. This is just a snippet of the benefit of carbs and how they help.

Core and More!!!

Core Strength is key to any fitness regimen, as our core is what stabilizes us and allows us to sit and stand. Oftentimes, the core is neglected!

When you begin your fitness journey, most people focus on Cardio and Weight lifting, not understanding that the most integral part to their workout program is Core Work. How can we improve our balance and stability? When you work the core you are inevitably training the muscles in your hips, abdomen, lower back and pelvis. Working those areas leads to improved balance and stability, whether on a playing field or in your daily activities.

Core exercises involve the use of your abdominal and back muscles. You are probably asking or even wondering what types of exercises are involved in strengthening your core, a few basics are planks, situps and fitness ball exercises. Do you understand that our Core is what allows us to sit, stand and walk? If your Core is not strong there is the likelihood that you will have back problems, along with a plethora of other debilitating pain, and poor posture.

Let's look at a simple exercise that can be done with no weights and does not require a gym membership to do so. A bridge is simple...Lie on your back with your knees bent, making sure to keep your back in a neutral position (meaning not arched or pressed flat into the floor). In this position you also want to avoid tilting the hips, and focus on tightening your abdominal muscles. Once you have reached your neutral position, you then will raise your hips off the floor until your hips are aligned with your knees and shoulders. You will hold this position for as long as you can WITHOUT breaking form.

Athletes need to understand that having a strong core is very important, you can't just focus on your sport specific workout, but adding a core regimen to your daily routine. Weak core muscles lead to more fatigue, injuries and less endurance. Combining aerobic exercise and muscular fitness are the main components of any if not most fitness programs. Don't shy away from Core work, but add it to your program and you will see an improvement in your daily life.

Healthy from the Inside Out

Fitness is a journey! There is not one fix for all, but a path that we all must take to ensure we are healthy, happy and whole. Life gives us our share of ups and downs, but we have to tackle them head on. One sure fire way of doing this is to get proper rest, exercise and proper nutrition. I have been on this fitness journey over half of my life, and as each year goes on I find that there is one more thing I can add to my regimen.

I live with multiple Autoimmune Diseases, and I became tired of having Lupus Flares, and dealing with the pain and inflammation associated with it. I decided for myself that I need to make a change for the better, so I researched anti-inflammatory foods, and I began incorporating them into every meal. Now, notice I never say the word DIET, but stress healthy eating! It is imperative that as individuals we recognize our bodies and what is necessary to sustain them. One key that stands and has been a staple in the nutrition community is......Eat the Rainbow! Our plates should consist of foods from various color categories, as well as also focusing on portion sizes. Another factor in being healthy from the inside out is....WATER, WATER, WATER!

A normal day begins with whole grains or oats, even hard boiled eggs with a side of avocado (good fat). You definitely want to think about incorporating fruits and vegetables in your daily regimen, as a good habit of mine is eating fruit with every meal or as a snack in between. Another factor to think about when it comes to fruits and vegetables is to eat it in season!

Fall Season Fruits and Vegetables
Apples, Cranberries, Figs, Grapes, Pears, Pomegranate, Quince, Butternut Squash, Cauliflower, Garlic, Ginger, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard. 

Winter season Fruits and Vegetables
Chestnuts, Grapefruit, Lemons, Oranges, Tangerines, Kale, Leeks, Radicchio, Radishes, Rutabaga and Turnips. 

Proteins and starches are also an important part of any meal plan, and should be incorporated daily. We have to understand that food is fuel and how we begin our day determines how the rest of our day goes. Carbs are King and are necessary, especially if you are an athlete. An athletes body needs certain foods to provide the energy to get through the activity of your choice.

Start now and see the improvement by working from the inside out!