Whatever You Do…Don’t Lose Your Butt! Ummmm…what?

From family to friends, I’ve been given the same warning since embarking on this fitness journey of mine, “Whatever you do…don’t lose your butt!” NEWS FLASH…that’s exactly what I’m trying to lose…well…maybe not all of it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to lose so much weight that my backside ends up looking like a deflated beach ball and I suppose I should consider myself lucky as some women these days are risking their lives for butt injections/implants from phony doctors in unsterile storefront-strip mall offices. Still, my cushion is overstuffed! I do love my curves, but the reality is that I am 48lbs overweight.

I suppose the question is, when does curvy become unfit? Is it when you find yourself short of breath after climbing a set of stairs or when you can’t run twenty consecutive minutes on the treadmill or do one hundred crunches without stopping? Well, that’s me! I. AM. UNFIT. And, I’m not the only one.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese. This statistic, of course, I’m sure is due to many different factors. However, I believe the main factor is living an unhealthy-unfit lifestyle. And, I can’t help but wonder if the statistic is permeated by Black America’s—specifically a large majority of black men’s—obsession with “big” butts. At this very moment, I have a friend who is seriously considering getting butt implants! My thought…why add the extra weight?

Personally, I have wondered if—over the years—I put my desire to get in better shape unconsciously on hold because I believed I would no longer be desired in my community if I lost a few pounds (specifically my voluptuous backside) as women-entertainers such as Nicki Minaj, Deelishis and a host of video vixens are worshiped in my culture because of their enormous buttocks. In all honesty, carrying so much “junk in the trunk” can be tiresome. Yes, I said it! And believe me; I know (pic of my butt provided…center). I like to compare the experience to that of a woman with DDD’s, who desperately wants a breast reduction. It’s a lot to travel with.

Despite being warned, I’m going to continue on my fitness journey—aiming to get fit while also trying to preserve some of my voluptuousness. But, my ultimate goal is to have a tight and toned body because butt or no butt…fit is feminine and strong is sexy!

Progress Note: So, I usually can only manage to run/jog for 15 consecutive minutes on the treadmill at speeds 4.8/5.0. Well, yesterday, I decided to push myself a little further. My aim was to run/jog for 20 minutes and a few minutes at 5.2…sad to report I didn’t quite make my goal but I did manage to run/jog for 18 minutes before totally conking out. A small step forward is better than a giant step backwards!

Photos: Deelishis (Mediatakeout.com), Nicki Minaj (hiphopnewsdaily.com), Me (my lovely mother was the photographer)

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Brown Belle Fitness

Oh So Sweet! Small changes, Big payoff!

I stepped on the scale and then I stepped back off. I picked up the scale and examined it—to make sure it wasn’t broken or anything of that nature. I turned if off and then I turned it back on again (it was one of those new digital ones…fancy). Then, I stepped back on and back off again. This scale sucks!  Yep, that’s exactly what I thought as it sunk in that I was at my heaviest weight ever–approximately 48 lbs overweight for my height (5’2”). However, I haven’t been 120lbs. since the 3^rd grade. Nor am I seeking to lose 48lbs. I’ve never been skinny and have always been considered “thick” in my culture, which…funny enough, is a good thing. But, the extra weight has me feeling a little sluggish and unfit.

So, since stepping on the scale (exactly two weeks ago), I decided to commence on this fitness journey…to “live the fit life” or at least try to by attempting to exercise and eat right. My goal is to lose 23lbs and tone up. I’ve been taking a boxing class and I joined the gym. I have been working out (30 minutes on the treadmill…walk first 5 minutes at 3.2…jog next 15 minutes at 4.8/5.0…set incline to 7 and speed to 3.8 for 5 minutes…incline back to 0 and walk 3.8 the remaining 5 minutes) and 15 minutes on the Elliptical.

Diet wise, I’ve made small changes by substituting healthier food choices over those I regularly eat and crave:

1)      Frozen Yogurt (low fat, no sugar) in lieu of Ice Cream

2)      Whole Grain/Wheat bread in lieu of White Bread

3)      Fish in lieu of Ground Beef/Pork

4)      Diet Soda in lieu Regular Soda

And possibly the hardest substitute I’ve made…

5)      Spilt Tea (sweet & unsweet) in lieu of 100% Sweet Tea

I was raised in the South, Kentucky to be more specific, and the one staple in a “Southern” refrigerator is a large pitcher of sweet tea (spring, summer, winter, fall)…right next to the Zip-Lock bag of deer meat. And it’s not “good” sweet tea if it doesn’t taste like syrup! I really, really did try to drink a cup of unsweet tea and couldn’t bear it. It’s spilt tea for now!

Also, just to mention, from what I’ve read nutritionists and fitness gurus all agree that cutting added/refined sugar out of your diet can result in weight loss and prevent weight gain. Here’s an article you can check out for a little bit of inspiration. http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/how-cutting-out-refined-sugar-changed-one-womans-life

With all of the above…drum roll please…exercising regularly over the last two weeks in addition to the small changes I made in my diet….I’ve lost 4lbs!

Let’s hope I don’t gain it all back tomorrow…Thanksgiving Day! I know…I know…terrible time to all of a sudden decide to make such a huge lifestyle change. Guess we’ll see how I do…next weigh-in is in two weeks, but I’ll be blogging in between time.

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Brown Belle Fitness