To put it quite simply, life after the God Body Diet is just the beginning. God Body is a trial run. It’s a test and gage for your level of dedication, endurance and commitment.. It’s a test and gage for your level of dedication, endurance and commitment. If you get through God Body, the results should inspire you to take the lessons and discipline learned, in those 30 days and incorporate them into your life. God Body is more than just a 30-day challenge, It’s meant to serve as the foundation for a new lifestyle.

If your goal is to change your shape or improve your overall health, exercise should be more than just an act. The goal is to make exercising apart of everyday living. Just as we eat, sleep and breathe, you should not go a week, month or year without testing the boundaries and challenging ourselves through physical activity. In addition, exercise is not something done alone. Changing and maintaining any part of your life and body is not done without incorporating healthy eating habits, sleeping habits and mental balance.

Any athlete, model, entertainer or self proclaimed health and fitness nut would tell you that if you exercise without complimentary eating habits, you are doing yourself a great disservice. For my ladies, you will also do yourself a disservice if you aren’t eating enough. Starving or subjecting ourselves to unrealistic caloric restrictions is never the way to go and will always do more harm than good. We must eat and what we do eat should support and enhance our fitness goals and activities. Yo-yo dieting is also the death of any healthy lifestyle and/or weight loss plan. Consistency is key. Once we start our bodies on a new regimen, whether it be new eating habits or exercise routine, make sure the changes are ones that can be maintained. When we subject ourselves to restrictions, while they may produce great results, not being able to stick to those restrictions may also result, in the beginning, the inability to continue in the same pattern has reverse effects like overeating, decreased metabolism and more weight gain. For most, it is easier to gain weight than to loose it and while fat cells can shrink, they never disappear but will multiply.

For many of us, sleep has become an optional activity. We choose to put a whole host of activities, which we feel more important, above it. Don’t to it! There are an infinite number of things that happen during sleep. Our bodies are self-operating machines and much of our healing, refueling and rebuilding happens when we aren’t awake. Sleeping and resting is essential, especially when working to maintain a healthy life style. Did you know also that you burn calories in you sleep? It’s true, you do. So sleep and let your body continue its work.

Our mental state is just as important as exercise, eating and sleeping. While working out can be a great stress reliever, the stress itself can hinder its benefits. Just as we eat, sleep and breathe we should also remember to take stock of ourselves and make sure we are personally balanced. Did you know that for many people, stress can actually cause weight gain and/or prevent weight loss?* Take time for yourself and decompress and disconnect. Be able to identify your stressors and what helps you relieve them.

The God Body Diet is just the beginning. Take it and run with it! We only have one body and throughout our life times will undoubtedly push these bodies to their limits. Why not work to be as strong and healthy as we can, for as long as we can?

My life style change began just over a year and half ago and from here, there’s no turning back or going back to old habits and inactivity. I made a commitment and promise to myself to work on becoming healthier and because of it, I will be stronger and I know that l will need to continue to work at it EVERYDAY.

For more healthy living information and inspiration visit these sites:
OxygenMag.com
FollowtheLita.wordpress.com

-By E. Isis Adewale


*Reference OxygenMag.com, July 13, 2010 article by Judi Ketteler
“When you’re under stress, your body releases the hormone cortisol as part of the fight-or-flight response. Too much stress leads to an overabundance of cortisol, which science has linked with weight gain – particularly fat storage around the midsection (the most unhealthy place to store fat).”
http://www.oxygenmag.com/stressless

In January 2009, I decided to join a gym for the first time ever and get back in shape.. Not only did I feel it essential to get in shape, I also wanted to live a healthier life style all together. So, it wasn’t only about working out, it was also eating healthier and living better.

In the beginning, trips the gym were a group activity. There were four of us and we would hit the gym at least three to four times a week. My girls were both my inspiration for joining and my motivation to keep going and also the ones who would remind me of my pledge to get fit and get healthy. There was no quitting and no reneging. It was all about the win. I also got a trainer to test my limits, push me even further and help me to create new workouts and keep challenging my muscles.

Fast forward to January 2010. 160 became 130 and a healthier life style has not only become a necessity, it’s a passion

I didn’t know about the Goddess Body Diet when I started. I just called it 
“Go Hard or Go Home”.

Abstinence from Alcohol
I didn’t drink for about 8 months. Folks looked at me crazy every time I would turn down a drink, which motivated me even more. I wasn’t a big drinker from the start but you would be amazed how great you look and feel when you stop consuming empty calories.


Abstinence from Sex
When you don’t feel comfortable or sexy in your own skin, it affects your sex life. I had never had any complaints in the body department from anyone I was involved with but it was about how I felt.

2009 was also the year that was “all about me”. No sex for 30 days by any means isn’t a super yummy piece of cake, but, and especially if you are involved with someone, it’s a challenge and I’m always down for that. I would apologize ahead of time to the significant other though.

At least 6 hours of sleep every night
If you’re really getting in your cardio work outs and weight training you will have no choice but to give your body the rest it needs and will demand. I got hip to this quick and learned to literally go sit my ass down and go to sleep.


No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic
I’m not a huge packed food eater in the first place and I did really get to enjoy and exercise my love for cooking when I first started out. Tested new recipes, snack ideas and tried all kinds of new foods.

No farmed fish or meat
I didn’t always follow the no farmed fish or meat rule but tried to shop as naturally and organically as possible.

Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized
I was never a big milk drinker, only had it with cereal and Oreos but now I don’t drink it at all. It’s all about Silk (soy milk). Still working on that cage free business but I limit my intake of dairy a lot more now (down went the cheese lover in me).

These are all key elements of clean eating (look this up! it’s like the key to unlocking a healthier life style).


Consume a gallon of water every day

WATER IS THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. That and cocoa butter. Drink it! And if you’re like me, and don’t like the taste of it…buy some lemon juice and add it to a glass or your bottle. Water is essential, especially when working out.

3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming)

ATLEAST 3 to 4 days of cardio a week.
By cardio I mean 30-40 mins heavy duty, sweat the hair out, test your boundaries, skies the limit, feeling like super woman-cardio. I said go hard right? My cardio choice is running. Not only does it get your heart rate up it’s also a great stress reliever. You don’t have time to be stressed out or think about anything when you’re trying to keep a steady pace and control you’re breathing.

In the Winter time, to keep from getting bored with the treadmill I did interval training and in the warmer season I take it out door. Out door running is loads better than the treadmill. It is truly a full bodywork out.

Exercise doesn’t end with cardio. Weight training is also essential, also 3 to 4 times a week. I alternate between lower body, upper body and core (yoga and pilates are great core workouts).

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For healthy tips and for overall motivation I am an avid reader of Oxygen Magazine and my girl Lita’s blog
You can also follow E. Isis on Twitter through her day by clicking this photo:

Check in with the rest of the participants on the GodBodyDiet Lifestyle:
Jill Person aka JI double L
Julie McShay, ASouthernSocialite
Leilah Reese