I have just ended week two of the God Body Diet with a tough workout. This morning we met at Stone Mountain. First we climbed the mountain then walk/jogged around it. That was a total of 7 miles. I was near death by the end of it but very proud of myself for finishing. While on the walk, Reggie and I have decided to do the 5 mile distance around the mountain on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This week I was faced with a challenge of not being prepared for dinner. This made me venture out and try an organic burger place. It was delicious and I didn’t feel as guilty as I would have going to a fast food spot. Otherwise… Drinking the gallon of water is getting much easier. I was telling Russy today that I have gone a year without drinking as much water as I have had in the last two weeks. Now that I’m fueled by water and healthy foods, I feel much better and more energized. I see the God Body diet becoming my way of life.

-Danielle McGhee

Week 2: So I just stepped off the scale and I’m down to 192lbs. That’s a 10lb loss in a matter of two weeks. I find myself going to sleep earlier but having more energy than usual throughout the day. I’ve decided that I’m going to go the extra mile for these last took weeks and get all I can get out of the GodBodyDiet. Holla at ya’ll next week.

- Reggie Ward

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

So last night, the devil bka Walmart got me again. I went in just to get some water, Gatorade and Redline and I ended up letting my eyes get the best of me on my way from the back of the store to the register.I noticed this Pedometer and started wondering how many steps I actually took a day. So, today I decided to put it on my belt during simulated workplace hours to see what the average me would walk. I wore it from about 8am – 6pm today and I took 8,912 steps. Check out this info I found online regarding average steps/day:

If you add just 2000 more steps a day to your regular activities, you may never gain another pound. So says research by Dr. James O. Hill of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. To lose weight, add in more steps.

Move More
Sedentary people in the USA generally move only 2000-3000 steps a day. Previous studies have shown that moving 6000 steps a day significantly reduces risk of death, and 8000-10,000 a day promotes weight loss.

How far is 2000 steps? It is about a mile. But the benefits for health and for weight management don’t depend on you walking a mile all at one time, but simply adding in more steps throughout the day.

Based on the best evidence as of the end of 2003, Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke recommends the following:
Classification of pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults:

1) Under 5000 steps/day may be used as a “sedentary lifestyle index”
2) 5,000-7,499 steps/day is typical of daily activity excluding sports/exercise and might be considered “low active.”
3) 7,500-9,999 likely includes some exercise or walking (and/or a job that requires more walking) and might be considered “somewhat active.”
4) 10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as “active”.
5) Individuals who take more than 12,500 steps/day are likely to be classified as “highly active”.

I realized that if this was a good representation of my average day, then I live a “highly active” lifestyle. I took the pedometer off a good 8 hours before I go to sleep and more importantly, I usually go to the gym in the evening, so I know I would easily hit 12,500 steps in a day.

I encourage you all to buy a pedometer and give it a try… make sure you are at least taking 7,500 steps a day, but aim for 10,000…
Stay fit my friends
#GodBody Diet

As you have read my story and the sacrifice of the beautiful young ladies that have chosen to participate in this God(dess) Body Diet experiment, it is devised to be practiced in 30 day increments. Everyone’s body is different and everyone’s tolerance to certain restrictions is different. I personally practiced this diet for 5 months straight the first time. During that time, I lost the most weight every (30lbs) and I never felt better in my life. Now, depending on what trips I have planned, I practice this lifestyle (Full Restrictions) at least once a quarter.

The most important part of this whole program for me was to find a way to turn this “Diet” into a lifestyle. As with me, I didn’t want to continue the rest of my life under the GODBODY Diet restrictions, I had to find a way to incorporate the important aspects into my life and learn how to truly practice moderation. Here is how I made it work for me:

- Abstinence from Alcohol
When I’m not practicing the GBD I do drink socially. I don’t regularly drink soda so thats usually not an option when mixing cocktails. Although the second option was usually juice, I realized that juice packed on almost the same amount of calories as the liquor when added as a chaser. So my drinks of choice (in moderation) are typically a glass of wine or champagne or if a cocktail, most likely vodka and tonic… add a few limes to give it flavor. Its important to realize the alcohol is just empty calories and it usually takes your body a few days to work off the effects of it as it slows your metabolism. Be Smart!

- Abstinence from Sex
You can resume your sexlife as regular. To be honest with you all, the abstinence from sex really has no physical impact on the GBD. This is used as a tool to:
1: Practice and strengthen your willpower from temptation.
2: To take your mind off of the fact that you will be eating a lot of dishes that may not be the most appetizing. If you keep your mind busy with not having sex, eating Kashi cereal and MorningStar breakfast sausages is an easy task.

- At least 6 hours of sleep every night
This in general is a great piece of advice to carry on even after your 30 days, especially as you continue a workout routine. Your muscles need time to heal and repair themselves to get stronger. As an insomniac, I find myself continuously struggling with this stipulation after my 30 day stints but it is my goal every night.

- No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic
Packaged and canned foods are typically high in sodium or similar preservatives to increase their shelf life. I may not stick to the “ORGANIC” items that are packaged but i certainly make sure items like my fruit cups do not contain any added sugars and are packaged in water and not syrup. My veggies are always either fresh or flash frozen, never canned.

- Consume a gallon of water every day
Working up to drinking a gallon a day was a task and I definitely find it a waste of effort if I let this habit go by the wayside until I choose to practice the GBD again. A great benefit is that it keeps off water weight. If you do not drink enough water each day, your body will hold onto whatever it can. This is the same premise as food. If you do not feed yourself small meals throughout the day, your body will hold onto it whenever it can because it does not know when you will feed it again.

- No farmed fish or meat
This is a another habit that I continue after GBD to create my customized lifestyle diet. Farmed animals are typically smaller and not as nutritious as wild caught animals. They are kept in large vats (fish) or in large pens (chicken, cattle) where they swim or walk in their own feces and have no room to mature as they would in the wild. This stunts their growth and can lead to health issues. Fish is a sensitive topic now with the disaster that occurred in The Gulf but if you go to a nice market, they can usually tell you regionally where the fish comes from.

- Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized
Yet another restriction that I hold true to in my After GBD life. My general rule is that I ALWAYS buy the most expensive dairy product choice. The difference can be up to $3-$5 difference but you are still paying no more than $10 for any dairy product. Buying with this in mind, you will always have “Organic”, “Non- Homogenized” and “Cage-Free” products.

- 3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming)
The last piece and probably most important piece of the diet/lifestyle change.. KEEP MOVING! I stay cardio active whether its Jogging, Kickboxing or Cycling. I incorporated weight training back into my routine but at a much lighter scale. I’m no more focused on HOW MUCH can I lift, but HOW MANY TIMES can I lift a certain weight. This builds leaner muscle instead of bulky muscle along with extending my stamina.

I hope this all helps you understand the days after you hit GBD Day 30. If you reach this day and you feel good, and you feel as though its the right point in your life to continue, please do so. Practice this Diet/Lifestyle as long as you can as long as you can promise me and yourself 2 things:
1: You will listen to your body. If at any point you feel lightheaded, have trouble sleeping, lose your appetite, etc, please stop and redraw your plan.
2: Your doctor/ physician will remain a resource. As stated, everyone’s body and internal system is different. Your blood sugar levels or your thyroid may not dictate a diet as such listed. Please print all of the GodBody Diet information and bring it to your physician if you are considering participating. See if they think it’s a good idea for you.

With all of that said… Thank you for following, there is much more to come as far as my updates and the updates of you and your peers that follow. It has been a true blessing to share my success with you all and more than that to hear yours.

Peace
-Russy

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

STATS: Lost 45 lbs in 6 months. Lowest weight was 163 in October 2009. Gained 5 lbs and maintained at 168 for another 9 months. As of today, July 16 2010, I am 165. Goal is 150 by my birthday, October 18 2010 or 2011. The goal is to win and not to give up.
This is the longest I’ve ever kept this weight off. I’ve gone from a size 20 to a 10 to a 14 to an 8, never keeping the loss off for long. What is different this time? I’ve been set up, man. Set up to win. I am constantly monitoring my mind, my environment to support my goals and do away with anything and anyone that doesn’t positively contribute to that goal. Surrounding myself with good thoughts, good food, good people makes all the difference. It’s why I tweet, tumbl and FB about the God Body Diet. The GBD follows these rules:
Abstinence from Alcohol ▶ I don’t really drink. So easy one for me. But do wonder how this becomes a lifestyle for those who do.

Abstinence from Sex ▶ I don’t… well let’s just say it’s been a slow Summer. But eventually I’d like to start-up again. I think this rule and the first rule is to help with discipline and learning to say “no” to your desires.

At least 6 hours of sleep every night ▶ So very important. Your body has to rest so you can lose that weight. Rest is essential for weight loss. Less stress. More focus. Plus if you are sleeping, you are not eating.

No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic ▶ I got off of Lean Cuisines. I am, however, on a grocery budget and will buy the $3 conventional spinach vs the $5 organic spinach. Tastes the same to me.

Consume a gallon of water every day ▶ A challenge. I’m up to 2 liters.

No farmed fish or meat ▶ If I got a double coupon for Oscar Mayer boneless chicken strips I’m getting it.

Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized ▶ I love eggs. I wish they could all be free. But will be paying $1 for eggs as opposed to $4 for the cage free ones. #FoodEconomics I do stay away from milk and yogurt. Too much sugar.

3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming) ▶ I like this especially as there are so many options to include exercise into your daily life. I’m trying to learn how to hula-hoop again.
Though I dont follow the God Body Diet’s rule-by-rule, I am an advocate and enthusiastic fan of it. Here’s why: It is a gentle and solid start for building a healthy lifestyle. Some of the GodBody rules (ie no sex) are not realistic for a lifelong way of life. If you can, however, follow those rules for two weeks, a month, then you are learning discipline, you are learning how to read a nutrition label, you are becoming hydrated and becoming conscious of your body—what you put into and what you do with it. I like that kind of thinking! I cheer the “creator” of the God Body diet, RoundUpRussy, an “everywhere, into everything” kind of guy, for sharing it with his friends. To hear this young guy speak on his health concerns, weight gain and then come up with a way of life that address those issues (issues that plague many people in America) is a positive effect. Many people will follow. And they have.
Check in with the rest of the participants on the GodBodyDiet Lifestyle:
Jill Person aka JI double L
Julie McShay, ASouthernSocialite
Leilah Reese
Does this diet address the negative and pervasive effects of sugar, or the difference of good carbs (whole wheat) vs bad carbs (wonder bread) or the psychology of entitlement and overeating? No it doesn’t. For those like me trying to battle the last 15lbs, most of it being visceral, belly fat, I’ll have to follow a more comprehensive approach (more on that later). For those just starting out, looking for a reboot, trying to maintain, the God Body Diet is a great starting point to a gradual and steady change into healthy eating and living.
- Krishna “Billy” Brown
Read More About the God Body Diet HERE
And HERE

Height: Tall enough to ride ALL the attractions at Six Flags
Weight: If I told you, I’d have to cut you!!!
Age: 29 and feeling fine
Occupation: News aide at a national newspaper, soon to be graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Speech and Language Pathology.
Goal: To drop 30 pounds by the big 3-0!!!!!

The long/short of it is Leilah has had enough of the “extra baggage” taking residency on her body. A former dancer (ballet, modern, and tap you naughty children), she packed on pounds shortly after quitting dance cold turkey and replacing it with the sport of eating. She has set a goal for herself of losing 30 pounds before a milestone birthday, her 30th! By committing to the #GodBodyDiet she is hoping to achieve this goal and prays that no one will get hurt in the process. To follow along with her journey, check out my BLOG

First, let me just hip you jive turkey’s to the latest “weight loss/exercise” plan I’ve committed to. It’s called the #GodBodyDiet. Google, pray, do a rain dance to the sky gods, ask a neighbor/friend/police officer, whatever, about it if you want to, but I think me posting the deets will be pretty self explanatory. Here it goes:

- Abstinence from Alcohol
- Abstinence from Sex
- At least 6 hours of sleep every night
- No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic
- Consume a gallon of water every day
- No farmed fish or meat
- Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized
- 3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming)

Some of you reading this know me, and you’re probably scratching your heads, thinking, “How in the bloody hell is this chick going to give up Ciroc coconut/red berry and pineapple? AND beer? AND margaritas? And….”. Well you get the drift. Ummm, good question. I’ll get back to you on that one after this weekend. Others might think the “no sex in the champagne room” bullet point may be a challenge. Well, since I have no one tapping my on the shoulder in the middle of the night saying “Hey baby, is you woke?” that is null and void (don’t cry for me Argentina. I can handle the lack of “coloring”).

Honestly, I don’t think the first two rules will be that difficult to handle. I’ve cut soda, even juice, out of my diet before, so alcohol shouldn’t really be an issue. And as far as the nookie goes, I can manage without that too. The areas where I might struggle are with the water and sleep. A long time insomnia sufferer and infomercial connoisseur, I have to force myself to sleep. Lately I’ve been doing better, especially since a trainer at my gym told me you can burn fat while resting. WELL HOT DAMN!!!!! Just typing *yawn* about it makes me *yawn* sleepy. Ok, maybe not. The gallon of water……Mama might have to work on that :-/ A whole gallon?!??! Do you realize how big a gallon is?!?!?! You don’t?!?!?! Well go to the store and look at one for five long minutes. Just stare at it without blinking. Go ahead, I’ll wait…….Did you see it? I should have told you to pick it up too. That thing is heavy!!!

In all seriousness, my decision to get myself healthy has been one in the works since 2008. Back then I weighed a whopping 183lbs. Not a good look for A) a former dancer and B) someone who is only 5’4 1/2”, 5’5” on a good day. I also noticed people around me whose health was beginning to deteriorate. As an African American woman I run a great risk of high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, just to name a few. Add to that the fact that my grand mother (maternal) battled breast cancer and my other grand mother (paternal) was considered obese. However, weight wasn’t an issue for me until my mid twenties. Up until then I was of average weight for my height. But life happens. Office jobs, frequent trips to vending machines and fast food spots, lack of physical movement, and depression were the main culprits in my “packing on of le pounds” (French accent, qui qui). Oh shoot, I’m rambling…..

Long story short, I’m fat, I hate being fat, and now I’m going to REALLY stick to my guns and do something about…….Watch me work biznatchezzz!!!!!!

lei

Make sure you follow Leilah through her journey and lend a helping word of support when you see her on Twitter or on her blog as she fights the temptation to sway away from the new Healthy Lifestyle.

Click Here to see some of the other participants

Check out the Details to the GodBody Diet here

So, as of recently, A couple of beautiful ladies & friends have decided to take the plunge and give the #GodBody Diet a chance. So with a tweek of the title, I present you the Beautiful Ladies of the #GoddessBody Diet:

Jill Person
On August 3, 1985 in beautiful Los Angles, CA Jill I. Person was born. Her mother & father raised her 2 be an independent young lady and was taught to always go for what she wanted in life. At the age of three years old she was placed on her 1st tennis court & that wouldn’t be the last! She is the eldest of two siblings & a mother of a three year old boy. The very talented tennis player was offered a full scholarship to Tuskegee University and used her skills to earn 3 championship rings along with a degree in Social Work. Jill took her degree & applied it towards the Department of Family & Children Services in Atlanta, GA. Due to her lack of interest in the field she decided to move back to her hometown. She is currently in LA chilling : )

Jill has converted her blog to document the next 30 days of her diet including photos of meals & her progress in slimming & trimming. You can also follow her on Twitter through her day by clicking this photo:

Juli Mcshay
A native Floridian residing in the southeastern United States, The Southern Socialite is a lover of just about all things Southern. Currently studying law, she has promised herself that this is definitely her final collegiate degree. She enjoys traveling, so much so that she has lived in every time zone in the continental US, except MT. Education is the key to her heart. She received her high school diploma from America’s flagship African American boarding school Piney Woods Country Life School in Mississippi; a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Historic Talladega College; a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern; and is completing her Jurist Doctorate degree someplace down in Dixie!
Juli has added a #GoddessBody Diet page to her blog to document the life of a socialite and managing healthy eating, juggling law school & a wonderful social life. You can also follow her on Twitter through her day by clicking this photo:

Please feel free to send me your story as well, I’d love to add you to this post and add to the encouragement of anyone who is thinking about getting healthy or detoxing in 30 day intervals. If you are on Twitter, keep an eye out for HashTags #GodBody and #GoddessBody Diet.

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Alumni Roundup is a unique working environment. Being our first internet based company we are constantly learning, growing and working toward being a better company.

It’s a process….

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