Time Out Tuesday - Reflecting On The Past Few Weeks And Revising My Vision

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately, lovies. I haven’t even been in the mood to write, which is wretched, considering that it’s one of the few things that makes me feel fulfilled. I look around to other writers that I admire and I ask myself, how do they do it? They come up with original material every day, and often material that leaves me smacking my forehead wonder why I didn’t think of that. I’m not quite sure what happened. I was on a roll. The daily posts flowed from my mind through my fingers onto the computer screen effortlessly. I provided readers with everything they asked for (for those who asked, anyway). But then, I hit a wall and I couldn’t figure out how to get around it. This was the most intense writer’s block I’ve ever encountered. Nothing could pull me out of it. Not a single idea I came up with could manifest itself into a full, coherent article. I began to doubt my abilities as a writer. Seriously. I could no longer do the one thing I KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that I was good at. What on earth was wrong with me?

A new passion has been consuming my life. As much as I would love to make a living writing and styling, the fitness world has filled me with an intense joy that is incomparable to anything I’ve ever experienced. Maybe it’s the endorphins, I don’t know, but it feels really, really good. As you all know, I got my Zumba certification and shortly after met a woman who has inspired me to push myself even further in the fitness world. Her name is Leslie Davila, co-founder of No Excuses Fitness and Dance, and when I tell you this chick is a hustler, it’s no joke. She is on her grind, teaching 10 classes per week and changing so many lives in the process. Her energy is addicting, her smile contagious. And her story touches you like none other. I feel blessed that she’s taken me under her wing and is showing me the ropes of what being a successful fitness instructor is all about. She’s also inspired me to pursue my Personal Training and Group Fitness Certifications. If you’re going to do something, do it right. Go balls to the wall and be a close to a subject matter expert as you can be. Like Leslie says, “No Excuses.”

So now, here I am, the Bougie Budgetista, lover of all things fashion and frugality related, obsessed with fitness. One day dedicated to the subject matter just isn’t enough! We’re going to have to re-evaluate the direction of the blog and make it fit my passions… Yes, passions, PLURAL. In the process, I hope to be able to inspire you to get up, dust yourself off, and make a plan of action to making your dreams come true. Anticipate posts by fellow fitness lovers, shoe addicts, foodies and more. I’ll be introducing you to some really special people who have fresh takes on the world around us. And I’ll be encouraging you to try new things, read new books, watch new films, and think outside the box. The goal is to live a fabulous life without breaking the bank, right? Well, my fabulosity doesn’t just stop where my closet begins. It’s time to rethink what a fulfilled, fantastic life looks like. And as much as Red Bottoms are a part of that vision, it’s not the only vision dancing through my head.

 

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista

Work It Out Wednesday - Getting Over A Plateau

Happy Hump Day, lovies! In today’s edition of Work It Out Wednesday I’d like to talk about my struggles getting over my personal hump – the dreaded plateau.

Over a month, I’ve been stuck at the same weight. I’ve had my normal little fluctuations, but my  morning weight was pretty consistent. I just didn’t get it. I was working out 10-15 hours per week. I limited my calorie intake, steering clear of all the things like fried foods, white starches and alcohol, and upped my fruit and vegetable intake. All the while, I’m thinking to myself “Man, these last few pounds are going to melt off!” Little did I know that it wouldn’t be that easy.

After a few weeks and no significant decline in the scale later, I approached my spinning instructor Nita from Vixen Fitness and vented about my weight loss plight. You see, Nita is a nurse and has been in the fitness industry for years, so if there’s anyone I should be asking about breaking through a rough spot, it’s her. After a few minutes of hashing through my daily workouts, meal plan, and supplement intake, we came to find out that I just wasn’t eating enough. At 26 years old, my metabolism is on fire compared to hers, and with all the stress I’m putting my body under by hitting the gym 2 hours a night, I wasn’t fueling the machine properly. Don’t ask me why eating more makes you lose weight, but it does. Now, that’s not to say that you can just eat whatever you want and not work out. And just in case you thought I was condoning that, I’m not. I repeat, YOU CANNOT EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT, NOT WORK OUT AND EXPECT WEIGHT LOSS! There is a balance.

WeightWatchers is a great tool to use, but if you don’t have the means to pay the meetings membership or the online subscription, check out LoseIt.com. It’s the same principle – make note of calories in (what you eat) versus calories out (what you burn working out) and find your deficit. The program will encourage you to replenish your daily calories burned to make sure your body is well fueled and you have the proper weekly deficit.

Sometimes when you hit a plateau, you just have to switch things up.  Reduce your carb intake for a week. Try a new work out. Work out at a different time of the day. Keep your body guessing and the pounds melting off!

Happy Losing!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista