Today, I got in front of a class for the first time. I went through my routines. I encouraged them. I left it all on the dance floor. And it paid off. My first trial run at Vixen Fitness was a great success. I got this!
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resolutions. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Mission: Accomplished!
Over the weekend, I took a trip down to Miami to achieve a much anticipated goal. I am pleased to announce that I am now an Official Zumba Instructor! Next week, I will be leading a song at Vixen Fitness and hope to join the Instructor in Training program at RhythmX. Stay tuned for details on my first class!
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
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| Proud Moment :) |
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Work It Out Wednesday - From Couch to 5K
Happy Hump Day, boys and girls! I'm trying out something new today. I'm thinking of having themed posts for each day of the week? Let me know what you think! And back to our regularly scheduled program...
Today is the 26th day of 2011. It has been said that it takes 21 consecutive days to develop a habit. How are you keeping up with your resolutions? It's okay if you fell off. Life happens. But what are you doing to get back on track? Quite frankly, I've been having trouble staying on my running schedule. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm still busting my butt working out, but I'm doing nothing to help me achieve my goal of running a marathon. I know I'm not alone with this goal. So for those of you who enjoy this inexpensive and relaxing workout, or for those who would like to enjoy it, here is some of the research I found to get you off that couch and running a 5K.
Aside from my "Get Running" iPod app, which I LOVE, there are loads of training guides online which are really helpful. My favorite site has been Florida East Coast Runners. They have outlined everything you need to know to get running and meet your goals.
Now that you have the information, make a plan. If you had a plan but need to revise it, get to it. Look up running clubs in your area and get the support and motivate you need to keep going. Just don't quit. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet, but keep it up and be patient. Before you know it, you'll be crossing the finish line after 26.2 miles with a huge, victorious smile on your face.
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Today is the 26th day of 2011. It has been said that it takes 21 consecutive days to develop a habit. How are you keeping up with your resolutions? It's okay if you fell off. Life happens. But what are you doing to get back on track? Quite frankly, I've been having trouble staying on my running schedule. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm still busting my butt working out, but I'm doing nothing to help me achieve my goal of running a marathon. I know I'm not alone with this goal. So for those of you who enjoy this inexpensive and relaxing workout, or for those who would like to enjoy it, here is some of the research I found to get you off that couch and running a 5K.
Aside from my "Get Running" iPod app, which I LOVE, there are loads of training guides online which are really helpful. My favorite site has been Florida East Coast Runners. They have outlined everything you need to know to get running and meet your goals.
- Start Running
- Run Your First 5K
- Training For The Serious Runner (5K-10K)
- How To Run Your First Half Marathon
- Run Your First Marathon
Now that you have the information, make a plan. If you had a plan but need to revise it, get to it. Look up running clubs in your area and get the support and motivate you need to keep going. Just don't quit. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet, but keep it up and be patient. Before you know it, you'll be crossing the finish line after 26.2 miles with a huge, victorious smile on your face.
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Friday, January 21, 2011
Inspiration in Unlikely Places
I have been slacking on my posts, I know. I could give a million excuses, but I'm not going to. Especially not after having met the woman I met today.
I work in admissions for a college, so everyday, I talk to all kinds of people. Some are truly passionate about going to school, others are looking for that financial aid refund check. But every once in a while, I come across a person who is remarkably profound, impacting me in ways I never knew a complete stranger could.
It started off like any other interview with a prospective student - introductions, reasons for going to college, ultimate career goals - and she told me why she needed to get a career going, but the closing of the sentence blew me away. "I'm not working and haven't worked for over a year. I need a career. I need to make money. I haven't been able to work because I was diagnosed with leukemia. The doctors gave me 8-10 months to live. I told them that I wasn't going to let leukemia kill me, and here I am a year and a half later. I told my doctors they'll be writing about me in medical journals one day." She was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease that her doctors had only come across a handful of times (by 'handful', I mean four times, and of the four she's the only one alive). She's a single mother of three children and refused to let anything keep her from them. Not even death.
This is the power of positive thinking and a fighting spirit. When the rest of the world would have just given up on their hopes and dreams, she made new ones. She knew in her heart that she would live to see her children grow up, get married, and make her a grandmother. Having already survived thyroid cancer and melanoma, she knew nothing could stop her. I sat there on the phone with her for two hours and two minutes (yes I was counting) and was speechless. I didn't want to talk to her about school. I didn't want to give her any information or interview her for admission. I was in such awe of her achievements as survivor that I just wanted to be inspired. She didn't come from a wealthy family. She didn't go to a prestigious prep school. This was the first time she had ever even thought about really going to college. But she was quick witted, full of joy and laughter, and very, VERY feisty. I loved that about her. Life handed her a barrel of lemons and she's turned her life into a fabulous lemonade stand, sharing her pains and struggles in a way that uplifts and inspires those around her. One phone call and my whole world changed.
She's lived her life on her terms, never settling for less. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. Tell her "No" and she'll laugh in your face and say "Watch me." After all that this woman has been through, how dare I or anyone else in this world say "I can't." Everything happens for a reason. I've slacked on my dreams for what? Time is precious. There is no better time than now to achieve my dreams. I made commitments to myself and to you. And I have to keep them. While in the hospital, after she had been told that she would inevitably die within the year from leukemia, her son came in the room and asked her "Mom, are you going to die?" She answered "No, I'm not going to let this take me away from you." He then said "Promise?" I had tears in my eyes when she said "When you make a promise like that to your children, you have to keep it." She has. And even if I never speak to her again, I know she will.
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
I work in admissions for a college, so everyday, I talk to all kinds of people. Some are truly passionate about going to school, others are looking for that financial aid refund check. But every once in a while, I come across a person who is remarkably profound, impacting me in ways I never knew a complete stranger could.
It started off like any other interview with a prospective student - introductions, reasons for going to college, ultimate career goals - and she told me why she needed to get a career going, but the closing of the sentence blew me away. "I'm not working and haven't worked for over a year. I need a career. I need to make money. I haven't been able to work because I was diagnosed with leukemia. The doctors gave me 8-10 months to live. I told them that I wasn't going to let leukemia kill me, and here I am a year and a half later. I told my doctors they'll be writing about me in medical journals one day." She was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease that her doctors had only come across a handful of times (by 'handful', I mean four times, and of the four she's the only one alive). She's a single mother of three children and refused to let anything keep her from them. Not even death.
This is the power of positive thinking and a fighting spirit. When the rest of the world would have just given up on their hopes and dreams, she made new ones. She knew in her heart that she would live to see her children grow up, get married, and make her a grandmother. Having already survived thyroid cancer and melanoma, she knew nothing could stop her. I sat there on the phone with her for two hours and two minutes (yes I was counting) and was speechless. I didn't want to talk to her about school. I didn't want to give her any information or interview her for admission. I was in such awe of her achievements as survivor that I just wanted to be inspired. She didn't come from a wealthy family. She didn't go to a prestigious prep school. This was the first time she had ever even thought about really going to college. But she was quick witted, full of joy and laughter, and very, VERY feisty. I loved that about her. Life handed her a barrel of lemons and she's turned her life into a fabulous lemonade stand, sharing her pains and struggles in a way that uplifts and inspires those around her. One phone call and my whole world changed.
She's lived her life on her terms, never settling for less. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. Tell her "No" and she'll laugh in your face and say "Watch me." After all that this woman has been through, how dare I or anyone else in this world say "I can't." Everything happens for a reason. I've slacked on my dreams for what? Time is precious. There is no better time than now to achieve my dreams. I made commitments to myself and to you. And I have to keep them. While in the hospital, after she had been told that she would inevitably die within the year from leukemia, her son came in the room and asked her "Mom, are you going to die?" She answered "No, I'm not going to let this take me away from you." He then said "Promise?" I had tears in my eyes when she said "When you make a promise like that to your children, you have to keep it." She has. And even if I never speak to her again, I know she will.
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Thursday, January 13, 2011
When You Wish Upon a Star - Committing to a Goal in a Magical Place
I should be in bed, but writers block (ok, fine, I'll admit it... and Torment by Lauren Kate) have kept me up.Tomorrow morning, I need to be up early to run. You all know, it is my goal to run a marathon. And though this Disney marathon is slated for January 2012 and a bit beyond my original goal date, I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty stoked for it. As soon as the option for early registration is posted, I'm all over it. 357 days to go... Let the countdown begin!
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Monday, January 3, 2011
Let's Get Physical
I’m willing to bet my most recent pair of Guess pumps that most people have resolved to lose weight and get in shape this New Year. Am I right or am I right? Here’s the problem, gym memberships can be pretty costly, especially if, heaven forbid, you break your resolution and forget to cancel your membership. Paying for something you’re not using regularly is no bueno. So how do you get jump started on a fun fitness routine without breaking the bank or making a commitment you’re not ready to make? Now is the time to take advantage of some sweet deals at places you wouldn’t expect to focus on fitness.
I’m a huge fan of group fitness classes, especially ones that don’t feel like you’re working out. I secretly hate working out, but I’ve found some really cool workouts that trick my brain into thinking it isn’t working out (read: Dance classes). There’s a sense of camaraderie and accountability in those classes. If I were left to my own devices, I’d probably quit whenever I got tired, but having an instructor motivating me to keep going, reminding me that I’m almost there, and a group of individuals cheering with me until the end pushes me harder and ultimately gives me better results. For those of you who share my sentiment and enjoy a group workout of any kind, several studios and smaller gyms across the country that specialize in those types of workouts are offering exclusive deals that most people don’t know about. Ladies and gentlemen, now is the time to sign up for Groupon, LivingSocial, and OdealsDaily emails. Have you ever wanted to try a Mui Thai class? How about a pole dancing class? Is kickboxing more your thing? Here’s your chance to try out different fitness classes in different locations, giving you the opportunity to find a fitness home all while burning boat loads of calories and keeping your muscles confused (for those of you who have heard of or done P90X, you know all about how muscle confusion boosts your weight loss goals). Some recent deals that I’ve gotten include 10 dance aerobics classes for $25 ($80 value) and 4 female fitness classes for $30 ($84 value). Different locations, different instructors, different classes, same goal – sweating my butt off!
My other go to work out is simple and relatively inexpensive – Running. Think about it: all you need are a pair of running shoes and the open road. Most of us have iPods or a phone that can be loaded with mp3s, so load it up with your favorite fast paced songs and hit the track! But before you get started running, go to your nearest specialty running store (In Atlanta, I recommend West Stride and in Orlando, Fleet Feet and Track Shack) and have them fit you for the right shoes. Experts at these shops are going to help you find what works best for you, and the best part is that the fitting is free! I’m not going to lie, a good pair of running shoes will cost you between $70 to $125, but your knees, back, shins, and nearly every other part of your body will thank you for the investment. Once you’ve found the right shoes (and, ladies, the right sports bra), you’re all set to start running! When I decided to pick this up, I had never run more than 10 seconds in my life. Come to find out, there’s an app for that! For those of you who don’t have an iPod Touch or iPhone, there are guides online to help you get started. All of them will encourage you to alternate between walking and running, increasing the amount of time you run from week to week. Eventually you’ll be able to run 30 minutes without stopping – your first 5K!
Be proud for making this commitment to yourself. It’s a huge one to make, but you’re worth it! Here’s to getting physically fit while staying financially fit!
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Planning for Progress
As you all know, I have made a commitment to myself to write every day this year. Whether it be a full in depth post about amazing deals, fashion fixes, or inspirational entrepreneurs or just a motivating thought for the day, I must fulfill my need to write. And yes, it is a need. It is my catharsis. It soothes me. It helps keep my emotions in check. It makes me feel like my true self. This, however, is not my only goal for 2011. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the year of preparation and progress. Great things are going to happen, and in order to embrace the positive changes, we must prepare ourselves for them.
"People will achieve anything if they think it's worth it and that they're capable. Capability comes with information. Educate yourself about your goals so you can make powerful choices that affect the changes you want in your life!" - Jillian Michaels
Today, I challenge all of you to take a look at your goals for this year. Are they realistic? How committed are you to achieving them? Are you capable of achieving them? The only way to know is to buckle down and do your research.Take the month of January and prepare yourself to take on the year. I'll use my goals to give you an example of my game plan:
I am an avid Zumba enthusiast. I love going to classes, I have the DVDs at home, I love the sweat I work up, and most of all, I love that Zumba is basically one big party. But over time, I realized, I was dishing out $5-$15 dollars per class. Not the smartest move for a Budgetista. If you put on your hustler's hat, the first thought that should come to mind is "if you're going to do something you love doing, why not get paid for it?" Think about it. An average class has about 20 people in it. Most instructors teach at least 3 classes per week. You do the math. So I asked my fellow enthusiasts, some of which are instructors themselves, and got the inside scoop. Since then, I've set aside the funds to get certified, learned what I need to do to gain experience, and plan on actually teaching classes in March!
Think about your goals. Ask questions. Seek answers. Take the next 31 days and develop a solid game plan. Because, let's face it, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail and 2011 is not a year for failure. In the words of my BFF, "go forth and conquer your dreams."
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
"People will achieve anything if they think it's worth it and that they're capable. Capability comes with information. Educate yourself about your goals so you can make powerful choices that affect the changes you want in your life!" - Jillian Michaels
Today, I challenge all of you to take a look at your goals for this year. Are they realistic? How committed are you to achieving them? Are you capable of achieving them? The only way to know is to buckle down and do your research.Take the month of January and prepare yourself to take on the year. I'll use my goals to give you an example of my game plan:
- Become a Zumba Instructor
- Lose another 20 pounds
- Run a marathon
- Blog daily
- Become a certified wedding planner
- Build my portfolio as an image consultant
- Build my portfolio as a full figured model
- Plan my BFF the most amazing Bachelorette weekend ever (hey, it's one of my goals, ok? Don't judge me) on a reasonable budget
- Save $10,000
- Organize my closet to make getting ready in the mornings a cinch
I am an avid Zumba enthusiast. I love going to classes, I have the DVDs at home, I love the sweat I work up, and most of all, I love that Zumba is basically one big party. But over time, I realized, I was dishing out $5-$15 dollars per class. Not the smartest move for a Budgetista. If you put on your hustler's hat, the first thought that should come to mind is "if you're going to do something you love doing, why not get paid for it?" Think about it. An average class has about 20 people in it. Most instructors teach at least 3 classes per week. You do the math. So I asked my fellow enthusiasts, some of which are instructors themselves, and got the inside scoop. Since then, I've set aside the funds to get certified, learned what I need to do to gain experience, and plan on actually teaching classes in March!
Think about your goals. Ask questions. Seek answers. Take the next 31 days and develop a solid game plan. Because, let's face it, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail and 2011 is not a year for failure. In the words of my BFF, "go forth and conquer your dreams."
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
This I Promise You...
Ok, loves, so I know I've been M.I.A. for a while. For that I sincerely apologize. I've had a lot on my plate lately. But with all the craziness, I've lost sight of what I love most - writing.
This year flew by. It feels like yesterday that I was ringing in 2010 with new hopes, dreams, and wishes for the new year and the new decade. All of the sudden, here I am making resolutions... No, scratch that... making commitments for 2011. It's going to be a huge year, boys and girls. Great things are happening for so many people. The energy buzzing around feels amazing and I am so ready to embrace the changes that are coming.
So with that said, I'd like to make a promise to you all, but mostly to myself. The Bougie Budgetista will be blogging daily in the year 2011. Yes. DAILY! I'm excited about this venture and I most certainly hope you are too. This year I am claiming success and growth as a writer. Happy New Year, my darlings!
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
This year flew by. It feels like yesterday that I was ringing in 2010 with new hopes, dreams, and wishes for the new year and the new decade. All of the sudden, here I am making resolutions... No, scratch that... making commitments for 2011. It's going to be a huge year, boys and girls. Great things are happening for so many people. The energy buzzing around feels amazing and I am so ready to embrace the changes that are coming.
So with that said, I'd like to make a promise to you all, but mostly to myself. The Bougie Budgetista will be blogging daily in the year 2011. Yes. DAILY! I'm excited about this venture and I most certainly hope you are too. This year I am claiming success and growth as a writer. Happy New Year, my darlings!
♥ - The Bougie Budgetista
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