It's Hard Being an Introvert

  

I'm an introvert. I have always been an introvert, and I'm perfectly okay with my social caterpillar tendencies. 

I'm much more comfortable being inside my own head exploring my own thoughts than interacting with people sometimes. It's a bit hard to explain because I love helping people and I love talking to people within certain parameters. But I still prefer being alone with my thoughts than being surrounded by the masses at any given moment.

With the launch of my new website, my new facebook page, my new twitter, my new blog, and my new blog talk radio show, along with networking, helping my clients, and volunteering, I'm drained. 

I love what I do, but I'm no longer in my comfort zone. I'm trying hard to stretch myself, but every now and then I wonder if it's even worth it.

I know giving so much of myself will help somebody at some point, but I often wonder if people even appreciate my efforts.

I'm really thinking too hard about things, but I'm pretty sure that's one of the characteristics of being who I am.

It's hard being an introvert.

Out with the Old, In with the New

As the saying goes, "Out with the old. In with the new."

A couple days ago I formally announced the end of my Caramel Apple Delights candy apple making hobby. It was a tough decision to make, but one that I had made back in February. When making candy apples stopped being fun and started causing me stress, I knew I had to let it go.

As I mourn the end of a fun era of putting smiles on people faces with tasty edible delights, I also celebrate my new stress management blog and my new stress management website.

Although I have a new blog, this one will not end. This blog is an extension of my personal life. This blog is about my journey to a happier, healthier me. My new blog is about my business.

I'm a sporadic blogger, so whenever the urge hits (like right now at 3:19 am EST) I'll write here as a way to clear my mind, celebrate new wins in my journey, and review products that I love (or hate).

I'll end this post with a plea. If you haven't had a chance to do so, please visit my new Facebook page www.facebook.com/StressManagementCoachShereka. I'm currently running a contest until April 30, 2013, in which I will randomly select someone to win free stress management coaching. You know if you're stressed and in need of help handling your stress. Here's a quote I think I coined: "If you don't handle your stress, your stress will handle you."

Hooray for April!!

I've been a busy little bee and I haven't been blogging much. I guess now is the time to update you all on 2 major happenings in the life of Naturally Reka.

Fitness
At the end of March I celebrated a fitness victory by surpassing my weight loss goal. I have officially lost over 33lbs since Summer 2011, with about 20lbs being lost since July 2012. On April Fool's Day I wore a 2 piece swimsuit out in public for the first time since 2010. In the picture below you will see a picture of me from July 2012 on the left and April 1, 2013 on the right.

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Last month I won a free It Works! body wrap. I hope to get rid of the rest of my c-section pooch with the wrap, so I'm extremely excited about it! As soon as I receive it and try it there will be a blog post reviewing the product and telling you how you can purchase yours.

Business

A few weeks ago I posted about becoming a Certified Stress Management Coach. I will start marketing my services as soon as my website launches on April 15, 2013. The website is almost complete, so I've started writing my first stress management ebook. I'm thinking of a May 1st release date for the book. There will definitely be a separate blog post on my stress management venture coming soon. For now I'll leave you with photos of my promo stress balls and client stress journals. 

Brazil Butt Lift & Rockin' Body Reviews

Originally, I was going to complete my Brazil Butt Lift / Rockin' Body hybrid program for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks I started to get bored with the schedule, and I was itching to start my Hip Hop Abs routine. Here's what I thought of the programs individually:

Brazil Butt Lift
Although the name suggests this program is solely for the tush, Brazil Butt Lift is definitely a full-body workout program. After completing all of the exercises in the series, I could definitely tell a difference in my waist, bum bum (butt), tummy, and thighs.

My favorite workout from the BBL series is Cardio Axe (pronounced ah-shay). It's an upbeat, Brazilian dance workout that will have you sweating and rocking your hips like a tornado. My least favorite workout was the High and Tight. Although I didn't enjoy this workout at all, I'm sure this is the workout that lifted my bum bum and thinned my thighs. It's important to note that this workout requires ankle weights (that weren't included in my purchase) and a strength band (that was included in my purchase).

Trainer Leandro Carvalho is great at giving direction and explaining what part of your body you're working out, but his smile irritated the heck outta me. How could someone smile so hard while torturing me with crunches, planks, and strength exercises that make my inner thighs scream?

Despite the cons I mentioned above, I would definitely recommend this program to anyone. Leandro will get your booty into shape and you will look great in your skinny jeans! Also, Brazil Butt Lift has different schedules you can follow depending on the problems you have with your booty (i.e. too big, too flat, etc).

Rockin' Body
I absolutely loved Rockin' Body!!! Shaun T is my new bff in my head. He is fun, energetic, hilarious, and so down-to-earth. I honestly felt like he was more of a friend instead of a trainer during the program. Even my daughter enjoyed these dance workouts and she tells me every day, "Mommy, I want to rockin' body!!"

The only cons I noticed in Rockin' Body were the music, the cheesy raps, and the lack of intensity. I expected some cool pop tunes when I ordered Rockin' Body, but instead I got made-up raps by Mr. Shaun T. Before completing Rockin' Body, I did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, which is super intense. I won't say Rockin' Body is easy because cardio isn't easy for everybody, but it's not as intense as a high intensity interval training workout. Although Rockin' Body never left me sore like BBL or 30 Day Shred, I still burned a lot of calories.

I would definitely recommend Rockin' Body to anybody looking for a fun cardio workout.

Results
I only completed 4 weeks (about 24 days) of the BBL/Rockin' Body hybrid but I still saw some results in that very short amount of time.

• I lost 3.4 lbs (initially I gained 2 lbs when I started then I lost those 2 lbs and an additional 1.4 lbs).
• I lost 1" off my waist. 
• I lost 0.5" from my hips. 
• I lost 0.5" from each thigh.
• I can now pass the "pencil test." (Before you start Brazil Butt Lift program, you're suppose to complete a pencil test to see if your booty needs to be lifted. You place a pencil in the crease where your butt meets the top of your thigh. If the pencil stays put, your booty is hanging too low and you need to work that on out. When I first took the test I failed, but after completing my hybrid program I passed.)

 Here are my before and after photos:

If you can't tell from my cell phone photos, my tummy is a little more flat and my abs near the top of my tummy are a little more defined. Hopefully Hip Hop Abs and cleaning up my diet a little more will help me rid myself of my c-section pooch. Stay tuned for that review in the future.

Both Brazil Butt Lift and Rockin' Body are Team Beachbody products. If you are interested in trying out any Team Beachbody products and don't know a coach, please visit  Coach Alfreda McMillan's website. She's my personal Beachbody Coach and she will get you squared away.

March Madness: Coaching

March Madness is in full effect. I love college basketball, so March gives me life!!!

I pay attention to the craziest details during college basketball games, especially the attire of coaches. The coach of my favorite team, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Roy Williams, is the best-dressed coach on the bench, hands down. I always notice his suits and I'm constantly comparing the outfits of other coaches to his outfits.

Another thing I notice about college basketball coaches, is their demeanor. Demeanor is something I try to observe in all types of coaches on all types of levels.

My older sister always played basketball growing up, so I always paid attention to her coaches throughout the years and they all had different approaches and attitudes. My daddy coached church league basketball back in the day and as a child, I would always pay attention to what he was doing. My husband coached elementary school basketball for a couple years and there were times I'd pay more attention to him during games, than I would the kids.

I have a Team Beachbody Coach, the fabulous Mrs. Alfreda McMillan (please click her name to visit her Beachbody site to order terrific products that will get you fit), and I know a few other Beachbody Coaches and they all coach differently.

When I decided to become a Certified Stress Management Coach this month, I started contemplating my attire and my attitude. I've been working on two websites for my coaching career for the past couple of weeks, and one of the biggest things for me is deciding on the look of the sites and the look I want to portray in my pictures for the sites.

The first site will be launching sometime next month, and I hope I give the impression I'm intending to give, and I'd love feedback once it's up and running.

NC NO MORE Day

Today, March 13, 2013, is NO MORE Day in North Carolina. 

What does that mean? It means that I am standing with many other people across the state to say NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, this campaign was created to "galvanize change and radically increase the awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities." 

I survived sexual assault at the ages of 16 and 19, and my aunt lost her life to domestic violence on March 14, 2012. I have a daughter, nieces, and nephews, and I don't want them or anyone else to suffer the pain of sexual assault and/or domestic violence.

This movement is sponsored by the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Please visit their websites and Facebook pages to see how you can join the campaign. Tweet #NCNOMORE and tell the world why you say no more.

10 Years

Do you remember where you were 10 years ago?

I remember, vividly.

Ten years ago I was 16 years old, around 5'3", and 94 lbs. I was on a field trip in Greensboro, NC. I thought I was having the time of my life, but it all changed so quickly.

See exactly 10 years ago today, I was raped for the first time in my life. That day I lost my virginity, my innocence, my self esteem, my self respect, my confidence, my joy, my happiness, my faith, and myself.

I spent years trying to get back everything that was stolen from me, especially myself. I wanted so badly to reclaim the person I was on February 27, 2003, for so long.

It took some time, but I now understand that I can't go back. I can't turn back the hands of time. I can't become the person I used to be. That person is dead and gone. That Shereka died. Do you know how it feels to be a ghost of you former self?

Thank God that is only part of my story. I like to think that my current self is a more refined and mature version of that former self. It took years for me to realize that I was no longer a ghost. It's almost like my soul found a new body when I became whole again.

I won't say that what happened 10 years ago made me a better person because initially it made me a much worse person. I had so much hatred in my heart for so many people back then. I think I hated myself the most.  But that's all in the past because every ounce of hatred has been replaced by so much love for life, people, and myself.

We all have skeletons in our closet. Every good person I know, has had something terrible happen to them. I want you to know that you can recover. You may not get everything back in the exact manner it was packaged before, but you will get exactly what you need to live again.

If you're a person of faith, you know the story of Job. Job didn't get back the exact things and people he lost, but he did get double for his trouble. I'm a living witness that life happens just like that.

In Philippians 4:13 the scripture says, " I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." If no one has ever told you, I want to tell you now that you can and you will do whatever your heart desires. 

In this life you must always remember that you were wonderfully and fearfully made just like David in Psalms 139:14, and you are more than a conqueror through Him that loves you (to paraphrase Romans 8:37).  You may have experienced some trials and setbacks, but God has already prepared you for your comeback. It's up to you to realize it and to push forward through the hurt and pain of the past.

This evening, at almost the exact time in which I was raped 10 years ago, I'll be sitting in my last training class at the Durham Crisis Response Center. Tonight, I will complete my training as a Faith Based Community Educator and I will keep pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling (Philippians 3:14).

My life has come full circle from 10 years ago. I know that tonight will not be the end because Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

I wonder where I'll be 10 years from now.