Ladies of Legacy

Staying Stress Free this Holiday Season

2009-11-05T18:14:00.001-05:00

The holidays are definitely coming and for many, it is a stressful time of the year. Here are a few tips to help you stay stress free this holiday season.

1. Be prepared. Haste makes waste is what they always say. Get ready and get ready early. Don’t wait until the last minute to do your shopping for your food. Cut your coupons early and start stocking up on all your Thanksgiving food items. It will work best if you make a list.

2. Do your Christmas food shopping while you do your Thanksgiving shopping as well. Sam’s Club, BJ’s and the like sell items in bulk allowing you to use some and save some for later. Don’t wait until the last minute and get caught up in long lines trying to purchase your food. Or having to go to more than one store because the first store is already sold out of some of the items that you need. You can “kill two birds with one stone.”

3. Make a budget for each holiday and stick to it. No matter what, do not go over your budget. Nothing causes more stress than being broke and not having money for all the things that you need. Buy the most important things first then worry about the small stuff.

4. Clean up early. Most of us have a little extra cleaning to do for the holidays or when we are expecting company. Don’t wait until the week of, start now. Clean a little each day or each week and you won’t have to stress yourself trying to cook and clean all at the same time and get mad with the kids when they don’t move fast enough.

5. Don’t wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start shopping for Christmas. The day after Christmas has a lot of sales and gimmicks to get you in the store, but don’t do all your shopping on that one day. Start early. I know some people who Christmas shop all year round. This will help to stretch your money which will alleviate a lot of stress. We all know that being without money causes stress. And remember, set a budget and stick to it.

6. Lastly, if you do not have it, don’t worry. The holidays are about friends and family and not about gifts. The true meaning of the holidays are being lost and degraded. Be thankful that you have family and share that moment and remember the reason for the season; For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that who so ever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

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Are You Afraid of Change?

2009-09-18T13:03:00.000-04:00

A metathesiophobic is someone who fears change. Are you a metathesiophobic? If so, you're human.

Most of us fear change because change usually brings the unfamiliar. When we encounter the unfamiliar, we feel like we're losing control. So, experiencing resistance to change is a common feeling. So common, in fact, that it's easy to find great quotes on the subject of change. Here a few to ponder:

When you're finished changing, you're finished - Benjamin Franklin

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change - Charles Darwin

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely - Unknown

We change, whether we like it or not - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your current safe boundaries were once unknown frontiers - Unknown

Chang is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become - Unknown

We must become the change we want to see - Mahatma Gandhi

If you don't create change, change will create you - Unknown

The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable - JFK

What's changing in your life?

It's A New Day

2009-07-14T16:02:00.004-04:00

When you are backed up against the wall, in a corner, and feel like you are down for the count...know that there is a NEW DAY waiting on the horizon for you! That NEW DAY is filled with opportunity, change, renewal, and restoration. Listen closely...is a NEW DAY calling your name waiting for you to come inside to experience the refreshing thought that you can leave woes and worries in the old day that has passed and take advantage of the newness!

After a 36 year battle of the buldge, I have decided to take advantage of my NEW DAY. What does that mean? It means that I will be committed and consistent. It means that I have thrown away my crutch that used to say 'it's that time of the month' I feel weak, I am in pain, I am bloated, etc. It means that I will not be saying alot, just doing alot.

Although I plan to take full advantage of my NEW DAY, I realize that there will be challenging days, days where I feel that what I am doing is not paying off, and days where I just don't feel like it...but because I am now living in a NEW DAY it has helped me to deal with my perspective while continuing to FIGHT and move forward.

So, remember EVERYDAY is a NEW DAY...BUT DON'T DELAY we do not know when our NEW DAY is our last day...so make the most out of your NEW DAY in every way!

Eat or Cheat

2009-07-14T07:57:00.002-04:00

I was watching a television show last night in which there was a CHEAT Cabinet and an Eat Cabinet. The choice of word usage caught my eye as well. When you think of the word eat, you think of a positive connotation; however, if you add the common CH blend in front of eat you get CHEAT which gives a negative connotation. I was intrigued because the choices that we make are that simple. Do you want to eat to be healthy or CHEAT your family, your friends or your life because you continue to cheat yourself. But in the work and leave the "CH" in the pastures to graze on itself.

Work for It

2009-06-23T22:53:00.002-04:00

Nothing in life comes easy. Anything worth having is worth working for. If you work for it, you appreciate it more. If it comes too easily, you don't really appreciate it. Are you working for it. It is this case refers to weight loss. Do you want it bad enough to work to get the results that you are looking for. It is God's desire that we be healthy. That is the goal that I am trying to achieve. Healthy for you may not be healthy for me. You must define what being healthy means to you and give 100% effort to reach your goal.

The Ladies of Legacy has Birthed a New Ministry

2009-06-23T09:38:00.003-04:00

In light of the "big news" of the TV reality stars separation and being that I don't usually mention tabloid news; I would like to announce the birth of an important ministry from a member of the Ladies of Legacy, Diva1. Her marriage ministry is deep in her heart and very special to her. She has named the ministry Harmony and I will post our monthly gatherings as a monthly segment of our blog titled, "After You Say I Do."

Diva1 is unable to commit to posting at this time but her ministry and love of it has lead me to share her spirit and the love of marriage with everyone.

Now speaking of Jon and Kate, they are deciding to separate for a time contributing to 50% of marriages in the United States ending in divorce. Diva1 is ready to challenge that statistic head on and not allow the enemy to succeed. Her Harmony ministry is aimed directly at rebuilding and restoring marriage through fellowship, prayer and addressing issues head on. A lot of times we run from problems instead of confronting them causing them to fester and build.

I would personally like to thank Diva1 for her ability to hear God's word and her willingness to speak life into others and her courage to defeat the odds of failed marriages in our society.

Take a bow Diva1 because you deserve it.

If you know of anyone that our blog could be a blessing to, please invite them to join us as we strive to do our best to improve our lives as well as others.

Vivid Reminders

2009-06-22T18:39:00.004-04:00

This morning my job asked me to do something I have not done in 10 years. I had to drive the van to do pick ups and drop offs in the public housing areas. I had no problem with doing it because I like working with kids, plus my job is super easy.

I guess out of site really means out of mind. I had forgotten the sites of public housing and the way some of us live. I guess I forgot that 1 in 4 African-Americans live in poverty in the United States. I have not worked with children in years, especially kids in low-income areas so I guess I forgot that 35% of African-American children live in poor families.

The 3 or 4 year old little girl that I saw standing outside on the corner all alone before 8:00 in the morning while men roamed freely as they worked and others moved along throughout the neighborhood; all the people sitting out on their porches first thing in the morning with their pajamas on and rags on their head and the trash that was everywhere first thing in the morning brought it all back to me.

It brought back to my attention that even though we have a black president, the first black president and leader of the free world (whatever that means), we still have a long long way to go.
Even in the year 2009 the year of our Lord.

Happy Father's Day Mom

2009-06-21T09:49:00.003-04:00

I would like to tackle a very controversial issue this morning. The issue that I would like to address is Mothers playing dual roles in the family. They say a woman can't teach a boy to be a man; however, I disagree. In my opinion, the mother generally plays the most significant role in the family whether there is a man in the home or not. The man is usually the bread winner in the family; however, the mother is the chaperon, nurse, doctor, teacher, chauffeur, caregiver, recital attender etc. As a single mother myself raising a 14 year old son, it is hard but I take on the job with prayer, resilience and determination. I may not be able to show my son how to be a man but I can and do raise him to understand the difference that he must make in life, in our community and in the family. A role that he must not be taken lightly. He knows how a women wants and deserves to be treated. He realizes that one must take responsibilities for all of their action whether good or bad. He realizes that you must treat people the way that you want to be treated. All of these things that I have instilled in my son are not gender specific but people specific. Kudos to all of the single mothers, the fantastic women who wear two hats and make a difference in our lives. Regardless of how you got to be both mom and dad, count it a blessing and pamper yourself today. After all, you deserve it. Happy Father's Day Mom.

Back to Basics

2009-06-20T08:50:00.003-04:00

I've finally realized that I have come to a point where I have to start over again. I don't know what path I am on or how I got on this path; however, I know that I can't stay here any longer. What I do know, it that I'm tired of being on this road and it's time I made a detour. To detour means to deviate from a direct course of action. If I don't detour now, I will most definitely crash and end up in a place of no return. Please PRAY, PRAY and keep on PRAYING for me to find my way back on course.

I need help

2009-06-18T15:43:00.004-04:00

Okay,
So, I'm not exactly the blogging type, but I do read 90% of the ones that I receive. I try to stay connected but quiet. At any rate, I find myself needing a little bit of help. My sweetie is nothing but encouraging with regard to my weight loss venture. He ALWAYS tells me that I look great and that he is 100% satisfied with my body. I have to mention that he has recently lost about 25 pounds or more and looks great. Bye-Bye love handles. He has had to shop for new clothes. He went down 3 pant sizes ( for women that's like 6 sizes because we count each number as a size, for instance from a size 16 to a 10...is six sizes). Anyhoo. He looks amazing. I was already satisfied with his appearance but now, even more so. So, why wouldn't he be more satisfied with me if I lost 50 pounds? We work out together, we play basketball together and all the while he seems so happy but I feel so unattractive because of the weight. I've lost about 9 pounds and that's it. My biggest problem is late night snacking and keeping my appointments at the gym.

So, my question is:
"Why does your man think that you look great when you know darn well that you look enormous"? "Is he just being nice or does he really like that jelly roll and wobble wobble"?

I feel so self conscious when I'm naked and don't really feel as comfortable during those intimate moments but he can't seem to get enough. I'm just wondering what's wrong with this picture?

There's Nothing Like Family

2009-06-14T11:48:00.000-04:00

Well the Mack clan took a road trip to Baltimore this weekend to surprise one of our own for his 36th birthday.

Needless to say since one generation rarely leaves Portsmouth, we packed meals and snacks for a three and a half hour trip. And, needless to say, just a little over an hour of riding and getting on the road an hour late, while still in Virginia, we stopped at a rest stop; to eat.

You gotta love family. I sure love mine.

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Natural Weight Loss: Week 2

2009-06-11T07:22:00.000-04:00

Well after 2 weeks, I have lost 8 pounds and 10 inches including 4 inches in my waiste. I have received a few compliments from people saying I look like I'm loosing weight. And that ALWAYS helps. I did not get to exercise like I really wanted to because of my bursitis but I did eat well and lost more inches than I did pounds.

That is because I am attempting to rid my body of toxins that stores fat cells in the most inconvenient areas. By getting rid of those toxins, weight loss shows up in the areas we most want. I did not detox as much this past week but will pick up next week with hopes of continuing loosing inches.

Follow my progress on youtube.

Energy is Life

2009-06-06T13:53:00.000-04:00

Energy is life. Anything that lives gives off some type of energy. Energy is a force that can be positive or negative. All living beings have a force of positive and/or negative energy.

Energy is contagious. People can pass there positive or negative energy on to others. That is why so many successful people will tell you to surround yourself with positive people or people who are trying to achieve the sames things you are. That is because of the force of energy.

So when we are around people that drain the energy out of us, realize they are draining life out of us as well. It is easy to dissociate ourselves from some "energy drainers," but it is more difficult when you are married to them.
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The Magic Bullet to Weight Loss

2009-06-04T07:00:00.003-04:00

I'm sure we've all heard about weight loss having a magic bullet. There's really no magic bullet because there are many factors to loosing weight. But if there were ever a magic bullet to loosing weight naturally, fiber and water would be it.

Now exercise is just as important but for now we are going to focus on fiber and water. Reason being, let's say you can't exercise right now. You can still begin your weight loss journey by incorporating something as simple as fiber and water into your everyday regime.

Click on each link, fiber and water, to find out more information about the benefits and fiber and water. Also check out my latest youtube feed to keep up with my progress.

Natural Weight Loss Update

2009-06-02T11:12:00.008-04:00

Things are going very very well. I have lost 8 pounds so far with my natural weight loss and I have one more day to go with my detox. I am eating healthy and natural foods, no processed foods or junk. Just all natural foods from the earth and occasional meat. I am also drinking herbal teas and taking some supplements to help my body return to its normal state of well being. I am also exercising occasionally. My bursitis has returned in my hips but I won't let that stop me.

With natural weight loss there are really no gimmicks and tricks. And yes it is about calories and deficits but when you eat natural foods, they aid the body in ridding itself of of toxins including fats and other impurities. Natural foods are low in calories so you can eat as much as you like. Riding the body of toxins by detoxifying the body is the most important of weight loss.

Drinking water is very essential in the process. Water helps the body rid itself of toxins and also helps the nutrients from our foods to transport throughout the body where ever needed.

I hope to post new pictures within a month. I plan on being a bit slimmer.

See you at the finish line.

Slowly but Surely Weight Loss Journey

2009-05-30T13:34:00.003-04:00

I am enjoying my journey thus far. I know that it is new and I have started several times in the past year or so but this time it is really different. My eating is going very well but I really need to increase my exercise. I've been concentrating on my diet but I know that exercise is very important in weight loss and healthy living.

Everyone is different; but for me, I know how my body works and that I have to exercise if I want to loose weight. My energy level has not increased too much yet but I think some of it is mind over matter. One important thing about exercise and weight loss is that exercise helps to shrink fat cells. Shrinking my fat cells is one of my main goals for weight loss and health.

I plan next week to increase my exercise so that I can decrease the size of my fat cells.

Cleansing and Detoxification

2009-05-29T07:00:00.014-04:00

I went to the health food store and my hubby and I picked out a 7 day cleanse that has 25 different herbs in it. It seems to cover every major organ in the body and I think it is going to be great. I like it because it is only 7 days which means I should see some results soon and it should also speed up my weight loss.

I also finally got up on youtube.com. I plan to follow my progress there and pass on my knowledge here. I included my first clip and I will update it each week.

I'm off to a good start. I went out to eat today and ordered a salad for the first time ever. I hope to see you at the finish line.

Natural Weight Loss: So Far So Good

2009-05-27T20:19:00.006-04:00

I'm doing pretty well so far. I have stuck to my regimen today and I am glad. I even got in a little exercise today. Not much but a good 30 minute brisk walk. Every little bit helps.

My main goal and focus for my natural weight loss is to loose weight naturally through diet and exercise and with the help of nature through herbs and foods that promote weight loss.

Tomorrow I begin my honey and lemon regimen. Raw honey and lemon juice combined are an excellent source for shrinking fat cells in the body. I have attached one of the many write ups on the internet discussing how honey and lemon juice can shrink fat cells naturally resulting in weight loss.

I am also drinking herbal teas, adding lemon to my water, juicing my fruits and vegetables and I also began taking my psyllium husk to increase my fiber intake. I am hoping to have lost 5 pounds by my weigh in on Sunday. It sounds far fetch but I think it is possible. Many of the herbal teas are diuretics and will speed up the process of ridding my body of excess water.

I took my measurements on yesterday and will post them at my weigh in as well. So just to go over my regimen to this point, I am:

Eating more fruits and vegetables
Eating meat only once a day
Juicing my fruits and vegetables for quick absorption and detoxification
Drinking herbal teas to help the detoxification process
Increasing fiber with psyllium husk, very important for weight loss
Drinking honey and lemon juice when I wake in the morning to shrink fat cells
Adding lemon juice to my water
Increasing the amount of water I drink
Exercising when possible
Taking supplements to help my body complete its functions.

And last but not least, I will begin my youtube regimen tonight. I plan to video my weight loss journey in hopes of helping others along the way and maybe getting encouragement and advice from others who are or have ventured down this same road. My youtube name is kwilsinc.

Check me out and I hope to see you at the finish line,

Water and Weight Loss

2009-05-27T07:00:00.001-04:00

When we try fad diets, which we have all tried, people (you know the ones that always have something to say) will always say, "you only lost water weight." You can look at them and continue to say that is great, with a smile.

Loosing water weight is a key essential part of losing weight. What a lot of people do not know and/or realize is that our bodies retain water naturally. And the reason that it is naturally is because our body stores water to protect itself from dehydration and famine. Unfortunately, when our body retains water, it slows the process of what the body needs to do to rid itself of excess toxins and weight.

Basically the way that it works is that water surrounds our cells to protect them and to assist them in the processes that they serve. Unfortunately, our cells including fat cells, are filled with toxins and water surrounds those cells to protect them. When water surrounds fat cells along with toxins, our body can not rid itself of the toxins and therefore can not reduce the number of unneeded fat cells. By ridding our bodies of the excess water, we can then begin to rid our bodies of the toxins that we occur everyday due to day to day life. Once we rid our bodies of the water weight and then the toxins, we can then begin to work on shrinking our fat cells and therefore loosing weight in the process.

This is the beginning plan of my weight loss program and I will also share my tips on how to do each step. The article attached to this one is how to rid the body of water weight naturally which is the very first step in the process.

Please read and I hope to see you at the finish line.

Just Getting Started

2009-05-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well today is my big day. I start my health plan today and I'm excited. I've been doing my research and with so many diet tips out there, I have found one that corresponds with both diet plans that we are working with right now: calorie deficit vs. the holistic approach.

This week we will both go into detail about both styles and hopefully draw a few conclusions for which is best and what works for the individual.

So join in if you'd like. It's never too late to get healthy and that is what this is all about.

I weighed in at 295 pounds and my short term goal is to loose 20 pounds within 3 months. My body pictures are to follow along with my measurements. I plan to eat fruit and vegetables today including juicing fresh vegetables.

Be sure to read the article linked to this article. It has 6 quick tips to loosing weight and getting started. Hope to see you at the finish line.

Finally It is On

2009-05-25T21:30:00.004-04:00

Well after a wonderful cruise to Bermuda and some serious soul searching. I am now officially on my way to a healthier lifestyle. I have decided to go back to my best life plan of eating healthy and not just exercising but being active.

I lost myself in life and allowed myself to get out of control; weight and a lot of other things. But now I'm back. I have begun my research to a better healthier lifestyle. I am excited and can't wait to start. I even signed a contract with my husband. The best part of all is the extra added part of not competing but comparing diet styles against my cousin (A1 Teacher).

Our diet styles are completely different and we will be putting each diet to the test. She believes in calorie intake versus calories burned; while I believe in the holistic approach to eating and dieting and cleansing the body. I think we are both correct, although I think mine is better, but we're using two different methods to get us there.

We are even including youtube and putting pictures on the internet and all. We will blog daily and converse on youtube weekly. We are going to take measurements and compare eating and exercise charts. We both plan to back up our diet/lifestyles with factual information found on the internet.

We encourage others to join us in this venture so that we can encourage each other to a healthy lifestyle. We hope to see you all at the finish line.

Deliberate Exercise

2009-05-07T06:30:00.002-04:00

Exercise must be deliberate. In layman's terms, you must make exercise a priority. Life goes on day in and day out. There will always be a deterrence to keep you from exercising; however, if you make exercising a priority, it will be come habit. I recently realized the difference between a doer ( a person who does) and a procrastinator. A doer makes up their mind and come ell or high water they are going to achieve their goals. A procrastinator wants to do it but that inner voice has not truly mad up their mind. My cousin Tiffany has lost 7 pounds in three days. She has been eating correctly and exercising deliberately. She has made up her mind (at least for the moment) to take some weight off. The immediate success ( 7 pounds in 3 days) has motivated her to continue. I like the fire that I see lit in her. Do you have staying power? Do you have that hunger that will allow you to meet your goals regardless of the hustle and bustle of everyday life.? Do you plan to make an appointment with yourself to exercise for 4 days per week for at least 45 minutes per session? We shall see if you are truly in it to win it or if you are truly a procrastinator. Time will tell and time stops for nobody!!!!!

No Time for Thinking

2009-04-27T15:39:00.002-04:00

Well I've taken the plunge to start my health plan all over again. Notice I didn't say diet or use any other bad words. It is a health plan for my future. Diet and exercise is a part of it all but not the main course.

The soup diet or the sacred heart diet as it is called, was introduced to me by someone else (A1 Teacher). Now mind you, I can't get this person to do anything healthy that I suggest. But I must admit, that my ideas are not for the faint at heart.

Without thinking about the diet or anything, I automatically agreed to do it because I know that I have to do something. If this will give me a good kick-start, then I'll take it. I've only lost .4 pounds but I'm hoping for a truly better day tomorrow. It's not bad because you can actually eat. I've tried harder and worst. I just have to stick to a healthy plan for when I'm done.

Well, here it goes without thinking.
I think I think too much.

Is that possible?

A New Chapter

2009-04-25T23:00:00.002-04:00

Isn't it ironic that it takes you several months to lose 20 pounds but you can gain twenty pounds in a week. I was very disappointed in myself because I lose 83 pounds and get it off for over two years only to gain half back in less than 3 months. I'm back and I'm back on track for good. I start a new weight loss regimen tomorrow with a couple of my girlfriends and I pray to lose about 7 pounds in 7 days. This week was my first week back on track and I lost and I lost 7 pounds in 6 days. That may not seem like an awful lot of weight to some, but to me it is significant. Seven pounds gone and 30 more to go. June 15, 2009, here I come. For those of you who want to visualize the significance of a pound of weight loss, look at my image and realize that whether you have 1 pound or 100 pounds to lose, it all comes off the same way. (One pound at a time) Wish me luck.

Marriage Humor

2009-04-21T14:36:00.002-04:00

WHY AM I MARRIED?

You have two choices in life:
You can stay single and be miserable,
or get married and wish you were dead.

At a cocktail party, one woman said to another,
"Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?"
"Yes, I am. I married the wrong man."

A lady inserted an ad in the classifieds:
"Husband Wanted".
Next day she received a hundred letters.
They all said the same thing:
"You can have mine."

When a woman steals your husband,
there is no better revenge than to let her keep him.

A woman is incomplete until she is married. Then she is finished.

A little boy asked his father,
"Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?
"Father replied, "I don't know son, I'm still paying."

A young son asked,
"Is it true Dad, that in some parts of Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?
"Dad replied, "That happens in every country, son."

Then there was a woman who said,
"I never knew what real happiness was until I got married,
and by then, it was too late."

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

If you want your spouse to listen andpay strict attention to every word you say --
talk in your sleep.

Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.

First guy says, "My wife's an angel!"
Second guy remarks, "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

"A Woman's Prayer:Dear Lord, I pray for: Wisdom, To understand a man , to Love and to forgive him , and for patience, For his moods. Because Lord, if I pray for Strength I'll just beat him to death "

AND NOW FOR THE FAVORITE!!!
Husband and wife are waiting at the bus stop with their nine children. A blind man joins them after a few minutes. When the bus arrives, they find it overloaded and only the wife and the nine kids are able to fit onto the bus.

So the husband and the blind man decide to walk. After a while, the husband gets irritated by the ticking of the stick of the blind man as he taps it on the sidewalk, and says to him, "Why don't you put a piece of rubber at the end of your stick? That ticking sound is driving me crazy."

The blind man replies, "If you would've put a rubber at the end of YOUR stick, we'd be riding the bus ... so shut up."