THE WORK
Photography: Jessica Curlderon
“I am not in with the gymmy to get ripped but to stay healthy”
I wrote that in 2015. I was in Kenya and I wanted to touch up on a my fitness journey. And boy has it been a ride. I read it in it’s entirety and it brought back so many memories. You can read it here. It was my first fitness post dates January of 2015.
My face was a little rounder, the journey to lose 15lbs was on. I had mentioned on that post that I would gift myself some beats if I accomplished my goal. I am happy to say I have been jamming Dj Kalonje and Shinski mixes in the gym with my beats on. Wapi Nduru!
I am currently lifting weights 5 times a week and I include Cardio post workout 4 days a week.
I will bring back hot yoga since winter is coming.
My first rodeo with weights started with Jamie Eason’s 12 Week trainer on bodybuilding.com. I wanted to include weights in my workouts and had no idea what machine did what. Or what a superset entailed. My idea of gym workouts involved fussing around with the elliptical, checking out the fellas, and performing stretch moves learnt from my primary PE days. Sigh*
The program has videos to show you how to do it them in proper form and so forth.
I started on with that program back in 2014 with my buddy Sylvia. Since my level of commitment at the time was a joke, I restarted it numerous times. However, I finally finished it and have since done it when I want to switch things up. Phase 3 is a fave of mine.
I would recommend it for a starter or beginner like me. Plus it’s FREEE!!!
If you are a regular on my snap stories, you probably know of my #GYMFIT looks. A tank and Tights are my go too. Plus a hat to bring on the heat lol I love fun workout clothes that will make me feel like I am ready to kick ass. I usually shop at target or Old Navy. There are so many places where you can get affordable dope workout clothes. JCpenny is another one, and my sis Flo has beautiful high waisted pants from Fabletics. Underarmour, Nike and adidas are for the special occasion. Say, I lost 10 pounds or spotted a tricep forming. Boom! Gift!
Here are a few things I picked up along the way.
It is work. A lot of it is from you. No waist trainer or tea will get you there. Just some good ol workout, sweet sweat and a consistency. I struggle with the consistency part but that’s where you will need to
Eat ridiculously well. You can't put in all the work then throw it down the drain with a bad diet. I was a huge fan of this. I would tell myself that I will burn it all off eventually, The lies we tell. Nowadays, I plan my meals in advance that way, I won't be tempted when my job is having a Pizza day. My fave meal is minced turkey with brown rice and veggies. I can eat that over and over. A big salad that looks like the rainbow with baked chicken or salmon is also good. You can not outrun a bad diet. Changing up my nutrition habits and results follow but you can't do the work alone. This is where you will need
Gym buddies, your fit fam, your squad, the A-team - your source of motivation and inspiration. People who will encourage you to do that 20 min HIIT workout, or run a 5k or a half marathon. Folks who will share workouts and recipes. Get you out the door on days when you'd rather catch up with Kandi and the housewives of Atlanta. You will need your fit squad. No one does all this work alone. You need your team. To celebrate you and lift you up. With the team in place set up a time that work for you to do the work. A special thanks to my Fit fam. My squad!! You guys rock! If you can spend 20min cruising IG first thing in the morning before you drag your feet to the bathroom. That’s it. 20 min workout bam! So many free workout vids all over the internet. That's why...
A schedule is so important. I like to call them dates with gymmy. I can’t miss them. It’s my special bonding time. Preferably in the evening. It’s the perfect way to wind down the day. For you it could be in the morning, or afternoon. Make time. I promise you that you won’t regret it. Which brings me to the
Why. What’s your why? Why are you doing this. What drives you? Finding out the why will help you stick to it especially on those hard days when you just want to watch Game of thrones with a Pint of Talenti. The why will make itself known. Make the answer to your why your mission statement or Motto. For me my why answer is to stay healthy. Not just to lose 15lbs or 20 lbs and call it a day. Lose it and maintain a healthy lifestyle and while am on it...
Celebrate the little wins. The little wins add up to the big wins. I have a reminder that pops up on my phone screen that states, “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” I would find it so frustrating to go to the gym religiously for a Months then find out you have only lost 3lbs. Or you go hard for two weeks, do workouts that leave you drenched and your heart racing like Jon Snow having seen the Night God then you step on the scale and it glares at you with a -2lbs! Really hommie? I want to see the results immediately. But it’s a journey not a quick stop at your neighborhood Walgreens. I learnt to turn that frustration into the positive.
I would say ok, minus two pounds not bad!! That’s great. We are heading there. Then I would gift myself a sports bra from under armour. That sports bra was earned! Or a nike hat that I have always wanted or a water bottle or a tank that I will wear on all pictures.
Celebrating those little wins is awesome especially when you tie it in with
A positive attitude. This is so fundamental. It has stopped me from going for the KitKat (those wafers are life) when the frustration knocks the door. It has made me show up in the gym on days I would rather be at a happy hour spot ordering someone cheese fries and the $5 long island special. Goodness.
I believe in positive self talk and self - visualization. Whatever you put out in the universe comes back to you. Positive or negative.
If the word play is - Things never workout. I never lose weight no matter how I try. I can’t, won’t or a list of negative talk, the universe responds just to confirm that you have been heard loud and clear.
Try loving your body. Thick thighs, boobs, ass, arms and all. Try saying - boy I lost three pounds, I am getting there. Or I love my body. Or holy snap!! Look at that booty. I look good/fab.com and make three snaps while you are at it. See what happens.
I know it sounds a little bizarre but best believe the convos I have when brushing teeth or getting that winged eyeliner. Gurl yasssss!!!!
Rain that positivity on me. It circles back -100% Read that post from 2015. I did to to remind me of the journey. It’s been fabulous and tough however I’m laughing and flexing while at it. If you would have told me to raise my top two years ago and flash my belly - ABEG! Do me a favorrrr - gerraurahiaaa (get out of here!) would have been my response.
And as you’ve heard, a little weightlifting doesn't make you crazy muscular, it transforms your body to beautiful work of art. But first, you have to put in the work.
Currently, owning it and celebrating it and it feels pretty damn good.
I hope this encourages you to stay, maintain, work or reboot your own fitness journey.
PS: Anneconventional Eats is on the way. That body needs to be fueled with some good nutrition. Stay tuned.
Happy Monday!!
Hat and Sneakers: Nike
Top: Under Armour
Tights: Old Navy
ATLANTA
Hello beautiful people!!
We are halfway through the month! And three months until the year is over. Unbelievable!
I was talking to my mum this afternoon and it hit me it had been six months since I saw her beautiful face. Mama I miss you so much!!
Right around Labor day, my friends and I meet up in Atlanta. A reunion of some sorts. I laughed, cried, reconnected with old friends, laughed some more, danced to my heart's content. It was a much needed break from the always vibrant New york energy.
Then when I got back to New York, I found myself overtaken by life in the corporate world and other behind the scenes details. The relaxed haze of my weekend getaway quickly wanned and I was back on the grind. To put it simply, I was overwhelmed. I have a few projects launching simultaneously next month.
It will be Anneconventiona’s 5 YEAR Anneversary. Woahhh woahhh!!
I feel giddy just saying that. You guys have been with me for 5 YEARS. FIVE!!! Ughhhhhh ….
I am about to quip my gratitude speech as if holding an oscar but I will hold it until October and give you a little tit bit of what’s to come
SHOP.ANNECONVENTIONAL
Yes!!!!! A duka, shop in all sense of the word. I have been sketching since I was twelve. Leaning strongly towards watercolor and I figured it was about time I put this items up. Share them with you. So when I am not busy running up and down, I am cooped up in my lil room painting to my heart's content. I have been listening to a lot of Leon Bridges and Kwame Nkrumah. The sound of their soulful voices that have me all emotional. Pouring my heart in my work. River- by Leon Bridges is so powerful!!
I really can’t wait to share with you what’s in store in the store. I am actually thinking of doing a little give away to you my dear readers. I am still thinking of how to bring that together. Stay tuned.
HEALTHY STORIES
Recipes. Yay! I talk about wellness a lot, it’s about time I accompany them with the food I eat. I curate my recipes from other bloggers and recipe books that I have amassed on my frequent Barnes and Nobles excursions. The home science classes I took in my high school years will come in handy. I am really drawn to beautiful food layouts leaning toward the minimal and since I will be putting my camera skills to work, it will be fascinating to see the end product. Who’s ready to dig in?
AND FINALLLY
A PODCAST
UGGGHHHH!! JUST SAYING THIS GETS ME ALL EXCITEDDD!!
I thought of starting a youtube. Actually that was the initial idea. Vlog every moment and show you a little bit of what happens in my world and behind the scenes but I tend to soak up in moment and forget the filming part. Plus the thought of filming and editing on top of everything else that seems to be going on would result to my neglecting other creative areas of my life. So a podcast it is. It will be on itunes so keep your eyes peeled.
I enjoy talking to people and discovering how they got to where they are. I live for such organic moments and it just seemed fitting to bring those conversations to life. I have reached out to of my soon to be guests and they are all stoked which gets me all thrilled!!
Ok calm down Roshie.
That’s about it in a nutshell! Phew, that is a mouthful but it explains my absence the last couple of weeks. I hate deadlines but I set them up to be accountable. My mother mentioned from our conversation earlier that she hasn't gotten a notification of a new post. I had that awkward well ummmm, I know mum moment. I have a lot going on. My mother is always on the go so I had to quip I am my mother’s daughter.
So here is a new post. Rocked this gorgeous gem at the PXP Festival in Atlanta. It was so great to meet old friends, dance, meet some that I had only interacted with through Social media. If you follow me on SNAPCHAT you might have seen it all when I actually remembered to take those videos,
Thank you as always for stopping by. I have to get back to painting. I am jotting this at a starbucks around the corner from my place. I enjoy the change of scenery but the watercolors are screaming my name. I better answer the call. The duka needs items to stock up.
Yours trully,
R.
KWITU NYC - BRUNCH
I am in a group on facebook that brings together Kenyan Women in the United States. It's a huge group. These beautiful women share ideas, their stories, support each other, inspire each other, motivate each other and did I say support each other, I did but I figured I needed to repeat that again. I joined because not only was it was a great idea to bring women together but being able to connect with someone you share a common bond is a beautiful thing. Reminds me of a quote that say behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.
Recently, one of the ladies in the group, Penny suggested we meet up one day when she saw me randomly in NYC. That idea blossomed into opening our meetup to other ladies in the New Jersey, New York region and boom. Penny brought the women together, I went with a location that would deliver and boy did they, a month later, brunch!
We had a fabulous time. We danced, laughed, talked, took pictures, talked some more, took selfies, danced, hollered, teared up a little because those mimosas, danced some more because the Dj was on a mission to have us jammin the whole time. It was fabulous!!!
Special thanks to Penny, Maggie, Mercy, Flossie, Dana, Carolyn and Ruth. Not forgetting Lilly who formed this amazing group.
Another meet-up is on the works. Cheers ladies! :)
MOOD
Who does an artist communicate a feeling, a mood?
Lately, my art has been suffering. My vast creative ocean was running dry. It looked sad, with little cracks of angst and despair covering it as if famine had stretched its bony twig like arms. I wondered what was happening and how would I get my flood waters back in abundance. This creative limbo was sucking the life out of me.
Then it hit me that I had been digesting the news of the world. Digesting it in massive chunks. The news were enough to make you shake your head in disbelief. Anyone watched that Charlottesville video on VICE? While that was going families back in my home country were losing loved ones when post election skirmishes.
These happenings and gazzilion of other happenings in the world on goings left me drained. Empty. And in most occasions angry!
The World is in a completely messed up place. As an artist, I communicate what's my head. We share our art to communicate something. One person may see these images one way, the other person may see it in a totally different aspect. -That's fine.
These shoot explores light and dark. I wanted to communicate a mood, a feeling. Soft music was playing in the background while Arthur's camera clicks could be heard in the distant space. I zoned out and immersed myself in the mood.
Nina Simon once said, "It's an artist's duty, as far as I am concerned, to reflect the times."
I concur.
