BEFORE & AFTER PICTURES OF KIKI KEFI
When I look at the heavier me pictured to the far left, I cannot believe that I let myself 
lose my KEFI. Looking back to 2006 at the fast pace I kept, the schedule of managing 6 people including myself, the demands of family and career, I now understand why I turned into such a "BIG GIRL." The important thing is that I was always searching for a healthier way of living and looking. Fortunately, I did not give up even though my journey has been long and one of trial and error. The picture to the right is me in 2010, at which point I had lost about 45 pounds. Don't I look happier and more vital? This accomplishment did not happen overnight, it took me years of attempting several programs like Seattle Sutton, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, calorie counting, the grapefruit-egg diet. no carbs, low carbs, only protien, some protein, no cardio, only weights, excessive workouts with little sleep, and so on and so on. Through time and experience I learned that there are no shortcuts to a better body, instead I discovered first hand that if you give your body the fuel it needs, when it needs it, soon it will allow you to achieve your accurate size and weight. This statement is a complete simplification, but honestly there are a few simple strategic rules to follow for energy and gowing health.
Applying some positive aspects of various programs over the years, combined with the knowledge of my current trainer/coach has me living in choice not reaction, as I eat mostly nutritious foods versus caving into sugar quick fixes and each day my goal is to eat balalnced meals with each food group featured.
The following are lifestyle modifications that I have implemented, which I beleive will work for you too.
1- Eat three meals a day, which include a protein, a grain, and a vegetable/fruit. Take the time to sit down and eat your balanced meal, your body deserves the neccessary fuel to keep it running at the most favorable level possible.
2- Skipping meals causes your metabolism to slow down and hold weight. Do not skip meals.
3-Cravings are caused from not eating every three to four hours, at which point Coach Lisa says that your body is facing biological imerperative driving you to quickly grab something to eat to sustain your metabolism. Usually, when you grab a fast food, it's a non food like chips, crackers, and bars, cookies, etc. Remember sugar begets more sugar....avoid this white devil.
4-Get plenty of sleep! A Harvard health review reported that we continue to live by a remarkably durable myth: sleeping one hour less will give us one more hour of productivity. In reality, the research suggests that even small amounts of sleep deprivation take a significant toll on our health, mood, our cognitive capacity and our energy! Lack of sleep can cause us to gain or hold onto extra weight. Many of the effects we suffer are invisible. Insufficient sleep, for example, deeply impairs our ability to consolidate and stabilize learning, which occurs during the waking day. So, by now, you are wondering how much sleep do we need? When researchers put test subjects in environments without clocks or windows and ask them to sleep anytime they feel tired, 95 percent sleep between seven and eight hours of every 24. Sleep 7-8 hours a night, and I bet you will feel better and make better choices from food to family!
5-Make health changes and weight loss sustainable by not expecting miracles in 2 weeks. The body must adjust to the correct way of doing things and it does take time to maintain a new habit. If you are consistent, your weight will drop and your KEFI energy will increase naturally. mp;nbsp;Don't rush things, instead cultivate proven healthy habits into your lifestyle, which culminate in KEFI!
6- Learn to say NO! A yes to someone else cannot result in a no to you.
7- Finally, set boundaries, which allow you to follow your healthy lifestyle including eating 3 meals a day, getting 7-8 hours a sleep a night, excercising 4-6 days a week, and drinking 8 glasses of water a day. My personal bonus recommendation is to be and stay positive - avoid toxic behaviors that may be looming in your community!
These are the simple rules, which can be expounded upon at a later time, that I have mostly applied for the past six years, and lived by significantly more during the past year and a half while running and eating my way to KEFI during training sessions with Coach Lisa!
I hope these very authentic and tested applications will help you become stronger, more energized and healthy this year, 2012. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Yours in Kefi,
The Roadrunner
