Day 12: Insanity (Pure Cardio + Cardio Abs)
Lawd…12 days. I think I’m going to go to the steam room tomorrow so that I can just sit, relax and let my pores open up! This has been a tough, tough 12 days. But I’m proud. Tomorrow I have a day off from Insanity but I’m going to do something. I talked about the possibility of going swimming but if it’s as nasty out as it was today, I won’t be doing that.
Today, I had TWO work outs with Shaun T. I had the typical 40+ minute cardio workout as well as a 17 minute ab workout. Amazing how he works your abs with NO sit ups or crunches! Nice!
Monday starts a new week and it’s on! I’m really going to take it up a notch! I’ve been inspired by several people who work out on the regular.
Anyway, today was tough. I worked out late. I’m gonna go to bed in a few! Hopefully I’ll hear about some of you guys starting up on Monday…maybe?
Personal Thoughts, Re: Mashonda/Swizz/Alicia
So I posted a letter on the Miss Jia blog from Mashonda who is the wife of producer, Swizz Beatz. In it, she basically tells Alicia Keys that she “knows what she did” regarding the dissolution of her marriage to Swizz.
What I am most surprised at are the responses in which folks are telling her to ‘let it go.’ Seriously, people? Yes, her relationship with Swizz may very well be over and that may be well and good for Alicia. But how many of you would be so quick to let it go if someone basically played a relationship out in your face? The one thing that I don’t agree with in Mashonda’s letter is that she didn’t really address Swizz. That’s another topic in my opinion. But one thing I can’t stand is a woman (and trust, there are MANY out there) who sits in your face and plots on your dude. If the guy wants to leave, he can go…it truly is what it is but for one chick to disrespect another chick on the strength of some peen is ridiculous to me. There are too many free agents in the world for a person to worry about someone who has already been drafted.
I also read a comment that stated (and I’m paraphrasing) ‘you can’t help who you fall in love with.” Says who? Now, if I meet a guy and he doesn’t disclose that he’s already taken, then at that point, I am loving him under the false pretense that he’s single. However, if he discloses to me that he is indeed involved and I choose to not only date him but allow the relationship to grow so that I do fall in love with him, then I’ve made a choice…and that choice is to love a man that I know can not fully belong to me.
Some of you women need to stop being so damn simple. Things are always gravy until the shit happens to you. At that point, you’re not so forgiving, are you?
I have been on both sides of the fence…no, I have NEVER helped a guy cheat on his girl (and trust, NEVER WILL). However, I have been that chick that got cheated on and the girl KNEW he and I were together. Yes, I got mad at him but I was also angry with her b/c even if you don’t really know me or owe me anything, social responsibility should teach you otherwise. As we learned in kindergarten, you don’t touch shit that doesn’t belong to you. You simple women should also keep in mind that the way you obtained a man can also be the same way you lose him. Not so pretty when that shoe fits the other foot…
I also can’t say that I fully stand behind Mashonda’s way of expressing her anger but how many of you participate in blog discussions (be they personal or entertainment affiliated) when someone’s gossip has been put on blast? What about sites that thrive, like DontDateHimGirl.com or JustDontWifeHer.com? Those types of things exist b/c of someone else being put on blast. If Mashonda felt that she had to write to clear the air so that she feels better about her own situation, who are we to judge? I get tired of people telling other people how to handle their emotions. This isn’t the break up of a little summer fling that took place by happenstance; this is the dissolution of a marriage that, according to Mashonda, was triggered by infidelity between her husband and an artist that she once respected.
In a couple of years, some of you will be married (if you’re not already). I pray that your relationships last forever without any issues (especially that of infidelity). But if for some reason your partner steps out and you were one of the ones saying “let it go,” I’d love to be emailed on how you chose to handle it. Again…kindergarten lessons meant something. Keep your hands to yourself b/c some things just ain’t worth being touched, especially if it does NOT belong to you!
Message
Another quick message before I go shower this funk off…
As I’ve gotten a “WEE” bit more knowledgeable of the (entertainment) blogging game, one thing that I am learning QUICK is that everybody doesn’t think like I do.
Before I even thought of doing a celebrity entertainment blog, I researched. Yea, it’s human nature for you to want to run to the nearest guru of _____ and ask a million questions if it’s a subject that’s new to you. Now, I’m not saying that NO other blogger did this but I looked at as many aspects of blogging as I could on my own before I started asking questions. I learned in school many years ago that if you don’t look for certain things on your own, allowing yourself to become as knowledgeable about whatever it is that you’re pursuing, then you’re rendering yourself useless to you.
As I said a few days ago in a previous entry, I get asked questions all the time and because I know that “I” had questions, I don’t mind answering them. But I literally grit my teeth when I get asked simple things such as “what blog platform should I use, where do I get pictures from, etc., etc., etc” when those things (plus much more) are available via google.
Now trust me…you’ll never see me be a bitch about it. One thing I can’t stand is an indignant ass ANYTHING that thinks that just b/c they “made it” (which I have not yet…trust me), they have to look down their noses at those who are still trying. But I’m reminded of an old Chinese (I THINK?) proverb:
And it works the same in blogging…if I simply GIVE you answers without you putting in any research of your own, you’ll only learn to come back to me (or another blogger) the next day or the next month with questions regarding your next move. However, if I encourage you to FIRST research on your own, learn about what it is that you’re doing before diving head first into it, then I feel that you’re being empowered for your own future as blogger. Again, asking questions is not the problem…but not trying to find the answer on your own first is.
PS: Please note…I have been blogging since 2004. This is, however, my first time taking the entertainment route and while I’m still learning (much to many people’s disbelief), I still believe in empowering yourself to learn as much as you can BEFORE reaching out to ask questions. No offense meant…I’m just calling it as I see it.
Day 11: Insanity (Cardio Power & Resistance)
Another day complete. When I tell you I’m tired…
I guess I say that everyday but you guys have to understand that this workout is NO JOKE! I’m in love with it though.
I didn’t sleep well today, so I may just make a store run for some benadryl…something to get me to sleep at a decent hour.
Tomorrow I’m going to try and do my workouts (yes…with an “s” b/c tomorrow, there’s TWO work outs, courtesy of Shaun T.) early so that I can have some sushi with one of my friends that’s in town.
I smell…bad. Talk to you later.
Day 10: Insanity (Cardio Recovery)
LOVE these days. Basically, Shaun takes you through a series of yoga positions to stretch your body/muscles b/c you’re working your body SO HARD during the week. He also does little pulses of squats and lunges to make sure you’re still getting a workout.
As I stated yesterday, I have officially lost 7 lbs and it’s day 10. Could be more (weighed myself last on day 8…) but I’m not going to weigh myself again for a while. I initially said at day 30 but now, I’m thinking I’d much rather wait until the whole program is over and weigh myself.
10 days doesn’t sound like a lot but to do 10 days in a ROW when most people aren’t getting off their ass twice a week? I’d say that’s nothing minor. No matter how many people clown, I am proud of myself. I have goals. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Insanity! I curse him out (both in my head and out loud) as it’s going on but I am very happy with it all. I feel so at home doing interval training! I think that I may even do another round of it once I’m done…depends on my results. I thought that I would have to get a personal trainer to get this type of training. I know I sound like a sales person right now but it REALLY is a solid program. HA!
Anyway, tomorrow is day 11. Go me!! Sunday is my OFFICIAL day off from Insanity but I think I’m going to go swimming and for a run just to keep me in the mode! Good luck to you guys!
Blogging
I swear everytime I turn around, somebody has a blog these days. I remember when I started blogging back in 2004, it was mainly for the purpose of having a diary that my then boyfriend couldn’t throw away (as we lived together). I had a lot of shit going on that I had to get off my chest and just felt that blogging would be a ‘private’ way for me to talk about my issues without worrying about his (or many other’s) prying eyes. But then people started finding my blog…and it built a following. Almost convinced me that my life was interesting then. ha!
Just recently, my homegirl hit me up and told me that she’s starting a blog, White Girl Gone Crazy (she’s working on it) and I’m sure it’ll be interesting b/c her Myspace blogs were always the business. But daily, I get emails from folks asking HOW to start an entertainment blog.
What’s funny about me is INITIALLY, I was turned away when I asked questions. This wasn’t necessarily done by Bloggers but I just felt that it was best that Google to learn and then whatever answers I didn’t get there, I would proceed to ask those who had been in the game a while. The funny thing is that there are SOME people who are so afraid of someone possibly being just as successful as them (if not moreso) that they either feed you bullshit or don’t answer you at all. Jealousy and stinginess is such an UGLY thing. I aspire to help people WHEN I CAN but sometimes, it’s the simple shit that folks ask me that kinda makes me wonder how cut out for blogging they are. There is nothing wrong with asking questions but there is something wrong with not taking some initiative. Trust me, no matter how nice anyone is, nobody is going to hold your hand through the entire process unless you’re talking dough.
I’m going to email this guy and ask him if I could post his “How To’s” on my blog and if he gives me the go (with full credit to him, of course), I will post them each day for you guys to read and take in. By the time I read it, I was on the verge of launching Miss Jia but they were still very helpful.
I said all that to say…take some initiative guys and gals. If it’s something you genuinely don’t know or can’t find the answer to, then yea…ask questions. But if you just thought it up in your head and haven’t put any real effort into finding an answer for yourself, then that’s a problem. How long do you think your blog will last if someone else is doing the work FOR you?