Fitness (7)
Not Just a Body
By Carol Courtney Anglin
Nancy Lewis is an IFBB Ms. Olympic, Atlantic City and New York Pro Championship contender. She won 1st Place in 1988 NPC California and then, after a 4 year break, won the 2002 Jan Tana Classic.
As we talked about life as a professional athlete, she stated, “It’s fulfilling, but not easy for women. It’s common place to be automatically judged by our looks.” We are aware that people call us mannish looking, but what is mannish looking? These days men have hair and nails that look better than ours.” she laughs. But she understands the thinking, “Even internally women face discrimination. It was one of the reasons why I took a break; I spoke out when a male counterpart was making derogatory remarks in print. I thought it was extremely unprofessional, but I came back because I love what I do.”
Nancy is now back and ready! New location, new job but she decided to keep her existing training team. “We are stronger than ever and all on the same page. I am 100% muscle and nutrients.” “People have the misconception that I look like this all year long. I look like this when I train and take it to the extreme. However, I am always fit and ready to throw on a bikini and head to the beach anytime of the year. Besides, people like me, let’s just say, people like me will not fade into a crowd.” She laughs.
When I asked her if she ever wants to be married and have kids she answered. “Although I am happily 
single, I want what any women wants. I would like to find that significant other.” But she spoke of the lifestyle challenges of having a family. “Right now, I’m alone so I’m #1 in my life. I can go wherever the opportunity is without answering to anyone.
But there is even more to Nancy Lewis. She works full time for a police department in the animal control division. She says, “This time around training is not as easy as in the past because I have a job. I have had to learn how to multitask. I am every woman; I have to do it all to stay on top of my game. But I don’t mind because animals are my second passion. Working and seeing animals in shelters half dead and under socialized; my heart goes out to them. Cat fostering is an essential part of my life. Right now I have six cats, two dogs, and I always wanted a horse and so I have one of those too. My animals keep me level and balance me out.”
If you had to say anything to encourage people it would be, “Do whatever you want to do and don’t spend time worrying about what others may think. Time flies while we listen to unproductive talk. I have no regrets. I was chosen to follow this path and have been tremendously rewarded for being obedient.”
Go Hard or Stay Soft
Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED
A quick fix always seems like the best resolve when it comes to feeling good and looking better. There are 1,161,685,127 overweight people in the U.S. This number is growing by the second. Statistics show that on any given day half of the women in the U.S. and 1 in 4 men are on a diet. Weight loss surgery, liposuction, pills, and starvation are amongst the quick fixes that are dominating the weight loss industry with no guaranteed lifestyle changes.
Anything worth having something doesn’t come easy. Ask the individuals who choose to fight obesity the natural, healthy way. People are choosing to get healthier one meal at a time-one exercise at a time. Many more are taking it to the next level by inquiring the help of a personal trainer; especially women. I have been a personal trainer for 12 years and I have watched the gym evolve from a place of barking and bragging “hard legs” into a co-ed, competitive space for toning, sculpting, and getting it in. Women are pressing, pumping, and repping it up just as much as the fellas.
As the wave of interest in weight training grows, so does the desire to look like somebody else. Some of my prospective clients adamantly tell me they want to start weight training but they don’t want to look “like a man.” They desire to look like Angela Bassett or Michelle Obama. Then my question to them is “are you willing to do what Angela and the First Lady did to get what they have?”
When you look at someone like Angela Bassett you know (without asking) that her training regimen is top notch. I can guarantee that she not only exercises and eats healthy but she is disciplined and committed to the process. It’s easy to look at what someone else has and want it for yourself. The hard part is actually taking the proper steps to make it happen for you.
Testimonies are just that—a test that an individual had to go through to get to where they are. If it was easy or a quick fix anybody could do it. Going “hard” means giving 110%, practicing discipline, and totally committing to the process of doing better. It does not mean cheating, quitting or making excuses as to why you can’t do something. If you desire Angela Bassett or Michelle Obama arms you are going to have to do what they did to get them. Work hard, go harder. Stay focused, go hard or stay soft. Someone is depending on your testimony.
By Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED.
Have you ever walked past a mirror, stopped, backed up, looked in the mirror again to make sure it was you that you saw the first time? Or maybe you have gained and lost weight so many times that you’ve earned the super hero name “elastic-girl” or “stretch man.” How is it that you can walk into your closet and find a Petite section and a Plus section? If you have experienced the aforementioned, you may be a victim of Yo-yo dieting.
Small scale fluctuations are normal especially when it’s that “time of the month.” However, losing a considerable amount of weight then gaining it back is not normal. It’s not okay to lose weight, gain weight, lose weight again, only to gain it back and then some. “Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles analyzed 31 long-term diet studies and found that about two-thirds of dieters regained more weight within four or five years than they initially lost.”
Yo-yo dieting is the process of losing weight and gaining weight throughout one’s life. Diet fads sound good, but never deliver willpower as an ingredient. After a person fails at eating only crackers and juice for 3 days, they turn around and eat a pizza, a Cinnabon and a 2 liter of Pepsi. Or they successfully lose 25 lbs., experience a misfortune or a disappointment and within months they pack the weight back on. Yo-yo dieting can be very dangerous and can have long-lasting effects. Some of which include: liver problems, loss of muscle, lower metabolism, high blood pressure, diabetes and a shortened life span.
Yo-yo dieting transcends race, gender, and socio-economic status. Luther Vandross, Oprah Winfrey, Kirstie Alley, and Janet Jackson can attest to this fact. For years, millions of fans have been puzzled as to how you can be overweight with personal trainers and personal chefs at your beck and call. The truth is, personal trainers and private chefs cannot control a person’s willpower. A healthy lifestyle is a daily personal choice; one meal at a time, one exercise at a time. Willpower is challenged every day. Some days it is stronger than others. However, there are important steps that must be taken to achieve a healthy life. 1) Define a realistic weight loss goal, 2) Eat 5-6 small meals a day, 3) Drink plenty of water, 4) Exercise regularly, 5) Prepare yourself for the weak moments and 6) Keep your eyes on the prize. 
By Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED.
As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, people are constantly inquiring about what they should be doing to get healthy or how much exercise they should do to get into shape. After I give them my passionate spill and professional advice, they somehow (in the same conversation) talk themselves out of what they initially sought to do - do better to get better.
It is interesting how people can find every excuse in the book as to why they can’t eat healthy or why they don’t exercise. I’ve heard everything from “Water makes me sick” to “My knees hurt every time I start exercising.” Therefore, nothing surprises me when it comes to hearing excuses as to why people won’t commit to bettering themselves. Unfortunately, the road to obesity and preventable illnesses is paved with good intentions.
After hearing the last ridiculous excuse, I decided I will no longer listen to any more “mo better blues.” I am tired of people wasting their time and mine when it comes to seeking to do better, yet choosing to do worse. I have sown my last good seed in fruitless ground, stroking egos and walking able-bodied adults through their excuse driven lifestyles. The Bible says, “The truth will make you free” and the truth is - everybody can do something!
For example, I have a client who has survived three brain surgeries, a client who has endured a double hip replacement, and a client who overcame a stroke. They never miss a beat in my Mosha (Moving and Shaking…) class. They do what they can do at their level and never complain about what they can’t do. Most times, they are working harder than anybody else in the class.
At what point do you stop making excuses? I have a few suggestions as to how to make strides toward becoming a healthier you.
1) Stop making excuses.
2) Decide what you are going to do and do it.
3) Choose your own adventure; determine how low or high of an impact you need to go to according to your abilities.
4) Accept the things you can’t change and change the things that you can.
5) Congratulate yourself for doing something.
Remember to keep it simple and enjoy the process—it’s your life!
Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED.
Founder and CEO Mo Better Me Studio in Trotwood, OH.
Home of Mosha Fitness and powered by Mo2v8U Enterprises, LLC
www.mobetterme.com
By: Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED.
What do you do when your exercise regimen plateaus and meets you in the last place you left it? You’ve done everything right. You’ve exercised fervently and consistently, you’ve cut back and cut out all of the donuts and pepsi yet you still have not reached your desired results.
I want to challenge you to try something new. It is known that “if you continue doing what you’ve always done, you will continue getting what you’ve always gotten.” After my six-week post partum checkup, I was determined that my baby weight would not defeat me this time around. Yet, I knew I had to try something different—but what?
As a fitness instructor and personal trainer, I was already teaching seven classes a week and personal training ten clients. However, what was I going to do to take my personal exercise regimen to another level? Having flirted with it before, I decided that boxing was sure to knock the weight off this time.
Boxing: The Ultimate Workout
There are many benefits to boxing. It improves your endurance, power, discipline, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and coordination. My trainer, Tomas Jose “Fist of Legend” Grigley, of Prime Performance Gym in Trotwood, OH, guaranteed me that boxing would get me into the best shape of my life. He was right! Boxing stimulates all of my muscle groups. When I’m boxing, I am literally working every muscle of my body, including my mind. In the beginning, I must admit, I thought training was a little elementary. After sessions of stretching, calisthenics and sprints, I thought I was ready for the ring. I kept asking T.J. “When are we going in the ring?” He gently responded, “In due time.” I still had to experience “the tire”—yes, a BF Goodrich tire. Stamina wins bouts.
As I mentioned before, I am a fitness instructor. I can teach two hours straight without missing a beat. However, experiencing three-minutes on “the tire” put me under the truck. Consequently, the buck didn’t stop there. Add sprints, the heavy bag, and intense calisthenics to the workout and you might be ready for the ring. Strangely, there was a method to his madness. After conquering the aforementioned, I had learned enough basic boxing skills and built up enough stamina to handle the ring. On a good day, I can burn at least 800-900 calories from the beginning to the end of a session. Not to mention, the confidence I’ve gained and the stress I’ve relieved is PRICELESS. Believe me, at the end of the day I’m not looking for confrontation, just RESULTS.
Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED.
Mo2v8U Enterprises, LLC.
www.mobetterme.com
(937) 241-6189
By Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED.
I learned early in life that you should never try to be “just like” someone else. My parents taught me to be true to the gifts that God gave me. They said that I could admire and respect what others did, but never try to be just like that person. I was responsible for setting my own realistic goals.
Upon graduating from high school, the “Be Like Mike” campaign hit the airwaves. Millions of young men dreamed and desperately tried to be the next Michael Jordan. Unfortunately, this goal was unrealistic for all of them—including LeBron James. No one can be “just like” somebody else, but they can learn from others and set realistic goals that are within their personal reach.
After years of being a size 18 and well over 200lbs., I took the initiative to not only lose weight but to help others do the same. In 1998 I became a fitness instructor. By 1999 I became a personal trainer and was a lean size 10. However, I needed to learn more and wanted to do more for the whole person. Upon entering the fitness arena, there were very few people that looked like me and were doing what I wanted to do. However, there was one diamond that stood out: Donna Richardson. She had a mind, body and soul workout which was very similar to what I desired to do.
In December 2006 I had the pleasure of meeting Donna Richardson-Joyner. We were both attending a Christmas party in Florida hosted by Attorney Willie Gary. I was elated to finally meet the world renowned fitness instructor who I admired and who looked “almost” like me. She was African American, beautiful, highly motivating, and full of energy. At the time, the noticeable difference was that I was a full figure fitness instructor. Marriage, two children and life had overtaken me and added more weight than I had before.
With much confidence and admiration, I kindly walked over to Donna and Tom and introduced myself. I let her know how she had been an inspiration to me on my plight towards fulfilling my vision in health and wellness. I remember sharing that I wasn’t the size that I wanted to be, but I was on my way to getting it back. She encouraged me and let me know that there is room (in fitness) for me too! She was very humble, encouraging, and vibrant. I immediately connected with her and was more driven to set realistic goals for myself.
God didn’t design me to be “just like” Donna Richardson-Joyner. However, He created both of us with our own individual purposes. Donna, thank you for being you and for encouraging me to be me.
By Camela Douglass, M.S. ED.
“What changes are you willing to make this season that will ultimately define the rest of your life?”
Every New Year brings a new confirmation, a new personal resolution, or a renewed commitment. In the transition of seasons, you may have told yourself and others, “I’m going to start eating right on Sunday or I’m going to start exercising on Monday. Yet once again, you’ve failed to keep your word.
Your family, friends, and co-workers are tired of hearing you grow cold on your redundant resolutions which never amount to anything. It’s time to stop crying wolf and hold strong to the commitments that you continue to make to others and, most of all, to yourself.
The first step you must take is to identify what needs to change and set a realistic goal to make it happen. The reason we achieve failure quicker than success is due to the fact that we set unrealistic goals. Wanting to lose 20 pounds by your 40th birthday (which is next week) is as unrealistic and ridiculous as the magazine you got the idea and diet out of. Just think, if you would have started last year when you first got the idea, you would be forty and fine by next Friday! Be realistic and set a goal that is within your reach and make it happen.
The next step you must take towards change is to stop making excuses. I learned early in life that “excuses are tools of incompetence used to build monuments of nothingness and those who use them will be good at nothing but excuses, excuses, excuses.” Every time you come up with an excuse as to why you haven’t changed, you are only perfecting your ability to make excuses. In addition, you’ve lost nothing but your credibility with those who love you most and you have become an expert in nothing but making excuses. Your life is dependent upon your follow through! Stop making excuses and follow through on what you say you’re going to do.
Lastly, in order to change you must take action. Put your money where your mouth is. Benjamin Franklin said, “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” Thoughts and inspirations are good, but it’s blood, sweat, and tears that win gold medals. “Actions speak louder than your words.” It’s high time you stop talking about it and be about it.
This season is the reason! It has changed and you need to change with it. Don’t look back 365 days from now and be in the same place. Remember: “nothing changes until the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain of change.”
Camela L. Douglass, M.S. ED. is the owner and C.E.O. (Chief Exercise Officer) of Mo Better Me Lifestyle Change Studio in Trotwood, OH. She recently released Mo Better Me Workout, Vol. 1, which is her first fitness DVD and music CD. Check it out at www.mobetterme.com.
