Life is Not a Zero-Sum Game

I've been following New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's "Bridgegate" fallout since the story broke over a week ago. I find it fascinating that Christie is catching so much heat for something he allegedly had no knowledge of. And now, according to Business Insider, his administration has hired a dynamite legal team to investigate the Fort Lee, NJ lane closures as he faces state and federal inquiries.

Here's the thing: Like many other Americans, I don't believe for a second that Christie, a rising star in the Republican party, would allow his Deputy Chief of Staff --- or any of his minions --- to wield that kind of power without his consent or approval. Though charismatic and likable, he is too controlling to allow something like this to happen. Too hungry for power. Too determined to win. So I'm calling bullshit on this disavowal of knowledge Christie is trying to sell the American public. I think his thinly-veiled control issues are finally catching up with him. 

I liken Christie to so many others for whom life and power consist of a series of zero-sum games. In order to win, someone else must lose. And for someone else to win, they must lose. What exactly are they winning when their currency of choice consists of lies, denial and corruption? 

Huh, Bernie Madoff? Please speak into the mic, we can't hear you. 

What were you saying, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich? 

This kind of dirty politics and bad behavior eventually catches up with said offenders. I see it all the time. Politicians, fund managers, CEOs, Hollywood elite and everyday people lie and deceive, free-falling into the zero-sum game. They ultimately unravel when they don't get their way because they are consumed with the idea of winning. 

But winning what? Against whom? 

You've seen them too. They kick, scream and often have very public meltdowns. They slowly implode.

Enter Kanye West. 

While West is no politician, he is certainly a talented artist who has overdosed on his own power. His public rants, self-declared genius status and physical attacks on the always ridiculous paparazzi (who are not without fault) demonstrate his psychosis. West, too, is caught up in this zero-sum game of winning at all costs. He cries that as an artist, his intentions and business acumen are misunderstood.

I appreciate West's hunger. I applaud his drive because we all need some of this to succeed in our own lives. But he exhausts me. I get so tired of seeing him posture and pretend in front of anyone with a camera and a mic. Stop it, Kanye. Stop believing you're the only one who can ascend to greatness. Stop playing the victim. Stop being fixated on winning for winning's sake. Stop buying into the idea that in order to win, you have to take others down. 

Of course we can't all be politicians, musicians or public figures and thankfully, not everyone wants to be. But we can all win at something. I wake up every day thinking about how I should approach a subject I'm writing about, how I should develop pitch angles for my clients, or how I can overcome my own fears and inadequacies to face an upcoming triathlon I'm participating in. Every day I try to be deliberate in my thinking. I try to slow myself down long enough to plot and strategize about how to win in my own life, not how to covertly plot against someone who doesn't support me. I honestly don't have the time to think about other peoples' agendas. Screw the editor who doesn't respond to my pitches (that are all fabulous, by the way!) For every editor who doesn't like my ideas or my writing style, there are others who respect me, see my value and appreciate my voice. I tell myself that I must keep climbing to be the best possible writer and entrepreneur I can be. 

For me, life is absolutely not a zero-sum game. And like most people I know, I am in it to win. But someone else doesn't have to lose in order for that to happen. We can all win.

A Modern-Day Superwoman Helps Her Son Fight Sickle Cell Disease

Tamiko Parker-McKenzie

In the midst of your busy day, your busy year, your busy life, sometimes you have to stop and pay attention to another person's heart. You have to find a way to absorb someone else's joy and occasionally their pain so that you can learn and they can lean.You have to give them something they may need in that moment and provide a sign that "the village" is down on bended knee collectively praying, supporting and watching them rise to challenges you doubt you could ever withstand. 

In my eyes, that someone is a modern-day Superwoman. I already sensed that 40-year-old Tamiko Parker-McKenzie, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, had super powers but I wasn't quite sure. Once or twice I could have sworn I saw the seam of her red cape caught in her car door. She never acknowledged it, she simply smiled that beautiful smile, waved and sped off to conquer whatever stood in her way that day. The Superwoman moniker became real to me when I slowed down long enough to listen to her story, feel her pain and share her anticipation for brighter days ahead for her oldest son, five-year-old Keith Jr., known as KJ, a super hero in his own right with dimples deep enough to get lost in.  

Five-Year-Old Superhero, KJ McKenzie

Though she admits she's scared and occasionally fights back tears when she talks about KJ, Tamiko uses her super powers and unbelievable strength to help KJ fight sickle cell anemia, a disease he was diagnosed with at birth. I can't help but think to myself, if KJ only knew. If this sweet little boy had any idea how his mommy and daddy, Keith Sr., are helping him fight sickle cell, he would be so impressed with his parents. 

For the first five years of his life, KJ was on a daily liquid penicillin regime, a course of action that proved to be effective as he didn’t exhibit any physical signs of the disease. KJ’s sickle cell began to manifest a few months before his fifth birthday. Doctors informed Tamiko and her husband Keith, Wayne State University's linebackers football coach who spent eight years in the National Football League as a defensive end, that their son was at risk of suffering strokes due to the lack of blood flow in his brain. To prevent him from suffering unimaginable pain, KJ began a series of blood transfusions. Although KJ isn’t fond of getting poked regularly with needles, he has found a coping mechanism by channeling his inner ‘superhero.’ He finds comfort in using his super powers to battle this debilitating disease. Someday when he is much older and has beaten the disease, he will realize that his mom tied her cape around her neck every single day and made sure he had the best medical team in the state of Michigan to help transform him from a little boy with a big illness to a young man that can leap tall buildings in a single bound. 

Kalen, Karson and Big Brother, KJ

Sickle cell anemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD is a serious disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. "Sickle-shaped" means that the red blood cells are shaped like a crescent. They tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs which can cause pain and organ damage. Tissue that does not receive normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease. While the disease is most common among African Americans, it also occurs in people of Hispanic, Indian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian descent.  One in 500 African-American children have the disease. In Hispanics, that number is one in 36,000.  One in every twelve African-Americans carry the trait, which itself is harmless, but when two trait carriers like Tamiko and Keith marry and have a child, their chances of having a baby with the full blown disease increase dramatically to one in four. Naturally, Tamiko and Keith were devastated by KJ's diagnosis. 

The McKenzie Family

Superwoman Tamiko remains strong and incredibly courageous as she helps KJ fight sickle cell. She is on a mission to advocate for a cure and educate everyone who will listen about the devastating effects of the disease. She does countless interviews to create greater awareness about sickle cell among all people and she helps raise funds for research and prevention. On Saturday, November 23, Tamiko participated in the Detroit-area St. Jude's Give Thanks. Walk to raise money for St. Jude's Hospital where researchers work day and night to help find a cure. She will continue to do everything within her power to make sure her son beats this disease and lives a long, full life. "Keith and I were inspired by the many stories of successful bone marrow transplants used to cure sickle cell disease. Three years ago we had the surprise of our lives when we learned we were pregnant with twins. Concerned that the twins could also have the disease, they were tested in utero and they were found to be sickle cell free. And, the news just gets better from here, KJs’s twin brothers, Kalen & Karson are a perfect bone marrow match for their big brother," says Tamiko. 

The Bravest Little Superhero in the World

And so the journey to cure KJ begins. His treatment plan consists of ten days of chemotherapy, which begins Tuesday, November 26, followed by a stem cells transplant and six weeks or more of hospitalization. The first 100 days after discharge will be followed by once to twice weekly clinic appointments. They will become less frequent as he recovers. 

As she prepares for long days and nights in the hospital by her son's side, Tamiko recognizes that there are so many people praying for her little superhero. For this and the family's many blessings, she and her husband give thanks. They vow to keep fighting, supporting others who are going through what their family is going through, and raising money and awareness in the fight against sickle cell disease. 

To see a recent My Fox Detroit news story on KJ, click here.

How Can You Help KJ and the McKenzie Family?

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for taking the time to read about this incredible family. People from all over the country have asked how they can help the McKenzie family as KJ begins this journey. Here are a few ideas:

1) Visit the McKenzie family GoFundMe page and give as much as you can to help them with medical expenses.

2) Make a donation to St. Jude's in the McKenzie family name: Tamiko McKenzie St. Jude's Fundraising Page

3) You could be a possible match for a patient in need of a bone marrow transplant. Learn more about how you can become a donor and the steps of the donation process by visiting: Be The Match.

4) Send the McKenzie family cards, letters, gas cards, Target or Costco cards.  Most of all, send your prayers! 

Mail can be sent to: 

KJ McKenzie & Family 

35560 Grand River #227

Farmington Hills, MI 48335-3120

5) Learn more about sickle cell disease and how it affects millions of families throughout the world by visiting the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Knowledge is Power!

6) Leave a comment below for Tamiko and Keith. I'm pretty sure your prayers, words of love and support, and acts of kindness will help them get through long days and nights in the hospital with KJ.

7) During this season of Thanksgiving, be eternally grateful for your health and the health of your loved ones. HUG someone and tell them you LOVE them today.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: LeslieWrites.com

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Women Making Power Moves

Anyone who knows me knows that I am unapologetically Pro-Woman all day, every day. I love to see women succeed and I pay close attention to smart, driven, authentic women who are climbing to the highest heights or silently making moves in the background to advance a cause or help others. I especially admire those who aren't tearing other women down as they ascend. I tell anyone who will listen that I desperately loathe reality television shows that cast women in a negative light. It makes me so angry that women, young and old, agree to put their shallow, meaningless lives on display, showing the ugliest side of themselves for money and fleeting fame. How can they disregard the fact that young girls are watching their every move and taking plays from their playbook on how to dress, how to manipulate men and how to FIGHT other women?

Thankfully, all young girls aren't that impressionable and many have REAL women to pattern their lives after---women who respect themselves and others. And I am praying for the proverbial winds of change to shift the American consciousness away from the garbage we call entertainment, to real television that celebrates and values a woman's character, her talents, and her heart.

So, let me spend a minute recognizing just a few women who matter to me. Some I know personally, some I don't. But I am watching, listening and learning as they demonstrate how they live their lives with class, honor and decorum. I respect the way they are advancing their careers with a sense of pride and purpose, showing other women how it should be done. 

Angela Burt-Murray is a woman constantly making power moves! The former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine is co-host of Exhale, the provocative new talk series on the Aspire Network. Exhale premieres this Thursday, June 27 at 8pm ET. This superwoman also co-founded CocoaFab, a fast-paced celebrity news and style site covering urban pop culture. I admire Angela's leadership and ingenuity in media and now, television. And her wonderful spirit is well... check her out starting this week on Exhale and see for yourself why she's on my list of powerful women!

Best known for her work as an advocate for HIV/AIDS & women’s health Cookie Johnson has stepped out of her “retirement” from being a busy full-time wife and mother, to devote herself to instilling confidence in modern women of various shapes and sizes through her premium denim line, Cj by Cookie Johnson. Devoted to empowering women, Cookie’s efforts now reach beyond the philanthropic endeavors she and her husband, iconic basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson are known for. 

I adore Cookie. As someone who has written speeches for her on the subject of HIV awareness and female entrepreneurship, I respect that for more than 20 years, she has been on the front lines fighting for more HIV/AIDS testing and advocacy, and has developed her own powerful brand. And have I mentioned that her jeans look fabulous on all women? My hat is off to the beautiful, intelligent, down-to-earth Cookie Johnson! 

Nischelle Turner is an entertainment correspondent for CNN and HLN's Showbiz Tonight. She's smart, talented and having worked as a sideline reporter for FOX's Sunday NFL broadcasts, she's giving her male counterparts a run for their money in the sports IQ department. We see you, Nischelle! Follow Nischelle on Twitter: @nischelleturner.

Speaking of powerful women, are you aware of the impact Padmasree Warrior has had on Cisco as the company's Chief Technology & Strategy Officer? She commands attention at every level and is a formidable leader. Listed #57 on Forbes Power Women list this year, Padmasree is charged with aligning technology development and corporate strategy to enable Cisco to anticipate, shape and lead major market transitions.

Sadira Furlow is one of my favorite women on the planet and a real force to be reckoned with in the advertising world. She is the senior director of business development for Chicago-based commonground Marketing Agency where she spends her days leading new business, solving problems, inspiring cross agency collaboration and consulting…all while remembering to have fun! Love this smart, talented, classy lady!

South African-born actress, Charlize Theron is beautiful and memorable by all standards. I just love her poise and confidence. In 2007, she founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) in an effort to support African youth in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In addition to being a philanthropist and social activist, she has kicked ass in countless movie roles and she's often the classiest woman in the room at celebrity "see and be seen" functions. And her haircut? What?!? Respect due. 

Dr. Bernadette Sanchez is an associate professor in DePaul University's Department of Psychology. This spirited professor's major areas of interest include community psychology, positive youth development, youth mentoring, race, ethnicity, and culture, academic achievement and education. She is kind, honest and one of the smartest women I know. Definitely a rising star in the world of academia. Keep an eye on this dynamic woman!

One of my all-time favorites, Robin Roberts is co-anchor of ABC's Good Morning America. She is honest and what you see is what you get on and off camera. I featured her in my new book, Dare To Be Extraordinary, A Collection of Positive Life Lessons from African American Fathers. In her chapter, I wrote: "Robin brings joy, honesty, and news to millions of loyal Good Morning America viewers each day. When she laughs, we laugh. When she cries, we cry. Roberts has an uncanny way of making us feel her joy and her pain, and her extraordinary brand of journalism can’t be taught in school or learned in a newsroom. Off camera, she is just as humble and authentic as she is on camera. People are naturally drawn to her..."

I stand by these words. Recently, she has survived health battles and the loss of some of the people closest to her and she's still standing and giving of herself each and every day. It doesn't get much more real than this.

Eva Longoria is a charismatic, no-nonsense Mexican-American actress who's passionate about politics, education and the world in which we live. She has made enough money in her lifetime to quietly continue to hone her craft and live a nice Hollywood lifestyle. Instead, she strives to do more. In 2012, Eva co-chaired of President Barack Obama's re-election committee and campaigned for the President. She is also a restauranteur and philanthropist, and did I mention that she earned her master's degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge in May 2013? Yep, Eva is a real powerhouse and I salute her. 

Susan Blumberg-Kason is an author, columnist and blogger who writes fascinating prose and articles about her experiences living in Hong Kong and about Jews in WWI China. I love that she writes beautifully about a part of the world and a culture she is deeply passionate about. Susan, who's upcoming book, Good Chinese Wife will be published by Sourcebooks in 2014, is someone I pay close attention to because she is most definitely paving the way for her own success... and I'm taking notes. Check out Susan's website. 

Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name, bell hooks, is a woman who's writing speaks to my soul. Through her writing, bell hooks forces her readers to think deeply about love, sexuality, race, class and gender.  And I've loved her work for probably two decades now. In her writing, she has focused on the interconnectivity of race, capitalism, and gender and what she describes as their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression and class domination. bell hooks has published over thirty books and numerous scholarly and mainstream articles, appeared in several documentary films and participated in various public lectures. If you are ever asked the name of my favorite writer and social critic of all times and you don't answer "bell hooks," shame on you because she is damn near an intellectual Goddess in my eyes. 



Be Inspired,

Leslie


VISIT MY WEBSITE! LeslieWrites.com

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Luck Won't Get You Fit. Hard Work Will.

I have been asked quite a bit how I’ve managed to drop some lbs. and get lean, especially my abs. After all, I am the mother of three kids (two sons and a stepdaughter) and I’m over 40. Having a fit body at this stage in the game is the exception and not the rule so we might as well give up the good fight, right? Nope. Not so fast. Oh, and this information is for women AND men interested in my particular journey.

There is a science to getting fit—a science that, after a lot of trial and error, seems to be working for me. The reality, which you’ve heard, seen and read Ad nauseam, is thatthere are no short cuts. We all know this. 

It has taken incredible discipline and a desire to get it right and you can do this too. Even if you’ve tried and given up 100 times, collapsing into a sea of French fries and double stuffed Oreos as you waved your white flag in defeat, convinced that you’d never lose weight or tighten up your body… know that it can be done! If you’re anything like I have been in the past, you’ve been half-assing it and dancing around getting fit. Like me, you’ve had fits and starts, going hard for a minute but remaining frustrated and a little sad about your ass being too big or your stomach being well, you know what your stomach looks like. Believe me, I have tried to get motivated and focused so many times and I’ve beat myself up over my inability to truly get fit. You see, I have been a marathon runner for almost a decade and I’ve pretty much been a lifelong runner. Over the past few years I found myself eating all kinds of food that I absolutely, positively know in my heart of hearts are terrible for me but I justified my eating by telling myself I would run it off on my next 16-mile run. Bullshit. I was lying to myself, falling into really bad habits and generally making myself believe that being 20 pounds too heavy was okay. After all, I was over 40 and my metabolism was slowing down, so this was all just a sad fact of life and a sign of aging that I had to accept. Bullshit. I lied to myself and if you believe this old age hype, you’re lying to yourself too. People can tell you what you’re doing wrong and how to do it right but if you’re not ready to give yourself a dose of tough love and shift your thinking, you’ll stay exactly where you are. I know I did for at least four years and it sucked. Big time.

Let me first say this: I am not a physician and I am not dispensing medical advice. You need to consult your physician before you start any strenuous exercise or weight loss program and that’s not what I’m doing here. As requested, I am sharing what is working for me. With that out of the way, here are some things that I figured out FOR ME:

NUTRITION:

I told myself IT’S TIME…Time to stop lying to myself and pretending to be in shape. Let me be clear, I still have a ways to go but I made a commitment to myself that I wasn’t going to live like an undisciplined child eating a package of cookies or a pint of Häagen-Dazs any longer. I told myself that I had to learn at least a little bit about nutrition and how to consume calories that fuel my body instead of destroying it. I made an agreement with myself that I would cut out sugar and carbs. Yeah, I said it; I cut out the sugar and the carbs. Not completely, but I stopped adding loads of sugar to my coffee and stopped pouring spoonsful of honey in my tea. I stopped eating my favorite chocolate candy (which almost made me lose my ever-loving mind) and drinking juice which contains a ton of sugar. I stopped pretending that I needed to eat huge bowls of pasta and tons of bread in order to have enough energy for long runs. I learned that I could get good carbs with more nutritional value from sweet potatoes, broccoli or black beans, for example. I started making careful decisions in the kitchen and I asked my husband to slap the potato chips out of my hand when I started to backslide. I made a choice. Instead of fast food or high calorie dishes and my all time favorite—chocolate, I chose me. I’ll say it again…I chose me.

Initially I didn’t think I could do it but I had an ongoing talk with myself and day by day eating nutritious foods became more and more enjoyable and eating crap became less and less desirable. I also talked with my brother, sister and my mother a lot. We have all struggled with eating foods we know are nutritionally bankrupt (Holla if you hear me Garrett’s Popcorn & Harold’s Chicken lovers!), but I had to make this decision, not for today, but for life. Will I ever eat pasta again? Sure. I just had a small amount while I was on vacation in the Dominican Republic this week. Will I eat rice? Yep, did that too. But I am so focused on eating the good-for-me foods like salmon and spinach and mangoes and almonds and kale and baked chicken, that my desire for other foods is becoming a non-factor. This is called a psychological shift, a change in mindset, really. And my abs, my butt and my thighs, all of which are slowly but surely getting tighter, are thanking me for it.

WEIGHT TRAINING:

I got in the gym. That’s right… the gym. Weightlifting. Resistance training. Again, I’ve been a runner for years and it has been nothing for me to lace up my running shoes and train for a marathon. Running 20 miles? A piece of cake. Doing a push up? Oh hell no, not me. I was completely intimidated by the idea of lifting and in retrospect I could kick myself for not embracing weight training years ago. It’s not that I’ve never worked out with weights, I just never hung in there long enough to see the true benefits, and there are MANY. I am getting stronger and stronger. My core strength is bananas, my biceps, triceps, back and shoulders are becoming more defined, my thighs are getting more toned and my abs, as I’ve been told, look ridiculous (Thanks, Tara.)   Because I run, I convinced myself that I didn’t need to lift. Bullshit. See how my lies to myself were stacking up?

Jackie Jackson, Certified Personal Trainer & Owner of Triple Fit

When I lived in Chicago, I worked out with an exceptional certified fitness professional (and an awesome massage therapist), Jacquelyn Jackson (CSCS, CPT, LMT), owner of Triple Fit (http://triplefit.com/ and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TripleFit). Jackie has a fabulous brand new fitness studio at 2150 S. Canalport and she teaches classes, conducts one-on-one and group training. If you’re serious about turning the corner and making a commitment to your health and well being, you need to reach out to Jackie atinfo@triplefit.com or I can share your information with her and she will give you a call. If you’re not in Chicago, reach out to her anyway. She is an excellent resource and can help you find a good trainer in your area. Here’s why Jackie is so dope: She not only creates workouts to meet your specific weight loss or strength training goals, she teaches you which exercises are most beneficial for you and explains why you’re doing what you’re doing. She is a master trainer and teacher. In my opinion, the two must go hand-in-hand. You have to understand the why. Education and the science behind why we move, how we move and why we eat what we eat are just as important as showing up at the gym every day. It took me a long time to figure that one out.

Believe me, pushing away from the table, trading in your membership to your favorite wine and cheese club or fine dining establishment and investing in a good trainer are decisions you’ll never regret. Think about it: most of us go out several times a month (or several times a quarter) to eat high calorie meals and enjoy high calorie (and expensive!) drinks with friends. Or we load our grocery carts with carb and sugar-laden junk that gets us one step closer to chronic illnesses like diabetes or hypertension. The money we spend on this stuff could be applied toward a great trainer, a gym membership and foods that are fueling our bodies with good nutrients and good fats. It’s a personal choice and one that is paying dividends for me. These days I workout in the gym two days a week with an AMAZING trainer who kicks my butt like it’s nobody’s business. His name is Mike Jackson and his girlfriend, Alicia, has abs of steel. She is an inspiration for sure! Mike does one-on-one training and group sessions. In addition to lifting weights, I run or bike outside three to four days a week.  I also buy high protein foods and lots of fruits and vegetables and mostly cook at home. My husband gets annoyed sometimes that I am choosing to eat differently but he is incredibly supportive and I think I’m rubbing off on him a little.   When we go out, I eat food that keeps me focused on my goals and I don’t come home bloated and guilt-ridden because I overate and feel fat as hell. Honestly, that feeling just got old to me. I was tired of feeling fat AND being mad at myself. I’ve been down that road too many times and I refuse to go back, not for vanity’s sake (although it feels great to be told that I look like I keep myself in shape), but because living a healthy lifestyle is THE priority. This is not an ego orgy for me. This is about my health and feeling great. Looking fly is simply a residual effect of healthy living. BONUS!

Can’t afford a trainer or a gym membership? Yeah, that’s still no excuse. You can commit to a program like Insanity http://www.beachbody.com/ My brother, Paul, is a beast when it comes to Insanity. After struggling at first because it is a really challenging workout, he is totally committed. So is our childhood friend, Scooter. Insanity is less of a financial commitment than a trainer but it is a commitment to getting fit and developing a better you. We all know that when we shift our focus and start doing things that make us feel better about ourselves, other parts of our lives start to improve as well. Again, this is about getting rid of the lies and excuses and investing in YOU. Make a choice. You can get with this or you can get with that… My early 90s hip hop fans know what I’m talking about. 

 EDUCATION & THE ADVOCARE 24-DAY CHALLENGE:

I started reading everything I could get my hands on about nutrition and the psychology behind food cravings and addictions. Let me take a step back and once again say that for years I was STUCK. I could not stop eating chocolate, sugary foods and salty foods to save my life. To say that I struggled is an understatement.

I was searching for some type of program that would help me refocus on dropping a few pounds and getting lean. My line sister, Lisa, whose abs are SICK, introduced me to Advocare products. At first I thought, “Yeah right, I love Lisa but she is on some BS. I’ve never even heard of Advocare!” I talked with her, did my own research on the company and found that they develop a host of energy, weight-loss, nutrition and sports performance products. In fact, Advocare is endorsed by many professional athletes including New Orleans Saint’s QB, Drew Brees, and world champion sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Lisa got me started on Advocare’s 24-day cleanse and it was such a nutritionally complete process. There isn’t some crazy calorie restriction with the 24-day cleanse like a lot of “weight-loss programs” and the benefit for me is that it was exactly what I needed to refocus on healthy eating and portion control. I backed away from the carbs and sugar once again and did really well on the cleanse. The Advocare products only enhanced what I was already committed to, which was getting lean through weight training and running, and being smart about my nutrition. I got through the 24-day cleanse, dropped around 12 pounds, developed leaner muscles and became more toned (I’m still working on the toning part but it’s all coming together).  It works for a lot of people. You can purchase Advocare products online through a distributor and because I saw firsthand what the 24-day cleanse did for me and I LOVE their sports performance and energy products, I am now a distributor. It just made sense for me because I have tried lots of cleanses and diets and all kinds of stuff. Nothing did for me what Advocare has done. Period. Today, I use several products including the UNBELIEVABLE Spark energy drink, which replaced coffee for me, meal replacement shakes, Omega-3 fatty acids, etc. If you’re interested, please reach out to me. I want to be clear that I am telling you about Advocare because it is the one group of nutritional products that helped me get these abs, this lean(er) body and more energy than I’ve ever had. I feel healthy and completely focused on my fitness goals due in part to Advocare. Again, this is not a game. These are life choices and I am winning (or at least giving it my all).

Whatever your goals, please know that if I can get focused and transform my body and my psyche, you can too. It’s not rocket science—but it IS science. You may start and fail and that’s okay too. Just don’t give up. Always know that you can set the bar higher and do better, especially if you’re reading this while sipping a triple chocolate mocha with double whipped cream or sitting in Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot going to town on five chocolate coconut cake donuts. (Put ‘em down right now!!!) You don’t have to do what I’m doing or be on some extreme diet (I would never recommend that). I do, however, recommend giving it your all and pushing yourself, especially if you know that you’ve only been halfway committed. No matter what you decide, map out a plan, get with a trainer or find a workout partner for some level of accountability, stop eating crap, and invest more in yourself and less in the things that have you stuck. And I would strongly recommend Advocare’s 24-Day Challenge, not because I’m trying to sell you something, but because it has really helped get me to that next level of fitness and renewed my commitment to taking care of myself.

I am very interested in learning about your fitness goals and what you want to accomplish. I think everyone can benefit from and learn from each other so please post your questions and comments below and I’ll ask my fitness experts and friends who have committed to this way of thinking, living and being to weigh in too. And if you need a virtual coach, I can hold your hand as you get going on your own personal fitness journey as long as you promise to help someone else along the way. That’s what success—and life—are all about: Paying it forward.

LET'S GO!
Leslie

Feeling Kinda’ Healthy These Days

LINKS:

Jacquelyn Jackson (CSCS, CPT, LMT), owner of Triple Fit: http://triplefit.com/

Find Triple Fit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TripleFit

Advocare Website: http://www.advocare.com/

Advocare on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/advocare