Tag: Health and wellness

Lifestyle

How To Refind Your Lost Motivaton to Make a Lifestyle Change

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Motivation, Inspire, Refind Your Lost Motivation, Be You, Love You, Life Tips

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Are you rapidly losing interest in your healthy lifestyle changes? After the high of some initial success – perhaps you lost a few pounds or managed to take part in your first running event – it can be a common feeling to have a bit of a slump, where your motivation seems to have fizzed out. When this happens, how do you get a jump- start and refocus on your intentions to lead a healthier life? Here are some simple ways you can get back on track:

Love Yourself Now

Too often, we embark on a lifestyle change from a negative place, telling ourselves we aren’t good enough as we are. But being too negative about your current state can actually be very demoralising. Give yourself permission to love you, just the way you are now. See your journey as a positive, a change you are making as a gift to yourself- not a punishment. Reading some self-help books can guide you to a more positive place – there are lots of recommendations at https://www.selfdevelopmentsecrets.com/best-self-help-books/.

Change Your Role Model

Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself is a recipe for disaster, so make sure that whoever you are using for inspiration is not so far out of reach that you want to give up. It’s fine to aspire to be like a celebrity but understand that it’s literally their job to look good, and they have an army of professional support, from nutritionists and personal chefs to life coaches. If anything, it’s better to compare yourself to the best version of you. Keep it within reach. Select positive role models that are confident with their shape and are strong and healthy.

Identify Your Triggers

Life is fraught with danger points that challenge us and make it harder to stick to diet and fitness goals. But knowing in advance what is likely to prove difficult for you- and finding other ways to handle whatever it is- is crucial. Perhaps you use food as emotional comfort. Maybe you get lazy on busy weeknights after work and end up snacking. Understand your pressure points and know how to deal with them in advance. Stock up on healthy snacks that fill the same need but won’t compromise your hard work, and find out other ways of coping with stress and upset.

Make One Small Change

If you’re struggling to get going again, then implementing one small, easy change can five you the boost in momentum you need to get back on track. It could be cutting out sugar for a week, adding in an extra 10 minutes to the treadmill, or having a couple of extra portions of fruit and veg a day. That one simple change can be the catalyst to carry on with everything.

Lasting change takes time, so you need to have patience, forgive yourself for minor slip-ups and accept that your journey will all be worth it in the end. Getting frustrated and experiencing set backs doesn’t have to mean giving up- there will be ups and downs. If you can pick yourself up, you’ll soon find another milestone that makes you feel on top of the world again!

Gratitude

Going Down At Last – Personal

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For the first time in almost forever, my scale has shifted downwards. I stood on the treacherous thing this morning and voila, before my eyes, the arrow was going anti-clockwise instead of standing rigid or shifting forward like it always seemed to prefer doing.

Losing a few pounds may not seem like much to some keep fit nuts out there, but the humbling lesson that trying to lose weight is teaching me is that age does count with these things. My body is no longer 22 years old and shifting these lovely bumps has become an uphill task even with eating sensibly and not indulging in all the sweetness out there.

We often don’t know what we have, or maybe we do, but we are unable to appreciate the enormity of grace that abounds in our daily lives that we get to take these things for granted and maybe even become blasé about them. I remember my svelte pre-babies figure and though she’s still somewhere in my head and in this ample bodacious body of mine, she’s been absent for many moons now.

I always took it for granted that I would get her back with the snap of my fingers instead the reverse has been the case for such a while, that some days I just feel outrightly stressed and all this has only made my fibromyalgia pains worse. I don’t like to dwell and moan over my pains, especially in my legs, however, it’s nagging presence constantly reminds me of the excess body weight that I’m lugging around.

As much as I don’t shame my present state, I’m not happy with it and it’s consequences healthwise, thus, I’m am seriously thankful that the excess is finally responding to stimuli. My hope is to stay on course and that it continues to go downwards till I get to my appropriate BMI for the sake of my health.

However it may be, appreciate who you are at whatever stage you find yourself, never take it for granted even as you work to improve your state of being.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

If you wish to participate in a gratitude challenge, there are several gratitude/thankful platforms in the blogosphere that you can tune into and get your ithankful going on. I can’t express in words the enormity of Joy and fulfilment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog,Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

Awkward Moments – Streams of Consciousness Saturday.

jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

I guess we all have an awkward moment now and again, but as long as it’s not fatal, we live through it and sometimes even find them quite amusing later. One of the moments I constantly feel that awkward silence is getting on a lift with strangers. I wonder if it’s the confining space, but there’s always this pervasive silence that hangs thick in the air and sometimes I try to break the silence by saying hello.socsbadge2016-17

On the other hand, I brought on my latest mortifying moment while doing a vegetable smoothie cleanse. I know that it’s a good thing but believe when I say that it does have its downsides as well 🙂

Two weeks ago, I was tired of feeling tired and heavy, so I decided to do a three days vegetable smoothie cleanse to flush my system because it felt sluggish, so I prepared a jug of veggie smoothie and took it overnight.

By morning time, I was happy to let out the junk in my trunk and went to the gym for a quick workout. I was happily trudging away on the stepper with my headphones and fave music blasting away when I had a grip of tummy rumbling gas. Feeling flustered, I gingerly tried to step off and get to the restroom, but alas, I didn’t make it!

Some noisome toot unwittingly  escaped by themselves overriding my will and grace to be ladylike. Based on the startled and judging looks that other patrons gave me, I guess it was loud enough (though I didn’t’ hear them because of my headphones).

Not my best moment yet, but hey, we all have those awkward moments in our lives and it’s just fine. Sometimes nature gets the better of you 😉

Our SOC’s prompt for today is ‘awkward’ and our gracious hostess for this weekend is Joey of Joeyfully Stated. Good job my lady.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S. Are you coming to the party? It’s LIVE right now and you can join the fun through this link. See you 🙂

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Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Ski Dubai and Two Birthdays – Echoes of my neighbourhood 29

jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple and you can find out more about it through this link.

It was a busy last week for my household with two birthdays in the house. A good reason to celebrate, indulge and get a bit spoilt. We went to the Ski Dubai, though I’m still trying to figure out why we paid to go and get cold in a – 4 degrees indoor resort – I guess the blistering heat in this place makes it novelty 😉

A visit to the Cinema to find Dory and The Cheesecake Factory for the birthday celebrations was the icing on the cake so to speak.

Gosh, all the buttery, delicious popcorns and generous slices of decadent cake indulgence this Summer has convinced me to join the children in Karate/Dojo classes.

I hope I don’t kill the Dojo master this time around 😉

Thankfully we can’t eat food online otherwise, I would have taken a bite out of Lady Lee’s delightful pie while watching the full moon, and the glorious Sunset on St. Johns River with the waving palms where Pamela took me was just enough to make me sigh in pleasure.

I must say that Brigid’s Irish village’s Tidy Town practice with the blooming bikes is such a delightful aesthetic and horticultural idea. From Ireland, we traipsed through a little Monsoon drizzle where we sang in the rain and filled our eye’s with beautiful blooms.

Kat took us on a journey to the National D.Day Memorial at Bedford and with respect to the solemn photos of those who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of the freedom that today’s generation enjoys, we must never let certain history repeat.

So, when do we get to visit your neighbourhood? Do invite us over.

Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Inspiration - Motivation · My Thinking Corner · Uncategorized

Tuesdays Thoughts…My Thinking Corner #14.

jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind. It helps give me clarity of vision and might help you too.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

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  • ♥ When you keep undermining your self-worth, no one else will take the time to elevate it.
  • ♥ We fritter away our lives with too many details. Simplify it! Keep whittling away the excesses.
  • ♥ When we have joy that runs deep, nothing can rob us of it, because we can dig in deep and reach for it. Every other hurt will be on the periphery.
  • ♥ The recipe for unity is not complicated, but it takes love and perseverance.
  • ♥ As you proclaim peace and love with your mouth, endeavour to see that your heart matches your proclamations.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Our last week thinkers brought in dollops of good thoughts:

Enlightenment from Dollops of Heedful Ramblings A sweet short quote that cuts into the meat of the matter.

Inspired Series from Seye never leaves me empty handed. I always come away richer.

Simple Power from Kay. You need a shot of this. Never underestimate the strength of your words.

Thank you to all the contributors. May these words take roots in our lives and may our harvest be bountiful 🙂

‘So, when will you share those nuggets of wisdom of yours?’

*P.S. I know that I read more thinking thoughts from other bloggers than those listed above, but for some reason, I can’t find the ping backs to some of them. Please give me a heads up if your’s is not showing here.

 

Family · Life · Love · Parenting · Photographs · Poetry/Poems

Since You’ve Been Gone…

jacquelineobyikocha42 Comments

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I see you around the corner, the likeness of your eyes in the eyes of a total stranger down the shopping aisle.
It startles me.

I see you in everything that I look around me.
In the random formation of the clouds.
I sometimes see your wise eyes peeking through and winking at me.
It gives me joy.

I hear you in my thoughts. Your words of wisdom, of love, of encouragement
Are etched upon my soul.
They keep me warm.

I hear you in the music. The music that you loved so much, that I grew up knowing that love.
They sounds of music comfort me.

I see you in my little boy’s face. Sometimes, I stare at him so hard, as I seek tell tales of you written in his genetics.
It leaves me amazed.

I see you in the hands of a gardener pruning plants, in the gentle waves of a blooming plant, you loved all things green and they did so well in your hands.
It makes me smile.

I feel you in the drumbeats of my heart, because you are me and I am you. Everyday, my thoughts dwell on you, for in every little thing I see you.

I visualize you looking on from high up and I wish my hands could stretch up so high to give you a hug.
I get some comfort from the warmth of the Sun, telling my mind that you are with me.

In the smile, in the laugh, the stare, the walk, the phrase in a young child’s face.

I catch myself holding one-sided conversations with you and your imagined responses prompt me to sigh, to laugh and to cry.

I see you.
In everything that I am.

To you my dear dad. Always.

Yesterday was World Cancer Day, I lost my dear dad to Cancer two years ago. Sometimes, the pain is just so raw that it clogs my chest and my throat. He was a very lovely human and a fabulous dad. If there is one ailment that I could wish away from the World, it would be Cancer.

To those battling The Big C, may abundant Grace and Strength remain your portion. We will beat it. Blessings.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Hope · Life · Quotes For You

It’s Never Too Little…

jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

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My heart is glad for the pretty things that surround me in this environment. The flowers are blooming all over the place and the birds are flocking all around.

For the simple things of life, like a warm bowl of chilli and vegetable soup brewed in my kitchen, for the crispy cool Sahara air; even though we are all sneezing and coughing, I give thanks.

Above all things today, I am so grateful that we were able to find Prednisolone at 3am this morning, when my young boy woke up with sudden bad allergic reaction and a swollen face.

We used all the normal stuff for him, but to no avail.

He is allergic to certain environmental factors and it occurs more with weather changes like Summer with all the pollen or the dusty Winter air in this climes.

I did not want to use EpiPen which I keep for only extreme reactions.

Mercifully, the allergic reaction has been arrested and we have every cause to smile.

For what are you thankful today? ”Remember that feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward.

Would you like to join Colline’s gratitude challenge? Just click on the link and join the party.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

 

Creative Writing · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Musings · Photographs · Poetry/Poems · Weave that Dream · Writing

As Magic Abounds…

jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

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The air is so crispy
The birds are quite chirpy
The magic of nature abounds
As I imbibe all the sounds

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My quick strides grow shorter
My eyesight gets sharper
My senses soak in deeper
Pictures become magically wider

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The lady and her dog walk past
Bow-Wow says hello
The labourer offers a fleeting smile
And he works pretty fast

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So much floral blooms
And golden, droopy trees loom
Scented float of planted perfume
There is simply no room for gloom

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More barking dogs
The tinkle of calm waters
The men play a hand of golf
And a bird catches a grub

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A deep sense of satisfaction
Of peace I sense within
As the Sun peeks to say hello
I am happy to embrace me

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My passion has called
Now, no longer ignored
I hear the reverberations
Of the magic hidden within.

ξ

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
Written during my morning walk.

Writing 101 – Day 1: Magic

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Musings · Poetry/Poems

The Truth As it is 😄

jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

In my mind,

I run like an African Gazelle,

filled with grace,

speed and style,

while in actual fact,

I am a robust Heifer,

trundling along,

with a rolling gait rump,

also filled with grace,

style and attitude,

to make up for the speed.

Go ahead! Have a chuckle at my expense.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

cartoon-funny-elephant-jump-exerciseImage Source: Indy Pendent Thinking

Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Musings · Personal story · The Daily Post

LET GO OF THAT POISON!…

jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Have you ever had a mill stone tied around your neck? No? You are not sure? Well, unforgiveness is a mill stone!

Bearing grudges does not only feel like the weight of an albatross sitting on your neck, it is giving free rental space in the hardware of ones brain to issues better tossed out.

Forgiveness frees your heart and mind in ways that are beyond measure.

I forgive, not even for the sake of the person who has offended me, but to set myself free.

You forgive for your own sake, because not forgiving is called slow poison.1448465122541[1]

This poison taints your heart, taints your mind, taints your life and it is a hindrance to the fullness of your joy because it will always remain a dark shadow and an acid leaching away at the insides of the unburdened.

It is a given that somethings may happen to us that makes us feel as if we can never get past it to the level of forgiveness, but indeed we can, when we seek the grace, even if we don’t forget the incident because it is difficult to delete certain memories that have become ingrained in our memory banks.

However, our minds are very resilient and will fight for us if we give it the chance to. Sometimes, if I am mad at someone and they are within reach, I simply unburden my grudge and move on. It is not worth nights of lost sleep. Not one bit.

I speak deeply from painful life experiences that I thought would make me cynical, embittered and an unforgiving soul.

…But love set me free! I had to actively seek peace, forgive and let go for me to be free indeed. It was so bad at a point that I secretly wished every imaginable ill on Earth on the offender and when I say that it took the serenity and the divine grace of God to expunge my bitterness, I don’t mince my words.

When I accepted those words ”daughter you are loosed” over my life, my joy burst through that no dam could contain it. Now all I feel is pity! Maybe, one day, I shall speak of these things.

It took learning to realize that even though forgiveness does not excuse a behaviour, it prevents that behaviour from destroying one’s heart.

Forgiving was unlocking the door to set a captive free and that captive was me.

Not forgiving meant empowering the enemy some more and remaining a victim.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post prompt I Can’t Stay Mad At You.

Do you hold grudges or do you believe in forgive and forget?