WHEN A TRAINER IS MORE THAN A WORD!

Hey y'all...so many of you have been following me as I blog. On this weight loss journey it is not just about me, but the people that inspire me as well. I dedicated one blog to my girl Nicole who lost over 160 pounds to reach her goal. Well tonight’s blog is dedicated to my trainer…The World’s Greatest Weight Loss Expert..The Kenya Crooks - www.thekenyacrooks.com.

So I know there are many people that have trainers that they work out with, but “Is your trainer more than the word implies?” Well I can say unequivocally, that Kenya Crooks is more than just a trainer.  Now let me give you some background knowledge on my relationship with Kenya. I have been working with Kenya since May of 2010. There are times when we have agreed, disagreed, laughed, cried, and just plain got on each other’s nerves. Now with that being said, Kenya has not only changed my life, but many lives across this country….yes he has clients in other states that work out with us also.

To me and many others, Kenya is more than a trainer….Kenya is a motivator, prayer warrior, comforter, provider, leader, teacher, inspirer, supporter, trailblazer, God sent, even a comedian at times. When we leave Kenya’s workouts our relationship with him doesn’t end. He immediately uses the best communication tool (Facebook) out there to become a sounding board for many of us. He congratulates us on our successes; he listens to our issues that are holding us back from being the people God wants us to be.  He keeps track of our eating habits, workout habits even when we are not with him. I think the picture phone was invented just for Kenya…we have to take pictures of our meals, scales, workout display and send it to him…it is called ACCOUNTABILITY. 

I know without a fact that I would not be 85lbs lighter today had it not been for Kenya being more than just a TRAINER. I know this because I’ve had a trainer before and he didn’t have half the enthusiasm and zeal about MY weight loss as Kenya does and ultimately I quit. Anyone can sit there and bark out workout routines and jog around the block with you, but are they just as passionate about your weight loss as you are and do they take it personal if you don’t succeed. Well Kenya does take it personal…and that you know he is vested just as much as you are in making it to the ultimate goal.  Finally, the thing I love the most about Kenya Crooks is that I know without a fact that it is not about the money I pay him each month, but about helping me be the healthy person God intended me to be.  For that Mr. Crooks…I say thank you.

Do you see what I see?

Hello everyone I know it has been a minute, but I am back with thoughts on a weight loss issue many of you that are in your weight loss journey will undoubtedly face. The issue I am referring to is seeing the new you others see. I know you are thinking what exactly is the issue?

As many of you that have been following me are aware, I have lost 80 pounds so far in this journey. Well those of you that have lost any amount weight recognize the subtle changes that your body makes each day. Well as I have been loosing my weight, many of my friends, family, and coworkers (supporters) have commented on how small I am. OK in my mind I am thinking well yeah I have lost a good amount of weight, but I am in no way small. Now I have been struggling with this issue for at least the last 2 months. However, it really didn't hit me until this past week how-- I do not see what others see when I look in the mirror. To be honest, two weeks ago was the first time I looked at my face and really thought damn my face is skinny, I look different.

Well as I was preparing for my trip to New Orleans, I had to go buy some new summer clothes and I didn't even have to think about going to Lane Bryant..woohoo.  Well I bought these cute white shorts from New York and Company, you know the ones with the cuff. Well I put them on and thought (out loud) dang my thighs look big...my mom looked at me like I had lost my mind. Be mindful several individuals had made comments about how small my legs had gotten. My mom said if you think your legs look big now, what did you think before you lost the weight. It takes a momma to put it into perspective. Then I got to New Orleans and I got to see some friends I had not seen since last year, and they were like you look great. So when I said "Yeah but I have about 50 more pounds to loose" they looked at me like..are you crazy, you will be tooo skinny. I explained to them that I don't see what everyone around me see.  As a matter of fact, the establishment we were in had a mirror staring me in my face, and I looked in that mirror and my face looked fat too me.  My friend since we were kids (pictured below), said with concern and love in her voice...."You look great. You do not look fat. Be proud of what you have accomplished."



Now if you have not made the connection yet...let me enlighten you. As you continue on your weight loss journey keep everything in perspective. I now realize why anorexics become the way they are, because when they look in the mirror, they do not see what others see. We sit back and judge them, but I can now relate..no I know I am no where near anorexic, but if I had not recognize that I have an issue with what I see in the mirror, I could easily be there one day.

I encourage you to always take an assessment of what your body looks like through before and after pictures, because when I do look at my pictures I do see the difference most of the time; but only if the pictures are side by side. More importantly, keep supporters that are going to keep it real with you...because they may have to say OK enough is enough, even when you may not see that enough is enough.  Be blessed!