It's July!

I'm so excited to WELCOME in July in hopes that the rain will finally STOP! I've seen enough rain in the month of June to last a lifetime! I'm not asking for it to get hotter just dryer. The temperature has been real nice lately but just to much RAIN!

Not only is my birthday in the month of July, but my first grandchild's birthday is in July too. It's also the month of my oldest daughter's wedding anniversary. So we have some very special events in July to remember.

It's the WEEKEND!

How funny! When I look at this picture it reminds me of the woman I always wanted to be, self assured, feminine, confident, sexy and HOT all rolled into one. I imagined having lots of invitations to dinners, galas, theatres, long walks on the beach and weekend get-a-ways. Instead I became a wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother who volunteers in order to attend those kind events (with the exception of the long walks on the beach.) Since I've been working out with Mama Ernestine Shepherd, I feel like one day a phenomenal woman just might emerge from within me like the ugly duckling that turns in to a swan!!!

Time for Summer FITNESS Fun!!!

It’s time for Summer BEGINNERS Bootcamp!  

Don’t miss this opportunity to get HEALTHY/Fit. Summer BEGINNERS Bootcamp will help you reach your HEALTH/Fitness goals. The Summer BEGINNERS Bootcamp session will take place from 7/2/13 - 8/1/13, at It's A Family Affair (Daycare) 310 Garrett A. Morgan Blvd. Landover, MD next to the Morgan Blvd. Metro Station. If you have never participated in a bootcamp before, then this is the right place to get started on the road to a HEALTHIER YOU! There are two options available, Online Class for only $40 or In Class for only $70.00 which is about $5 per session! This is what everyone will receive:

* Personal needs assessment
* Daily workout assignments
* Weekly workout video assignments
* Suggested daily meal plans
* Group and individual accountability 
* Group and individual support
* T-shirt

ADDITIONALLY, In Class Summer BEGINNERS Bootcamp will meet to WORKOUT & SWEAT on Tues. & Thurs. mornings or evenings (with Saturday mornings being optional but all are encouraged to participate.) Orientation is Saturday June 29, 2013.

Call me: FAITH! Bennett for info (850) 702-4521.

www.FabulouslyFit50.com

Body Fat %

The body fat percentage of a person is the total weight of fat divided by total weight; body fat includes essential body fat and storage body fat. Essential body fat is necessary to maintain life and reproductive functions. The percentage of essential body fat for women is greater than that for men, due to the demands of childbearing and other hormonal functions. The percentage of essential fat is 2–5% in men, and 10–13% in women. Storage body fat consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, part of which protects internal organs in the chest and abdomen. The minimum recommended total body fat percentage exceeds the essential fat percentage value reported above.

Looking at both of these photos gives us information that most of us were probably not aware of and knowledge of what range we should be close to. Here are some of the many dangers of excess body fat:

Excess body fat has been associated with some of the major physical threats to human life such as diabetes and heart problems.

According to the studies done these physical threats account for most of the deaths in North America each year and these deaths in heavily linked to life-style factors. If you are an obese person chances are you use up more energy just trying to breathe normally. This is so because your heart is working much harder to pump blood to the vital organs and the excess body fat throughout your body. This can lead to an enlarged heart, high blood pressure and other serious health problems. With just this little information on Body Fat percentages you may want to put a plan of action. Abundant Blessings from FITNESS Focused FAITH!

It's Officially SUMMER!

Yes, Summer 2013 Will be AWESOME! I'll be spending a couple of weeks with all my grandsons down in Florida. We'll be taking the boys to the beach and kayaking. Who knows, we might even get in some camping. I love Florida, it's so beautiful there along with the FABULOUS sunshine and weather they have.

Most importantly, I get to see my BabyGirl graduate from Florida State University! She has really worked hard these last two years and now it's paying off, she'll be graduating with honors! She has already been accepted to graduate school and is taking two grad classes this summer. What an AWESOME Summer 2013 will be!!!

SUMMIT 2013

This is the biggest time of the year for Team Beachbody Coaches like myself, when we find out what's new in HEALTH and Fitness for Beachbody. This year is no different, now it's here and they said it couldn't happen, that it wouldn't happen, but now it finally has! Vanilla Shakeology, was unveiled  today June 20, 2013! It will be available for purchase TOMORROW for all you vanilla lovers!

It's finally being released, Shaun T's FOCUS T25 has been buzzing around for weeks now and it SOLD OUT today at Summit 2013 in a matter of hours! It will be available for purchase to the public on Monday June 24, 2013. FOCUS T25 will be available in a Challenge Pack and you can even select new Vanilla Shakeology in it! CALL me (850) 702-4521 so we can get a FOCUS T25 Challenge Group started right away!

Social Media Etiquette...

Yesterday I received this personal message... "really liked your fitness page. so much that I even elected to have continuous updates. but, I have noticed a patter of religious inclination. why is that? had I known this page was about religious doctrine, disguised as one of fitness, I would have not subscribed." I have to say that I was appalled at reading that personal message from a guy here in the United States!

However, I was even more horrified at this messaged that was posted in the comment section of a pic I posted last week that read... "What has this to do with being fit? If we are going to be spammed with religious twaddle I will have to leave this page." This young lady was from the UK.

Since when is it OK to question someone about what they post or write on their OWN page, blog, wall, etc???

*~*~*~*~*~ Happy FATHER'S Day! ~*~*~*~*~*

For most of my life my mom was my mother and father. She had to wear both hats and had some very big shoes to fill. Not because of what has commonly become know as a "Deadbeat Dad" or a messy divorce but  because my father died when I was five years old.

My children had a very different experience, they had a real "Deadbeat Dad" and I've spent all my life trying to make it up to them. Now two of my children have sons and their children have REAL DADS!

My first son-in-law...

My second son-in-law

Sistah Friends and Mother Friends!

If you don't have a Sistah Friend or a Mother Friend, you don't know what you're missing out on. This has brought some of the most AMAZING women into my life! Barbara, Karen and Trisha are my Sistah Friends and Mama Yvonne and Mama Ernestine are my Mother Friends. I wasn't born with any sisters and since my mother past away nine years ago I haven't had anyone in the same area that could go to for sisterly or motherly advice until now! My Sistah Friend you see here with me and my grandson, we call Trisha. I love her spirit and that she keeps me FOCUSED on things that I tend to put on the back burner. Thanks so much for being my Sistah Friend Trisha!

I've had the pleasure and honor of meetings and working out in Mama Ernestine's class. I've learned to much from her in such a short period of time. She has taking me under her wing to mentor me to become the best HEALTH and Fitness enthusiast possible. I look forward to learning as much as possible from Mama Ernestine so that I can pass it on to my friends and family and encourage them!

Creating Myself ...

This is what I aspire to be... 

At age 54, this is what I am.

Meatless Monday!

Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people to not eat meat on Mondays to improve their HEALTH and the HEALTH of our planet.

Meatless Monday focuses its initiative on Mondays for multiple reasons. Friday is traditionally already a meat-free day among Catholics and Orthodox. Monday is typically the beginning of the work week, the day when individuals settle back into their weekly routine. Unhealthy habits that prevailed over the weekend can be forgotten and replaced by positive choices. A weekly reminder to restart healthy habits also encourages success. A 2009 trial published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine provided individuals with weekly health prompts and encouragement. Approximately two thirds of participants responded with improvements in their overall health, eating habits and physical activity levels.

Getting to Know Your Community...

When was the last time you moved? What was it like moving into a new community, did you feel welcome? Have you ever moved into a newly built community that was once undeveloped land? Well recently my oldest daughter bought a brand new townhome in a newly built community that was once undeveloped land.

This community is now about two years old and they are still building the last phase of townhomes. They pay Home Owner Association (HOA) fees but have no interaction with the HOA. Just moving in four months ago we haven't met but two families in a development of approximately 40 homes. As it's warmed up we've seen more and more foot traffic from people who don't live in this community.

It is very important to know your community and what goes on in it! Since we didn't really know anyone in our community, my daughter gave a meet and greet to get to know everyone. Out of about 40 families only 14 families attended. We learned that in the two years that this new development has existed there has been ((3)) break-ins!!! Of course that went to the top of the list of concerns by those of us that were unaware of that. So get to know your community and find out how you can make it better!!!

The Big Day!

Every since 2010 when I saw the first picture of Ms. Ernestine Shepherd, who had just turned 74, I was instantly inspired by her. I read her story of how and why she and her sister got started exercising. When I learned  she was 56 when she started exercising I knew I needed to get down to business!

The more I read about her and saw her video interviews I knew I wanted to meet her. In July of 2012, I went to see her compete in Silver Spring, MD only to learn that the show had been cancelled do to bad weather. Well as fate would have it, I posted her picture on my facebook page and tagged her on it and she thanked me on my facebook page. Of course I asked about attending one of her classes and she said I could and as you can see pictured here, the rest is history!

Get Your "FIT On!" with Run Like A DIVA!

The Divas Half Marathon^® & 5K Series is the most fun and glam women's half marathon series in the nation.  This series is all about girl power. Get glam at one of our races while enjoying a great run in some of the country's best vacation destinations: SoCal, CA, Long Island, NY, San Juan, PR, San Francisco Bay, CA, DC's Wine Country, VA and North Myrtle Beach, SC.

I had the honor and pleasure of participating in their inaugural race where it all began in Long Island, NY back in 2010. As you can, I'm coming across the finishline in Fabulously Fit 50 DIVA Style! Now I will again have the honor and pleasure of participating in their inaugural race for the DC/VA area in September 2013, how AMAZING is that! If you want to join us and train for this race together call me (850) 702-4521 and let's Get Our "FIT On!" 

Hello It's June!

Well it's here now! And that means that it will be warming up and staying warm. None of that 80 degrees one day and 45 the next. Summer will be here in less than 20 days so it's time to get my "FIT On!" April and May brought us some very changing and unpredictable weather but that's over now it's just going to be HOT!!! That means swimsuits, shorts and tank tops. I'm getting ready to STRUT my STUFF, how about you?

This is me on my 53rd birthday playing a little basketball. Next month for my birthday I want my arms, abs and thighs to be more toned and tighten. I'll be drinking Shakeology EVERYDAY, eating CLEAN and working out to Hip Hop Abs and Brazil Butt Lift to get LEAN. What's your plan?