Today I had an, as some would call it, “aha” moment.. All of this sprung from my desire to revive my aloe vera plant. Ive had my aloe a long time and it wasnt until a few months ago I began seeing a change in the way it was growing. The aloe leaves always started out green but then sooned turned limp and brown. I blamed this on not getting enough sun and water so I began to water it more frequently, whenever it seemed dry.

Much like males, instead of searching the remedy, I tried my hand at it first. Today however, I decided enough is enough, theres obviously something im doing wrong. Upon much research I found that Aloe Vera plants don’t need a lot of water to thrive..as a matter of fact, to much can drown the roots & whats to much for an aloe is prob just enough for a regular plant. They actually like to be a little dry at times. I have identified this as the source of my problems, mainly bc, thats exactly what I was doing.

Now, that was not my epiphany…

 As you guys should know by now, im a thinker.. Everything is bigger than what it appears to be.. to me atleast. So I thought, how ironic..here I was thinking I was loving my plant, nurturing it abundantly, but I was hurting it. We’ve all heard the saying “less is more” but have we really thought abt what that means and why that saying is even relevant. The urban saying is “you doing to much, or you’re doing the most”… Sometimes we have to stop doing the most lol.

The harmful effects of overdoing things is usually never foreshadowed bc in American culture, more is always better.. mo’ money, mo’ food, mo’ love (mo’ blues subsequently.) Its like outdoing yourself during a workout. You run the risk of hurting yourself, your body, and maybe even others just by not moderating yourself. Or like using to much toothpaste when it clearly says pea sized amount & your teeth dont get any whiter & you run out of toothpaste faster which = spending more money.. I could go on and on w/ various examples but I think we all get the point.

To much nurture can kill. To much love can kill. Don’t give your love away. Let it thrive in its being. Measure need individually. Cautiously. Lovingly.

Notice: I have some new sprouts who are giving me a second chance…

Like many herbs, parsley flourishes in temperate conditions, hence now is the perfect season to grow or purchase parsley. Parsley can last throughout the summer (if you decide to grow your own) provided adequate shade and conditions. This is an easy herb to grow in your windowsill. I learned the hard way growing herbs last year that to much time in sun and not enough water in Maryland’s humid summer heat will KILL your herbs. Now… What are the benefits of parsley

• Loaded with antioxidants including luteolin which kills free radicals
• Vitamins C, A, K, B12 (helps immune system, prevents calcium buildup and more)
• Diuretic
• Iron (good for amemia)

I have not listed all the benefits of parsley but this may be a herb you choose to more consciously consume. Parsley is not simply a garnish for your foods… I suggest juicing or adding to your smoothies. You can also add parsley to your salads. Fresh organic parsley is best, remember “cooking” denatures the nutritional value of your foods/herbs. Let me know. How do you use your parsley?? Has this peaked an interest you didnt have before? 

sn: it doesnt matter the type of parsley you buy, last year I planted flat leaf parsley but the choice is really up to you 🙂

This is prob one of the most important things I can speak on relative to fitness AND life. I’ve encountered so many people who lack mental fitness and toughness. They say things like, I’m too old for that, I cant do that, I’m not like you, or they don’t say anything and quit before they start. This is what can be referred to as a defeatist attitude. Before they ever start or try anything, they are defeated. This attitude also creates a comfort for your inability to perform or do whatever it is you are denying. I too have  been guilty of this, just not in the realm of fitness. What sparked my need to speak on this was a recent workout session with my sister.

I had a brilliant idea during one of our 6mi rides… halfway in, I decided we could do some extra running cardio and leg work. My sis was not fond of this idea but she had no choice. This was accompanied by her usual “im not doing that” complaints. Halfway through the extra cardio my sister yells to me *out of breath and hot* ” I wish you could be fat”… ………… …………. My neck snapped back so fast. I had a Major Payne moment, if you havent seen the movie, he’s a crazy drill sergeant.

I looked at her and yelled “FAT… FAT is in your mind”… I then proceeded to lecture her, and her and I both couldnt help but laugh. I had to explain to her, though she thinks I somehow have it easy, fitness and strength have nothing to do with size. I have friends way smaller than her who tomorrow, if I had them doing what I have my sister do, they would either quit or not make it through. She’s a tough cookie though that smart mouth can be spared. So thats how this convo started…

Lack is always in your mind. When I go on hiking trips I always see older couples hiking. I will place these people between the ages of 60-80 and they are usually white or Asian (mostly Asian.) They automatically cross half the people I know off the “im to old to do ____ list.” Truth is, if you lack anything, its usually self imposed. Nothing irks me more than someone negating all my hard work and placing my age as the reason for all my success. My mother can out last a lot of people I know in the fitness arena and it has nothing to do with her age and everything to do with her mind and training. Likewise, I work hard.

I recently went biking and on my 10 mile route, as posted below, there is this killer hill I always have to climb right on my loop.. and when I say killer I mean, KILLER. Every fiber, ounce, piece of my body wants to actually get off the bike and walk up the hill. My legs burn, I have it on the easiest gear, and my pace is so slow a snail can pass me and look like its speeding. I literally hype myself up the hill. There’s a piece of me that refuses to conquered by such..me getting off my bike and walking is symbolic of defeat. I made up in my mind, if I ever quit something it wont be bc my brain quit first but bc my body literally stops itself. Looking at me, it would be easy to think I excel without hardships or setbacks but that is not the case.While im pushing my body, my brain is literally on battle mode. Develop mental toughness… I cant stress the importance enough.

Tip 1:  Set a goal before hand… Say, im going to do this much, or accomplish this task (fitness or not.)This immediately gets your brain in on your decision. Thats the easy part..

Tip 2: Next is, in the midst of the actual hardship, fight the urge to quit or talk yourself out of whatever it is your trying to accomplish.. Now what I have found that helps when related to fitness is distractions, or non direct focus ie. playing a song that gets you going and focus on that while putting your other feelings in the background.

You can also do the opposite.. Focus on the task but look at the end (outcome) and not in the moment. Ie. You need to have a discussion with someone that you’re dreading… You think about the discussion but focus on the desired outcome and not the aspects you have least control over. (youre obviously in the moment, but dont highlight your fears or hang ups)

Again, life isn’t 100% about your actual skill level but your persistence and determination to reach your desired accomplishments no matter what. Be disciplined. Reflect back on those moments you may not have done your best and ask yourself, “Did I doom myself from the beginning??” Think you’re a loser and you’re a loser… Think you’re a winner and well…

The above pic was from a 10 mile ride.. That day, I came back from a tournament in Ohio, functioning off little sleep, went out with friends right off the bus. Being disciplined, as soon as I got dropped off I said I have to put in 10 miles tired or not. I had about 40 minutes before sunset.. Nothing stopped me!!! Not even darkness haha.. I will say, I crawled once I got in the house but that was after all my goals were met 🙂 ..Have you had any mental tough spots?? How will or did you overcome them?

Is anyone else loving this spring weather?? I am! Im so excited to be back out on my bike.. Lately i’ve been getting home rather late so i’ve only had time to get in about 10 miles max before sunset. I can’t wait until my non busy weekends when I have at least 5-8 hours to max out and test my limits. Last year I think I got up to about 70 miles one trip… I was trying my hardest to get to 100, but I don’t have a bike GPS so I ran out of route and just came home. Maybe this weekend I will do 100?? Hopefully if I can get a good app.

My late evening rides have afforded me the luxury of getting an unfiltered glimpse of the sunset.. True icing on the cake. Imagine viewing the sunset while riding and smelling the wonderful aroma of honey suckle flowers ^_^ ..can we say perfection??? Yea..

This 10 mile route I take is mostly flat with one huge hill that doubles because I loop… This hill nearly kills me every time but I refuse to surrender to the desire of my body to quit and walk. Its funny, hills dont feel so steep when youre in your car. Tomorrow I will post on mental fitness and I have a few stories with my sister coming up which im sure you will enjoy.

How have you used this lovely spring weather to boost or revamp your workouts??