It has been too long since I’ve posted here. I often find the inspiration for posts but rarely find the time to actually complete said posts. I’m embarrassed and slightly amused at the number of drafts waiting to be completed.
It’s a reflection of my life.
I sit online, scrolling Amazon and Zulily for the perfect toy. A toy that is educational that will teach him, a toy that will bring him joy.
How have I forgotten what he not only needs but WANTS most is me.
Ari is two now. Since the day my son was born he made it clear that mommy was his world, and he was mine.
I forget — well, maybe I don’t realize — or maybe I’ve suppressed the memories of how sick I was.
This was my third Mother’s Day… but my first Mother’s Day without Postpartum Depression (PPD) looming over my head, daring me to feel the joy of motherhood.
But, this Mother’s Day was nothing short of amazing.
What the heck is this blog about? Can you tell? What can my readers expect from VainMommy?
These are questions I was having a terribly hard time answering. I visit other blogs… they have themes and specific topics that they cover. I know what to expect when I enter their piece of the web.
Then, I looked through my last few blog posts they jump around like Mexican jumping beans!
In the days leading up to the Atlanta Listen To Your Mother Show (LTYM), I found myself wondering…
“Why the heck am I doing this to myself”…
I hate public speaking… Gosh, I didn’t couldn’t even walk down the aisle at my own wedding. I was afraid to share my blog!
What posses me to get up on stage and share the scariest time of my life with strangers?
I’ll tell you why!
I’ll tell you what I reminded myself of, each time those thoughts crept into my head.
“This AINT about you Raivon!
It has nothing to do with me! This is about God using me … to help other women who need to hear what I have to say. ”
I am only a vessel to be used for God’s greater purposes. BAM!
I am always in shock when a sweet mom approaches me…
ME!?…
to say thank you.
Thank ME???
Each and every time I’m literally shocked and humbled that they are thanking ME — for sharing my truth. It brings tears to my eyes.
If that was you last night… thank YOU!
LTYM has turned out to be so much more than I could have ever dreamed! Ever.
Last night it was not about me, it was about US… 13 women who came together to share the beauty, ugliness, messiness and blessings of motherhood … womanhood.
We are forever bonded! How blessed I am.
Today… the morning after LTYM this gift is what I found in my inbox…
“Hey there, I just wanted to let you know that I had the opportunity to see you last night at the LTYM event. I just wanted to thank you so much for sharing your story. I had many of the same daydreams which, in reality, turned out very differently. I had 2 children & the depression was significantly worse w/the second. I look back & I wonder how I made it. I never told anyone how very bad it was. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your story.”
This…
THIS is why,
I do — what I do…
This is also why YOU should share your story! If you have been around long enough you have a story that was given to you and it WILL bless someones life. SHARE it!
Much Love, Raivon
#TheStruggleIsReal #JustSaying
Here it is roughly three weeks into April and I am just about ready to rethink my aspiration of becoming a NPC Bikini Competitor.
Some days I wake up and look in the mirror and feel like a freaking rock star. Other Most days I hate what the mirror says back to me and I want to eat one dozen glazed doughnuts and never step foot in the gym again!
The evidence is right here. I posted this to my FB wall last night…
But, I think I am finding my groove and hopefully by May I will have a plan that works for me nailed down. That will give me 12 weeks until show time!
I have to remind myself to trust the process, trust the work that I do each and every day… Just TRUST it!
We have all heard this before…
It sucks. Its true.
No one wants to hear it. I just want to search Pinterest find a plan and be done with it!
But actually there is beauty in taking the time to get to know my very own body and it has been time well spent.
It has taken me at least a month to try different ways of eating, different workout plans and splits, different approaches to cardio; LISS vs HIIT . . . How much cardio is enough etc etc.
It is also important to looks at what YOUR body needs. For example I have tooth pick calves, they need lots of work so I work them more often and with heavy weights. I have to be careful with my thighs because they are large already so I try to not go over board with exercises that focus on them (but I’m still trying to figure this out).
Guess what the best part is… as my body changes my needs will change and everything that I’ve learned over the past month will have to be adjusted.
Bodybuilding is an art-form for sure!
This is what I am doing now:
(I will be posting a detailed version of my training and diet in the near future)
Monday:Upper Body & Cardio
Tuesday: Lower Body
I take a B.A.T (Buns Abs & Thighs) Class in the AM and I lift with hubby in the evenings
Wednesday: Cardio
Thursday: Upper & cardio
Friday: Lower & Cardio
Saturday: Off or Cardio
Sunday: Off
I was trying to do a typically bodybuilding diet eat 6 times a day etc. etc. but it made me pudgy and fat. I was literally force feeding myself! So now my diet is..
Eat Clean – Eat Consciously – Eat More Protein… Period!
I am on day three of clean-ciously eating and already see results! They say Abs are made in the kitchen… I say they are made away from the kitchen when you aren’t stuffing your face constantly because some meal plan said you should 🙂
I do drink protein shakes… growing muscles need more than I was getting from my vegan-ish diet. I’ll share the powders I use below
I use rules from Bethenny Frankel’s book Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting
and they really help me so much.
She “tells” me how to eat what I already eat and not WHAT to eat. If someone tells me what to eat ill eat the opposite just because. Hell, I’m vegetarian and If i’m told I HAVE to eat veggies I’d probably eat meat…. it’s psychological for sure!
Blend blend blend. Add ice to a glass or bottle or just blend in right on into the shake. I put mine in my Contigo Water Bottle
But it never lasts that long. We all know nothing is worse than lukewarm protein.
Why rice and pea protein? I read here that it is a vegans whey protein and whey is supposed to be the best at building muscle.
This is me after eating a plan NOT made specially for my body!
I am so disappointed… I really thought that I looked good y’all. I was even smiling! SHM. I was bloated holding on to tons of water and just “fat” in my honest opinion. When I trusted myself during my transformation back in Dec I looked 100 times better than here!
SEE!
Progress pics are a must . . . unfortunately I choose to share mine with the world.
I keep you all updated and expect to see a progress pic on May 1st
