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So get your energy up! Get ready for your next level! Visit our Etsy store to find a Weight Loss Bracelet to suit your needs!

If you make a purchase after clicking on a link in this article, I may earn a commission. [Details]

Covid-19 has become the unwelcome guest that refuses to leave America. It has interupted the lives of everybody in the world. Due to the layoffs, there are so many unemployed people in America. We are now going into a new unknown world as we are all forced to stay home with these federal Shelter-In-Place orders. There are so many reasons that all of the above would stress you out. The media is doing an excellent job at highlighting everything you should be afraid of. But let's take a moment to switch gears and reflect on a few ways to turn these next few weeks into positive productive time that will restart your focus and get you ready for the post Covid-19 era soon to come.

​Now that you are not going anywhere, remember, there are 24 hours in a day. Pre Covid-19 you spent your mornings rushing to get ready and head out the door. Now you can relax and unwind for a bit, but not for too long. I suggest taking a Fat Burning Walk throughout your neighborhood to keep your heart active. A sedentary lifestyle will make you sick, but an active lifestyle rich with Fat Burning Zone activities will keep you healthy and happier.

Getting out and walking will make your mind available to reflect on your life. You'll be surprised at the thoughts that come to you now that you have a moment to relax and allow your mind to be free from the everyday back and forth. Make the decision to think about your current state of health. What do you like about it?

• Did you ever manage to lose those last 30 pounds, or did you fall off the wagon again?
• Are you doing anything different that will help you keep of the weight?
• Are your eating habits the same?
• How much fruit do you eat daily?
• Do you remember the last time you ate an actual fruit, and not fruit juice with artificial sweeteners?
• Do you know your body type?
• Do you know which proteins work best for you?
• Do you have a meal plan that will continue to create an environment that will aid you in your healthy weight goals?

Meal planning works because you think about it once at the beginning of the week or month, then execute the plan for duration of the time. It's a great way to budget your time and your money. Without a meal plan, we often choose meals that are quick and easy and full of fat, sodium, and extra carbs we do not need.

When thinking about meal planning, there are a few tricks and tips I've picked up that makes meal planning more effective and more personal to me.

The Crockpot
You can make so many dishes with this appliance. It's my favorite appliance because it will take a long time before you overcook (burn) something. Throw all the ingredients into the pot and forget it for a few hours. My favorite foods to make are the beans for my bean burritos. There's no need to ever soak beans overnight anymore. Just rinse and place them in the Crockpot on low or high setting from 4-6 hours then add your spices 3 or 4 hours in. Other dishes you can prep are soups (like chicken tortilla and veggie soup). You can also prepare pulled pork or chicken for sandwiches. I always end up with 3 or 4 extra servings that I store away in the freezer after 2 days of feasting on whatever dish I make. I use a 6qt Crockpot.

Stockpile the proteins
When you buy your meat in bulk, you save a few dollars here and there. I like to look at Publix's or Kroger's weekly ads and find those BOGO or reduced price savings. Then I portion the meat in individual servings and freeze it for later. What also helps is if you can season the meat before you freeze it. This saves time when you are ready to cook the meat. The night before I want to cook it, I take it out of the freezer and stick it in the fridge. 

Make your own seasonings
There are some seasoning packets, like Taco Seasoning, that I would buy all the time. One day when I wanted to make a taco dish and realized I didn't have anymore packets, I did a little research and realized I had 80% of the ingredients to make my own taco seasoning. And that's how I started making my own seasoning mixes. There are few great reasons to consider making your own seasoning as a part of your meal planning regimen.

• Seasoning is important because it can take a boring piece of protein or veggie medley and turn it into a "bombs bursting in air" type of experience in your mouth. Chef's are lauded for their ability to make the palates in your mouth sing and dance. Having a great experience with your otherwise boring nutritious food can help you stay committed to your new diet and weight loss plan.
• Creating your own seasoning blends can also save you tons of money. I found the individual spices like cumin, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, can cost as little as 86 cents at the local farmers market for 3 or 4 oz. In the chain stores I pay about $4 for the same spices.
• Also one major advantage in creating your own spices is that you control what you are putting in your blend. Some people have allergic reactions to ingredients and they had no idea it was in the spice dish. You can also customize and make a better version of the seasoning you love.

After the gyms were shut down and no longer available to the public, most people started to panic and thought how they would not be able to get a decent workout. But that is so far from the truth. Exercise and physical activity is where you are, every day, whenever you are ready to participate. Jog in place, do a set of jumping jacks, even do a few cartwheels. If it gets your heart beating in the cardio training zone, your body is working to burn calories. If you are involved in an activity where the heart rate is in the fat burning zone, like a brisk walk or doing chores in the house for a few hours, you won't even think for a minute that you are burning fat. Exercise is choosing to stay active for a period of time.
So with this extra time, decide what type of exercise or physical activity works best for you and make that a part of your daily or weekly routine. The heart rate does not lie. Someone who is biking through the neighborhood can be exerting the same energy that someone in their garage dancing with their kids to a music mix of their favorite dance songs by their favorite DJ.
Some ideas that will get you started:

• Instead of hiring someone to mow the lawn, you can invest that money into a lawn mower and cut the grass yourself. Don't worry if you don't get it right the first time... practice makes perfect!
• Are you feeling intimidated by people in the workplace? Then find a karate or a combat training class that will build your confidence when it comes to having the ability to fight back (please do this after the Shelter-In-Place restrictions have lifted).
• Create a home gym in that extra room in the house. Put a 55 inch TV in there and exercise along with your favorite exercise video. The screen is so big you'll feel like you are actually in the room with the people on the screen. Motivation...
• Turn on music while you are in the kitchen prepping and making meals. This gives you an extra energy boost and elevates your mood. Why is this the first time you've heard this?!

So as tragic as this Coronavirus outbreak is, the most important thing that you as an individual can do is to protect yourself and your family. Avoid being out in the public while this epidemic is being contained. But while you are home, take advantage of this time to clear your mind and work on new habits that will put you closer to meeting your personal health and weight loss goals. Be safe!

Aloe Vera serves as an excellent addition to a regular plus size diet. There are so many ways to prepare Aloe Vera for ingestion. I prefer the old country method my granddaddy taught me. 

• ​First, you will need a mason jar or other sealable glass container to keep the drink fresh while sitting in the fridge for multiple days.
• Take a large Aloe leaf and wash the leaf with warm water. Remove any residue from the leaf.
• Now you can cut off the thorny sides of the leaf to expose the Aloe latex.
• Next cut the leaf into 1 inch diameter cubes and toss them into the glass container.
• Pour water over the Aloe to fill the glass.
• Cover and place the glass in the fridge. 

​
Honestly, as soon as the Aloe hits the water the gooey oozes into the water but you can let it sit or a few minutes or you can sip it everyday. I pour water back into the jar as I sip.

If you didn't understand my method, then here's another method below that I also found useful. 

It seems like every time I create a vision board, some how a yacht ends up there some where. I'm from Florida and I'm all about that coastal life, but I've never owned a boat. But its like nautical life is calling me. I've been on yachts around the Statute of Liberty, party cruises, and self operated water bikes in the Tampa Channel. But since this keeps popping up on my vision board, I wanted to take some time to finally look into what it would take to be apart of that lifestyle. So when I was watching tv last week I kept seeing a commercial for the Atlanta Boat Show that was starting within a few days. And that was my queue. The universe is bringing my vision to reality!

So am glad to report, I parked took MARTA into the GWCC. I was able to achieve 2 objectives towards my 6 month goals. First I saved money (wealth retention) by paying only $5 verses the $16.95 to park my car at the location. I also took advantage of the $5 admission fee after 5pm verses the $16 general admission. Second, I walked a total of 7,623 steps during the entire day. And I did so in a way that I did not realize I was making so many steps. My enjoyment of the activity today made me totally forget that I was actually making steps towards my daily fitness goals. Also what I noticed when I got home, my Fitbit actually recorded 69 minutes of cardio. My daily goal is 30. So I am super amped to know that when I made "Living" a priority, all the other fitness goals were met. Enjoyment of life is a must. Now had I stayed home, I would not have had the cardio or those steps. 

Over the holiday I had to reevaluate my life. I feel like I have become a slave to working and being busy. And when I look at my life, the weight is still here. That's the biggest issue I have. It's like I put fitness into a separate compartment of my life. I reach out to it, but lately I've found myself working daily to get out this stupid debt. And working constantly is sucking out the vitality of my life. I love to have fun but I don't go anywhere to have fun because after the full time job because I'm working my side hustles like Uber, Lyft, Shipt Shopping, and Postmates. I stay busy, which is why I haven't found the time to really push my brand like I really would like. I don't have the energy because I've running on E! Seeing that I am fast approaching 40 (thanks I have great genes) with no significant other and no children, I realized I needed to find a way to start enjoying life. I work so hard that life is slipping by me... quickly.

So I had to rethink the way I look at life. I have to make "Living" a priority. We have one life to live. Once you are gone, only your legacy will live on. So what are you going to do. I decided I will start living in the now instead of the future. Enjoy today. Slow down. Even the bible says take no thought for tomorrow, but to live in the now (something like that). So I've decided I will find a way to relax and enjoy me, my family and friends. I want to travel more. And I haven't done that because I'm always working to pay bills. I'm always concerned I won't have enough to pay that off. I'm done with the scarcity mindset. It's time to live in abundance! So every week I've decided to do something that contributes to my new "Living" standard. It can be a movie night with the boo or with the homegirls, going to a paint and sip, or volunteering at a local food bank. Whatever it is, enjoy it and make it big. Have fun. Life is much better that way.

The other 2 goals are simple. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day and then exercise at least 150 minutes a week. I've adopted this lifestyle and I use my personal calendar to make sure I schedule my "Living" events. My Fitbit does a great job of tracking my exercise habits and creating a weekly food planner helps me to make time for those fruits and veggies. I can usually get about 3 servings in one smoothie when I add spinach or kale. Then a salad with plenty of greens will easily get you in there. I'm not telling anyone to stay away from bread, but we all know that bread is the devil!!