The Dairy of a Fat Girl Part II

So my roommate has been so supportive of me on my journey to weight-loss. As someone who has struggled with weight-loss herself, she can relate to where I am coming from. She went four sizes down and although she hasn’t reached her goal weight, she has made progress. I know your wondering well how long did it take? (Definitely my question when she told me that) It took her five years because she made lifestyle changes and it takes time to adjust to. She is still fighting to reach her goal, but she has been an inspiration and someone I can talk to about my hassles. Anyways she has made lifestyle changes and I am willing to make lifestyle changes as well, but I need to know what works for my lifestyle. I definitely don’t want it to take me five years to get it off, but I would like to leave Ithaca my high school weight or close to it...lol It is very hard to jump right into something alone so, she has been willing to try some crazy stuff with me—the no carbs, the salads for every meal, the master cleanse at the end of October. So, I guess it is my turn to try something crazy with her. She is very involved in her church which I hope to be someday (when I find one that is the right fit for me) so, her church sent a 90-Day Mandate challenge.

The Challenge:

On August 23^rd, we are going to begin the first phase of the mandate which will be 90days. In those 90 days we are being challenged to work in our lives and respond to the whispers we’ve heard but ignored. For some it’s weight loss, for others weight gain, for others getting in shape. There are some people who are in shape but have ignored the whispers on business plans, book writing, research and development, physical checkups, or whatever you have been shown by the Spirit of God. You’ve heard my story as to how I ignored health warnings long before having an aneurysm. Today, I chose to pay attention! I am going raw for 90 days in an effort to reverse some of the damage done to my body as a result of my neglect. If you would like to join me on that endeavor, begin to prepare yourself to partake in that. I truly believe that in this season, it would behoove some to go raw, others to take a stab at being a vegetarian for 90 days, or some form of that.

What is the Raw Food Diet>

The raw food diet is a diet based on unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, dried fruit, and seaweed

Heating food above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value and “life force” of food.

What are the benefits of the Raw Food Diet?

Increased energy, Improved skin appearance, Better digestion, Weight Loss, Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

Remember, the goal of the mandate is to get our health in order which includes paying attention to our bodies, and also getting our minds, spirits and families into complete harmony.

Clarification:

Am I asking Toya the dancer to go raw? In no certain terms—she would fade away. But I am sure that there are things that she, as well as other people who are in great shape like herself, can do in this 90day phase. The overarching goal is to discipline ourselves and make no excuses for 90days. I have not asked anyone to fast for 90days. But if the lord should lead you to turn down your plate in these 90days, follow his leading. In order for me to determine that I needed to go raw, I took a trip to my full length bedroom closet mirror, stood in front of it (unclothed) and the horrifying truth that I had been denying for years was made clear to me. Not telling you what to do, just a suggestion. Once that is done, if you’re truly walking in truth, I’m sure you’ll be able to find your answer.

So, I decided to try the fully raw diet along with my roommate and boy, I had to give up cereal, milk, and cheese what am I going to do? This shall be interesting and I will be sure to get back to you guys on how it works. I am sure I will come up with some creative things to eat. God Help me because I can see the goal, but the whole notion of eating only raw will make me creative.

Stay Royal :-)

Hillsong Church

Wow so, church has been a issue in my life since I have grown up. I love god and I do believe there is one, but I don't believe that I should have to go to church to prove any of the above. Anyways, I have been trying to go to some churches in the places that I live-home with my cousin, in Ithaca with some friends, and recently in Cape Town. Yesterday, I went to the Hill-Song Church of Cape Town and I have to say that I was touched. I had so many feelings come out that I never even thought I would see in church. Now as someone who went to church sooo much when I was younger, I didn't see myself going to church religiously until maybe after college, but I think I found my church-which so happens to be in Cape Town so, the church search will continue when I get back home and to school.

A little Background information: I have always been interested in reading the WHOLE bible and understanding and being able to recite scriptures and for some reason, I just never really had the motivation to get up and go to church and when I did, there was always something in my way. Any who the RA in my program knocked on my door, there was free transportation to and from the church and there was just no reason for me NOT to go. So we arrive at the church and it is HUGE. It reminds me of the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. The place is set up like a concert and the preacher calls all of the young people to the front--that's me...lol...We go to the front of the church, we pray and introduce ourselves to one another and then the music came on the screen with a live band and we did a sing-a-long. Now Everyone knows how much I LOVE KARAOKE!! and the religious songs were cool. It was like a christian rock band from the church and the songs were very catchy. The preacher was very deep, I mean I was tearing in church. I have really been touched and I really enjoyed myself and I am definitely excited for the sisterhood session on Saturday morning and Sunday service. I mean it doesn't even sound like I am writing this...lol

I had the time of my life at this church. This will definitely be my Cape Town church, I am definitely ready to get involved in what this church has to offer. I have been very touched and to think that I woke up this morning and read a whole chapter in Acts. It was AMAZING. I woke up at 6:40am and I was mad at first, but the song "God is trying to tell me something" was in my head so, that meant it was definitely time to wake up.

Well that's all for now
Stay Royal!

W^2= White-Washed

So when coming to South Africa, I was excited that I was going to the motherland. When I asked people about South Africa, I was always told "its not real Africa" or I received frown as if I was going to the "snuddy" part of Africa. As an black person living in America, it has always been a dream for me to get to Africa somehow and somewhere. I am excited to have the opportunity to get here, but it really bothered me that going to South Africa wasn't respected as much as going to Ghana or Kenya or etc. What does that mean-white part of Africa? Africa is Africa, one continent with a bunch of beautiful countries full of millions of different cultures. Africa is the motherland and will always remain to my knowledge and what I believe of course. The motherland is the country and a common mis-conception believed is that many people in this continent are tribal and very traditional style-not modernized and when you are, you are considered white-washed? Why is white considered modernized and better? ---Big issue when it comes to how brain-washed people minds have become.
Anyways, Thanks to colonialism and a terrible history of black people being stripped from their cultures and the way they live, yes there are a lot of white people here. But there are also a lot of black people, colored people (mixed race-the only country in the world that uses this term) and Indians (people from Asia). But I kept constantly hearing how white-washed and Europeanized South Africa is. I could never understand this expression or illustration of such a modern place until today when I was in my African Dance lecture. My professor said that "people are always down-playing South Africa as being Europeanized not realizing that this was the last place in Africa to gain its independence and that it will take longer than 15years to get things together.Yes we are just like london-accent and even the way the street is set-up. It has become so bad that when I went to London, I was not lost at all."
Now, in class this was funny, but once you sit and think about this, it is crazy. Around only 15years that Apartheid has ended, this is crazy. I see some of the same structures in the United States and segregation has been over since 1960s and we are just getting a black president. --Now racism is over---lmfao what a joke and then I digress.

So yes, South Africa is not your typical African country that is seen on TV, but it is absolutely Africa. It is Absolutely a part of the motherland so when you think about calling South Africa White Washed-think again. Many of the things done and seen in this country are just modern derivations from the past. This country is still in the phase of changing and maintaining the culture that was stripped away from them. Yes, when you read about it-just as any place-the tourist places come up and the real nooks and crannies of the country are not shown. There is beauty in this culture as well as difference just as any other. I find it to be very disrespectful to insult someone's culture based on the fact that there was nothing that could done to change what has happened in this country. Many lives have been taken and many have been born to have better privileges based on the struggles that their ancestors had to go through.

When arriving here myself, I was very surprised at how modern the place was. I mean I didn't feel as if I was in stereotypical Africa at all. But then why is that? On infomercials, we don't see the modern Africa, we see the poverty and not what is good about a black nation. We are constantly exposed to what is bad and never get the attention needed or deserved when a black nation has something positive going on. Don't be fooled by the media, it is all part of a system that continues to build places in society for people. Black people are some amazing people and definitely have a lot to offer, but when there are only negative pictures and models of them, there is nothing to look up to huh? Be smart and read because history does repeat and many things that happen in one part of the world affects what happens in another part.

Stay Royal!

Heritage

Something Interesting about heritage that I learned in my African Dance class is that before you speak in big groups, you are introduced by your whole generation line. By the first person that came here(SA in this case) straight down to you. This is something you must learn as you are young. How crazy it that? I mean today is my maternal grandma's 80thbirthday and I only know about generations until my great grandmother and that is from stories and the pictures in my grandma's house. I have been always told that you need to know where you come from to know where you going and I also learned that everyone has a story. But as I think about it, I don't know much about my family history, where we are from before Virginia or any of that. I know that there are many pieces missing from my story and that the people that do know some don't see the history as relevant enough to share. It is not like I don't care to know, but it is considered rude to keep asking a question that is not being answered.

Very similiar to a number of blacks in America, we know that we are somehow of African Descent. But as I believe, the first men were created here so, we all are of African descent, My biggest question is where in Africa? or Where after Africa? Many people of color have been dispersed across the world. Where? I know that there is also a possibility of some Caribbean in my family as well based on the fact that I am commonly mistaken as being West Indian, Dominican, or Jamaican. Its crazy how much black American means in America. I know that there is definitely some sort of white in my family maybe as close as four generations above me.

Its has always been interesting for me to watch people trace their history and figure out where they come from. To think about that, there is a reason why it is on TV and that the people that are able to do this are celebrities. It costs a fortune to do this trace and gather that much history. As oppose to telling your children who will then tell theirs and so on. Many people have issues when it comes to history, but it is something that is good to know and to learn and pass on. Your history is what makes you you!---why you do the things you do, the way you do them, etc.

History is a form of education and Knowledge is power! so if you have a story to tell the little ones in your family, don't be afraid to share. This is a thing where sharing is caring.

Stay Royal!

The Diary of a Fat Girl

Wow, just thinking about the title, I can hear my brother and my cousin saying "fatsnack"--my new name since I came home from college. Weight has become a very big issue in my life since I have been in college. I have always had a fat girl living in the inside of me because I would definitely eat everything in site and no weight would be gained. my eating habits definitely caught up with me when I went to the summer program at my college. I must say the "Freshman 15" has nothing on me. The jokes and the family humor is always funny, when you come home, but losing weight has never been an issue for me and it didn't really bother me until recently. I can remember distinctly my friend Tasha X saying "if it is not affecting your health, then don't worry about it" and me telling myself "If god wants me to be fat then I will be."

American society makes their money off of the advertising of the weight loss products and methods for better health. If you are a big person, but can do everything physically that a skinny person can do than what is the problem? Now, back to me because I do tend to go off on tangents. I have been skinny ll of my life so skinny is where I want to be, but I find that losing weight is wayyyy harder than gaining and because I never had to lose weight, I don't know where to start. To many people I am not fat, but the issue with me is my perspective of myself. what many people don't understand is that I want to do this for me, not because of what other people think!!! I want the fat girl that has been slowly creeping out to go back in so, I don't have to worry about what I am eating and if it is bad for me.

Plan: because what I have noticed here in South Africa is that most of the foods here are made with one or more crabs. The Gatsby
which is a traditional sandwich here which is very good has both potatoes and bread so, session one is NO starch CARBS. Since I am now considered a fat girl on the outside, I now have to think about EVERYTHING I eat and do. This is crazy, when you picture your life-as a skinny girl- you never think of becoming fat!

Anyways so, I have looked back at my life and realized that although I am involved a lot, I am not involved in the things I was involved in when I was younger. I was in every dance class that Hope For Children offered and I was always outside running around with the boys. Tom-boy stages were the days, but who knew transitioning into the girly stages would mean different eating habits? lol

So, I have to take action and get involved in things that will keep me active. I have also signed up for African Dance which is for 1.5 hours on Tuesday and Thursdays and I just joined the Dance Sport team which is on Mondays for 3hrs and to wage the stakes, money is involved. With No starch Carbs and doing Hip-Hop Abs or insanity the other days, I should see some results. The biggest issue on this journey to weight loss for me is the result, everyone wants FAST result, not realizing that the fast results are the result that also let you gain weight back faster and twice as much. Losing weight needs to be a life style so, can I give up starch Carbs completely? Its not looking tooo good for that, but to minimize them would be great! But we will talk about that bridge when we get there...lol

On the other hand, to help me through this weight-loss journey, Me and my boyfriend have a week long trip up for grabs: if I lose 40lbs by the time I come home, I get to go on a trip fully paid for by him--What he doesn't realize is that I could only lose up to 32lbs if I go on the diet which he prescribed on his blog: only1duck.com-- so in essence I already lost, but I will take the challenge of adding those 8 extra pounds. So, physically, I already lost, but weight-loss is a mind thing which most people don't understand. It is mind over matter and temptation and sometimes that is the downfall. Please make sure that there are people who will support your decision and help you get through the temptations and if not, independence is needed to be pulled to the foreground.

I am killing my food experience here because EVERYTHING is made from starch Carbs, but when it comes to competition, I am all for it. I have my before pictures and I am slowly seeing progress and trying to stay away from the scales. I have become very conscious of I am eating so, the BET is ON!!!!

That's all for now from the diary of a Fat girl
Stay Royal!

Some Cultural Differences

So yesterday, I had a meeting with my RA and my advisor from the program and a lot of cultures issues that I though were interesting were brought up.

**Many of these statements will be considered generalization, but this is definitely based off of what i have seen and encountered in my experience thus far.**

MEN: Men in South Africa are very persistent! I mean if you give your number out, some of my friends have had cases where the guy has called about 14times in two days. Do they not know the wait 48hr rule? lol
---Personal Experience--- I gave this man who makes earrings my number because I have been in search of lion earrings that Ms. Fierce got when she was here. He makes them so, he gives me an order form and I write my number down and what I want and he say: Can I call you to hang out, I think your pretty. I say "No, I am going to class and don't call me until the earrings are made please." Mind you, he is really old and Duh, I am not single...lol....Anyways he called me 10 times after my dance class that day and 9 times the next day. What the hell?? I texted him-cause its cheaper that he needs not to call or text me unless it is strictly business and I have been avoiding him since.

Men are also very aggressive, they like to touch and grab you. They are very forward in the streets as in what they will say to you. along with the persistence. They will chase you down even after you have denied them and come up to you and say"I just wanted your number" as if you didn't just deny them.

Men are very disrespectful to women, women are considered to be beneath a man even more than in the United States. It is crazy, the things that they will say to you and your first instinct is to say "Fuck Off"-South African lango....lol...

----Personal Experience----We are at the mini-bus station and we are confused as to which one to get one. The one that takes you to Mowbray-which is 4 blocks away from Rosebank- is cheaper. So, we go to that one and he is trying to much 6 of us on the mini bus that has room for only 2. I mean although it is only 5rand, I want a seat. we go to another one and there is this lady yelling and another guy who acts as if he doesn't want us there because we are Americans so, we walk down as if we were going to the next mini-bus but there is a bench so, we go to sit down. The man says "You can't sit there, you are messing up our business" so, I said "We need a bus to Mowbray", he points as if we are suppose to know where to go and as we walk he says "What do you think you walked out of heaven." I don't understand!!

Another thing is if you let a man buy you a drink here, supposedly you have to tell him that you are not his because he brought you a drink. That is outrageous, the theories that are here is crazy. Another interesting thing here is the relationships. If a man asks you to be his girlfriend or even his friend, that means that you are his girlfriend and his friends if he wants to pass you to him. He wants sex, then as a woman, you have to give it to him whenever he asks. WOW tell me this is not crazy.

WOMEN: Very catty here as a well as in the U.S. but there are also girls that are very friendly. Afro is not a big thing here for women, twists are very big here! so, i definitely stand out with my Afro. The hairstyles and the style of dress is very cute, everyone looks like manicans.

Children: The children are often used to beg because people feel that they will get more money. The children here are also the one to rob the Americans and the whites because usually people are more open to children.

The children here are more street smart than anything and school is not something that is a main priority when you have to think about food and a place to live. As for those who are going to school, it is something that is important and many of the school kids have after school activities, such as drum bands to make money and even just selling snacks to people.

Another thing that I have noticed here is that children are also forced to grow up fast. Young children have a lot of responsibility, even as much as college students in the U.S.

BOTH GENDERS:

Manners: Excuse me and personal space is non-existent here. If you have an issue with personal space, Cape Town will definitely help you get over it fast!

Hygiene: There is a big issue with that here, some people smell beautiful and look very nice. Some look very nice and smell HORRIBLE. I mean i have smelled musk before, but NEVER in my life have I smelled musk like this. especially students getting on the Jammie because the Jammie is always packed and then some people have the nerve to raise their arms. WTH, I just can't take it. Not only is the musk a big issue here, but also dental hygiene. Some people speak and you would swear that the garbage just opened. I mean don't get me wrong, this is not me dissing the people here, but what I have experienced.

Time: Time is a very conflicting issue here as well. As an American, I know that I revolve around time. When you give me a time, it should be around that time, unless it is very casual...lol... No but seriously "Just Now-I will get to it" "Now Now-means right now" "Now- 3hrs+" is some terminology used in South Africa, that definitely doesn't have the same meaning as the words do in the U.S.

Well that's all for now
Stay Royal!