Join the #5AMClub

Hey! I know I have been a little MIA for a minute but I just needed to settle a little bit into this new season of my life. I actually got a promotion and I have been traveling and just continuing to be inspired. The beginning of February when my life got really hectic I started to realize the only way I would have time with God and time to myself was if I got up at 5AM and made it all happen. This was the birth of the #5AMClub. The Time I spent in the dawn hours praying, journaling and spending time with God as well as me time at the gym getting healthier. I can’t explain how my life has changed so much for the better by starting my days off with this practice. Nothing quite sets the tone to your day like enriching your mind, body and most importantly your spirit.

Through #5AMClub I realized that I am filled with more joy daily, I greet my coworkers with so much energy and I struggle less with doing the right thing because I have already invited the spirit of God into my life early in the morning. I don’t know about you but I have to die daily to many of the behaviors and speech I am asking God to change about me.

Becoming a 5AM’er has not been easy. To be honest I have wanted to be a 5AM’er for years. I struggled so often when my alarm went off- I would press snooze. I prayed to God for months and it was my only New Year’s goal; being able to wake up at dawn. God really blessed me with the grace and energy to live out that goal and he can do the same for you! Since I have gotten the hang of things I thought I would share the love and inspiration. I know schedules and life can be demanding but setting a daily time aside is so crucial to success. What ‘s encouraging is that some of the most successful people in the world all have said they take the time daily to pray and enrich their lives early in the morning; it becomes a habit.

So I challenge you today to join the #5AMClub! You can subscribe for updates here. Also stay up to date with daily scriptures and work out inspiration via instagram: Paparoxi or tumblr. 

Eating Between the Holidays

This is one of my favorite times of year. I love the holidays especially all the food! I most certainly filled my belly on Thanksgiving. However, this week I knew I had to snap back. This week I began consuming mostly raw fruits and vegetables and inundating my system with a stream of natural vitamins, antioxidants and fiber to help detoxify after that feast. In the past I would eat horribly from Thanksgiving till Christmas and right on through the New Year. I would wake up on New Year’s Day asking myself how I was going to get rid of all the weight. Well, this year don’t let that be you! I am not saying don’t partake in the holiday grub (I sure did), but be smart about it! These weeks in between Thanksgiving and the Winter Holidays don’t have to be an all-out gorge feast. Here are a few tips on how to avoid the pitfalls of the holiday “in-between” time.

Eat Mostly Raw: It’s almost been a week since thanksgiving and I have pretty much been eating 90% raw fruits, vegetables and grains for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will have raw oats and fruit for breakfast, Kale salad with quinoa for lunch and salmon, avocado, tomato and squash for dinner. I also partake and plenty of fruits and veggies for snacks throughout the day. I feel so much better than my post-thanksgiving meal state.

Run from sugar: Thanksgiving and Christmas are a great time to get some sugary goodies in but sugar is not your friend. I am not used to having sugar so when I had a few deserts this holiday I woke up with a terrible headache. Sugar just makes me feel terrible and it is because I don’t consume it on a regular basis. You should do the same in between the holidays really avoid heavy sugar items, it will elevate the stress on your body during this time.

Drink detoxifying juices: Juices are a great way to get vitamins and nutrients right into your blood stream without the burden of eating all the ruffage. In between eating feast you should try to incorporate a juice per day into your regiment. Some of my favorite detoxifying juices are: Beet apple juice, Pineapple Green juice and Grapefruit juice.

Water cleanses: One of my good friends came to celebrate the holiday with me and we both would stop each other throughout the day and drink 4 cups of water in a row. It was a great way to wash down all the fat and sugar, plus it filled up my stomach more. I know water is the last thing we want to see on the dinner table with all the eggnog, wine and cranberry cocktails however, it is crucial! Load up on the water the days prior. Since most of the food is heavy in sodium it often dehydrates us so water is even more crucial.

Cleanse your colon naturally: One of my favorite ways to cleanse is Psyllium husk. Psyllium seed husk are indigestible and are a source of soluble dietary fiber. They are used to aid in digestion. They are also used as a regular dietary supplement to improve and maintain regular GI transit.

So this holiday season don’t let the food get the best of your health!

What have you done to eat healthier post-Thanksgiving? How has detoxifying helped you stay focused on your goals? How does sugar affect your system? Share your thoughts and comments. 

Fitness: 30 Minutes Won't Cut It!

I know the title of this post sounds harsh but sometimes we need tough love. This is something I have dealt with in my fitness journey. I remember for years I would go the gym do my little 30 minutes on the treadmill and then I would go over to the crunch machine and do 50 crunches. I was not along when it came to that lack of effort. I thought I was “going hard” at the gym for months and wonder why I was not seeing any results. Now I look back at those days and chuckle.  My mindset then was just doing enough to get by instead of really putting in the work to sculpt the body that I wanted.

Most people want a body like Ciara on a Paula Dean diet and exercise plan, and that just won’t cut it. I believe the biggest thing I did to transition from that mindset; is to get real with myself. Be honest. Am I really going to the gym and giving it my all? Do I spend enough time working on my problem areas? Do I stop when it hurts or it’s uncomfortable? These are questions that you have to ask yourself. It is important to be honest about your fitness journey because when you start getting real with yourself you will get real results.

The easiest way to go harder at the gym is to enlist the help of others. Do you know a friend that is really fit that you can tag along with at the gym? Go take a boot camp class, hire a personal trainer or sign up for a charity endurance event where they provide coaches. These are all ways you can get out of the box. I know the task seems daunting and the road to health seems so long but it is possible to have the body and the level of health you have always wanted. It starts by taking the first step out of mediocrity.

Time is the most precious thing we have. Commit today to not living another minute unhappy with your body and health. You are the only one holding you back from living out the rest of your days in the best health of your life. Commit and kick butt!!!

<3 Roxi 

Fitness: Ego vs. Ability

Hey Roxies! So if you follow me on any of the social media platforms (twitter, instagram, facebook, tumblr) you know that lately I have been experiencing knee problems. I have been training for a marathon and right in the middle of one of the most crucial weeks of training my knees were in pain. I have been forced to take some time off and rest as well as see a doctor to address the issues.

When it comes to fitness and doing endurance sports I often think of myself as invincible. I believe there is nothing that I can’t do physically if put my mind to it. However, last week was humbling. I was forced to sit down while being in great cardiovascular shape. This injury got me thinking about my ego. Yes, over the past year I reached the peak of my personal fitness by completing an Ironmam 70.3 last October, but since the race I haven’t been that consistent. I started marathon training two months ago by dropping in on week 4 of an 18 week plan and forcing myself to complete the miles when I wasn’t as in shape as I should have been. While I have completed triathlons, this is my first marathon and I pushed myself to train on an intermediate level. This all is the perfect recipe for INJURY.

Yes, this little ego of mine high off my athletic accomplishments for the past two years thought I could push myself into completing a marathon in less time then I needed. I pushed my body daily and instead of my body rewarding me I ended up injured. I believe now that injury is not always a result of overuse but a result of pushing your body when it is not ready to be pushed. My doctor said my leg strength should be better for an athlete of my caliber.

So here I am forced to address my ego and ability. I am thankful that I didn’t do any real damage to my knee that can’t be fixed by strength training and stretching; and I should be back running this week. I also realized, just as patient and consistent as I try to be in my life, I need to apply the same wisdom to my fitness journey. It’s not about trying to be the fittest in the shortest amount of time; fitness is a lifelong journey. I want to be 80-years-old running races and completing Ironman, God willing.

For many of you starting out for the first time don’t push yourself to the point where you get injured but also don’t do just enough to get by. Find your balance and listen to your body, follow a plan and if you don’t know enough research and get a trainer.

Have you ever pushed yourself more then you should? How do you plan to remain fit for the rest of your life? What is your biggest obstacle to getting fit? Share your thoughts and comments. 

Fit Fridays, Fit Inspiration

This video makes me want to run to the nearest ashram and become a yogi. This is really inspiring and makes me want to take my fitness to the next level!