EXERCISE: Listen to your body!!

I've noticed for the past 3 days my hamstrings, quads and calfs start to cramp half way through my work outs. Sometimes it happens during my stretching but I charged that to over extending. I am well hydrated so I know it's not due to dehydration and I eat my fair share of bananas so POTASSIUM is not a factor either.

I had to think long and hard about what has changed in my work outs that could cause cramping. I realized now I am focused on leaning and sculpting my muscles, before it was all total body firming.

Have you ever been walking and had a muscle cramp? Well imagine coming over a bridge in FULL STRIDE and that quad muscle decides to TENSE UP! OH MY GOODNESS ... the steps I had to take in order to get to flat ground were unbelievable but I made it through. I stretched and stretched and massaged and stretched until I was able to complete both laps.

Upon my arrival home I did some research and found out that a PROTEIN DEFICIENCY can cause muscle cramping and consistently cold extremities. The cold extremities (arms and legs) are common with anemia, which I am, so I did not think much of the frequency in which it was now happening. I have increased my salmon, chicken, egg and peanut butter intake but that is not enough so I am now adding WHEY PROTEIN to my daily dietary intake.

What is PROTEIN: an enzyme that impacts every function within the body. Protein is the key source of amino acids and it plays a vital role in the maintenance of healthy bones, muscles and organs. However, it is important to have adequate intake of proteins because too much proteins are damaging to health as well as lack of proteins. Proper amount of required proteins depends on the age, physical activity and other factors. When a diet lacks in proteins, the first source the body will turn to take proteins is the muscles which is known as muscle wasting. This results in weakness and different health conditions.

What is WHEY: a derivative of milk, is the liquid that is left behind after the first stages of the cheese-making process. If you have ever curdled milk, you have witnessed a botched version of cheese production; the whey is the liquid component that separates from the solid particles.

What is WHEY PROTEIN: It is used for multiple things but what I am most concerned with is its use for improving athletic performance.

Can WHEY PROTEIN help with muscle cramping: Out of the many protein sources out there, whey protein is the ultimate. It has the highest value in providing branched-chain amino acids, which results in building and retaining muscle tissue.

With knowing this, my VI shakes and some meals will know include the use of WHEY PROTEIN. There are many to chose from so I asked someone who is always in the gym and into fitness. What he recommended was SYNTHA 6 POWDER

I will keeping you all posted on how this works but in the meantime listen to your body when it hurts, there is a reason for it. If you are unsure about anything call your health practitioner. I choose to research on my own and if this does not work for me I will definitely be calling my primary care physician and probably go back to my orthopedist. Do not ignore your body when it gives you signs.

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WEIGHT LOSS/WEIGHT GAIN PROGRAM

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EXERCISE: Music makes a difference

Man oh man todays walk/jog was EPIC! I finally reached my goal of 45 minutes for 2 laps on the bridges and 80 push offs but the key was the music I had on repeat!! Beyonce's RUN THE WORLD at 127 BPM's and Chris Brown's TURN UP THE MUSIC at 130 BPM's had a sister GOING!!

Play these while you are working out, be it walking, jogging or running and watch what happens!! I've never felt so good in my life AND so sore!!! These songs PUSHED me as much as I needed to be pushed! Keeping up with the beat was a task and I never realized how much of my entire body it required, especially my CORE!

I did have a comical moment during my 3rd set of 20 push offs at the FRIENDSHIP FOUNTAIN. The wind picked up while at the very same point when the water was at it's highest and needless to say I gave the workers in that area an unexpected wet tank top show!! (dies laughing) I wasn't even mad though, that water felt great and gave me that boost to complete my last lap across the Acosta. If I had long hair it would've been a SLOOOOOWWWW MOTION moment ... it would've been REAL!!

On a serious note, realizing I'd lost 50 lbs in 2012 was a monumental moment in my life. I was carrying around an elementary school student, no wonder my knees and body hurt all the time. Now, when I walk, I use wrist weights that are 2 lbs a piece, the extra 4 lbs has my arms very sore ... I can only imagine the turmoil I put my body through carrying those extra 50 lbs!! These are the things I think about now as I turn my health and wellness around going into my 43rd year of life and it should be what you think about on a daily basis no matter your age. Don't wait until you HAVE to lose weight to take care of your body, DO IT WHILE YOU CAN WITH NO RESTRICTIONS!! Prevent any doctor from telling you what you know you need to do.

I finished my walk off with 3 sets of 20 squats holding 3 lb hand weights, an extra 6 pounds and I have to say my back end is on FIRE. I also stretched, that is a MUST. You should warm up before any exercise and stretch after, best way to condition your body and prevent muscle injury.

I used the BODY BY VI 90 DAY CHALLENGE in 2012 to assist in getting rid of the weight alongside proper nutrition and exercise. You must EAT to lose weight and boost your metabolism, drink lots of water to burn the excess fat and get some type of physical activity in your life at least 3 times weekly. Watch your health and your body change.

January 2012 to January 2013 ... this is the result of my BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS and it's not EVEN over! It was hard getting here but even HARDER staying here!

Join the challenge and improve your life!

Aspire to Inspire in 2013

Since beginning my healthy lifestyle journey in January 2012 I've been told on numerous occasions that I am an "inspiration" and "motivation" to live better. Sometimes you figure out what your purpose is in life early and sometimes, like myself, it doesn't come until later in life. I've come to the realization that GOD gave me these vocal/entertaining gifts to share, not just for radio/musical or hosting purposes but inspiring others to do better.

I've created a Facebook group page for all to be a part of my aspiration. In this group I will talk about being healthy over all, be it via the VI LIFE or simply making healthy lifestyle changes. I will also be promoting the VI LIFE, after all it was my healthy life changing vehicle and for those who need that ride it's there for the taking.

If you've made a resolution to live better, healthier let me help you get there! I am a witness it can be done after being plus size for most of my life. It CAN be done, let me show you!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IAspiretoInspire/ is the Facebook group and

is the Vi link! After all, what do you have to lose? Weight? GREAT ... LETS GO! It's 2013, time to make good on your promise to yourself of healthy living!

WEIGHT LOSS, WEIGHT GAIN, SCULPTING/LEANING MUSCLES, OVERALL OPTIMAL NUTRITION ... THE VI LIFE IS FOR YOU!! If not, let me show you how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

2012 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE JOURNEY: 1st Year Done

As January 12th approaches I continue to get more and more excited! This will mark the 1 year anniversary of my HEALTHY LIFESTYLE change! I have lost 50 pounds and more than 25 inches combined (chest, waist, hips and thighs) thanks to proper nutrition, exercise and a boost from the VI LIFE!

I had no gym membership nor did I have a cheer squad or group to work out with and I was fine with that. I knew what I wanted and only I could account for that, only I could truly make that happen. So for the the 1st 90 days of 2012 I "REINVENTED MS CHANEL".

It wasn't the easiest process even though from the looks of my post and previous blogs it seem to be. I won't lie and say there were not times when I just wanted to stop, to simply walk away from it all but then I would visit my son in prison, talk to my daughter or spend time with my grandchildren. The words of my cardiologist would always began to play over and over again in my head and that's what gave me that extra push to keep going. My LEGACY needs me to be here and when I am taken away it won't be because of my health.

To create this NEW ME I implemented "THE 4 D's" and continue to use them in EVERYTHING I do. These "4 D's" keep me focused, rooted and for the most part on track with my goals. There are times I fall off but the wonderful thing about falling is YOU CAN ALWAYS GET BACK UP! Even if you break something when you fall EVENTUALLY you will be able to walk alone again.

What are "THE 4 D'S"?

DRIVE: internal motivation, personal character traits for achieving goals and creating a success story

DETERMINATION: combination of attitudes and abilities that lead people to set goals for themselves and to take the initiative to reach these goals

DEVOTION: intense love, loyalty, or enthusiasm to an activity or field

DEDICATION: wholly committing to a personal goal

Without these 4 D's there is no way I could have possibly achieved anything the goals I set for myself. My initial health and wellness journey was successful because I WAS "4 D'd" to the max!! Now as we go into 2013 I am still in "4D" mode because I have a BIKINI BODY to prepare and a business to get up and running!

I hope you all have enjoyed the first journey and will continue on with me as I move forward in continuing my HEALTHY LIFESTYLE JOURNEY!! My goal now is to continue inspiring others to get healthy!! To rid yourself of man made medications due to self inflicted ailments, TAKE BACK OUR HEALTH!

I TOOK MINE BACK!! Join me and let me assist you in doing the same!

Also join my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IAspiretoInspire

ALL in the name of staying healthy

It's been since January 2012 that I've changed my life for the better. My health and strength renewed, ultimately by my renewed walk with my Lord and Savior, my Father but also with the addition of Body By Vi's 90 DAY CHALLENGE. This was the BEST decision I could have EVER made in my life. There are so many health issues that run through my family; Diabetes, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, High Cholesterol and Cancer just to name a few. Being over weight is a BIG risk factor in most if not all of those conditions so having a Cardiologist tell me the heart condition I had could be resolved if I lost weight was the final blow ... I knew I had to get my health right and my life back!

Yep *proud big full mouth grin* that's me ... from a size 15/16 (or Ashley Stewart 12) to now an Old Navy/Express size 8!! I am VI LIFE PROUD!!! Please believe ...

... if it had not been for the PUSH of the VI LIFE I would not be as healthy as I am today. I worked hard to get to this point so guess what? You have to work TWICE as hard to stay here!!

So here I am with Leslie Sansone at least twice weekly using her "WALK AT HOME" DVD collection, walking the neighborhood and walking the bridges to maintain this new healthy lifestyle AND body!! As of late, I've been walking to Beyonce's "RUN THE WORLD" because the B.P.M.'s are AWESOME for brisk walks/jogs. Don't believe me? Listen ...

... now you tell me!!

Now, with this in mind, you are moving and grooving along to Beyonce and getting a GREAT brisk walk that's generating all kinds of sweat. Oh now I KNOW I am doing something. On this particular day, TODAY, as I am walking and jamming I noticed a man a few feet ahead of me, walking towards me, and his stride had slowed down. I wasn't sure why, was hoping it wasn't to talk to me because I was in a zone. I noticed his eyes were cut to his left, my right so I followed his gaze and there, looking back at us was one ugly unleashed dog! It was black and white with the body of a pit-bull and a long snout like the dog on the Rug Rats cartoon.

At this point there is INTERNAL screaming going on as I looked around for a car to jump on (EVERYONE ALL OF A SUDDEN HAS JOBS NOW) ... NO CARS IN SIGHT! I looked frantically all over the ground for a stick, NOTHING! Are you serious right now??? I am walking very slow by this point with the music turned ALL the way down looking over at the dog

who is also looking back at me and slowly walking in my direction.

This has to be the WORSE walking experience I'd ever had! I don't usually encounter loose dogs on my walks and I've never carried any types of sticks (note to self ... grab stick when you walk the neighborhoods) so this is all new to me. My heart is beating 1000 B.P.M. so it felt and I thought I was going to faint. This could NOT be happening to ME at THIS very moment ... it just couldn't. In my panic mode I remembered being told never to run away from OR make eye contact with a dog and if faced with a "DOG FIGHT" to hit it on the nose hard. I could handle the first 2 but I was PRAYING that the 3rd would remain an unnecessary thing to know. I stopped looking in the direction of the dog and began using my cell phone face as a rear view mirror to watch the dogs movement ... after a few seconds which felt like an eternity it fell back and went up into the yard.

Please believe as soon as I could no longer see that mutt I turned Beyonce ALL the way up and took off!! I had NEVER been so happy to see Cesery end and Merrill begin! I think I made it home in less than 15 minutes from that area and as soon as I hit my door I couldn't do anything but laugh. I imagined not being in the shape I'm in and encountering a loose dog, THAT would've been something serious!! Will I do this again? You're damn skippy I will but I will carry a stick from now on. I can't let one monkey or in this case one doggy stop my health and fitness show! I will say this, it DID give Beyonce's RUN THE WORLD a new meaning ... it is DEFINITELY a literal thing now!

My life is the VI LIFE! Care to join the #1 health platform in the U.S., Canada AND Jamaica??? Http://ChanelVTillman.myvi.net <~~~ get there and then lets talk!!

VITALITY IN VIAMI (MIAMI) - DAY 2

Up early the next morning so that we could get good seats at the arena as well as be seated with the rest of the D.D.T. family (our team is the GREATEST). It was an exciting morning, thinking about what was ahead of us, I mean this was my first (of many to come) big events with ViSalus so I was unsure of what to expect today. I know I needed to be as comfortable as possible, especially since today was an 8 hour day so this was the outfit of choice (simple pair of Lei denim shorts from Wal-Mart, white bra top under a crochet top both from Body Central. OH can't forget my signature Cowgirl hat (that's what I do these days)

The Holiday Inn Express provided complimentary breakfast every morning and since I left my shake mix home on the bed (don't ask how) it was important that I ate something as breakfast is the MOST essential meal of your day. This is how you start your day off the right way, immediately followed by a shot of, yea you guessed it ...

GO!! I can't seem to live without it these days.

Upon arrival to the American Airlines Arena

you could already feel the electricity in the air! So many ViSalians ALL over the place! All of us there with one purpose, one cause in mind ... FIGHTING OBESITY while becoming HEALTHY AND WEALTHY! I am a big picture taker (my Instagram says it all) so I kept getting left behind and almost lost in the crowds. Thank goodness I could spot Hakim!!

The above picture is a wrap up of the day; the crowds, art, VITALITY posters/marketing and blimp, 20,000 people screaming in excitement, the Speakers (Ambassadors and celebrity appearances from Hulk Hogan, Master P, Lil Romeo, etc), recognition of the new VI model and champions, presentation of the new Vi gear, introduction of the newest product Vi-Defy (equivalent to 6 bottles of Mona Vie), GST roll play, roll out of THE CHALLENGE 3.0, and seeing one of my many BEFORE AND AFTER pictures on the jumbo-tron (yes, mine ... out of all the people on the challenge MINE was chosen). Which one? THIS one ~~~>

The funny part is I was looking down at my phone when the entire team (it started with Will Hayes AKA Pop) starting yelling. I look up and BOOM there I was! That was an awesome 5-6 seconds that felt like 5-6 minutes!

We learned a lot during Saturday's session, the founders have really up'd the game with the program! The Challenge 3.0 was going to be IT! They've added so much more to the promoter kits and gave a "face lift" to the kits customers receive. Knowledge is power and we were DEFINITELY feeling powerful ... now it was time to eat AND shop but NOT before we had our personal photo shoots in and around the arena!!

... as well as on the red carpet outside

I had YET to find my outfit for the ALL WHITE PARTY being held that night so off to the strip mall we went! Marshall's ended up being the place ... cute affordable outfit picked out with the help of Dominique (thanks girl), can't beat that so NOW we could eat. I felt my energy dropping, my GO was going and I had my PRO on deck to keep that energy prolonged. We'd seen a film about the recent Colorado fires and the firemen who were provided complimentary product from ViSalus (what a blessing) and one firefighter took his PRO straight to the head! I felt I could do that too!!

...and I did!! There's a video of this said act and once I can figure out how to embed it in this blog I WILL! It was good stuff too! *smile*

NEXT where to eat was the question for me. While Keem, Nique and Kev had Subway I went across the street to GiGi's and had grilled Tilapia, squash and that green stuff (not sure of what it was but it was GOOD)!

For $16 it BETTER had been!! The excitement is starting to kick in (on top of the PRO) as it was now time to get back to the room and get ready for tonight's party! I was beyond ready to party in MIAMI and couldn't wait!

I won't lie and say I was really comfortable at first with my outfit but after a few encouraging words from Hakim I was better (thanks Keem). THIS was the final product

With my Vi Diva/Sister Dominique ...

Keem and Kev dressed in all white and ready to have some fun!

Now we arrive to the arena and without going into too much detail ViSalus was going to have to re-evaluate how to coordinate a large crowd of ready to dance ViSalians in a 20,000 SEAT arena! The best thing was we were among family ...

Needless to say we weren't at the arena long for the white party and ended up going to South Beach riding the strip, stopped at Sushi Rock (only I ate) and headed back to the room. It ended up being a short night and I was crashing anyways so off to la la land I went in anticipation of what more the founders could give us on this last day of VITALITY.

Day 3 coming soon ...

Affordable Shopping in the Vi Life Part 5

Hey there Vi lifers and non Vi lifers alike! It's been a minute since I've written an Affordable Shopping blog but THIS little number right here DESERVES her own blog!! I am quite the fan of long, slinky, form fitting maxi dresses and when I laid eyes on this dress I knew I had to have her!!

I was in Regency Mall minding my own business when I walked pass Decibel and felt the "SALES" calling my name. Upon entry in the store I saw a pair of sandals that was yelling my name but even LOUDER was this maxi dress that was towards the back of the store.

I waltzed on to the back to find this beautifully patterned colorful dress looking back at me. As our "eyes" met I grabbed her and ran to the fitting booth! OH ME OH MY ... she did my body right! I had to take her home so to the counter we went.

I thought the yelling would stop but to the front of the store was the sandal I'd stopped to look at upon entry. I asked for a size 9 and was told the largest size they had was an 8.5. *shrugs* Why not try them, everything else is smaller and VOILA ... I could fit those size 8.5 shoes! *in Ice Cube voice* TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY!!

Lord I have a COKE bottle shape AND a booty ... do you see this?

Ready for the cost: Maxi DECIBEL dress: $9.99

Sandal: $12.99

TOTAL: $24.59 after tax AND it was ALL paid for with my ViSalus card ... how grand is that??? Want to know more about ViSalus? They are ALWAYS hiring and the great thing is you set your own hours and make your own schedule!

For more info ~~~> ChanelVTillman.myvi.net

Contact me for more info: Dahostess1057@gmail.com