Body By Vi Little Black Dress and Suit & Tie Holiday Social!

life changing...

....i'm a week from my 35th birthday... i took care of a patient back in the summer who was only 40yrs old. she was on life support because she had a massive brain bleed due to high blood pressure.  at the time, I kept thinking that she was only 10 lbs heavier than me, and maybe an inch taller, and she already had a complicated history of heart problems and a list of medications to go with it - but there she lie, a vegetable oblivious to the world around her, destined to live off life support measures until the family made their final decisions....all I could think was, that coulda been me in a few years....then as family members came in to visit (seemed like a never ending army of folks!), i realized that most of her family had the same issues - sister shared the same meds as my patient, the mother taking LOTS of insulin for diabetes, a cousin on dialysis... my interaction with them changed my world....Shortly after
that, I started the Body By Vi 90 day challenge. I've since lost 20 lbs and several inches and am still pushing. amazing what a shift in perspective can do...

Qiana's Body by Vi 90 day Challenge!!

For those who would like to follow me on my journey, check out my link at:
Qiana's Body by Vi 90 day Challenge

For more information about the 90 day Challenge, go to qwoodson.bodybyvi.com  - watch the video and check out these results!  #vilife

July 2013 ICPSR

Didn't see it before, but my hair is really growing! 5 years and counting :)

CJ 30day PUSH challenge: Day 2

http://www.30daypush.com/

(Life) Priorities – 30 Day Challenge worksheet

1. Priority Brainstorm: Use the area below to list any and all areas of importance to you in your life today. The bigger the list the better! Think about what makes you happy, what gives you pride, what you wish to be remembered by at the end of your life, what you want people to know was most important to you. Consider what makes you feel good about yourself, gives you confidence and what gives you pride.

*health |  *family  | *relationship  | financial security |  education  |  *motivating others to change their lives  | *home ownership |  having children

2. Now star the top five areas of importance to you.
3. Next, write down your top three priorities in no particular order– Use just a few words like, “faith”, “family”, “Helping the underprivileged” , “Creating financial security for my family” “Helping others” “My health and fitness”, etc.
4. Rewrite the above list in order of importance to you.

My number one priority: my health
My number two priority: my relationship
My number three priority: motivating others

5. Take the priority you’ve listed as number one and complete the following statements:

The reason why I have placed the greatest importance on this area of my life is because: without my health, I do not have the strength and will to achieve all my other goals. With better health, I will have more energy and motivation to accomplish whatever I set my mind to.

I will honor my number one priority by vowing to do my best to always: take care of myself first. Get enough sleep. Exercise daily. Reduce intake of sweets, junk food/fast food.

The following action(s) would be inconsistent with my commitment to my number one priority: staying up late to complete assignments. stopping at fast food restaurants instead of going to the grocery store for fresh produce. skipping workouts.

To honor my number on priority I will limit: fast food/junk food. procrastination. taking on the problems and issues of other people.

To live my life according to my number one priority I need to make the following changes: GET ORGANIZED. plan better and stick to my timelines as best as possible. still get adequate rest and increase water intake.

6. Be as detailed as possible. Create a Top Priority clarity statement in the space below:

My number one priority is to become active and engaged in my own health by spending time to take care of me, getting regular massages, getting proper sleep and rest, drinking a gallon of water per day, exercising 30 min a day (even if just walking), favoring a plant-based diet.

starting over...CJ 30day PUSH challenge: Day 1

http://www.30daypush.com/

day 1 - what are your values? what do you want people to know you for? whats most important to you? what are the guiding principles in your life? what do you want to be remembered by? what is your calling?

i believe that health and health care are basic rights, not privileges for the affluent. i want to be remembered for inspiring others to reach for their goals and achieve beyond their wildest imagination. i want to be remembered as caring, down to earth; a role model who is okay with going against the status quo if it means true happiness and doing what's right. resourceful, ambitious; go-getter. a transformer of sorts. someone who leaves a trail of purpose and accomplishment as a guide for others to find their own voices and life contributions. i want to be remembered as the girl who EVERY day questioned her purpose in the phd program and STILL SUCCEEDED in spite of doubt, hardships, and at times, lack of support. i value being a visionary and a leader of sorts...

Juice Feast/Fast?

...I know...it's been a long time since I last checked in. Lots has transpired this year.  And when I really look back and think about all that has happened, this hasn't been the easiest year by far. But, I've been blessed and grateful to have made it through.  Though I know situations are far from over, I still look forward to what will come.

To help set the new year in motion, I've decided to change things up a bit. I've already gotten the house organized, making plans for a successful spring semester. And I want to get my health back. I don't know what I've been doing the last several months, but I haven't been appreciating myself like I should, treating my body right. So....I'm contemplating a long-term juice fast.  I know, I know, why would I do this days before Christmas, or New Year's for that matter? The short answer is, I need to get my health in check like yesterday. The long answer, I need to know that no matter what else is going on in life, I can keep my health as a #1 priority. I haven't done that in sooo long. I worry more about Stacy's health than my own. Neither one of us is particularly healthy at the current moment. All year I've told myself, "tomorrow. next week. sometime soon." i can't keep putting myself on hold. with school being out, now is a good time to get started. slow, but surely i need to be better to myself...

like big sis...

if you know a little sister (or have ever been one), you know that the younger sister never lets the older sister take in all the fun.  from the moment we're born, the sibling rivalry is on, particularly with two girls.  yeah, you have your "that's-my-sister-can't-nobody-come-between-us!-me-and-you-is-half-a-heart" moments, but your sibling is the first true competitor you come into the world with - fighting over who uses the bathroom first, who has to wash dishes that night, who wore who's shirt (and tried to act like they didn't!).  in the spirit of competition, we believe from an early age that whatever my big sis can do, i can do too.  what's mine is mine (cuz you're the baby of the family) and what's her's is mine (hand-me-down's, etc.).  we [younger sisters] don't believe in the older sister having something that we don't  have or letting the older sibling bask in all of the limelight, if nothing more than out of fear of being left out or left behind.  yes, NYE, this may be a surprise to you, but everything from me reading "big girl" books and dancing at the Rink was a reflection of me making my equality known.  unfortunately, this attitude was also reflected in my eating habits as a child.  though my sister is 4 years older than me, I was practically the same size (if not bigger) as my sister from the time I was a pre-teen.  we ate most of the same foods (through high school, anyway) and I never really questioned whether i should or not.....now my sister has embarked on her own weight loss journey.  and just as i followed her footsteps in the past, im going to follow her footsteps now and take control of my weight.  i CANNOT continue to allow this phd program to slowly take my health away.  i have approx 4 months before my birthday, and the best gift i could give to myself is the gift of longevity and good health.  and it doesnt start tomorrow.  it starts NOW in this very moment. im not going to pretend that i plan to do everything perfectly and in order (if i could, i'd already be where i want to be), but looking at my family members battle with different obesity-related problems lets me know that i need to make changes ASAP!  and to top it off, i can't let my sister look cute by herself :) she needs some company in that spotlight :)

Spring break 2012

My bday trip to Las Vegas

Not bad for a birthday gift! Happy birthday to me :)

Old School House Party - Chicago, IL

Common is back at it again!

Common - Ghetto Dreams feat NAS by Nasir Jones

puerto vallarta june 4-9

night out with the girls

mini HS reunion

day 5

I promise to gain wealth and financial stability by making smart investments, budgeting, and paying off student debt over the next 12 months. I also promise to lose 80 lbs in the next 12 months by exercising regularly and maintaining healthy eating habits…

why is it so difficult to make this promise to the one person i feel will be impacted by this goal the most?

day 4

my major push goal is financial, but my secondary goal is health-related. my major goal feels a little out of reach right now, but im trying to be optimistic…the point of the challenge is to help get me there, right

i love my hair! video :)

nuff said!