Name: Najaah Dallas
Age: 34
Self care practice: Consists of taking unapologetic time out for myself to complete my meal prep, stretching and exercise
How long have you been practicing? This is still new for me as it has been 10 months
Introduction: I’ve always liked working out but this has been the first time I really put in this much effort to put all the components together. I found my trainer through a friend and he introduced me to the benefits of really stretching Meal prep I picked up from the Internet and other healthy minded people.
How to get started: Take the time to go for a walk, sit down and focus on stretching and planning meals for the week and then stick to all the plans you have made. Basically I make it mandatory not optional!!
Low cost:Luckily the weather is nice so you can go outside and exercise and stretch or do it in your home. If you want instruction there are tons of videos on YouTube or OnDemand. For meal prep I use grocery apps to cut costs and coupons. There is a blog i follow www.moneyyoga.net to help with learning how to budget and cut costs.
How often: I meal prep weekly, exercise 4-5 days a week and stretch 2x/week..it seems like a lot but it really isn’t when i think of the amount of time I spent being unhealthy and running my mind and body into the ground.
Where: I meal prep at home, stretch at home or outside and exercise all over: bridge, park, gym and my trainers place.
Alone or with others?: I love my new schedule and I share it with others often. I have a training partner so we workout together. I will say though I love meal prepping by myself in comfortable clothing and with the music on.
I’m a much better version of myself but I continue to stay focused and determined as I know I have two little people looking up to me. I want to be a role model for my daughter!!
How it makes me better: It has changed my life completely. My stress level is down, I’m more present with my children, I’m overall the happiest I have ever been!!! I use to feel guilty about being away from my children but now I see that taking this time makes me a way better mother.
Witness: Health was never a priority in my house and my mother and siblings all have high blood pressure. One of the greatest parts of me taking this time to focus on me is that I have motivated my family to eat better and make an effort to exercise regularly!!
Find me: chanisemom on instagram
In addition: I just wanted to say that making the tough decision to really focus on yourself when you are a girlfriend, mother, sister, daughter and friend seems so hard. Once I realized I was only hurting myself and it was interfering in my quality of life with my children, I knew I needed to make a change. January 2015, I made the first steps to loosing weight, August 31, 2015, I had gastric sleeve surgery and now today June 16, 2016. I’m a much better version of myself but I continue to stay focused and determined as I know I have two little people looking up to me. I want to be a role model for my daughter!!
