10 Steps To Fitness Success

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Love and honor the body you have now. You have to honor where you are now if you want to move forward. I know it may be difficult, especially if you have a goal in mind that seems far away; but if you are gentle and loving to the body you have today you more easily open the way for change.

2. Create a realistic vision for the body that you want to achieve. Take a good look at the body you have now. If you know that you have put on weight with in the last year be honest about how much weight you gained. This will help you determine how much weight you need to loose in order to get you back to a comfortable place. Also be mindful of comparing yourself to other body types. This may not be healthy for your self esteem or psychology. Some things to consider to help you get an idea of where you should be can be your genetic makeup, bone structure, and any medical issues that may cause your weight to fluctuate due to hormonal changes.

3. Prepare daily affirmations and a blessing for your body and your fitness goal. You have to stay focused and keep yourself in a positive place during the time you are releasing weight. Our stressors make us eat. If we can direct our thoughts, and focus our energy on the positive results that are forthcoming then we are less likely to be distracted from our fitness goals when challenges arise.

4.Start to read and study modalities of exercise that interest you. No exercise plan is created equal. so find out what works for you. Not everyone can afford a trainer, and not everyone needs a trainer. Some of us are self motivated, but we just need a little bit of guidance on our path. This is where Google, you tube, and your public libraries come into play. Study and take notes and then take that information with you to the gym or the park!

5. Seek professional assistance. Having a certified professional vamp out a nutrition plan, and a workout regimen for you, PLUS be there for you to make sure you follow through will almost guarantee you results! If you have the means, and the tolerance for someone who will always be there to push you, Go FOR IT!

6. Solicit a friend. If you don’t have a trainer, a great friend who is highly motivated is just a good! Be sure to train though. No playing around during session! For more on friends and training read this:https://nadibody.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/what-to-consider-when-soliciting-a-workout-partner/

7. Plan your workouts for weeks in advance. Having a game plan when you go into the gym or to the park will help you stay on track! Staying on track will help you achieve your fitness goal.

8. Prepare your food in advance. Take an easy day like Sunday and prepare your food. Even if you don’t cook everything on the same day cutting up and seasoning your meats, and prepacking healthy snacks will help you better prepare during the week.

9. Release distracting people. Not everyone will have the same intention as you to release weight, and while some people may be encouraging others may not. You will have to cultivate the inner strength to walk away, and watch them walk away as you stay focused on your goal.

10. Be consistent. When mental focus, preparation, and follow through, are employed you will reach your goal. If you want to maintain it though you have to keep going.

Train at your personal best, eat clean, and stay positively focused! Wishing you health and vitality in 2014! Nadirah A.Shakir

Spiritual Dating for The Truth Seeking Single

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You know Spirit will offer us many ways to learn life lessons. Spirit may be trying to teach you a life lesson through food. It could be your body or your health. Maybe it’s your finances or your life purpose. For many of us Spirits seeks to teach us through our romantic relationships. Our romantic relationships affect us the most, because they are often heart-centered. So when something goes array within our romantic relationships it takes us right back to center—our core—our heart space. Their is a wealth of information with in our heart space, and we can tap into that wealth of knowledge when we decide to become still, surrender, and listen. The energy with in our hearts is a culmination of our thoughts, beliefs, emotions and experiences. This energy creates a vibrational frequency that circulates within us and transcends out side of us, connecting us and attracting to us other souls who either have similar vibrational frequencies or the spiritual energy/blue print that our soul requires for self exploration, and healing in this incarnation.

As a truth seeking single, I often take this philosophy into my dating life. Often times we cannot see ourselves objectively, and even when we can see ourselves we tend to ignore the less perfect aspects of ourselves and focus on the flaws and shortcomings of the people we are dating. By taking the Spiritual Dating philosophy on every date with you, you empower yourself because you are becoming aware of things that you might want to heal. Spiritual Dating for the truth Seeking Single in it’s simplicity reminds us that we are what we attract, and we attract to us the relationship we require at the time for further self exploration and healing.

Here’s an example of what Spiritual Dating for The Truth Seeking Single means, and how it can be applied for self empowerment and healing: Woman is asked out by man. Woman says yes because there is something about the man that she is very attracted to. Woman finds out that the man is a military officer. Woman is surprised by her attraction to an armed officer because she is a “peace advocate”. Man and woman date, and fall deeply in love. Woman is in conflict with her spiritual beliefs against war, and her love for her soldier. What should she do? If the Spiritual Dating philosophy is implemented in this scenario the woman can do a couple of things. The first thing she can do is a. continue to love her solider and remember that love heals all wounds, and is non-judgmental, b. tell the solider that war is against her spiritual beliefs and leave the relationship all together, or c. embrace and explore her own inner warrior or issues she may have regarding anger, rage, and forgiveness.

Spiritual Dating takes the superficiality out of dating and places the focus on inner work and self exploration which will ultimately lead to growth and understanding of self, which will ultimately make you a better partner if you so choose. So the next time someone ask you out on a date, shrug your shoulders and say yes if your are not busy. Allow yourself to show up exactly as you are, and realize that the person that you are dating is the person that you attracted so that you can heal, and grow, and learn more about yourself. Make Saturday nights count and date like a truth seeking single! Don’t forget to be present!

http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx

Nadirah Heal-Thee Networks’ 4 Stages of Weight Loss Success

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There are four stages of weight loss SUCCESS—key word success. I emphasize the word success, because it’s relatively easy to lose weight, but to be a weight loss success requires tremendous effort. Think of all of the quick fix diets out there, the extreme workouts, the surgeries and etc. The truth is, all of these things may work for a time, but the reason we start a weight loss journey is because we want to keep the weight off. Nadirah Heal-Thee Networks’ 4 stages of weight loss success are as follows and in this order: Mental, Nutrition, Physical, and Maitnence. You can read more about each of these stages in my memoir Before You work Out, Exercise, http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx. In the meantime lets go over the four stages here.

1. Mental- Our bodies can’t go anywhere that our minds aren’t willing to take us. So you must prepare you mind first so that your body can change. Ask yourself what do you want to look like. Start reading books written by the people who you wish to emulate as it relates to body image. Write down your goals. Do whatever it takes mentally to get the mental juices flowing up top first and foremost.
2. Nutrition- You can workout all you want, but there are certain laws of the Universe that cannot be disputed. The law of thermo-dynamics is one. If you eat more energy/calories than you burn you will gain weight. It’s as simple as that. Burn more calories than you eat, and the numbers on the scale will drop. My advice would be to eat foods that have a high nutritional value verses foods that have no nutritional value. Keep it simple and start there.
3. Physical-You have to move the body in the right way if you want to start to shift the energy, burn the fat, and sculpt and tone. A combination of weight training, cardio, and stretching to start is more than enough!
4. Maintenance- After you reach your weight loss goal you have to keep going. The same methods you stared to lose weight will have to continue if you want to keep the weight off.

Train with a goal, and once you reach it, keep going!

Wishing you the body of your personal dreams Nadirah A. Shakir Blessings!

Nadirah A. Shakirs’ Healing Lemonade Recipe

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lemonade

“When life throws you lemons, prepare a glass of Nadirah Heal-Thee Network lemonade!”

Do you feel sluggish? Are you thinking about doing a cleanse or a detox? If you are you might consider starting with a glass of lemonade! Here are 12 reasons why!

Health Benefits of the Lemon:

1. The vitamin C in lemon makes it a great immunity booster.

2. Acts as an antibacterial and antiviral support

3. Aids in weight loss

4. Helps condition and cleanse the liver

5. Promotes Circulation

6. Flushes toxins out of the body

7. Helps cleanse the blood

8. Promotes weight loss

9.It helps balance and maintain the ph levels in the body

10. Helps reduce inflammation in joints and knees as it dissolves uric acid

11. The potassium in lemons help nourish brain and nerve function

12. The pectin Fiber in lemons promote colon health 

 

Nadirah Heal-Thee Network Healing Lemonade Recipe:

1/2 gallon od distilled water

5 lemons (squeezed)

1/2 cup of raw honey (melted)

1/2 tsp ginger pepper

Mix it up or shake it up and enjoy!

For more on the heal benefits of the lemon visit:http://www.undergroundhealth.com/health-benefits-of-drinking-warm-lemon-water/ ! Blessings!(-;

9 Questions For Singles Who Are Ready For Marraige

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Everything happens in Divine Time and in Divine Order—everything. That includes the time that you will meet your divine partner. Understanding the power of divinity will help you release the anxiety regarding meeting that special someone to share your future with. If we can relax our expectations and our anxiousness about entering into a sacred union, then we will be able to embrace where we are now, and experience the unity that is life.

It really breaks my heart when people come in to speak to me about their life goal to meet that special someone, and yet they are not treating themselves like someone special. Depressed, anxious, and self-loathing, they cry because no one has chosen them as the one; and they wonder if they will ever be chosen. They have done vision boards, meditations, prayers, on line dating, singles retreats, and the list goes on FOREVER. What has not been done is self work!

What I’m going to say may sting, but I’m going to say it anyway. If you are single right now, then you are supposed to be. So relax, and get down to business with numero uno—YOU!

Okay so you want to get married, yeah? Well let’s ask ourselves a couple of questions. The following are questions which will help you explore the truth about your readiness for a sacred union.

9 Exploratory Questions for the Ambitious Single Who’s Ready For Marriage.

1. If you met yourself today as is would you marry you? This question requires real honesty. Look at every aspect of your life financial, spiritual, health, attitude etc., and then ask yourself that question again. Many times the idea of marriage is something we fantasize about when we want to escape our current reality. News Flash: You can’t run from yourself; but you can run into yourself!
2. What are you bringing to the union? Let’s get real. Are you coming to give or are you coming to take? It really doesn’t matter which one you think you’re coming to do—give or take, because as soon as you enter into any relationship you will consciously and unconsciously give and take. Again, what are you bringing? This goes back to the honesty of question 1. With what you have to give now…RIGHT NOW, would you want it? If not—about-face, and get busy fixing you up!
3. Are you comfortable financially? Our society is full of people trying to “come up” financially by way of relationship, and that may work for a while; but if the consciousness is not there to sustain the financial “come up”, the relationship as well as the bank account will go bankrupt. Research shows that the majority of relationships fail as a result of financial distress. While you are single, get your money right!
4. Is there anything that you can do to get yourself in a healthier state? Yes, the vows say for better or for worse; but if there is anything that we can do to make ourselves better for our future union shouldn’t we be doing that? Don’t you want to live in perfect health and harmony with your Mr. or Mrs. Right FORVER!!!???
5. Is there anyone that you feel like you need to forgive? Unconsciously, we take our baggage from past hurts into our new beginnings believing that we are beginning again, when in essence what we are really doing is creating situations to heal past hurts. We are marrying our mothers. We are marrying our fathers. We are even remarrying our ex-husbands and ex-wives. The soul wants to forgive. So if you are single, and feel that there are people you need to forgive do so, so that you can really marry someone new, and have a new experience.
6. Are you comfortable with you sexual identity? That’s right I said it! If you are gay, do not lie to yourself and your partner and say that you are straight. Think about the heart ache down the line. It’s not fair. If you are bisexual, tell your man or woman straight up that every once in a while you might want to employ a third party or you might want to stay out all night. Communication—Honesty–Trust—Marriage—remember!?
7. Why do you want to get married in the first place? Do you even believe in the sanctity of marriage or are you under some type of societal peer pressure. Be clear about your beliefs regarding monogamy, polygamy, and the idea of commitment.
8. Have you clarified your spiritual beliefs/chosen faith/religion? Sharing the same faith is important for many people because when challenges present themselves in our sacred unions we often resort back to our spiritual foundation to help us become grounded and re-tie that sacred knot back together more tightly.
9. Are you willing to compromise—give and take and give some more? A sacred union is about give and take period. You give your time, money, spirit, love, life…everything. So just be ready for that, and make sure that the person you choose is ready for that also.

If you want to get married, then more than likely you will. In the meantime take inventory of where you are now, and work on you so when you run into you (your husband or wife) in the future you really feel ready…and worthy!(-:

I wish you love, love, and more love! Nadirah A. Shakir

What To Consider When Soliciting A WorkOut Partner

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nadirah & v muscles

Most of us have done it—started a workout regimen with a friend. Ideally it goes great. You and your workout partner start on the same date, meet up at your designated workout spots on time, and you reach your personal fitness goals together! That’s ideal, right? But what happens when the ideal meets reality?

When soliciting a workout partner consider these things:

1. First and foremost know your personal goal. If your goal is to add 10 pounds of muscle, and your workout partner has a goal to loose 30 pounds you’re going to have to find a way to train together as you try to meet your individual goals. In a case like this you may need to act as coaches for one another. The partner who has a goal to gain may have to count reps, and change the speed on the treadmill for the partner who wishes to lose weight. The partner who wishes to lose weight may have to act as a spotter for the partner who wants to gain mass. When workout partners have different goals the key is  consideration.

2. The second thing to consider is the ebb and flow of life. Some days your workout partner will have a really great day, and they’ll be full of energy; and on other days they may not be feeling so great. They may be low on energy or they might not show up for the session at all. What do you do? Let’s take the first scenario—one partner is energetic and the other is not feeling so hot. Keep your energy high and stick to the workout plan! Try not to give your partners temporary funky mood to much energy, because then neither of you will get a great work out, and the funk of the mood may spread causing the both of you to get off your workout plan. In a matter of consideration, AFTER the workout is done you can ask your partner about his/her mood over a healthy salad or protein shake. More than likely, after a great workout the funk of the mood would have dissipated altogether. If it hasn’t it’ll definitely be lighter. More importantly, both of you stuck to the plan.

3.The third thing to consider when soliciting a work out buddy is fitness levels. If you’ve got 10 half marathons under your belt and your workout partner is running his/her first 5k, then understand that you can still workout together, but the workout may not be as challenging for you. The positive aspect to this “unlikely” combination is that you’ll be helping your friend rev up his/her fitness level, and if it’s your pal you’ll probably feel really good about doing it!

Here are some of the reasons I like working out with my fitness buddies:

1. Friendly competition: You’re not going to let your buddy show you up in the weight room or on the track! Trying to keep up, and pump out those extra reps in the weight room will only help you reach your goal faster!

2. Positive Energy: More than likely you are going to chose people to work out with you that are your friends, and getting your goals accomplished together will definitely create more positive energy between the two of you.

3. Emotional Health: Having a partner to workout with who you share positive energy with is great feel good energy, which is why you don’t want to bring your funk to the session! If anything take out whatever you’re going through on the weights or the punching bag!

4. Accountability: Having a great workout partner is almost like having a coach! Reporting and marking progress together will keep you on track, and staying on track means reaching your goal!

5. Spotter: If you stick to your regimen then you WILL make progress, and progress often means taking on a heavier load. Having a spotter/workout partner there to do so when you advance in weight is smart and safe! As always I’m wishing you success in your fitness goals and your life goals! Blessings! Nadira A. Shakir

 

 

 

 

 

4 Reasons to Make Salads Apart of Your Nutrition Plan

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healthy

Have you ever wondered why there is always an inclusion of salads when people are trying to loose weight? Here are some of the reasons why salads are a part of Nadirah Heal-Thee Network weight loss and weight management success!

1. Low in Calories: A Clean Salad, such as a garden salad will always be “calorie counting” friendly. Just don’t saturate it in ranch dressing, and pile on the bacon bits, and cheddar cheese.

2. Clean Eats: The combination of crisp veggies and lean protein makes for clean eats! If you use a hint of lemon juice, with olive oil as salad dressing then you know you have not ruined your diet goals.

3. Helps you stay full: Most salads are packed with lettuce, spinach, and other nutrient rich vegetables like cucumbers, celery, and peppers. These vegetables are full of water which will make you feel full when they are digested.

4. Convenient, you can get them almost anywhere: It doesn’t matter where you have to go, or where you’re going, salads are every where! You can get a great salad from a fast food restaurant, or a four star restaurant. You can even get a salad at a coffee shop, or in a gas station!

Here’s a recipe for one of my favorite salads:

Shrimp Salad

5 partially raw or grilled shrimp

1 cup of spinach and kale greens chopped

half cucumber chopped

half red pepper chopped

handful of pumpkin seeds

Dressing

2 tsp. of flax seed oil

2 tsp. of olive oil

4 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Preparation: Grab a bowl and mix it all together! Enjoy!!

 

What To Do When Your God No Longer Serves You?

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God's light shining through

“If the God you serve no longer serves you, simply change Gods!” ~Nadirah Aqueelah Shakir~

I had an interesting conversation with some friends regarding God as an “idea.” The conversation took many turns as people tried to explain God. The conversation became even more complex as they described their beliefs and doubts about God. What I heard as I listened was, more than negating God, people were dissatisfied with how God was showing up in their lives. I empathized with them, because I have also experienced internal conflict regarding my relationship to God.

For most of us the conflict stems from our childhood religious belief and teachings, and our internal knowing. As spiritual human beings we have an innate knowing that God is more than we have learned It to be. When we experience God for our selves and it does not look, sound or feel like anything we were taught as children this can cause internal conflict to escalate. But wait! Before we sentence our caregivers, let us remember that they impart to us what their caregivers impart to them, and they were doing the best that they could with the knowledge that they were working with at the time.

However, let us go back to the original question, which is, what do you do when your God no longer serves. There are a couple of things you can do. You can continue to serve the God that doesn’t serves you, and continue to be angry and upset about coming up short. You can forfeit faith and God altogether and wing it in the world as best you can alone, or you can employ another God altogether. Personally I’ve done all three; but what I’ve discovered is that I work best and get my best work done when I have support—loving support—powerful support—healthy support—and wise SUPPORT.So my God, the God that serves me, and the God that I serve, are all of those things–Divine Love—Divine Power—Divine Strength—Divine Wisdom, and Divine Substance.

In every religion people find ways to connect with a God, or concept/idea of God that serves them, and they do this by calling God by that name, and then mentally and emotionally opening and connecting to that power/energy. In Islam there are 99 attributes of God. The Hindus have over 300 names/deities for God. Jesus felt a Father-energy from God, and called upon him as such. Ancient Egyptians take into consideration the feminine aspect of God as well as the masculine, and it goes on and on and on. The reason why it goes on and on is because God goes on and on, and we are expressions of that on-going PROcess. (More on this in a later blog)

In essence, changing Gods has more to do with changing your perception, and that starts with your mind which is connected to Divine Mind, i.e. God. You can’t change Gods, because God is unchanging. You can however, work with your perception (thoughts, feelings, and beliefs) about It.

Our perception of God dictates our entire experience in life. Here’s an example: A person who believes that God is a God of vengeance and jealousy will more than likely be fearful, and experience lots of “hateration”—envy. A person who believes that God is powerful and supreme will more than likely have confidence in his/her actions. A person that believes that God is omnipresent will more than likely be able to experience God where ever he/she goes. A person who believes in a God that favors and rewards meekness and humility will probably feel more comfortable in the background. A person who understands God as love will likely have a loving demeanor, and a person who believes that God is rich will probably be wealthy.

How do you know if you should change your perception of God? You will know if you need to consider changing your perception of God by asking yourself the following questions:
1. Am I happy?
2. Do I like where I am in life right now?
3. Is God my friend? Why or why not?
4. Does my God support me? How?
5. Does my God like me? Why or why not?
6. Do I like my God? Why or why not? What do I like or dislike about my God?

Ask yourself these questions, and answer them honestly. Try not to think to hard about the answers. Just write down what comes up and try to detach from inner judgment. For more on God in perception, and God as energy visit http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx, and purchase my memoir. You can find ideas regarding the feminine and masculine aspect of God in pages 4-7. Blessings!

God is as close to you as your very own breath, and It wants nothing for you but the absolute best.
Wishing you a wonderful working relationship with The Most High, Nadirah A. Shakir

Love & Detachment

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Love & Detachment

” I fall in love easily. It’s because I’m always there.”

To be in real love requires a state of detachment, a kind of openness which will ultimately lead to the understanding of oneness and our connection to the Divine. This is what is meant by unconditional love.

Many saints have come to the realization that God is Love, and they act and serve from this consciousness. They are able to be detached from their actions/giving and just serve, however and whomever The Divine has led them to.

What if we all understood that love is not meant to be griped and contained. Love is Spirit. It’s as close to you as breath; but it forces you to do nothing. It flows endlessly and effortlessly to all. Those of us who intentionally open ourselves up to love benefit from it’s magic in the most amazing ways. Those of us who are closed to it, are probably the ones who believe in love with conditions; but have no fear unconditional love will make it’s way to you also.

Unconditional Love and detachment fosters growth and trust. Anything that is smothered will eventually loose breath and die. When we approach love in a manner of detachment we allow Spirit to enter in and work in ways that we ourselves cannot.

Some of the best relationships between husband and wife, parent and child are built upon the foundation of detachment. Detachment does not mean that the people in relationships do not care for each other. It means that they trust one another and respect each other enough to allow each other to grow. Relationships that foster a healthy understanding of detachment are more likely to last, because the individuals involve understand that we all belong to God, and it is that “God-Head”—Divine Mind that keeps us connected.

What attaches us to someONE is where we are in consciousness, and where we believe we will always want to be. What keeps us there is often how we feel about our personal growth while relating to the individual.

Those of us who see and experience God in everything–people–nature—music–food—traffic—whatever, are the ones who fall freely into the rapture of love—the arms of God; and this is our only attachment.

Wishing you freedom and personal growth while relating to whomever, Nadirah A. Shakir

For more on love, detachment, oneness, self love, and relationships visit any of the following links! Blessings!

My memoir Love pg 167 http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx, https://nadibody.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/embracing-the-relationships-around-you/

The Spiritual & Physical Gift of Your Running Pace

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I love running. It’s my favorite exercise. I started running when I was 16, and 170 plus pounds. If I had to go anywhere within a 10 mile radius, and I knew I could carry the things that I purchased home, I’d foot it. I found running to be some what of a “moving meditation.” It was just me talking to me, me thinking, me praying, me focusing on my breath, and me focusing on each and every step. I wasn’t fast when I first started running. I wouldn’t even call myself fast today, unless I intentionally sprint. In fact when I started my running regimen I had to work through all types of complications. If it wasn’t the wrong sneakers, it was the extra weight aggravating my joints. If it wasn’t my joints it was the scraps of my sports bra bruising my chest and shoulders because of the friction. I didn’t stop running though. I continued, and made adjustments along the way, because I had a goal. Some days I would walk instead of run. Sometimes I would walk and run. I’d trot; and on those really good days I would run like the wind.

A running regimen is reminiscent of the ebb and flow of life. We have really, really, good days. We have okay days. We have those days when all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, and on some days we may feel the need to take several breaks in between, and it may seem like we didn’t cover any ground at all. Progress is always being made just as long as we continue to move forward. I lost 40 plus pounds on a running regimen alone…and a healthy diet of course. Once I lost the weight my running pace became faster, and easier. My sports bras no longer bruise me, my joints feel fine, and my breathing is almost like song. It’s strong and steady. Praise God! Today I can afford to be flexible regarding my running pace because I know what works for me and my body. I know that 60 minutes running at my personal pace will burn 700 plus calories and I’ll maintain my weight. However, if I want to change my weight or the shape of my body I know I need to step on the gas!

If we can think of life as running regimen or a marathon then we can comprehend that although there may be other runners next to us on the treadmill, or on the street, the marathon of life is really about us. It’s about how far we can go. It’s about how many steps we can take toward our goal. It’s about finding the right fit (shoes AND sports bra) that is comfortable for us. It’s about knowing that when we decide that we want anything on our personal journery, i.e. our marathon, all we have to do is change our pace or change our path—speed it up—slow it down—keep going left—or bust a right. It’s your journey, so perfect your stride while you run the race, and stay focused on your personal pace.

As always, every runner should take time to care for themselves, and experienced runners know this!Nurture your inner spirit My memoir Before You Work Out, Exercise might help, http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000141255/Before-You-Work-Out-Exercise.aspx. Care for your physical body as well. Do you foam roll? Every runner should! For more on foam rolling follow this link:https://nadibody.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/the-benefits-of-foam-rolling/! Blessings!

Wishing you Strength with your pace and Clarity on your path, Nadirah A. Shakir