Single Leg Deadlifts

Okay peeps if you are looking to tighten your glutes and hamstrings single leg deadlifts will do the trick. If balance is an issue do a regular deadlift with both feet planted on the ground. Once you get your bearings advance to single leg. Ok here is how you do it.




1) Hold the Dumbells at your side (or if using a medicine ball place it in front of you) with feet closer than shoulder width apart.







2) Bend forward your hips as you extend one leg behind you. Tip - Move the leg straight back. Keep your back flat and arms straight down




3)Return to start. Tip- Clench your buttcheeks together and tighten you abdominals.


Finish all reps on one side then move one to the other leg. Do not alternate.
Accessories - you can use dumbbells, medicine ball, or kettlebells.

Half Ton Mom

Sooo a while back on a Sunday evening I was relaxing in the living room and talking to one of my BFF’s Nina. As per usual I was watching one of my fave shows Bridezillas and out of nowhere my sister comes charging in the room screaming, “MEESHA..YO…OMG…… You have to turn to TLC!!!” At first I was annoyed because I am into my Bridezillas and phone convo, but then when I turned the channel my mouth dropped. On the bed perched in all of her glory was Renee Williams. She is 29 years old,the mother of two beautiful girls, and 900lbs. Needless to say, Bridezillas was not being watched that night. The story chronicled Renee’s journey to be approved for gastric bypass surgery. Renee grew up in the south (North Carolina I believe ) and she was the daughter to an African-American father and a Mexican-American mother. I say between living in the south and being black (hello fried chicken and macaroni cheese) and Mexican (burrito and nacho cheese heaven) baby girl had no hope in the health department. Renee was a heavy girl for all of her life and her weight steadily crept up over the years, but she still lived a very functional life. Unfortunately her life took a turn for the worst when she was in a car accident in 2003. The accident left her leg crushed and she became bed bound. Over time I believe she gained somewhere between 500-600 lbs due to her depression.

At this time gastric bypass surgery was as popular as the damn Slim Fast diet and Renee sought the procedure for herself. BUT because of her size no doctor would touch her. Renee was in the very exclusive (well actually this group is growing) super-morbidly obese (SMO) club which made her severely at risk for complications. She was turned down by many docs, but their rejection only fueled her fire. Renee soon found purpose in her condition and took to the Internet to champion surgery for the bed bound in the hopes they too would walk and be functional again. Eventually Renee’s hard work paid off and she had the surgery. Sadly, Renee died 12 days later after suffering from a heart attack.

I was sad but not really shocked that she passed. I really felt bad for her two girls, and the older daughter especially because they were traumatized by her death. It’s one thing to lose a mother but they both had to suffer through the taunts and snickers from classmates even when they mom was alive. They too (not surprisingly )struggled with their weight and you could tell that they have complexes and body image issues because of their mother’s life and tragic death.

America…in the words of Susan Powers we must, “STOP THE INSANITY!!” I do have a question though in regards to Renee Williams, who in the hell was feeding her while she was bed bound and spreading beyond capacity?!?!? Food is like drugs in that it too is an addiction. Granted she can’t walk but giving her a fresh baked cake from the Piggly Wiggly was not the solution. People seek instant gratification to get rid of those bad feelings. Listen, when you are not feeling right let someone you trust know, so that they can help you weather the storm. We have so much to live for but sometimes we get SO bogged down in sorrow that we cannot see the light of day. It takes time for the clouds to go away, but after a while the storm passes and the sunshine returns. And even if it rains again at least now you know how to dance in the rain.


You are not an island people…..call a friend…before you become one!!! No Apologies people!!

I Am Not a Fan...

Remember when you were in high school and you just could not understand that one subject? You would study hard and take all the practice exams, but you still could not get the hang of it. You eventually gave up all hope of passing it on your own and turned to drastic measures.....cheating. When all was said and done you breathed a sigh of relief to see that A+ but you knew deep down that you still didn't learn anything.

Well ladies and gentlemen, in my opinion, those who choose gastric bypass to lose weight are in the same boat. Yes of course you shed the weight, but only because less calories are consumed. As the weeks and months pass, the weight comes off and a new person has emerged. However, there is just one problem…. the weight slowly creeps back!!! To make matter worse, people usually look gross without their clothes on because of all that sagging skin.

In my opinion, only if you look like THIS:should you have this procedure done. But if you are not bound to your bed and do not have to wear 500 count sheets as an outfit, then surgery is not for you. If you can walk, you can lose it the old fashioned way, diet and exercise!!!

My poster children for Just Say No to Gastric Bypass are:

Star Jones

Carnie Wilson


And the Yo DAWG himself, Randy Jackson
All of them got super skinny, but as their life got back to normal they gained weight ...no not all of it but enough to bring them back to square one. So don’t cheat yourself people and spend thousands on invasive irreversible surgery. It’s all about the journey!