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My Name is Ericka

Hi.  My name is Ericka, and I’m a doctor.  Do they have tea instead of coffee at this meeting?  LOL.  If there really was a support group for doctors, I would definitely check it out.  Back to the real world.  I am a doctor.  I spend my days being an agent of change.  I have the honor of looking into people’s eyes and seeing their souls. As I psychiatrist, I am intimately acquainted with how physical health, mental health, and spiritual health are intertwined.  As with food, there’s much more than just the packaging.  I’m not here on this blog to be your doctor, but I am here to share my thoughts which are influenced by my experience of witnessing so many aspects of the human condition and observing the world with a keenly trained eye.  I believe I improve the lives of people that I know in my personal life, and I hope I can make yours better, too (if only by giving you a smile).

Much nub, health, and fitness,

Dr. Ericka

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A Sort of Green Light

Today, was my first day of physical therapy.  Not only did it make me feel a little better, but my therapist gave me permission to do some cardio.  She just told me to make sure that it doesn’t cause me any pain and to do short intervals at a time.  Woo-hoo.  I’ve been feeling sluggish, and I’m starting to get tics when I see or think about the gym.  That’s not a good thing, since I am still dealing with whiplash.  LOL.  Tomorrow, I have a date with the recumbent bike.  I never knew a bike could look so sexy (wink).  I wonder how people with more permanent or serious injuries find ways to stay fit.  Hmmm.  Feel free to let me know if you have any clues. That’s the big news for the day.  Tomorrow, will be my day to tackle an intriguing fitness infomercial.  You’ll have to come back to check it out.  Good luck on your journeys of health.

Much nub, health, and fitness,

Dr. Ericka

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Eating on the Road

Tomorrow, I head back on the road.  I live in hotels 5 days out of the week, so I continue to search for the best ways to eat healthy with just a mini-fridge and a microwave.   I realize the first step is having discipline to avoid junk.  I have to have willpower when there is pizza, fried chicken, and all types of goodies around.  I actually eat better away from home than when I’m back at home with my family.  There’s just always something around.  No excuses.  Some people have mentioned raw diets.  Hmm.  Not sure about that, yet. I just know it may take being more disciplined, since I’m not burning off more calories with exercise.  Wish me luck with Physical Therapy and discipline.  Do you have any tips for me?  I’m open to suggestions:)

Oops.  I need to get my beauty rest.

Much nub, fitness, and health,

Dr. Ericka

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Measurements?

Ok.  Today, I did accomplish my goal of taking my measurements.  I realize that I didn’t do this at the beginning of my journey to become a lean, mean, analyzing machine, but this feels like a new beginning.  I’ve been out of the gym for over a month, but somehow I’ve managed not to gain a bunch of weight.  I’ll just give credit to God for that.  I’ve been reigning in my comfort food consumption.  The next step is to be more vigilant about what I eat.  The portion control appears to still be doing ok.  I’m hoping to find out some exercises that I can do when I go to physical therapy.  I miss working out.  Can you believe that I’m saying that?  Oh, back to the measurements.  I’m still getting up the nerve to share them, so y’all can hold me accountable.  I knew they were different than I was used to, but I must admit that I was taken aback to find out what they actually are.  Numbers don’t lie, but they do make great motivation.  This reminds me that  you have to face your fears to have a chance at conquering them.  Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to set your clock forward.

Much nub, fitness, and health (waving goodbye to that hour that I don’t feel that I can spare),

Dr. Ericka

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Girls’ Night Out

Girls’ Night Out.  On the surface, you may just think about women going out and having a good time…a night for women to just let their hair down and feel free to talk openly about their lives and men.   I recently was able to put my finger on why it is so much more.  It’s the time when you get to spend time with your friends and leave unnecessary inhibitions behind.  It’s time when no one is judging you or telling you that you are heavy.  It’s time where you can laugh until your stomach hurts, check out the latest chick flick, enjoy a yummy meal, or shake your tail feather.  It’s time when you can simply be yourself.  In the middle of that is a pure boost for your self esteem.  Girl’s night is full of support and there is always someone to remind you how special and beautiful you are.  It’s not a substitute for being able to feel good about yourself, but it enhances what’s there.  It also picks you up from a bad day or from times where others seemed to have only negative words for you.  Girls’ Night is full of love.

I can’t speak for the meaning of a night out for the fellas, but it’s always good to be surrounded by people that appreciate you.  I challenge all of us to make sure we spend time with friends to recharge our emotional batteries.  There’s nothing like some inspiration to hold your head higher and walk taller.  When you are feeling good on the inside, it shows on the outside…and can give you more energy to take to a workout 😉

Much nub, health, and fitness,

Dr. Ericka

P.S.  I’ll get back to a fitness update.  Tomorrow, I’m going to get measured.  Wish me luck!

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60 Minute Spin

I rushed to the spin class, and anxiously looked around for a bike.  Unfortunately, the only one I saw was a bike right in the front by the instructor.  This bike seemed foreign…nothing like my now familiar bike in the Y.  I was too late to get it adjusted so, I kept hitting the seat even when I would stand.  That’s just a side note.  That class was a killer.  60 minutes of intensity.  That instructor kept saying that he didn’t want us to recover too much.  I must say I don’t think I could have taken another minute.  I am positive that I have never sweat that much in my life.  I did feel good at the end.  I faced my fears and went to a non-beginning 60 minute spin class at a new gym.  I survived my first workout day in Atlanta.  What was even more wild is my upper body was dying during that class.  We’ll see how I’m feeling tomorrow.  I have a strong suspicion there is some soreness waiting for me over the horizon.  One of my old trainers used to say, “pain is just weakness leaving the body.”  I need all of this weakness to go.
I hope you are having a great day, and thanks for all of the support.  20 days down.  1 day until it’s a habit.  Ok, I need to think of another way to do a countdown because I need more than 21 days 🙂
Much nub and fitness,
EG
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Taking the Show on the Road

I’m sitting next to my baby who is munching on a Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and I’m not even tempted.  No, it’s not “hot doughnuts now.”  LOL.   I know I’ll probably splurge a few times while I’m on vacation.  If I’m going to suck up some extra calories, I want to eat things that will make me feel warm and fuzzy with each bite.  I’m totally psyched about working out, which will allow those splurges to not show on my hips and thighs.  I’ve already scouted out spin classes at L.A. Fitness.  I found one tomorrow morning, so I’m officially taking this show on the road.  Wish me luck!  This class is 20 minutes longer and certainly not a beginning class.  I hope my booty is ready:)
19 days down.  2 more until it’s a habit.
Much nub and fitness,
EG
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There’s No Place Like Home

Today was a travel day, so I didn’t work out.  I’m excited about the progress I’ve made, but I realize that it takes more willpower for me to stick with my plan at home (the last 2 weeks I’ve been on the road).  It’s easy to munch or graze on the goodies that my family has around.  I ate more today than any other day since I’ve started my plan.  This just reinforces that I need to have discipline and plan a bit better.  I could have just said no to the half of a sandwich or extra crab rangoon.  No excuses!  On the up side, while playing with my 16 month old cousin I was reminded of another reason to be on this quest to get healthy.  I love children, and hope to have some of my own one day.  I need to be healthy to do that.  Don’t worry.  That won’t be any time soon.  LOL.  I am loving being Teetee Ricky and being able to always return to my grown up home and pass up on the stinky diapers.  Tomorrow is a new day.  Wish me luck.  I’m certainly sending positive thoughts your way.
18 days down, 3 more until it’s a habit.  I’m still not sure about that one…
Much nub and fitness,
EG
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Leaving It All On the Bike

I was running late this morning, so I ran into spin class.  I hopped on that bike and did my own warm up.  Once the blood was pumping, I pedaled like my life depended on it.  I found something down deep that I had forgotten was there.  I can definitely say I left it all on that bike.  Sweat was dripping.  My eyes were burning, but at the end I was still standing.  This was just what I needed because I’ll be going to non-beginning spin classes when I start vacation this weekend.  I’m ready, so bring it on!  There’s nothing left but to do it.  Wish me luck.  My booty still needs it.  I hope your journey to health is going well, too.
17 days down, 4 days until it’s a habit.
Much nub and fitness,
EG
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