http://agencysevenpr.com/
ISSN 2334-1904
The Ambition Magazine Production Team Editor-In-Chief LeKeisha Nicole Editorial Consulting Ashley Ferguson Content Editor Eboni Jones Marketing Ashley Tahir Print Greyden Press, LLC. Graphics Robert Wilburn Photograhy AP2 Photography
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
- Amber Jones - Emily Humphrey
- Latoya Stegall-Collins -LeKeisha Nicole
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Letter From The Editor We have finally hit that time of the year where the weather is warm and it’s time for cookouts and outdoor events. So I thought it would be in our best interest to move the fitness issue up this year to accommodate our wants and needs during this time. I am still on my personal fitness journey. The current goal is 30 before 30. It’s been a month since my initial weigh in and I am …. Towards my goal. 10 more weeks to achieve this very attainable goal. My issue is still the food. What is yours? One thing we are bringing you in this issue is a list of fitness pros that are making moves and a difference in their community. Hopefully we found one close to you that you can try on for size. Some are veterans and some are new on the scene but they are all in the business of helping you achieve your personal best. It’s so crazy how things change. There was a point in time where if you were into physical fitness and eating right that you were in a league of your own. Now it is the total opposite. Now you are the outcast if you don’t have a fitness regime or if you are still eating poorly. The most important thing that we want to stress is a lifestyle change. A lifestyle change is not a 30 days quick fix; it doesn’t have a time limit. It is from today until …. It’s not ever having a piece of cake again, it’s being able to have a piece and not binge or feel the need to have a piece every hour or every day. It’s having a drink when partying or having wings during happy hour. Granted it’s not partying every day or going to happy hour every day. A lifestyle change is being human and living as healthy as possible but having the discipline to enjoy the less than healthy moments in moderation. Live, Love, Laugh & Be Ambitious #AmbitionFitness - LeKeisha Nicole
n o i s s e f o r d P e d A e e N h c Mu
By hrey p m u H Emily
Our health is important to all of us, of course. And there’s a wealth of information out there on how to best care for your body. And the information is everywhere- no reason we shouldn’t know what the best practices are to really be healthy. And yet, have you ever noticed how for the most part we know what we need to do to take care of our health and wellness, but then when it comes down to doing it, it doesn’t really happen that way?
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ow there’s a profession of people who actually exist to partner with you in seeing your wellness goals through. They’re called Health Coaches. They work for you- seeing you for your greatest self, holding you accountable for the actions you take and don’t take, and holding your hand (figuratively) as you transform your life into the one you’ve always dreamt of.
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We all want to be healthy: eat the right foods, exercise enough and in the right way, get enough sleep, and manage our stress levels. We read articles, books, hire personal trainers, and keep up to date on the new scientific studies on the best way to ensure long, vital, and healthy lives. But there’s something very unsatisfying about that whole process: the information out there is so vast, expresses SO many different strategies to attain wellness, and quite frankly the information you find one day will conflict with the information
you find the next. You will find OPPOSITE recommendations for how to be healthy, and then you’re expected to do both…? How, exactly… does one do that, umm, ? A health coach works for YOU- not their own agenda, not their own viewpoints, and not for a publisher. They listen to you and only you about what really works for your body, your life, and your interests. They stand for you to be well and healthy through discovering what really works for your particular biology.
The truth is, not all bodies function the same way when it comes to food. Some people really thrive on a vegetarian diet, and some people really do experience needing meat to really feel nourished. Similarly, some people swear that giving up dairy was the best thing they ever did for their health, and some peoples’ bodies thrive with some dairy in them. No two bodies are the same, and reading an article intended for everyone, while it MAY contain information that will help you, isn’t guaranteed to offer you the individual, personal truth for what your body will thrive with.
A health coach is there to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as you have your own personal discoveries about what works best for you, what’s sustainable, and what behaviors are going to actually impact permanent, significant elevation of health and wellness for you. The coach will have some possible ideas to implement, suggestions to make, but they’re just suggestions to try on, and then evaluate if it worked for your body. Because you are the one who knows what works for your life or not, you are place to look for the answers- NOT a book or article (however helpful and informative they may be). As a health coach professional, it is my pleasure to support people in fulfilling
their health goals not just because they’ve always wanted to, and I know they’re more likely to live longer- but because of the difference being and living well makes in our experience of everyday life! Life is very different when we feel strong, alert, vital, rested, and ALIVE! From the way we wake up in the morning to the way we feel during that afternoon slump of the day, and even into the way we relax at night, transforming health and wellness drastically impacts the quality of our lives- making it more delicious, full, and satisfying. So that’s what I do. Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ejmiddlemeyer and my blog at http://ejmiddlemeyer.wordpress.com and email me for more information about my 6 month coaching program at ejmiddlemeyer@gmail.com.
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asketball has been a piece of Yolanda’s life from a very young age and continued to serve as a stepping stone to become a beacon of brilliance to her growing audiences. In her game of life it’s been tough quarters since tip-off. However, to those who have ever played sports, sweet victory feels better when you have to sweat a bit. After using basketball as a tool to success, Yolanda continues to leave it on the court every chance she gets… and that makes for a good game to watch.
Running the
Court with Yolanda Moore By - Amber Jones
The story of overcoming is typically a consistent theme from those with a strong message. It’s almost natural for us, as the criticizers we are, to require credibility of those we look to for motivation and inspiration. The sharing of the battlers of life’s crazy storms always provides the perfect combination of strife, survival, spirit, spur and success that we look to the most in our downtimes. The courage to be vulnerable and share with others generally provides great motivation to those needing it most.
When you dream to succeed then it’s hard to believe in the reality of failure. Determined to reach her goals, Yolanda used her positive reactions to tough situations to reach her destiny. Visions, goals, and hard work spirited Yolanda to the winner’s circle when many others would have given up. Remembering that the best way to tackle them is finding your sense of purpose and remember that you have work to do in this world, everyone. Yolanda’s accolades spark the ambition in everyone. Moore was inducted into the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference post player during her time as a Lady Rebel, and was first team All-SEC during her final two seasons as a Rebel. Upon leaving, Moore transitioned into the WNBA during their inaugural seasons with the Houston Comets. The Comets which she won two championships with during her time there. You Will Win if you don’t Quit is her latest book and it is serving as a great resource for inspiration to its readers. With Chapter titles such as, “ You Were Born With It”, “Speak It”, “Seeing is Believing”, and “Clarity is Key” this book intrigues you in as the ultimate source of motivation. In addition to all this, Yolanda continues to share her story with many others as a public speaker, providing moments of motivation to those needing it most. Yolanda was recently named the Head Coach at Southeastern Louisiana University after finishing an awesome year as the Head Coach at Louisiana State University -Eunice. We wish Yolanda the best of luck as she embarks upon this new journey. You can find out more about Ms. Moore at www.ymoore33.com
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BLANTON FITNESS
Roderick Blanton of Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Therrell High School where he participated in several sports. After graduating he attended Georgia State University where he no longer interacted participated in physical activities and in so many words he let himself go.
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iving the unhealthy lifestyle like most college students, Roderick started adapting to unhealthy eating and drinking habits, which caused an “infamous beer gut”. After college and entering corporate America where it was required to have an physical, Blanton knew that he was not in the best health after seeing his doctor. He was informed that he was at the border line of diabetes, his blood pressure was high and cholesterol level was high, Blanton response was “is this really a joke”. Roderick’s doctor recommended that he must make changes in his eating habits and start exercising. After he left his doctor visit he decided to join a gym, this was the road to get his health back. After several months of working out and being committed, he remembered the days when he attended high school and was active in sports, physically fit and healthy. The memories all came back for all he loved and missed. The moment Roderick’s appearance changed drastically people began to notice, this sparked his interest in wanting to become a personal trainer, so he did. Blanton wanted others to feel the joy and benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and achieving fitness goals. Roderick Blanton operates his business inside Eric’s Fit Lab located in Tucker, Georgia where he is nationally certified by NCCPT, AAAI and ISMA. He also runs a mobile boot camp at a low cost to help more people be able to afford a change.
Staying Fit with Regimes
Fitness Regimes varies with each individuals, two people may respond differently to the same training routine. Other factors that affect how clients respond to working out may include: genetic pre-disposition, gender, race, diet and sleep. There are also environmental factors such as heat, cold, and humidity. And most of all motivation and consistency. These are the essentials to maximize your training as possible.
Weight Training
Weight training can boost your health, make you lean and protect you from injury .With a good strength routine and proper nutrition, your energy levels will increase. Who doesn’t want a “toned” body?
To promote healthy living healthy living Roderick Blanton is part of the social network Facebook, Roderick VI Trainer Blanton. He also has a fitness bootcamp visit website www.buildyourbod.net As every person is different, Blanton believes there is a way for every goal to be met. Individual assessments are needed to meet them. Everyone is made different and everyone will lose differently. By Latoya Stegall-Collins E-mail ladyt144@yahoo.com
Nutrition Tips
Consisting of a healthy diet that contains chicken, fish, lean beef, and lots of proteins. You should include your fiber, fruits and vegetables! Plenty of water, for those who don’t care for water there are many sugar free mixes to help. .So, no excuse for not drinking plenty of H20.
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FitAndFashionable… to be or not to be?
Fitness has been all the rave for the last few years. Between the vegan movement and newest exercise classes, fitness is at the forefront of all things healthy right now. With summer right around the corner, everyone is trying to work off those last few pesky winter pounds, including myself. So of course, in true Fashion Wordsmith fashion my number one priority is ‘what to wear.’ Yes, I said what to wear is my priority here and don’t you dare judge me for it! LOL! The clothing has to be functional, comfortable AND fashionable. To me, the gym is like a fitness fashion show. Don’t get me wrong, I AM there for the benefit of my health but I might as well look good doing it! There are certain things that you have to take into account when choosing the perfect workout attire. Like the right sports bra or the proper shoes to wear. Do you want a one piece or do you dare to rock a two piece? Not to mention, with all of this in mind you still have to look presentable and it has to be practical for the specific activities that you are doing. Running will require different attire than yoga or a high impact class like kickboxing, you know what I mean?
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screen, this Golden Globe winner is endorsing Fabletics, which she co-founded. Fabletics is a lifestyle fitness line that includes: skincare, shoes, accessories and more! This line offers an interactive quiz on their site to assist you in choosing what is right for you. There are specific questions asked to tailor your active wear to your preference and what workout you choose. Get your customized active wear today at www.fabletics.com.
Body by Rosa Acosta is a perfect fit for the women who want to keep it sultry and sweat in style. The bright colors and form fitting pieces scream, “Look at me, I’m fit, sexy and FREE!” Created by a Dominican born, classical dancer and fitness model, this active wear will definitely turn heads. This Latin inspired line is
for the fiery fitness guru that lives in all of us! You can find Body by Rosa Acosta at www. cossamia.com . Another well known individual that has become an active part of the fitness scene is actress Kate Hudson. When she isn’t busy on the silver
Around since 1998, Athleta most recently opened a new store in Columbus, Ohio. This place is like active wear heaven. They offer everything from swimwear, clothing, FREE in store fitness classes and group activities. When you spend over $50.00 online, you get free shipping. The good thing is, you can try out anything from the store. If it doesn’t work for you, you can return it with no extra cost(s). Their motto is, Give-It-A-Workout Guarantee: If it doesn’t perform return it for FREE! Find a FREE fitness class at www.athleta. com As you can see, the days of sporting ugly, dingy colored, worn out soles, oversized t-shirts and holy sweatpants, workout attire are long gone. These days you can look great on the outside while in hot pursuit of the healthy lifestyle that we all wish to maintain. Until next time get fit and Stay Fashionable! ~The Fashion Wordsmith www.thefashionswordsmith.wordpress.com
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haron Grace –Palmer, 31, of Cypress,Tx is an Ex-Overseas pro basketball player. She played in Milan, Italy and Beijing, China for the FIBA team from 1999-2003. She is known as the Semi pro baller for Houston/ California (2003-2005). After her years playing professional basketball, Palmer life sparked more and more where she began to coach for AAU girls basketball team for 8 years. From there on she became a certified ISSA personal trainer. Sharon is also the owner of Athletics Unlimited, a small private personal sports and fitness training business. It all started for her to make sure that the AAU basketball team she coached were in the best shape as possible to perform on the court. After 4 years went by she decided to start training the moms of some of the players on how to lose weight and keep the weight off. “I already tested everything out myself she, said” . Now Athletics Unlimited trains kids of both genders from ages 13-19 and adults of all ages. The bulk of Athletics Unlimited clients are working or stay at home moms that are trying to lose weight and tone up. Palmer says that her company utilizes cross training and weight training to help their clients reach their goals. “Eating healthy is very important to me because, I advise them on eating healthier and smarter”. Each client is put through a fitness assessment at their initial workout and they will be reassessed again one or twice a month. The company has started a bootcamp called The Power Bootcamp which has a collaboration with Shaylon’s Urban Retreat to help the surrounding community get in shape. Everyone in the community is welcome to join!
Workout Regimes Fat Burning Workout 1
(each excercise is performed for 1min 3secs) *Plank - 1min * Side Plank - 1min on the Right and on the Left *Supermans - 1min *Push ups - 1min *Squat Pulses - 1min * Lateral leg lift(use wall) - 1min on the Right and on the Left *Hamstring Kick Backs(use wall) - 1min on the Right and on the Left *Switch kicks - 1min *Power Knee’s - 1min *Mountain climbers - 1min *Burpees - 1min *Pushup jacks - 1min * Low Plank Obliques - 1min
Workout 2
AB workout *Crunches (chin up) - 1min *Crunches Legs straight up - 1min * Crunches leg laid down - 1min * AB choppers - 1min *Leg lifts - 1min *Oblique Crunch - 1min on the Right and on the Left *Russian Twist - 1min Athletics Unlimited 19723 Crossfalls Lane Cypress,Texas 77433 Email athletics.unlimited.com Contact (832)434-0054 Story by Latoya Stegall Contact (662)456-6743
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TRANSPERANCY
As the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, felt for this issue I needed to really dive in and share my journey of fitness and become transparent. Here I go! Growing up my weight was never an issue. I was a dancer and athlete and I was constantly in motion because of it. The thing about activity and youth is that your metabolism is light-years faster than it is as you get older and become less active. While in college, I tore my ACL and was out of all physical activity for well over 6 months with injury, surgery and recovery. The worse part of that whole debacle was I became fearful. I was so scared of the pain that I had felt and all that I went through with that tear that I didn’t want to do much. Initially, I didn’t gain much weight because I was still walking around campus, but nothing faster than that. Lets fast forward a few years. I maintained my weight well post college until I found happy. I got into this relationship and I was cursed with happy :-). I just wanted to be with this man. And hunny we ate and we ate well. I was cooking, we were eating out, and I was just happy. Before I realized it I was somewhere I had never been and never thought I would be. Here lies the problem. I was still scary about my knee. So I would go with this man who did this to me (just kidding/ he
didn’t force me to eat) and try to workout. I would do good until I would feel that slight weakness in my knee and then I would quit. I was scared to death of re-injuring myself. I am still in that place. Once I feel the slightest pull or weakness I pull back! I no longer stop but I definitely pull back on the pressure which in many cases relates to energy/effort that I give. Well the time has come to stop the nonsense. I am documenting my journey to 30 with a transparency fitness blog on our site. It’s hard to properly promote a fitness issue when you are not at your best. I am striving for my best and I want to share that experience with everyone. I know myself, so I am not always going to have extremely positive or happy moments but I promise to be honest. I will present my first blog one week following the release of this issue. I will share inches and sizes. I have not decided if you all need to know my actual weight yet. That will be a major step for me because I never share my weight with people. For those of you joining our Fitness Challenge I will be participating and doing everything along with you. I will need you all as my motivation some days. Watch me werk, wurk & work! ;-) LeKeisha Nicole A M B I T I O N M AG . O RG
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