Healthy Living with Jilisa Ghareeb: You Deserve Success

Happy November! I told myself I was not going to type it, but I just cannot help myself. You guys I cannot believe it is November! Where did October go? Ok, I feel better. Did you know I was going to type that. I say it every month because it is a legitimate question every month!

I have been thinking lately about success and failure. What happens when you are successful and what happens when you fail. For most people success breeds success. And for some failure breeds success. For others failure is doomsday and stops you in your tracks. But did you know that for some success does the same thing. I know, that sounds completely crazy. How can being successful be such a roadblock for people. Really it is the same as failure. People are afraid of it. On both ends of the spectrum, people are afraid of what others may think. Let’s backtrack and talk about how you achieve success. We do not need to talk so much about how we fail, since we pretty much all know how that happens.

Achieve Success

How do you achieve success? Honestly, I cannot tell you that because success is different for everyone (wouldn’t it have been impressive if I could give you step by step instructions). What I can tell you is how you start. First, you need to work smart and hard. How do you do that? You just need to start. How do you start? You take one small step, right from where you are. You write one word of the novel, you do one rep of the workout, you start the water for the dishes (yes, some days doing the dishes is a success). Then you reach out to the people who have already taken that first step and ask them what to do next.

Most people are not going to be successful on their own. I have tried and it has not always worked. I have discovered that you increase your chances if you are around people who have succeeded in that field. You are going to learn from them, from their failures and triumphs. You will obviously learn from your failures and victories. At the same time, you also need to learn how to not let your steps forward and back be roadblocks. You must learn (and it takes time) that your why for succeeding is more important than what the naysayers think.

What happens when you lose a pound or make a dollar? You want to lose another pound or make another dollar, right? So, you repeat that action that got you there in hopes that you lost another pound or make another dollar. When you gain a pound or lose a dollar, you do not want to repeat the actions that got you there. You learn what not to do and you use your failure to just keep going because you do not necessarily want to fail again. You want to use your failure to drive you to succeed. Now I know that is easier said than done. I have been in the position where I gained that pound, and it spiraled out of control. My thoughts turned to “well you already gained a pound so what’s the big deal to eat a cookie and then another and maybe a another”, or “have the extra serving even though you are already full”. And there are times when it was worse…”I’m never going to get to where I want to be so I’m just going to give up”, “I will never look like her so why try”, “I will never have enough money to go on vacation so why save”. What we need to learn to do is flip the script and stop saying those things and instead say things like this cookie is not going to derail everything so I will enjoy it. I will make my next bite an even healthier choice. Instead of thinking that there will never be enough for the vacation I will commit to purchasing one less treat every week and put the money in my vacation fund.

Work Hard Smart

It is all hard work, but you have to decide what you want your hard to be.  Working extra hours just to spend the money on more designer coffees and lunches out is not working hard smart. Working hard smart is working the extra hours and giving up one or two of the coffees per week so you can save the money for vacation. By the way working hard smart is not a typo it is my newly created phrase. Of course, it is not patented, so you can use it if you want (just give me some credit). Working hard smart is not just thinking about what you can do but using your failures and successes to just keep going.

Does any of this make any sense? Sometimes I feel like what I want to say and what I type are two different things. There are no instructions or step by step directions. There is just try, try, try, succeed, try, fail, try again. There are small things that you do every day that lead to big things. There is surrounding yourself with people who are real with you, people who are ahead of you on the path and even people who are behind you so you can teach them. Try these small things right now to get moving:

1. Take a deep breath and say: I believe in me. I will succeed.
2. Take a literal step forward, reach out your hand and do the action
3. Close your eyes, take another deep breath, and say aloud your why.

This may sound corny, but it only is if you let it be. Do not stand still anymore. Write your why down, then plaster it everywhere. You need to read it every day, you need to say it every day. It needs to be louder in your life than everything else because you are deserving of success. Remember that even small actions lead to great success. Speaking of small actions, let’s take a look at the recipe and move of the month.

Recipe of the Month: Pineapple Salsa and Chicken Rice Bowl

This dish is so tasty and while it seems complicated it is actually pretty simple to make. Please note you need to marinate your chicken. I suggest preparing the day before and let it sit overnight.

1.5 lbs chicken breast
1 tbsp plain yogurt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp honey
Salt & pepper (to taste)
Grilled pineapple
Sautéed green pepper
Red pepper
1/4 red onion
2-3 tbsp pickled jalapeño

Jasmine Rice

Cube your chicken (you will be skewering so do not make it too small). Mix the yogurt, paprika, garlic powder, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper.  Add in the chicken and toss to coat. Seal in a bag or container to marinate for at least 1 hour. I like to prepare mine the day before, so I let it marinate overnight.

When you are ready to cook. Cook your rice according to package directions. Get your grill going. Dice up your green and red pepper and your onion, toss it in a pan to sauté it. While that is going throw your pineapple rings on the grill and let them char. Once charred, dice small and mix with peppers and onions and the pickled jalapeno. That is it for the salsa.

While the pineapple is on the grill, start skewering your chicken. Once ready, get that on the grill and get it cooking.

To serve: scoop some rice into the bowl, top with chicken and salsa. I also like to add a spicy mayo and avocado. Enjoy!

Now let’s get moving with the…

Move of the Month: Squats

I have highlighted squats before but there is no way I cannot highlight them this month. I am doing a 30 day challenge in the month of November to raise money for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I am doing 3000 squats in 30 days! Yes, you read that right. It breaks down to 100 squats a day. It sounds a bit crazy but so far so good. Squats are known to be the booty building move, but really, they work almost every muscle in your lower body. Remember that you are squatting not bending at the waist. As you are lowering into position, keep your chest up and make sure that you are pressing through your heels and not your toes. When you stand up, do not forget to give a quick squeeze of your glutes before you lower back down. Do as many squats as you can!!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. Starting and navigating a new journey can be intimidating and overwhelming. Working with someone who has been in your shoes is extremely helpful and encouraging. Journeys are better when in the company of others.

Jilisa Ghareeb has been a Beachbody coach for 6 years.  Her favorite part of being involved with fitness and nutrition is watching her clients change and open up a whole new world.  As a coach, she is able to help others by introducing them to a change that is often scary, intimidating, and full of “what ifs” to an encouraging and inspirational lifestyle full of “I cans”. She uses her own story to show others that everything is possible with hard work and determination.  If you’re interested in reaching out to Jilisa for more information you can contact her via email, on Instagram, or Facebook.