Author: Kenya Crooks

1

The Requirements to losing Weight. How to lose 20 lbs in one month.

Everybody wants to lose weight.  Everybody wants to look like a "Beyonce", a" Toni", a "Naomi",a "Jennifer Lopez", a "Serena" or a "Kim Kardashian".  For every "Want" there is a "Requirement". That's the key. The real question is, Are you willing to do what it takes to achieve their look?  Are you willing to take the time to fulfill your "Requirements"?  When somebody wants to workout with me they'll tell me their goals.  They'll say, "I hate my rolls can you take it away ?" I'll respond yes, then i will give them a check  list of "requirements" they have to adhere to.  Keep in mind, I've worked with some of these celebrities that  i've mentioned,  so i know what it takes to look like them.  When a person fulfills their "monthly requirements" they'll typically lose anywhere from 20-25 lbs a month(an average of 5-6 lbs a week).  When somebody falls short of their weekly goal i'll go down the checklist.  I'll say, "Did you get your miles in?"  No  "Did you take pictures of your meals for me?" No  "Did you do c, d, e, f, and g?" No.  Then i ask the question of  "How can expect to achieve your goals if you haven't fulfilled your requirements?"  You did 30% of what i asked, and you missed your weekly mark.  That same person will come back the next week and lose 7 lbs.   They did a, b, c, d, and they hit their mark!(What a revelation!!!???? smh).  The second phase of weight loss and looking "Kenyafied" is being consistent and staying focused.  I have a young lady right now who will lose 9 lbs in one week, then you won't see her the next.  You can't finish if you keep starting over!!!!!   You have to be focused.  You can't get sidetracked by life.  Things will happen, but everything goes back to those "requirements".  Whoever stays focused the longest wins.  My success stories are more about being consistent then anything else.  I'm glad GOD based my weight loss program  off "The Banking System."  That means you get out of it what you put into it.  You put in 50%, you'll get back 50%. You can't go to your checking account and take out ONE MILLION dollars if ONE MILLION Dollars isn't already there.  March is right around the corner.  Wouldn't it be nice to feel sexy again?  Wouldn't it be nice to introduce everybody to "The new You"?  Its my goal for every 30 or 40 something year old, that i train, to look better now, then they did when they were 25.   Again, it goes back to fulfilling  your "requirements".  Its time to find the "Brand New You".

0

Your are perfect. You just do imperfect things. Find out who you were meant to be.

I saw a post on a friend's page talking about how she wasn't "perfect."  I thought to myself, if we were created in the image of a perfect being (GOD) then how are we not perfect?  Then I thought about my favorite car.....The Bentley.  When you walk onto a Bentley car lot, you'll see a lot of Bentleys.  You'll see different colors, different models, but the emblem is always the same.  I was thinking to myself, this is the perfect car.  Now imagine if I bought one, drove it really fast, and wrecked it.  Regardless if I wrecked it, blew it up, got it stolen, or ran it over a bridge into the river........its still a Bentley.  When it makes the news, they still will report that Kenya Crooks wrecked a  Bentley.  The car is perfect.  You are perfect.  You are that Bentley.  The cool thing is, even if you wreck it, you can get it fixed, and its still a Bentley.  No marks.  No scars.  You are that Bentley.  Also, when I read the remark of "I'm not perfect" I was thinking, that mindset is a trap.  That mindset invites you into the land of  "Average."  It basically says, I'm going to mess up.  If  I mess up, "I'm only human."  Imagine your doctor telling you that on the first visit.   The devil wants to make you ordinary.  If  he can make you think your a  Datsun when you're actually a Bentley, then he's defeated you.  At this point you won't expect more, and you won't be more.   You'll sleep walk through life just doing your normal day job, watching countless amounts hours of "Reality Television" instead of searching for your gift.  Let me be clear.....the power is in the gift.  Proverbs 17:8 says," A gift works like magic, whoever uses it will prosper."  The Power is in the Purpose. Also Proverbs 18:16 says, "A gift does wonders; it will bring you before men of importance."  Connect to your perfection.  When you connect to your perfection, then you'll connect to your purpose/gift.  You have to "connect" and stay "connected."  You can walk up to a water fountain and press on that button all day....but if its out of SERVICE/OUT OF ORDER, it can't be used.  It looks like a water fountain.  It performs as a water fountain, but if its not connected its useless.  You don't want to be that water fountain.  You are perfect.  You just do imperfect things.  Remember that your current condition isn't your permanent position.  Become the person you were destined to be.

0

The hands of the Diligent........

At some point you have to understand...everyday you live is another day you die(hate to break it to you.)  Cool thing is, there's this thing called "free will" that can either speed up the process of death or slow it down.  Case in point, if i smoke crack everyday....i probably wouldn't live as long as somebody who didn't.  Its the same approach that i take with weight loss.  I always have a sense of urgency when it comes to weight.  I understand that there's a certain hour when you have a stroke.  I understand there's a certain time when you catch type 2 diabetes.  I understand there's a certain second when cancer starts.  That's why i'm always in a rush to get it off.  People will say, "Is it safe to lose weight that fast?" I'll respond, "The real question is....is it safe to be  that fat for that long?"   If i had to choose I think i'd stick with my way.  I'm a black and white type of person.  You can do more when your lighter and healthier versus when your knees, lower back, and ankles are killing you everyday of your life.  It would be horrible if i were tired all the time.  For the last couple months i've heard of  a lot of young people(under 40) dying from health related issues.  There's a term for that.  Its called "Preventable deaths".  America's persistent weight problem is now the country's leading cause of preventable death.  In other words, people who are dying......don't have to die.  Crazy huh?  You have men and women who know what they need to do, but are just to lazy to do it.  They'll have enough energy for the "Tom Joyner Cruise" but not enough energy to workout 4 hours a week.    Lazy is the perfect word.  The definition of lazy is Resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness.  I always go back and say, "How does GOD feel about lazy people?"  Proverbs tells us what's in store for the lazy: A lazy person becomes a servant (or debtor): “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (12:24); his future is bleak: “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing” (20:4); he may come to poverty: “The soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (13:4 KJV).  To show you how true this is...did you know that 1 percent of the richest people in America controls 42% of this country's wealth.(That light came on didn't it?)  Even Newton's law applies to this theory of  WORK.   Newton’s first law of motion states that an object in motion tends to remain in motion, and an object at rest tends to remain at rest.” The point that i'm trying to drive home is this...you determine your future by what you do, but most importantly, the things you don't do.  Stop being lazy.  If GOD put it in your heart to do something, then you have to do it.  Stop thinking you have all day to "do something".  There were a lot of people who went to bed last night, planning for the weekend, but died and didn't make it to see "this weekend".  Think about it.   Let's get it.

0

My "Run Bitch Run" Story of the day. Smh

Strange thing happened to me today while i was in Piedmont Park at 6:30 am this morning. It was still dark and I was meeting with my newest One on One when i decided to have her run up 10th street.  As she was running, this homeless woman, who was laying on her blanket, screamed, "Run Bitch Run!"  Anybody who knows me, knows i'm a little off at times.  I felt myself getting bothered, so i looked over and said,"Seriously.....Is that REALLY necessary?" Then i walked off.  An hour later after we had worked out, the sun had exposed the day.  It also exposed everything else up under it.  Remember the lady who said, "Run Bitch Run?" What the sun also exposed was that she had a little boy under that blanket.  He was about  7 or 9 years old.  As i was walking my newest "success story" down the hill, GOD got on me.  He said give her something.  I didn't want to.  I said to GOD, inside myself, "Why I'm i going to give her something when she was acting really ignorant?"  He said, "Sometimes you have to teach people through love and understanding."(Sometimes i'm not loving or understanding especially when you call my people a "Bitch")  So i became obedient.  I walked back up the hill, and said,"I have something for you....I want to show you how you almost talked yourself out of your blessing."  I gave her a $100 bill and she cried.  I walked away as she was sobbing. I was faithful, and she was blessed,  but the only thing i wanted from this experience was this..... I needed her to think within herself..."How many other blessings have i pushed away just because i was being nasty?"  Point of the story....You honestly have people who want to bless you, but sometimes your mouth and attitude can kill your blessings.

1

Why GOD wants you to lose weight.

A lot of people don't realize the importance of Weight loss.  People think its about looking good, feeling good, and becoming a better you.  Its part of it, but not the most important.  Let me explain.  I've been helping people all over the world lose weight for the past 12 years and i've found that weight loss has been nothing more then a "Test" for most.  How can you conquer others......if you can't conquer yourself.  When i ask GOD for something i know i'm going to have to sacrifice something. It might be bad habits.  Could be the company that i keep.  It could be something that i invest a lot of time in, that distracts me from him.  What greater thing can you give up then "self"?  Being obese happened when you started putting food in the place where GOD was supposed to be.  You tried to fill those voids with Ben and Jerry, Orville Reddenbacher, and Mr. Sanders(KFC).  The devil would use people to make you mad, and instead of praying it away, you turned to your favorite "comfort food"(comfort food makes you uncomfortable when you try to get into those jeans).  The things that you hold most important(which are the things you run to when you're at your lowest) are the things you'll have to sacrifice to lose this weight.  Losing weight unlocks your blessings.  This is your test.  GOD wants to trust you, but you have to prove that you can handle the small stuff(your weight) before he can trust you with the larger stuff(your ultimate blessing).  Lose this weight so you unlock everything your supposed to have.  Stop blessing blocking yourself.  That's your challenge of the day.

1

How to use your Hater to make you Greater.

If you're going to be successful you can't fight every battle. Sun Tsu(Art of War) says "for to win 100 victories in 100 battles is not the acme of skill.  To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."   The bigger you become, the more people will hate.  They will criticize you for your stuff, but here's the kicker, they DON'T EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN STUFF.  Let me show you how to handle "Haters".  It starts at this verse right here.   Therefore submit to GOD.  Resist the devil  and he will flee from you(James 4:7).  When you submit to GOD, then you become less "Fleshy"(you don't cuss people out or do things that will satisfy YOURSELF for the moment) you start loving people.  Remember the term "Kill them with kindness"?  How many times have you been nice to your "haters" and they ended up staying away from you.  I do that all the time.  I'll walk up to you and hug you like you were my long lost brother, knowing all the time, your hoping i fail.  They'll  probably will throw a party if i do.  You have to use those people as your motivation.  I'm successful because of the GOD first.  I'm also successful because of the people who told me "No".  I'm successful because of the people who didn't think i would amount to anything once my football career was over.  I'm successful because of the women who left me.  I'm successful because of the women i left.  Either adversity will do one of two things....1.) it will destroy and kill you or 2) it will drive you.  You can't put out every fire, address every rumor, and defend every decision you've ever made in your life.  You have to remember your "Purpose driven".  Always remember, you can't run fast, forward, if your always looking backwards.  It'll slow you down.

1

Throw away your "Expired Milk."

I believe in divine appointments.  I've met a lot of  important people at certain times of my life that absolutely changed my life. I would've never met those people had a carried around "Expired milk".  Let me explain "Expired milk".  Expired milk are people/situations that have ran past their due date.  It could be your 30 something year old,  dramatic  friends from high school you've outgrown.  It could be that "cheater" in your relationship that continues to let you down.  It could be that rape that happened to you 20 years ago.  It was cool to drink it  between  Jan 1- Jan 24, but its April and you still have it in your fridge.  Its almost like wearing a fur coat during the summer time.   If you try to drink expired milk, it'll will make you sick.   You know they should've been gone, but for one reason, you let it linger like the odor of "expired milk".  You need to understand this.  Those people are put there to distract you.  They know they won't be around forever, but they're meant to distract you for that MOMENT.  All is takes is a few minutes of confusion for you to miss your blessing.     My question is this.....What if your blessing had a certain time on it?  Let's say you had an appointment with your blessing at 2 p.m. today.   Matter of  fact let's say it was a person who wanted to give you $1 million(but you didn't know it)?   If  I'm the "expired milk" i'm going to keep stuff going long enough for you to miss it.  I'll start arguing with you at 1:55 pm and won't stop until 2:05 pm.  By then your blessing has shown up, waited for you, then left, thinking that you "really didn't want it."  My question to you today is this.....when will you throw out YOUR expired milk?  It's time for you to get "Your stuff." Sometimes you have to throw away old stuff....to make room for new stuff.  Let's get it.

0

Don't confuse present condition with Permanent Position

I'm a firm believer that you have to teach people how to treat you.  However, it doesn't work if you don't know how to treat yourself.  I've alway had what i've deemed "The Denzel Washington/President Barack Obama" Syndrome.  That level, RIGHT THERE, is where i'm going to be.   Don't just treat me like anybody....treat me like i'm important?  I can't tell you how many times i've said, "You wouldn't have been late for Michael Jordan.  You wouldn't have been late for the President."  The thing is....I know my value.  I know my PERMANENT POSITION.  You can't tell me any different.  If a person can't treat me with THAT level of respect, then we can't be cool.  If you hang around people who see you as a level 5, and you see yourself as a level 10, after a while you're going to compromise your level to a level  7 (if you're  lucky.)  If you have people around you that don't treat you like "royalty" then you'll view  yourself as a "peasant".  When you do that, 9 times out of 10 you'll stop dreaming.  When you stop dreaming, you might as well just die!!!!!!!  What is a life without dreams and aspirations?   I'll answer that for you..... Pointless!  I'll share a story about present condition vs. permanent position.   Even before I got to know Rodney Perry(Co-host of the Mo'Nique Show and Star of Tyler Perry's Madea, One happy family) I was watching the Mo'Nique Show with a friend of mine.  She was like, "I don't know why he's on the show.  He's not funny to me." Meanwhile,  I was rolling because he was killing me.  I told her, "Dude is funny....I'd pay to go see dude."  She was like "Whatever".  Keep in mind, when the Mo'Nique show first came on, Rodney didn't get much TV time.  He just had a couple minutes to do whatever and that was it.  The thing was....he made those few minutes count.  Let's fast forward to his Permanent Position of the  story.  Rodney went from a few minutes to being on the whole hour.  He went from being a comedian of comedy shows  to now "Headlining" and selling out comedy clubs across America.  This week he'll have the number one movie in America. Had he dealt with people like "my friend" he probably would've given up on his dreams of being a star. He surrounds himself with people who see him as "level 10".   Now, she'll be spending $10 to see a dude she didn't think was "All that funny." Smh.  Never lose sight of who you are, and  most importantly whose you are.  Don't confuse your present condition for your permanent position.

0

The "World's Greatest" Thought of the Day

Today's "World's Greatest Challenge" is to never be satisfied.  We have to do more.  GOD can't get the glory from our lives if we're just doing "Ordinary" things. You have to do the spectacular.   Invite change into your life today.  Evolution is a great thing.  I challenge you to make yourself uncomfortable today.  That "great idea" has to come out today.  Do you know how many great ideas are lying in the graveyard right now?  You can't take them(ideas and dreams) with you.  Let's get it.

1

How to Focus and Finish

Faith and Fear can't live in the same place.  You can't walk forward if somebody is always pulling you from side.  When you decide to do something great, always remember there will be some resistence. Its not always the devil.....sometimes its GOD.  Everytime I ask GOD for something, he let's me know that I'm going to have to sacrifice something.  If you look at every great bible story, it involved sacrifice. Whether you're talking about Abraham and Isaac or Even Jesus and God, a sacrifice had to be made.  For weight loss its no different.  You have to sacrifice certain things, certain foods, certain habits, and even certain people in your life  to be successful. You have 2 different kinds of people(I'm a black and white person), The Blessers and The Blessing Blockers.  The Blessers are the "gate keepers" of your life.  They hold it down even when your falling apart.  They have this ability to make you realize "Its not that bad or We've been through worse".  Those are the type of people you need in your life if your going to win.  The Blessing Blockers comes in 2 forms.  You have the "Haters" then you have the one's who don't realize there being used(by the enemy/devil).  Those are the worst ones.  They don't realize they're hindering you.  You have to be able to distinguish between the two.  The first question you should ask is......."Who sent you?"  If  that person adds to your life,  then they were sent from GOD.  If they suck the life out of you.  If they drain you.   If they make you hate coming home.  If their mess bleeds into your mess.....tell'em to go back to hell.  Focusing and Finishing is about choices.  You choose your friends, and you choose your vices.  You have to make yourself uncomfortable if your going to win.  Stop doing the same things that hasn't worked for you all these years(that also includes people).  The definition of Insanity is "doing the same things and expecting a different result."  Pressure creates change.....Pressure can change a coal into a diamond, but on the flipside, pressure can bust pipes.  It goes back to choices.  Focusing and Finishing is a choice.  When I'm locked in, i don't care whats going on around me, the only thing that matters is my mission.  Your mission is to lose weight and become the person GOD needs you to be.  Unless you're a prostitute, you can't serve on your back.  Let's get what your supposed to have.  Think about it....if the enemy is fighting so hard to prevent you from having, the least you can do is find out what he's trying to prevent you from having.  Its that serious.  That's how you focus.  That's how you finish.