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The Glow Up Defined:
Colloquially, The Glow Up, can be defined as a positive and sometimes quite noticeable transformation in a person. Sometimes, after one goes through a glow up, you might not even recognize them at all. This may be in actions or physical qualities. I like the use of the word glow because a glow comes from within. A glow is always attractive and draws people towards you like moths to a light bulb.
The King Gina Glow Up:
As my birthday is at the end of May, I have 8 weeks to acquire that "glow"... that warm light that one can't really put their finger on. My glow up is extremely personal and needs a lot of introspection because I believe that the work should be done from the inside out. Change your habits and change your life.
My glow up is divided into 5 different categories:
1. Health
I am working on taking better care of my body and consciously eating better. For the past year, I have been susceptible to flu, headaches and tummy aches. When my health is poor, I become sluggish and lazy. I do not operate at my optimal level and my mood alters from indifferent to just stressed. That could all be a result of a weakened immune system, stress and poor diet. I am not a take-out person but I know that I do not eat enough fruits, veggies and whole foods. I need to also start taking vitamin supplements so that I can build a stronger immune system.
My ultimate goal is to have a flu-free winter and to feel overall healthier. This will definitely show on the outside. As I up my intake of good food and water, I will then start seeing the results from clear and glowing skin. Glow Up.
The top 10 foods and drinks I am adding for my health glow up are:
- MORE water
- No cold drinks
- 100% fruit juices and Green Tea
- A fruit a day (I know I will not be able to eat a fruit salad everyday due to my schedule but I can surely buy a bunch of fruits and include one as a snack everyday)
- More veggies (When cooking lunch and supper, I will ensure I add more veggies and explore different ones and serving methods. I have already started snacking on carrots at work)
- More protein [I am naturally slim and I would love to gain some more weight in the right places. This requires me to up my protein intake and tone the gains at the gym. (So I will eat more nuts, legumes, lean meat, whey protein and eggs)]
- Less Maize meal pap and more Sorghum pap (I am a Motswana woman; Batswana people eat a lot of sorghum pap which is very good for you as it is quite grainy. Maize meal pap is high in carbs and can easily have your tummy looking bloated.)
- A multi-vitamin pill a day will keep the doctor away and also a supplement smoothie made from either Ensure meal replacement or Future Life.
- More wheat, grains and fiber rich foods.
- Chocolate stays (I am not a person who constantly gets the edge for junk food. I got over that phase but once in a while I will binge through a slab of Lindt chocolate. That stays!!!)
2. Spiritual
Spirituality is very important to me. I am Christian and believe in having a personal relationship with God. Which is what I have already. I never used to pray everyday but I have now adopted a prayerful lifestyle by praying every morning in the shower. Starting my day with intention and speaking to God helps me have a better day.
Personally spirituality is also about being in touch with one's self and being able to relate to yourself and others way past the barriers of the ego. Spirituality is a journey that one walks alone everyday. A peaceful mind is important and engaging in activities and entertaining thoughts that promote such a state are important.
Beginning of the year I started attending yoga classes to stay fit but once I started with the sessions, I felt great after leaving the class, I felt like it was an exercise for my soul. The 90 min got me to connect with myself and work with my mind to push my body further with every position. Yoga has also helped me be more in-tune with my body and myself. The class is so quiet so I literally spend the 90 min listening to my inner voice and working through any emotions and tensions of the day.
My glow up soul food and activities include but are not limited to: Watching more Iyanla videos, doing the work daily (self-introspection and reflection), being aware of my thoughts, words and feelings, including meditation to my daily habits, doing more yoga.
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My physical glow up has been getting lost in the mail for the past 3 years. This time, with getting older and my metabolism inevitably slowing down, I need to keep fit through different activities and achieve my body goals.
My glow up goals are about enhancing what I already have, building and toning up.
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Glow up body goals consist of:
- Thicker, defined and toned legs
- Bigger Buns
- Flatter tummy
- Tinier waist
These goals need me to put in more work at the gym, include Pilates to my yoga sessions, weight and strength training.
My diet plays a big part in accomplishing my physical glow up, hence the shopping list above.
4. Relationships
My glow up begins with loving and romancing myself first. As the saying goes, if you don't love yourself, you will keep chasing people who don't love you either.
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Self love for me includes a lot of self-care and self awareness. So I have already started practicing all of that already. Self love is about putting yourself first and going the extra mile for yourself. It is about self appreciation, spending time getting to know yourself and making decision that reflect self interest and preservation.
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I am a very sociable person and genuinely love getting to know people. This is a good and bad thing as I end up with too many relationships to cultivate and neglected.
My glow up includes nurturing the relationships that I have with family and friends and making more time for them and being present when with them.
5. Finance and Personal Development
I am a very ambitious person and intend on creating and building my own wealth before the age of 40. I also want that by the time that I am 30, I have acquired assets that work for me and are assisting me achieve the goals that I have set out for the rest of my years.
I am also quite an academic person, I once swore that I would not spend a year without learning anything. I have kept that going all this time but I broke my pact for a year only. I am however back on the saddle. I thought by 30 I would have my PhD but time is not really on my side. My goal is now to have at least started with my PhD by the age of 30.
Apart from wealth creation and academia, I believe in self development through sharpening one's skills, acquiring more knowledge about different disciplines, engaging in sports and habits that assist in forming ones strategic mindset. Sports and hobbies I will really focus on this year are golf and chess. I have been threatening to learn both for a few years now, it is about time I do it.
Personal Development and Wealth Creation Activities include but are not limited to:
Personal Development and Wealth Creation Activities include but are not limited to:
- Attend more networking events
- Build my profile in my industry
- Polish my personal brand
- Have a social media strategy for myself
- Optimize and utilize the networks that I have effectively
- Read and read more than I already do (Read books that empower me more)
- Continue doing short courses on different disciplines when taking breaks in between degrees
- Improve my financial literacy
- Save more money than I already am
- Start taking all of my business ideas seriously and pursue them with enthusiasm this time around
What I know for sure:
I know that things happen and that I won't always be able to stick to my glow up guide everyday. And when that happens, I will show myself grace and keep it moving. In the perfect I would wake up and be this militant from day one and to be honest, I will give it my best and check in every week on the blog regarding my progress and how I am feeling. I deserve to be the best version of myself... for myself.
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Behold, I'm doing a new thing. Old habits will be replaced with new ones. This in itself, will give results that I did not expect. Einstein did say that insanity is doing the same thing all over again and expecting a different result. I am done acting crazy!!!
This is for me, this is for life. Join me on my glow up journey.
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