Black Women “DO” Workout!

No, not all black women let their hairstyle dictate their fitness.

As a matter of fact, you can find over 112,000 of these women at Black Women “DO” Workout! (BWDW) on Facebook. For these women, being physically fit and healthy is the new cool. These women know that the most immediate benefit of physical activity is that you feel better. And, of course, they know that once one commits to living a healthy lifestyle, the choice has been made and the path is chosen. You are now a warrior who has chosen to combat the horrific obesity statistics that is holding residents of the United States, especially black women, captive in unhealthy lifestyles.

According to the Office of Health Disparities (OHD), in 2007, black women had “the highest rates of being overweight and obese compared to other groups in the United States.” About 4 out of 5 black women are overweight or obese. Obesity increases the risk of many health related issues including: heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure (and all three mark the leading diseases for African-Americans). Obesity also increases the risks for stroke, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and some cancers, says the OHD. Through their daily example, members of BWDW are role models to each other, loved ones, and the world. Let’s meet some of the BWDW fitness enthusiasts.

[dropcap_1] M [/dropcap_1] eet Dr. Rochelle Parks-Yancy. “I love walking into the 4am or 12am empty gym. It’s like having my own workout palace”, she says. Rochelle works out six days a week, eats mostly clean, and drinks over 100 ounces of water daily. This 40 year old professor of management is also an author, wife, mother, avid reader, and a three-time fitness competitor. Parks-Yancy lives by the motto “NO EXCUSES”. This past May she placed second in the Figure category at the Musclemania Lone Star Competition (Galveston, TX) and third in the same category in the Gulf States San Antonio Classic (San Antonio, TX) in October of 2010. Her role models for keeping healthy? Two people from her own gym: a 72-year-old grandmother who exercises like she’s 35 and a wheelchair bound young man who consistently trains hard. “No Excuses!”

[dropcap_1] R [/dropcap_1] ebekah Thompson-Baker gets RIPPED by drinking up to 2 1/2 gallons of water a day, doing 40 minutes of jump-roping, interval runs , pushup, frog jumps, twisting side planks, cycle sit-ups and snatch, squat & overhead press – which number only a few of the things in her fitness regimen. About herself, she says “like most women I am many things ~ wife & mommy (of four) ~ but above all I am strong, loyal, forgiving & happy. I am so thankful for the incredible grace God has given me to bring me through it all ~ stronger, wiser and feeling fabulous!” With this attitude and fitness as her allies, 30-year-old Rebekah continues to be a role model to many on BWDW.

[dropcap_1] F [/dropcap_1] itness “isn’t hard” claims Tomeka Flowers. “Yes, you will have to make a few adjustments, but other than that, that is the secret. There are no quick fixes, there are no magic pills, and there are no supplements or shakes that can do it for you. You are it.” Admittedly, she loves Doritos, and there are times “I will act a fool and eat the entire bag.” However she stays true to herself and her healthy lifestyle. Tomeka’s weekly fitness regimen includes: 45-60 minutes of cardio, 5-7 days a week, resistance training 5 days a week, and plyometrics and conditioning 3 days a week. When training for fitness shows, she uses a nutrition coach to help her get her body fat down. Currently, her body fat is 9.0% but she expects it to be between 7.5- 8% for her next show.

Living by the motto “let the beauty you love be what you do”, Margaret Jackson- Brown teaches yoga, Pilates and cycle classes. Her weekly fitness regimen includes Pilates five days a week, lifting weights two times a week, and really just moving as often as she can. She loves to dance, loves to walk for miles, and enjoys weekly Saturday morning bicycle rides around beautiful Chicago. Her healthy meals includes the following staples – oatmeal (which she reminds us is good for you), sunflower seeds, broccoli, salmon, chicken, and green beans. Eating healthy is fun, and she makes it look so easy. She reminds us that “patience can’t be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it.”

[dropcap_1] B [/dropcap_1] lack Women “Do” Workout!, created by Crystal Adell, is her effort for promoting and championing Black women around the world who are determined to not be a part of disparaging statistical data regarding health and obesity. It is her personal attempt to work with a collective who are more than willing to inspire one another towards a healthy lifestyle. Ms. Adell believes that by showing praise and encouragement in the way of nurturing sisterhood, this will ultimately help keep others motivated in their own objectives. All forms of women are represented in the group –  PhDs, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, wives, women who have lost hundreds of pounds, women who have diabetes and no longer need to take medication, pregnant women, fitness competitors, business owners, and so many more. She encourages all to join her in spreading the message world-wide that Black Women “DO” Workout! by taking part in the celebratory acknowledgments of these incomparable ladies.

Check out this inspiring group on Facebook and Visit Black Women Do Workout
August is National Black Women “DO” Workout Awareness month!