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Thanks to President Obama,
healthcare has become more accessible, but there are still
many who only utilize health care on an emergency basis.
Just as with a car, regular maintenance is the key to a
healthy and longer life.
Mental health is an
important factor in preventing other illnesses. According to
the National Institute of Mental Health, stress can cause
physical symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness or
digestive problems. Prolonged stress can lead to frequent or
more serious illnesses such as the flu, viruses, heart
disease, high blood pressure and anxiety disorder.
Stress affects people in
different ways; when there is a lack of sleep, that can lead
to weight gain. Even 10 pounds can create major changes in a
person’s health. Over time the increased weight can
also cause back problems, knee and joint pain, and even more
serious illnesses such as thyroid disease, sleep apnea and
diabetes. To combat this, weight management is necessary.
Khaisha Alexander knows of
this experience. She recalls a time where life was so busy
that she missed meals because she didn’t have a regular
schedule, and also didn’t always eat a well balanced diet.
Being a mother, working and traveling to sporting events
with her kids, she often had time to only buy fast food. She
admits to always struggling with her weight by not knowing
what the right things were to eat and when to eat them.
As many mothers can
relate, sometimes dinner is at
five o'clock, nine
o’clock at night, and sometimes, not at all, because
there was only time to snack all afternoon between errands
and school events. Khaisha moved from Sandusky, Ohio to
Toledo and credits meeting boxing coaches, Roshawn Jones and
his father, of Soul City Boxing Gym who inspired her
transition to a new way of life.
One of the
biggest steps in starting a new diet is mental preparedness.
Khaisha stated that “Without self love,
I don't think you can make the change and keep it. We all
can start a diet for a deadline or event then after that we
go back to the old ways. But once you do it for you, and
adopt it as a lifestyle, the better choices you’ll make with
food. Beginning a new lifestyle and feeling better, you
begin to start taking good care of yourself. It boosts your
self esteem and gives you a positive outlook. A positive
mind can help create a positive life. That is something that
you don’t want to keep to yourself. You can share that with
others to encourage them to excel in their health journey.
I enjoy hearing people’s stories and helping them reach
their potential. I choose to be the positivity that I have
searched for.”
At her highest weight of
282 pounds, Khaisha drove to Toledo to watch her son
practice; he is an award-winning boxer. Sitting on the
sidelines, she was asked by the other children to join in
the practice. That was the day she made the decision to
change.
Being so heavy, and having
the odds stacked against her, there was doubt that she could
box for fitness and change her life. Yet being passionate
and driven, she strived to replace poor choices in food and
exercise with a fitness regimen and healthier food options
for herself and her family. She was challenged to prove the
naysayers wrong, even if it was the spirit of self-doubt.
Today, working out is as much a part of her life as
showering and dressing for each day.
Since self-love is so
powerful, and fitness of the mind, body and spirit are as
well, believing that she should lead by example, Khaisha’s
journey, has inspired others to inquire of her how they,
too, can change. After losing 142 pounds, she now talks with
people to find out what their needs are and has developed a
menu of services which she now provides.
These services include:
complete meal preparation, personal training, juicing and
its benefits, and the process of detoxing. As an It Works
distributor, Khaisha provides a variety of health and
dietary supplements in addition to her services.
Faith has also been
instrumental in her health and healing journey.
Understanding that as long as she lives, she is a work in
progress, faith helps to build up the weak areas and gives
her the strength to stay in the fight. She also recognizes
that her ability to help others succeed in living a
healthier life is as much a ministry as it is a business.
It’s her purpose.
Through faith, she has
seen God bring her through things that she otherwise would
not have been able to come out of. He has opened doors for
her to reach more people with her amazing testimony which
also compels her to continue. He has proven to be her
provider amidst unexpected circumstances.
Knowing that she can trust
God whom she loves, and knowing that He also loves her, it
encourages her. Khaisha states that “There is no greater
feeling in the world than to finally be able to love
yourself exactly where you are. That is how God’s love
works.”
Seeing Khaisha’s beautiful
head of natural hair, she feels that being natural makes her
feel free, bold and flawless even in her imperfections. She
knows that she is perfect in the eyes of God. While many
women avoid working out because they are concerned that they
will ruin their hairstyle, Khaisha offers this advice: 1.
Wash and Gos are great styles, but protective styles are
always in fashion; 2. Find products that work and stay with
them and a regular routine; 3. Avoid over manipulating the
hair to prevent frizzing and excessive shedding; and 4. Take
proper care at night by moisturizing the hair and covering
it to sleep.
When you start to care about your own mind, body and soul,
you begin to care for humanity. If you can change your mind
set to overcome the fact that you are a minority, you can
achieve optimal health. With self-love and being all that
you can possibly be, you can bridge the gap in our community
where disparities are.
Encouraging just one
person can fill holes in mental health and wellness too.
Maintaining a healthy weight, can help to prevent many
illnesses, heal some and improve others. Sometimes you can
start a new journey on your own, and sometimes you may need
a little help along the way. Some may even need help to stay
on the journey. Alexander is available mornings and
weekends to be that help, offering personal fitness and
coaching. She may be contacted at
(419)370-8506.
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