As a new mama, finding time to work out seemed like a losing battle. Trying to coordinate a good time and place was an exhausting task that always resulted in me doing absolutely nothing. I needed something convenient, challenging and exciting to keep me focused. Enter Peloton.
With a little convincing, I sold my husband on investing in the purchase. In exchange, I promised myself that I would consistently use the Peloton bike and app for 30 days. Turns out, it was worth every red cent.
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I immediately bought into the energy of the instructors. Each of them has their own flavor mixed with the same encouraging message of discipline and perseverance. I finished one class excited about the next opportunity to hop back on my bike. Even from the comfort of my home, I felt a part of a community – a special club of overachievers who worked daily towards becoming better.
"Come on baby! Let discipline carry you when motivation won't!"
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These were cornerstone words from my instructor Alex as I jammed out in a 30-minute Hip Hop Spin class. Through my breathlessness, I found the wherewithal to type his words in my phone as a steady reminder when I wanted to skip a workout. I've had Peloton Church about 76 times since then. Nearly each time, I've thought of Alex screaming that phrase as I put on my shoes to take a ride.
Thankfully, Peloton has a way of enticing me to come back time after time. There's something about the fire playlists and the way each class burns so good that keeps me engaged. Users around the world send virtual high-fives across my screen to acknowledge milestones as the leaderboard encourages me to beat my personal record.
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Metrics calculate everything from distance to heart rate, giving me the stats I need to feel like a superstar. Badges acknowledge my accomplishments, giving me reminders to be proud of my progress while the calendar of active days encourages me not to break my streak.
On days when I'd like a change in pace, I head over to the Peloton app for strength, cardio or guided outdoor audio classes. Filters help me pick workouts according to length so I can squeeze in 15 minutes on days when being mama makes it tough to carve out more time. Turns out, even small spurts of effort add up.
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At the end of my first 30 days, I had 26 active days and dropped nearly 10 pounds. Yet these perks aren't the tip of the iceberg.
What no one tells you when you purchase your bike is that you'll gain access to thousands of black women who will motivate, inspire, and cheer for you daily.
Luckily for me, my cousin saw my post about getting a Peloton bike. She immediately messaged me an invite to join Black Girl Magic Peloton Edition on Facebook (affectionately called BGM for short). Joining has literally changed my life.
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Black women from all walks of life are there with daily inspo that motivates me to step it up. The group includes #BGM challenges, a mentorship program, and dialogue among like-minded women. We follow each other on Peloton taking classes together as a sign of solidarity, celebration, or praise depending on the occasion.
Pre-COVID-19, BGM members participated in meet ups and travel groups to places all around the world. Doctors, lawyers, financial advisors and stay-at-home moms have a space of solitude – somewhere we go for that extra push to keep going both on and off the bike.
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Each time I enter the group, I imagine the roar of cheers from my team. The energy is magnetic and powerful. In fact, BGM is more than a group, it is a sisterhood.
Every black woman who has the Peloton App, Bike, or Tread should get in on this serendipitous treat.
It's worth it.
If you are thinking about purchasing a Peloton, get $100 off your accessories on us by clicking here.
Featured image by Kandice Guice
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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What Is a Praise Kink?
The concept of praise kinks isn't new, but thanks to TikTok, a lot of people are now realizing they might identify as praise kinksters. Currently, the hashtag #praisek1nk is trending with 568.9 million views, with tons of creators posting about their love for compliments and words of affirmation during sex. I, too, love a good compliment during sex. I once had a lover sing my praises about how good I was at a certain bedroom activity. His affirmations gave me WAP, but does that categorize me as having a praise kink?
How To Know if You Have a Praise Kink
Just because you love receiving praise doesn’t mean you have a praise kink. Someone with a praise kink experiences an intense level of sexual excitement from being praised or verbally affirmed by their partner during sex. You might have a praise kink if hearing your partner tell you how pretty you are makes you cum or if the thing that makes sex go from good to great is hearing your partner's thoughts about how good you are at giving head. And if, during solo play, the thing that gets you all hot and bothered is recalling the times your partner called you a good girl, it’s probably a praise kink.
Generally, a kink is a sexual activity that is needed for someone to enjoy sex. When it comes specifically to praise kinks, if you need reassurance from your partner that you're sexy, or good in bed in order to orgasm, you have a praise kink.
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Examples of Praise Kink Phrases To Try With Your Partner
If you’re new to the term and looking to explore, you probably have questions about what phrases to use. It may take a lot of communication and some trial and error to figure out what phrases work best for you and your partner. Ultimately, the best phrases to use vary from person to person and are based on what sex acts you and your partner enjoy, or what parts of their body they like complimented.
To get you started, here are some generic praise kink examples to try out with your partner:
Praise Kink Examples:
- You're such a good girl/boy.
- You're so good at [insert skill].
- You look so hot when you [insert activity].
- Your [insert body part] is irresistible.
- You taste so good. I can't get enough of you.
- You just have the perfect [body part].
- Just like that… you’re doing so good.
- Who taught you how to be so good at [something?]
While many examples of praise kink involve specific verbal affirmations, praise can also come in the form of brief words or phrases like “yes,” “keep going,” or simply a moan. No matter what type you prefer, praise kink is all about finding what feels good and exciting, and turns you and your partner on the most.
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Originally published on November 4, 2022