Every Friday I am going to feature a woman that I adore. They exude all the qualities of an Alpha Female and I want to dig into their lives to get some nuggets of knowledge to help us all live happier, healthier lives balancing life & work.
Definition of an Alpha Female
An Alpha Female is a powerful and assertive woman. Her confidence is due to being an intelligent and intellectual problem-solver. Being an Alpha Female is a State of Mind based on choosing ambition and being proud of it. She strives for a happy and healthy work/life harmony.
She is the brightest star in her constellation. When an Alpha Female stays true to their authentic selves and their missions they shine. An Alpha Female puts herself first because she deserves self-care and love. She knows that work/life harmony is found by staying true to your priorities and what makes you happy. She is never complacent about striving for better and nurtures relationships with all the people in her life.
Meet Nagina Abdullah!
Nagina Abdullah is a management consultant, mom and is the founder of MasalaBody.com which helps ambitious women take control of their health and weight. She created Spice Yourself Skinny, an 8-week program in which women describe their weight loss as “effortless.” She has been featured in Business Insider, Huffington Post and on Fox News for her weight-loss expertise.
Nagina shares the “Sweet Spice Cheat Sheet” with the spice that is is in your kitchen cabinet! It helps to lower blood sugar and curb sugar cravings. The cheat sheet includes:
- 3 health benefits of using this spice
- 5 ways to use it in your day
- An easy recipe using this spice
Plus the bonus recipe ebook with 7 spicy recipes to spice off your first 7 lbs.!
http://masalabody.com/AlphaFemale
What do you think of the definition and how are you an Alpha Female?
I’m an Alpha Female because I pride myself in being the most physically fit and mentally confident version of myself that I can fit into my life. While there’s a common stereotype that once you become a mom you lose yourself for your kids, I’ve rebelled against that. As a result, II feel like I’m being the healthiest version of myself, and it has been so much easier to teach my kids how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
What does work/life harmony look like for you?
I like to feel like I’m indulging in myself even when I’m working or not working. For example, I love to add a sprinkle of cinnamon to my coffee in the morning, which gives it natural sweetness, and helps me lower my blood sugar. It tastes delicious and makes me feel so good.
When I’m not working, I always feel aware of my body and how the food I’m eating and activities I’m doing are making me feel. Sometimes I just want to stop eating because I will feel better, or get up and move because it gives me more energy. Having this awareness makes my days so much happier – I’m living in my own body and it feels amazing to treat it well.
Share with us a time when work/life balance was out of whack? What was your aha moment that taught you it was ok to take care of yourself first?
When I was working in my corporate job, I would have 5-6 people instant messaging me about seeming work “fire drills” almost all the time. I realized I didn’t want to feel such high pressure and stress, and it wasn’t fun for me. It’s one of the feelings that led me to stay focused in creating my own business helping busy women lose weight.
What are you most passionate about?
My whole life, I struggled to be fit and to be at the weight where I am happy. Part of the reason it was so hard for me was because I love food and I couldn’t exist eating boring, tiny portion of food. I finally found a method that worked for me, and I lost 40 lbs. In 9 months – and it felt effortless. I’m extremely passionate about weight-loss, and helping other women achieve the body they want without feeling deprived.
How do you nourish yourself?
I use natural spices and whole, unprocessed foods. The spices taste amazing and have so many amazing health benefits.
- I love to add a sprinkle of cinnamon, which lowers blood sugar to my coffee or smoothie in the morning
- I add a sprinkle of turmeric, which is anti-inflammatory, to my eggs
- I also love adding cumin, which helps to cut belly fat, on my meat/fish or vegetables along with salt and fresh cracked black pepper
What is your weekly fitness routine like?
I eat delicious, filling foods throughout the day and go to the gym 3x a week. I focus on strength training / lifting with some cardio, and I have a personal trainer so that going to the gym is part of a system, and is not emotional.
What are your daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress?
I like to get in bed 20 minutes before I’m going to bed, and I like to sleep early so that I can wake up early and be productive. I love having a cup of Fire Tea at night, which replaces wine since it’s so comforting. It’s a blend of cinnamon stick, ginger and water and it tastes amazing
What are some pain points of being an Alpha Female that you have to problem solve for?
I have to manage my own expectations of what I want for myself. Since I have big goals, I am always focused on reaching them in my career and fitness. I think I need to set goals in more areas of my life so it’s more well rounded at times.
What is your definition of happiness?
My definition of happiness is when I can truly see love in everyone around me.