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    MEET KEVIN BLACK Kevin Black began his career as a roadie for Run-DMC, where eventually he was promoted to Tour Manager. Gifted with an innate sense of what could be hot and what could not, Black became the hottest radio DJ on the West Coast. In 1987, Black became the National Promotions Director at Death Row Records. He then moved to EMI Records, A&M Records asthe National Director of Promotions. After leaving EMI, Black has carried such titles as Vice President of Urban Music at Virgin Records, Senior Vice President of TWISM RECORDS, Vice President of Rap Marketing and Promotions at Interscope Records, and served as a top level executive at Warner Brothers Music. Black has appeared on numerous television series and has affiliations with many of the world’s top artist including Prince, Janet Jackson, Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J, Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Gwen Stefani among many others. Kevin lives by his personal creed: “Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.” Currently, Black is the president and CEO of his own Promotion/Marketing/Management firm U CAN FLY HOLDINGS and is on the precipice of an exciting new chapter in his professional life.     THE WEIGHT LOSS Kevin decided it was time to make ...

  The Skin I Live In : The Sh*t Burgers Will Make You Do! What do you get when you cross a McDonald’s drive thru, a late night taco spot and a 24 hours Rally Burger?  Baaaaaaabi! Let me tell you! An episode of magnanimous proportion!  Oh! Tonight…was no F’ing joke.  Fits, fights and a whole damn break down.  Found myself in a corner parking lot having to pull it together!!! Oh, I can laugh now, but at the time, I truly felt that life had something against me.  There I was, on the Battle Field as Ms. Sparks (Jordan) would say.   Warring with myself, fed up with shrubbery and nuts and berries- and ready to cut any brave food attendant who would suggest that I order a salad.  I mean it was an all out War!  I wish I were playing.  I do, truly.  But I’m so serious.   Here I am, Day 18 of my full-body cleanse; forward thinking, working-out and hell, even encouraging people.  Hhm, thought I had this thing down packed…lol.  That’s a lie! Or is it. Wrote a song `bout it, like to hear it, here it go! I pulled into the McDonald’s ready to order- I was gonna have a few ...

  The Skin I Live In - Day 11: Emotional EatingEmpty, Worthless, Tired, and Weak; unfortunately this is how I’m feeling tonight. I’m lonely and uncovered and seeking something bigger, greater and fuller than my understanding. I wish I could say that the feeling is about a plate or some rich food I wish I could eat, but it’s not. I’m feeling this way, I believe because I’m transitioning into a space that I’ve never been in before, something I’ve never seen. But isn’t this space the place of new-birth? A place of surrender, no strength, no masks, desperate for the fullness of a new life in the exact space that was designed specifically for Me. I’m hungry to feast on the vision poured into me while I sleep. I‘ve heard it said that God is never far away and is always waiting on you, but in which direction are you tonight God? I decided to write not because of my blog schedule, but because I’m fed up with finding myself emotionally eating when I feel this hole of a space. I’m angry with the thoughts of being content with whatever disastrous, destroying thoughts that I’ve had in the last 20 minutes. I’m ...

  The Way You Look Tonight Back in 2008 before I started my weight loss journey I’m sitting here on the side of my bed with a full heart. I guess when I started this weight loss journey I hadn’t considered how many people may be feeling just like me, or how I felt before I started. Look, I have no secret weapons; I have no tricks or lies to give you. I’m a 35-year-old man who just wants to see life longer. I read a couple comments posted to my blog and I began to weep, not because their stories are sad, but because I’m in awe of how God can and will use you once you let down your own guard. I wasn’t raised in a church, I don’t have a deacon or entitlement Jesus-Pin attached to the hem of any of my garments. I’m just a guy that He’s shown favor and love to time and time again, loving me in to a place of trusting Him. I get it, you know God and His power and all that He’s done, but for some, they’ll only know Him because of you and how you move around. I wish I could say ...

  I'd Rather Have A Mood Swing Than Swing On You Just another day in LA; Gym, rehearsal, studio and filming… sounds like fun, I know; but having a to do all of that and balance your blood sugar can be a task. Preparation is my new thing. I’m not so disciplined, and if I’m honest…I’m not disciplined at All, lol. I’m getting the hang of it though. Nightly I set up my supplement pocket case, I prepare my breakfast smoothie and try to plan out what I’ll eat for lunch and dinner the next day. Sounds like a lot but not really when you know that your blood sugar levels affect your mood and energy. I just like to have it set up so I don’t go off. I know I talk about attitude and mood a lot, but it seems that those are two factors that often send people off track, ultimately making them quit on themselves. Nope, I haven’t had one thought of quitting though I have had a moment or two of “bleep this bleep! Lol. Not the same as quitting for me. Getting a lil huff actually steams me into a place of submission. I’m a firm believer ...

  Abraham McDonald Day 8Monday morning, up and at uhm! It’s a beautiful Cali day, feeling good in my hood. It’s funny the things you learn about yourself when your daily rituals change. And I mean you learn fast too! I’m not so nice when I’m really hungry. Lol. For years I’ve been able to work the entire day without any grumbles or hunger pains, no fussing or fighting; but now when I’m hungry the boxing gloves come out. At first I thought I was imagining things; “I couldn’t be This upset over who moved the spoon” kind of thing, but as it turns out, as a T2D (Type II Diabetic) one of the most frequented emotional tangents is anger when hungry or blood sugar is low. Who would have thought that not having some applesauce could make a person go Postal? Well, like I’ve been saying, it’s an everyday learning experience. When I got rid of the dairy and meet, poultry etc and foods cooked at high temperatures I hadn’t realized how my mood would be connected to my eating habits and food choices. Nevertheless, I’m getting a grip. Really! I’m adding more foods that would not otherwise make the weekly grocery ...

  ABRAHAM MCDONALD Weekend WarriorS a t u r d a y Travel Bag: Oranges ? Plum ? Nuts ? Dried fruit ? Distilled Water ? Good attitude ? Schedule: Merge Summit 2012 with Niecy Nash and the cast of TV Lands The Soul Man, Guest performer for the 2012 She Cares Foundation Celebrity Basketball Game Song Writing Session with Wendy Parr Jam Session with John Morayniss A good attitude and keeping busy is unquestionably what kept me afloat this weekend as I balanced my new diet plan. Having a support system, whether its one or two people is going to be a saving grace for you also…trust me, it has definitely been that for me. I woke up Saturday morning excited because I’d made it to Saturday without compromising my decision to change. I thought to myself this Type II Diabetes is gonna get its tail whooped one way or another! I’m armed with my DHERBS cleanse, exercise and a support team around me. Winning isn’t easy and it sure as hell feels like something in the process, ya know? I had put things in order and felt victorious, hopeful that I could do this, that I can win therefore making the difference in my life and adding years to it. Again, there I ...

  Thank God for the inner voice that matters so much to personal strength. Today has been a test in and out. From sun up to sun down I have had every temptation presented my way. Like most people I’m accustomed to the foods and daily eating habits I learned as a child. As I’m unlearning those inset habits I’m seeking out new ones it’s clear that I can’t take something away without putting something new in. I have to laugh at myself because I realize how “profound” I appear to be at this moment. But had you seen me at Trader Joes (market) earlier today you would have definitely told me to “get it together! Lol. There was nothing sweet nor profound about the inner thoughts I was having of strangling someone from hunger as the service worker attempted to lead me to what she thought was a good idea. An aisle, with oh say, 200 bags of nuts in different varieties; all roasted and salted and stripped of every bit of nutrience needed to consider it “live food. She smiled I snarled and managed to chisel out a bit of dry humor, I grabbed a bag from what they considered ...

  Setting the tone for weight loss success has a lot to do with personal attitude. I’ve been readjusting my attitude a lot lately. I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of cool things, meet a lot of cool people and see a bunch of cool places. But in all of that, the hustle, the pressure of living I’m seeing now that I have not always had my ears, eyes or heart open for that matter, I have not always been “Present” as my sis Niecy Nash would say…” baby, Stay Present! Being that I’m on the tightrope of accountability and transparency now, I’m looking and noticing that I very well might have been so consumed with what I wasn’t, what I didn’t have or who I didn’t know that I became a mystery to myself. I like to say that I’m an extroverted introvert. I know how to be “on” but that does not make me “present”. I know you know what I’m talking about; a room full of people but still alone, it’s your birthday but everyone else is celebrating it better than you. I’ve even been the person who is SO happy and content that that was a lie ...

  Becoming the Change YOU want to see. One of the fastest things I’m learning as I take on the DHERBS Full Body Cleanse is well, hell; it really does cleanse you, mind, body and even connecting with your Master Love Source. Day three is feeling good, but like most working people, Wednesday is hump day and it was definitely that for me! I started the day a lil different today, as my spirit was low. I had to find that one thing that could ignite my daily staying power. Why was my spirit low you ask, cause today I wanted a damn sandwich! Lol. In my 35 years of living and 20 years of weight challenge I have neva, eva dreamed about food. I mean dang y’all. I literally woke up reaching for a slice of pizza! That Did Not Exist! Needless to say I was a bit humored and also shocked. It’s funny when we begin to redevelop ourselves and recalibrate our thinking a number of psychological things begin to emerge. One of my challenges has been uncovering my cowardice. Now, I’m not talking about fist fighting or running away from something I know I have to face. I’m talking about the ...