Challenges Accepted!

I've committed to completing two 30 day fitness challenges.  One for my abs and the other for my glutes (both challenges/images were found on-line).  I've also participated in a clean eating diet.  I've lost a total of 8 pounds and have made progress in toning up my troubled areas and I am ecstatic and wanted to share!

Now I haven't followed these challenges to the letter (missed a few days), but I will complete 30 days and will add other challenges to the mix once these are complete.

I'll post my favorite recipes soon and will post my big reveal at the end of the 30 days.

Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred!!!

I mentioned a few months back that I was beginning my journey to downsizing (my dress size) by way of working out to Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred.  I started this program in January of this year and now I'd like to share with you updates on my progress. 

If you are anything like me and don't like to work out for long periods of time, yet want results, this DVD is for you!  I saw results within a few days. If I hadn't taken any before and after pictures I would not have believed it to be possible.  Here I am day one before beginning the 30DS.  As you can see pictures don't lie!  Although I am not overweight, I am bigger than I was 10 years ago and I had bulge in places I did not like. My goal was to "shred" the extra weight I've accumulated over the years, become stronger, leaner and more fit!  All I can say is thank goodness for Jillian and her DVD!

Longing for yesterday...throwback!

These images were taken 9 years ago.  I took these images at the time to showcase my tresses and how other naturals could incorporate wearing their natural tresses with ready to wear looks.  My husband and I were attending an end of the year company party and the outfit I wore that night was a black tube top jumpsuit with a matching wrap.

After I stumbled across these images I made a vow to myself to get back to the size I was when these images were captured.  I do believe at that time I weighed around 135 lbs and I now currently weigh 145 lbs.  For the past few months I would only exercise to maintain my current weight.  Well, today I'm starting the Julian Michael's 30 day shred and it is with a strong hope that I will see great results at the end of the 30 day exercise program as now my new goal is to gain back my strength and tone of yesterday.  It may take more than 30 days, but it won't be because I didn't give it all that I've got!

I know that you may be thinking gaining 10 lbs over a 9 year period of time is not bad and I too felt this way until I saw my pictures above.  I'm also planning on purchasing a juicer in the near future, so here's to ending this year gracefully and starting off the new year with a healthier frame of mind for a new and improved (and smaller) FRAME!

Braids, the new twists!

My current protective style of choice.  Well, not really my style of choice, but rather a style of necessity.  Braids tend to last longer and look neater after working out than my twists.  However, I'm not too fond of braids on me, but that's probably because I'm usually wearing my hair in twists.

Here I've just washed and conditioned my strands and applied MA to the section then proceeded to braid.  The white cream is normal and will disappear once hair begins to dry.

 To move quickly, I always add MA to the back of my hand then emulsify it.  I then take some of the cream from the back of my hand and apply to the strand of hair prior to braiding (or twisting).

Here's a look at my braids after sitting under the hooded dry for 30 minutes.  My hair is not completely dry, thus as always, I will allow the braids to air dry for the remainder of the day.   My wash days are always early in the morning.  That is my "me" time when my family is asleep.  I can move a lot quicker this way without having to stop for, "Where's my ...?", "Can you iron my...?", "Is breakfast ready?", etc...  For my next set of braids I think I'll make them a bit larger.

If you still look pretty when you are done...

you did it wrong.  Wow, what a statement!  No more excuses!!!  Gotta start building a healthier, stronger me! 

Thanks Tamrin for the images!

Thanks Tamrin for the image!

Thanks Tamrin for the image!

I saw the above images and I became motivated to begin a new way of thinking about exercising and becoming more fit.   I didn't want to think of exercising as a dreaded chore that needed to be done in order to lose a few pounds.

Recently, my thought process has changed for the better. Today, I want to exercise not only to lose a few pounds or inches when needed, but because it's now a conscience choice on becoming more fit and being strong!  I've decided that my hair has to take a back seat to my fitness program, well...maybe the seat next to my fitness program.  Fitness for my body is important to me, but so is my hair's health as well. LOL!  The picture above states that if you are still pretty after working out then you did it wrong.  Well, I believe that there's a way to still be somewhat cute after a hard work out, so let the challenge begin!

This past Monday I began a fitness challenge to exercise daily.  I've purchased an electric exercise bike and I  ride it daily for 45 minutes on moderate (levels 1 - 3).  Next week, I will move the levels up to 4 - 6  and increase my levels weekly. I'm doing 60 sit ups and twenty push ups daily. 

.

"If you still look pretty when you're done, you did it wrong", but I still want my hair to look decent when I'm done. I don't have time to redo it after every workout. The only style I know of at this time to achieve a decent look after a workout is box braids.  I don't like box braids on me, but I will sport these over the next month since I am on a braid/twist challenge until 3/31.  However, for this past week I sported twists.  I wore the hair out this day (Friday) and took a few pics.

Today (Saturday) was wash day for me and I'm currently under my hooded dryer drying my freshly done box braids.  Again, I'm not a fan of box braids on me, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to keep her hair and body looking tight!