Month 4

I celebrated my 4 month Sisterlock Anniversary on July 28th.  I have uploaded some photos to show my progress.  I think I can finally see a real difference between now and when I first had them installed back in march.

What do you think?

I also started experimenting with curling my hair.  I love the way it looks but have only done it once since I don't like putting heat on my hair.  I am going to invest in some rollers so I can accomplish the look without the heat. 

These last two picks were taken right after a workout.  I would say this is not a bad look for just completing 8 miles.  I absolutely love Sisterlocks because they give me the flexibility to workout and look good before, during and after.  I am going to write another post about how my Sisterlocks have helped me to shed 20lbs.  I love my wash and wear hair.

You will find comparison shots below.  I can see a difference!  

 One week Sisterlocked. 

Two weeks

A Reason to Celebrate

I start this post off with an apology for being away so long. 

I will be the first to admit this summer has not been an easy one and I primarily stayed away so long because of my own shame.  Bottom line is that I currently have not met the goals I set for myself and for that I am truly embarrassed.  

I have a list of excuses about a mile long for why I did not reach my goals but I refuse to allow myself to continue the pity party any further.  I thank God for support partners who can see more than what I see and can look at situations with an objective eye.

Losing weight and taking a journey towards a healthier lifestyle can be challenging and you will be met with highs and lows along the way.  Suggestion:  find that person (someone you trust) you can confide in about your goals and plans.  This person should serve as someone with whom you can be accountable.  This person should be able to balance constructive criticism with encouragement and know exactly when to apply each. 

Last week I needed my friend to be encouraging and because of their optimistic words I am able to write this post today.  My friend sat me down and went through the things I did accomplish this summer.  After our discussion I was able to see more clearly and discover that even though I am not where I want to be, I am no longer where I used to be and for this I am very thankful.

This is why I cannot continue with my pity party; I have every reason to celebrate!  I only lost five pounds when I wanted to lose 12 but I did not gain weight like I did last summer.  Even though I am heavier than I was when I used to put on a pair of my favorite jeans they are looser now because I have less body fat. 

I encourage you all to find a friend and find reasons to celebrate even the smallest accomplishments throughout your journey for these are the things that will keep you running when your tank is low. 

It's Working....Dandruff Relief

I have been complaining for a long time about dandruff flakes and the other day I noticed it was getting better.  I used to wash my hair once a week because it would get so bad and any time I would shake my head little flakes would fall all over.

Unless you deal with dandruff you really don't know how frustrating and embarrassing it can be.  Many people with Sisterlocks told me to wait it out and it will go away but I often wondered if they really knew what they were talking about.  After speaking to my Dr. about my hair, she let me know that Dandruff was a fungus and unless treated it would not just go away on its own.

My Dr. told me to use Nizoral.  She told me to use the over-the-counter shampoo first and if that did not help she would write prescription for the other one.  It has been about 4 weeks now and though I still have dandruff, I have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of flakes.  Additionally, I have been washing my hair every two weeks instead of every week which helps cut down on the slippage.  So far I have only been using the over-the-counter and plan to keep it that way unless or until it stops working.

I Curled Them

 

I celebrated my 4 months Lockaversary on the 27th of July.  I have seen major changes in my locks.  The other day I started to notice how much it has grown since I first had them installed.  

Even with all of my excitement I was beginning to grow tired of the same style so today I decided to curl them with a large barrel curling iron just to see.  I absolutely love it and received so many compliments on it all day.  I think I have found a few more clients for my consultant, now that they see how versatile Sisterlocks are. 

June Update

June has been a whirlwind of a month.  I went home to visit family at the beginning of the month and during that time celebrated my birthday, attended a baby shower and a graduation.  I had a blast in June but unfortunately did not keep up with my blogging. 

In addition to taking care of my hair, I have been taking care of my body, a journey I started last year but decided to get serious about it this year.  Vacations always scare me because it means I will be around good food and may not get to the gym as planned.  My Mom (who is newly Sisterlocked!!) walks at least 5 miles a day with her friends so I joined her.  We decided to challenge ourselves and make it 6.  In the end while I was on vacation I lost one pound which is huge because I always gain on vacation but the true victory is that I lost 2% of my body fat.  I now walk at least 5 miles 2 days a week in addition to my other workouts of choice, spinning, boot camp and kick boxing.

June has been a very exciting month and my Sisterlocks definitely stood up to my active lifestyle.  

Don't Let your Travel Plans Mess with Your Plan

I guess I am thinking about this because I am on the road and away from my normal routine.  However I could not let this much needed relaxation away from home mess up my plans for a healthier me.  I am on day 4 of my 6 day vacation and so far I have remained on track.  Below I will share with you some of the things I have done to keep my focus on this trip and vacations I have taken in the past.  

• Plan ahead:  I love Google Maps because you can search nearby locations.  I cannot stress the planning part around.  Get to know the area before you get there.  Where will you work out?  What and where will you eat?
• Movement:  So now you know where you are staying.  If you are staying in a hotel and they have a gym you don't have to do much planning but you may want to find out the hours of operation.  If your home away from home does not have a gym, no worries there are plenty of other options.  
• Local Fitness Facilities:  If you belong to a gym you may check to see if your club is in the area.  Most gyms will let you work out even if you are not a member but be aware that most places will make you pay to play. 
• Trails are your friend:  Walking is one of the best all around workouts you can do so finding a "safe" area to walk can prove to be very beneficial.  A lot of malls open their doors before the stores open so people can have a safe, weather proof walking option.  
• Room to move: There are plenty of things you can do right in your own space.  If you have bands, they are light, easy to pack and provide a great strength workout.  The basic push up works multiple muscle groups at the same time.  
• Your TV: Bring your favorite workout DVD or if you are lucky you will have access to On Demand workouts on cable.  My DVD of choice is the Insanity workout by Beach Body.  You only need yourself and water to get a good workout with Insanity.  

• Meals:  Again planning ahead is key.  Find out if you will be eating out or preparing meals in advance.  
• Eating Out:  Google Maps is your friend.  Find out about the local restaurants and after you locate them, study the menu.  Plan your meals in advance.  
• Cooking:  This is actually the best scenario because you have complete control over every meal.  Put together a list of the foods you are going to prepare in advance and make a shopping list of all the ingredients you will need.  If you can, pack some of the ingredients and take them with you to save money. 
• Staying with relatives or friends:  This one is difficult because some people will try to push food your way, trying to be nice and make your vacation more relaxing.  If this is the case you have to determine your comfort level in sharing your goals with your friend or family member.  If you feel comfortable have a conversation in advance about your food requirements.  If you do not feel like explaining anything then offer to cook a few meals and bring plenty of easy to pack healthy snack options.  When you must eat with you friend or family member focus on small portion sizes.

The Nudred

I was amazed when I saw this video. I would love to try it but I cannot because I am newly Sisterlocked but for those of you who are natural and looking for some alternative styling, this might be for you. Check it out.



The Nudred can only be found at nudred.com