Rediscovering THE DONK

For the past couple of months, ever since my graduation, I've been on the quest of getting back into shape. Since I entered college, I gained a total of 20 pounds. I come from a family of heavy set women so I've always appreciated my curves AND... THE DONK. I know I was never meant to be skinny so it doesn't bother me at all. THE DONK is in my genes. It never bothered me UNTIL Senior year.

As the semester progressed, I realized that my stomach was sticking out more than my butt did also known as the "booty do". You know, when the something sticks out more than the booty do (haha). But, I was so stressed with school and graduating, I did not have the time to even think about it. But when graduation time was over and I was back home, I realized it. I had COMPLETELY let myself go.

 This was Senior Year at the Activities Expo with my Chapter Sorors and Baby Jordan =)




              This was before some party

In no way am I saying that I was extremely overweight in these pictures because I know I wasn't. Some may think I'm crazy to think that I needed to lose a few pounds, but standing at 5 ft short, techincally, I was a tad bit overweight. But, I wasn't really worried about my body as a whole, just my stomach. But in order to get the stomach I wanted, I knew I had to lose a few pounds.

So that summer, I decided to work out and eat healthy. Being a Kinesiology major, you would think I would have done this a long time ago. I have always been interested in how the body works and responds to different situations (like exercise), but I never wondered how my own body would react to it. (dumb, I know). But after a couple of months of exercising daily and avoiding junk food, I lost 5 pounds. YAY! Or Nay?  Hmmm...

This is me this past November ...


You can see, in my face especially, that I clearly lost a few pounds. I'm proud that I stook to my eating and diet regimen and reached my goal. But I can't say that I was satisfied. I found that I lost more weight in places that I didn't really want to lose weight in and less weight in my problem area ( my stomach ). I've always appreciated the donk, but slowly, it was dissapearing. :(

I then realized, I never wanted to actually lose weight. I just wanted to turn my fat into muscle. So this is what I plan on doing. I've finally have been putting my Kinesiology degree to use and working on another diet and exercise plan that I think will be successful. So now,on to the quest of REDISCOVERING THE DONK!

My Exercise Plan:

I plan on working out 4 days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. This plan will feature mostly sclupting and toning and a bit of cardio. In order to gain muscle, it is important to get some cardio so that the muscles are stretched out and are prepared for the work-outs.


It's important to begin and end each work-out with a full body stretch.

Monday
30 minutes on the eliptical
3 sets of butt-ups (20 reps)
Plank (Count to 50)
2 sets of squats with resistance bands (40 reps)
Plank (Count to 50)
1 set of backward steps w/ weight bar (20 reps)
Plank (Count to 50)

Wednesday
10 minutes on the eliptical
3 sets of hip thrusts using a bench or chair (20 reps)
Wall Sit (Count to 50)
2 sets of kneeling tilt backs (20 reps)
Wall Sit (Count to 50)
1 set of walking lunges w/dumbells  (15 reps)
Wall Sit (Count to 50)

Thursday
30 minutes on the eliptical
3 sets of leg curls on bench (20 reps)
Combo of ab workouts
3 sets of leg curls on bench (20 reps)
Combo of ab workouts

Sunday
10 minutes on the eliptical
3 sets of butt-ups (20 reps)
2 sets of squats with resistance bands (40 reps)
3 sets of hip thrusts using a bench or chair (20 reps)
Combo of ab workouts

As you can see, my main focus is my stomach and my glutes. I also want to work on my quads and obliques.

Here are a few pictures of some of the exercises included in my plan.

Butt- Up

This is similar to the push-up but instead, your butt moves in an up and down motion. It is important that your arms are firmly positioned. Only your lower body should be moving.

Step w/ Weight Bar
 

This can be done with a step bar or bench. You could also use dumbells, but I found it to be more of a workout placing a weight bar on my shoulders.

Wall- Sit


If your legs are not eventually trembling, you are not doing it right!

Kneeling Tilt-Back

I actually found out about this exercise from Buffie the Body who's known for that midget on her back (haha). It's REALLY intense, but it feels GREAT once it's accomplished. Here's the video:

Hip Thrust



You can also do this using a bench or a chair. I choose to use a bench because again, I feel like it's more of a work-out.


Walking Lunges


Twist your body towards the leading leg with your arms stretched out as shown in the picture below. as you transition between lunges - you must take the back leg, bring that knee up and balance on one leg for one second. then take your bent leg and continue moving forward with your walking lunges.



Leg-Curl

Remember to breathe out on exertion and in on recovery, then lift the pads upward as you flex the knee joints.


My Diet Regimen:

Well, I don't really have one. I am going to eat what I want. It's all about moderation. But since I do want to bring back the donk, I will be focusing on healthy high calorie foods such as:

- avocados
- pasta
- rice
- dried nuts
- beans, corn, and peas
- salmon and tuna
- peanut butter

I also purchased Special K Protein Shakes. I am not a fan of the taste, but I will be having one of these every day. I may switch to Boost when I'm done with this pack.

So that's it. I'm pretty confident that if I stick to this, I will get the results I am looking for. I will keep you all posted.

Wish me luck!

Butters -N- Bars

For the past year, I have been OBSESSED with this website called Butters- N- Bars. I am so quick to tell everyone I know about it.  Butters - N- Bars is a dream website not only for naturals, but anyone looking to use natural beauty products. AND for my fellow frugals, the prices are TO DIE FOR!

http://www.butters-n-bars.com/

Butters - N- Bars is based out of a woman's home in Philly! The owner of Butters- N- Bars is great! She replies to e-mails promptly and is always willing to change orders last minute without any complaints.

On this website you can find Natural Raw Butters, Raw Black Soap from Ghana, Facial Toners, Essential Hair Oils for mixing, Shampoo, Henna, & More!

Here are some of my favorite products:

Coocoo for Coconut Oil! This is by far my most favorite product! I LOVE this oil! There's not much more I can say. It does EVERYTHING I need it to. It locks in moisture, keeps my curls fresh, and maintains thickness.

5.07 oz [$5.99]
10.14 oz [$7.99]
Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil  is a premium Coconut Hair Oil enriched with henna, amla, lemon and six other trusted herbs. 


RAW Black Soap is one of the best things I've ever come across. 
** I emphasize "raw" because the black soap that are sold in beauty stores and are actually the color black, is not really black soap. **


Before using black soap, I had acne scars on my face and throughout my body but after only 3 months, I've seen a HUGE change. I am more than satisfied with how my skin has been looking. My skin is no longer oily and I only get the occasional monthly cycle breakouts. If you are having any skin problems, I HIGHLY suggest black soap! What also makes black soap great is that you can also use it in your hair which also brings wonderful results. 

8 ounce [$4.99]
1 pound [$7.99]


I have been using this shampoo for a while now and so far, so good. It really enhances my curls and keeps is extremely soft. One of it's main ingredients is BLACK SOAP! With this shampoo, a lot goes a long way. You get a great lather with just a quarter size.

8 oz [$8.99]
Herbal Shampoo is infused with special herbs and extracts for growth that help stimulate the scalp increase circulation and keep your hair healthy.Ingredients: Natural Raw Black Soap Base, Grapeseed Extract, Bergamot and Grapefruit Essential Oils, Brahmi Powder, and Vitamin C


Another products that works MIRACLES is Unrefined Shea Butter! This works GREAT with black soap. This can also be used in the hair, but I found that with my hair, it dries it out. But it does WONDERS on my skin!

1/2 lb [$5.99]
1 lb [$8.00]
5 lb [$38.00]
10 lb [$70.00]


The underdog of oils: Almond Oil. I don't even know what made me decide to try this out, but I am glad that I did! I love the way this oil makes my hair feel and look. I add this to my conditioner and also use it as an oil rinse after shampooing my hair. Almond oil is known to: 


- Nourish hair and smooth hair cuticles 
- Make hair long, strong and thick 
- Add shine to the hair 
- Control hair fall

4 oz [$3.99]
16 oz [9.99]




Here are a few items that I plan to try in the future. I'll let you know how it goes once I try them!


- Damur Amla Jasmine Hair Oil (10.14 oz) [$7.99]
- Damur Amla Gold ( 7 0z) [$9.99]

Which Direction Are YOU Going?

I know I said that this was a blog on natural hair, but there is always way too many thoughts going through my head to only focus on one subject. So periodically I will be going off topic but I guess I am allowed to do that because this iiiiisssss MY blog after all :P

After speaking to a friend about some of her troubles, it got me thinking. And oh boy, once I start thinking, it just doesn’t end. Last night, I stayed up until about 3 in the morning just staring at the ceiling which, by the way, I am paying for now since I had to be up at 5:30 SMH. 

I am the type of person that will hold on to a thought or a mere idea until I am able to give an automatic response or resolve the situation right away. So the topic of my solo mental discussion last night was: SUCCESS.

How do YOU define success?

Some people say that success is having a lot of money and living in a house that could be featured on MTV’s Cribs.  Other people think that happiness determines success. Does money equate to success? Does walking around every day with a smile on your face mean you’re successful?

I recently graduated from college with a Bachelor’s Degree that I believe will lead me to a path of success. But I am having a hard time figuring out what that success will consist of. Right now you could say that I am at a state of limbo. I just graduated from college and I don’t exactly have the job of my dreams yet. 

I have a lot of friends who are also recent college graduates that work for top companies, hospitals, and universities or are engaging in prestigious and award-winning graduate programs.  So my question is, because these particular people are at that point in their lives while I’m still trying to reach that point, does that make me unsuccessful?

Well, I don’t really need anyone to answer this question for me because I already know the answer, NO. In fact, HELL NO. Just because you haven’t reached a place where you feel has deemed you as successful, does not mean you are a failure.

Here are a few characteristics that describe me as well as the people who I surround myself with:

College graduate or a semester or two away from obtaining a degree

Has a GPA over a 2.8

Has received some type of award(s)

Has been accepted to some sort of organization or university

Has more than one job on their resume

Has never been arrested

IS ALIVE AND WELL

… The list goes on.

Though these characteristics are something that most people are expected to have, a lot of people don’t.  Be grateful for EVERYTHING you have achieved and STOP complaining! I have been guilty of asking “Why me?” when something doesn’t go my way, but the real question to ask is “Why not?”  Everything we go through, we go through for a reason. A lot of circumstances come to us as a lesson in disguise. Take some time to unmask that lesson and learn from it.

The moral of this story is to NEVER compare your success to others. Yes, life can get frustrating. We don’t always get what we want.  But as long as you believe in what YOU’RE doing, you’ll end up exactly where you want to be. Though there are many definitions to SUCCESS, one thing that I think we can all agree on, you will never reach success without hard work and doing what you have to do for YOU and only YOU!

Loc Breakthru?? Hmm...

Everyone that knows me know I am OBSESSED with locs. I'm not only intrigued by the look of it, but also the meaning.

The term dreadlocks, is a term used to describe the locs of Rastafarians out of Jamaica. Rastafarians regard the locks as both a sign of their African identity, giving them deeper feelings of their origins, and a religious vow of their separation from the wider society they regard as Babylon.  The dreadlocks were “dreaded” by society and symbolized defiance.  The dreadlocks are often compared to a lion’s mane representing power and authority.

Locs today are worn for many reasons, including fashion.  Although there are those who wear locs as a fashion statement or trend, there are many individuals whose locs hold great spiritual meaning.  They regard their natural hair as an awareness of self.  For many African Americans the wearing of locs is a bold acceptance of who they are, and of the tightly textured hair they were given. 


I have been saying for the LONGEST time that I want to loc my hair, but for some reason, I can't get myself to do it and I feel with anything, you should be 100% committed before you step into it. So for the meantime, until I feel like I'm READY to do so, I will be rocking my twists. 

                                              

Sometimes I like to think that I could be a model haha

Whenever I do decide to loc my hair, I'm hoping that they look like these beautiful locs below! Thanks to  Miss Ada for allowing me to show them off!

My Nappy Breakthru

It was a week before my sorority's Finer Womanhood banquet. The theme of this year's banquet was "Hollywood in the 1920's". I had just taken out my kinky twists and thought it would be a great idea to get some pin curls for the banquet. So that weekend, I went to the hair salon to get a relaxer.

This day at the salon was just like any other. I had a 10:00 appointment, but I didn't get seen until 2:00. When it was finally my turn to be seen I sat in the chair while she surrounded my edges with petroleum jelly, separated my hair into four parts, and proceeded to put in the relaxer. When she was done, I sat on the side so I could let the relaxer set. You all know how it goes, the longer we are able to handle the burning, the better and flyer our hair will look. So that's what I did, I sat and waited... sat and waited until I felt like my scalp was on fire.

When I felt that it was time to rinse out the relaxer, the "hair stylist" told me to hold on a little more (she was busy with other clients). She continued to tell me to "hold on" for about twenty minutes. When she finally came to rinse out the relaxer, the feeling was orgasmic. I was finally relieved from my scorching scalp.

A few days went by and it was finally time for the banquet. I had my cute little royal blue dress and yes, the pin curls. The event turned out great! I was on cloud nine because all of my chapter's hard work paid off. But, I soon fell off that cloud.

The next day as I unwrapped my hair, I noticed that the middle of my head felt a little funny. By funny I mean damn near bald. Whaaaaat?! I must of shouted all the curse words known to man. I was IRATE. For the next few days, I wore a various number of hats until I decided to put the kinky twists back in. I did this for about 6 months, until I had enough.

My hair wasn't growing back the way I wanted it so I decided to just even my hair out, and cut it off. With the help of my boyfriend, I took the scissors and cut away. BUT, I did not like what I saw so this time I decided to put some micro braids in. After a year of kinky twists and micro braids, I decided I would give my hair a shot. And for the first time, I wore my hair out and allowed the world to see my fresh curls. on April 26th 2010, I had my NAPPY BREAKTHRU.

* Finer Womanhood Banquet March 2009

* April 26th 2010 - Serving food at UMass' BlackOut Weekend