Wednesday, November 25, 2009

L'Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Dramatic Lengthening and Intensifying Mascara, Carbon Black

This is the Loreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara. What I love about this mascara? I am so loving this kind because it doesn't clump or smear. While it doesn't add volume it definitely lengthens and darkens and its great for small eyelid people like myself. :)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

New Growth Update!

...Just thought I would post some new growth shots. Since I have been slacking a little I noticed I don't have as much new growth as I normally get. Yes I have been slacking on my megatek. :( Anyway...I am taking a early vacation because the azzes I work with are not letting me take Xmas or New Years. :( Lets see...... so by the time I get home I would have had these braids in since 30 Sept? I don't remember...I need to look back at my posts. Oh and remember I had those other braids in for a month and got a lil new growth too. I will not be relaxing this time around but I will post an update pic IF my hair gets str8 enufff.



Saturday, November 14, 2009

Sick of The Pony Tail...

Sooo ummm, I'm sick of the pony tail so I am going to try this 1/2 up, 1/2 down, side swoop style for a couple of days....










Friday, November 13, 2009

HAIR HOLDERS..

You know what I dislike about hair holders...they are so small and when you have alot of hair / weave its hard to place all the hair in it and it breaks or pulls your hair. It used to take me like 3 times in the morning to gather all my braids the correct way into a little holder. I got tired of it and decided to cut a lil stocking and use that as my holder. It is sooooo much better and easier. Check out my video on how I do it:

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

My Weight Goal


Okay here is my weight now as of this morning. Before the S.L I was a flopping 189 & now I am 179.6. That’s a whole 9.4 pounds. I always check my weight first thing in the morning b4 I eat because that is the best time. Anyway, my first goal is 165 pounds (that will be 14.6 pounds lost!) and next is 155 and I will finally be satisfied if I can get to 150! Then I will loose my mind and wanna look like a skeleton! LMAO... I'm only joking!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Metabolism & Slow Weight Loss

Is your metabolism too slow? 

One thing we know for sure is that our metabolism is slowing down as we get older. Simply put, 
metabolism is the way our bodies burn the calories from the food that we eat. The shift of midlife 
weight gain actually begins in our 20’s – 30’s. . Starting at about age 25, a person’s 
metabolism declines approximately 5 percent every decade! So it seems we are entering into the battle of age vs. 
metabolism.

Like our cars need fuel to work, our bodies need to be fuelled too. The car performs well when we put in good fuel in the engine, and

we work actively when we consume healthy and good food.

If one wants to loss weight, then, amount of calories play an important role. One is required to consume fewer amounts of calories. But the other factor involved in weight control is exercise. Fat loss depends on the amount of exercise done and what impact it has on one’s metabolic rate.


Metabolic rate: – exercise helps increase our energy output. It also improves our metabolic rate which helps us to burn excess calories for 24 hours after an activity or exercise. More over, exercise also helps in building muscle mass. The more muscle mass one has, the more calories one will burn through out the day.


We should always remember that our weight depend on our metabolic rate. Sometimes, we come across a person who eats large amounts of food and yet remains slim while another person, who eats less, tends to gain more weight. This is because of the metabolic rate. The person who gains no weight has a high metabolic rate while a person who gains more weight has a low metabolic rate.


Tips to increase one’s metabolic rate:-

- the first most important thing to start is to drink at least a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses of water ever day, And of course, the more the better. Water is good to drink and it increases the metabolic rate of a person’s body. It also helps in removing fat and toxins.


- Eat small meals frequently through out the days, with a gap of 2 hours, at least, so that your metabolism is always busy.

A lot of people claim they aren't hungry in the morning, and try to take full advantage, skipping breakfast and waiting for the hunger to kick in that afternoon. A lot of people love this and think it will help them lose weight, because they are consuming fewer total calories.

It is more likely than not that if you aren't very hungry in the morning, it is because you are already in starvation mode. Your body weakens your appetite so that you don't waste calories to go try and find something to eat (think back to caveman days when we had to actually hunt our food.)

Eating consistently through out the day is the only way to keep you metabolism running smoothly. Don't skip meals, especially breakfast, because it wakes your metabolism up to burn the maximum number of calories per day.

If your metabolism is running efficiently, you can eat more calories and lose more weight than if you restrict and eat fewer calories.


Exercise-good for your metabolism:

- Exercise is good for people who want to loss some weight as it improves the metabolic rate and so help the body to burn calories even after an exercise.

- It increases energy output.

- It also increases body muscles which burn up more calories even when the body is at rest, that fat.

- Exercise helps in digesting the food as well as burning calories.


• Don’t Skip Meals!
The myth that skipping meals decreases your total calorie level and helps you to lose weight is not true. 
When people skip meals or decrease their calories significantly 
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body tries to compensate for the low calories. Your metabolic rate can actually decrease as much as 10-15% 
and your body will hold on to the fat and burn lean muscle instead. Always eat at least 3 meals and avoid 
dipping below 1000 calories a day.
 
• Regular activity
Regular exercise routines such as biking, walking, or hiking will help raise your metabolism during the activity 
and for several hours after. Even simple movements such as taking the stairs, house cleaning, or simple yard 
work can help increase your burn rate.
 
• Adequate Protein
Protein provides the building blocks for muscle. Without adequate protein you may actually lose muscle. 
You need about .4 - .5 gram of protein per pound body weight. For a woman weighing 160 pounds she would 
need approximately 64 - 80 grams of protein daily.
 
• Sleep!
A 1999 University of Chicago study showed that sleep loss affects the way we metabolize carbohydrates 
resulting in glucose intolerance and possibly leading to increased hunger and a slowed metabolism. 
Lack of sleep also can interfere with our energy levels during the day and cause us to skip our exercise 
routine because we are “too tired”. How often have you told yourself that?
 
• Decrease Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol may suppress your body’s ability to burn fat. Studies show that when you drink alcohol, 
your body burns fat more slowly than usual during that particular meal. Watch your alcohol intake.
 
• Try a cup of Green Tea
A small study showed that green tea appeared to raise metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation. 
The calorie losses were small- around 60 calories/day. Green tea also has other health benefits because 
of its significant antioxidant components. You might as well add a little boost to your metabolism while 
protecting yourself from heart disease, cancer, and strokes.
 
• Got calcium?
Recent research shows that calcium -- three or four daily servings of low fat dairy products -- can help adjust 
your body's fat-burning machinery. The more calcium in the cells resulted in an increase in fat metabolism. 
 
Beware of Magic Cures
We have all seen the ads for products that increase our metabolism and promise miraculous weight loss. 
Metabolism boosters and Fat Burners – not only do the people they show us in the testimonials lose 
weight they also end up with a firm body and a six pack stomach. Can a pill do all this?
Generally, the answer is no. These weight loss pills are often ineffective, and they can also harm us. 
Many of them contain either human growth hormone, which can lead to joint or heart problems, 
or epinephrine type ingredients that are correlated with increased blood pressure. 
 
The answer is the good old tried and true: eat a balanced diet that does not exceed your calorie needs, 
exercise regularly and sleep well. Realize that we may not be able to look 20 again but we certainly can 
look our best, increase our energy, and enjoy good health at any age.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

My Natural Nails Part 9...




So for some reason the pink nail polish I had on this week did not last long so I decided to try this MAC color that was collecting dust. I didn't think I was going to go crazy over the MAC nail polishes because the colors are dull. After applying this purple, I still agree but the brush that it uses to distribute the color is THE BEST darn brush I've ran across. Oh and I am getting soooo much better polishing my nails.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Protein!

Did you know that protein attaches itself to weak areas in the hair strand that are weak and aides in strengthening it? Well the protein hardens the cuticle layer and puts a protective barrier around the weakened hair. Remember to moisturize your hair after using protein.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

My Natural Nails Part 8...



Should a woman with nasty chipped nails should be ashamed? It depends.... You mean to tell me you cant take 5 minutes out of your busy schedule to cut your nails down? It's even worst when they have a cake of dirt under them. What man wants to kiss that? LOL, okkaaay..... I'm talking trash but back in my younger days I remember when my boyfriend was like your nails look bad. I felt shame cause it's true. You have to also pay attention to the small things. Anyway this post is not for me to blah, I just wanted to show my new color and the length of my nails.

Color Used: China Glaze, Pink Voltage (Neon)
Results: The Color dries really dull. You will need to apply a clear coat. After the clear coat dries, the color looks kinda waxy but its okay. It's pink so I can rock it!



JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil


Here are a couple of things I bet you didn’t know about JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil):


Black Castor Oil is a powerful healing oil that has withstood the test of time. It is the end result of an ancient method used in preparing and making castor oil. The fatty acids and phytochemicals found in Jamaican Black Castor Oil address many health and beauty conditions. A bottle can serve as a hair and scalp conditioner; a skin moisturizer and healer; a massage oil for aches, pains, fibroids and lumps in the breasts; a powerful laxative and can be used as fist aid for cuts, wounds and burns. It is also excellent for dry, chapped hands and feet.

Black castor oil seals moisture in the hair with a protective coat. It’s also the only oil in nature with ricinoleic acid. It helps to destroys viruses, bacteria, yeast and molds that cause many skin problems. Black Castor Oil also helps to remove uric acid from body, the source of many inflammations.

When you purchase a bottle of JBCO make sure it’s in a dark bottle. Oils tend to lose their freshness and potency when they are exposed to direct light as a result of being in clear bottles.They also risk being contaminated by toxins if placed in regular plastic bottles.

History on JBCO:

The castor oil plant originated in Ethiopia and later spread throughout the rest of Africa. It’s believed that it was the ancient Egyptians that first started to make black castor oil. They roasted the beans then through a tedious hand processed method the ultra pure light brown to dark brown oil is extracted (black castor oil). The seeds and method of making black castor oil eventually reached Jamaica via African slaves whose descendants today still make and use it as their ancestors.


When used on micro braids your scalp will be very moisturized and soft. Make sure you wash your braids regularly when using this stuff to prevent buildup at the base of the braid.