The Perfect Workout Hairstyles

Many ladies with natural hair and relaxed hair make excuses as to why they do not workout. The main excuse is their hair! If you find yourself not knowing what to do with your hair when you go to the gym, or head to the park to go for a walk or run, you should check this out:

  • Try wearing a braided ponytail. For me this is the perfect hairstyle when I go to the gym because when I’m done working out, all I have to do is press my edges and unbraid my hair. You can even add a baseball cap to hide your edges while you work out until you get home. If you ever see me at the gym, this is how I typically wear my hair.
  • Try wearing a bun. A bun tucked away at the back or top of your hair is perfect. Again, you may have to press your edges once you’re done with your workout, but your hair will still be straight and even have a slight body wave to it.
  • If your hair is pressed silky straight, and you want to maintain your hair without sweating too much, avoid cardio. You can still achieve optimal weight loss results just lifting weights. Don’t worry about getting too bulky. You would have to eat a ton of protein, and workout three times a day to begin looking like a bodybuilder! Lift light, and do 3 sets of 20 – 30 reps.
  • Sew in weaves and braided extensions work great. I do not recommend working out in a wig. I tend to do incline bench presses, and crunches on the ball, etc…I’d hate for it to slip off at the gym. You can also do a twist out, or my favorite; a flexi-rod set. Those curls hold great while doing cardio.
  • Whatever you do, do not wrap your hair while working out. When you sweat, you sweat from the scalp. Wrapping your hair will allow your sweat to saturate all of your hair instead of just the roots! Always remember this basic concept. Oil and water don’t mix! Keep the roots of your hair oiled with an oil based oil such as castor oil, and you will preserve your pressed roots.

So now you have no excuses. Go to the gym, and get your workout on! For all the single ladies, ready to put themselves in a position to be found by that special guy; FYI: Men love women who care about their bodies, and men love real hair! You may think, “OMG, my hair looks a mess”, but that ain’t what he thinking! If you’re headed to the park, go early in the morning during the summer months. I am all about making excuses for your goal, and never against it.

(Excuse against your goal): “I want to lose weight, but I can’t workout because I sweat profusely, and it will make my hair blow up into an afro.”

(Excuse for your goal): “I am about to get a sew-in weave because I’m about to start going to the gym to workout”.

Or

(Excuse for your goal): “I am only getting my hair pressed on special occasions until I reach my weight loss goals”.

Jamie Eason Live Fit – Phase 1 Week 2

Week 2

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-phase-1.html

Make It Work – Stay Focused and Determined

                 I wasn’t going to write anything for Phase 1, Week 2 since the workouts and eating is the same as Week 1, however I am so happy.  Since June 2012 I’ve lost 16lbs total but in one week 4 of those pounds came off through clean eating, and not under eating, or beating myself up over cardio. I ate between 1,500 – 1,700 calories a day and lifted weights only. Jamie is strict about not doing any cardio during Phase 1.

I went to the Farmers Market Saturday and got so much great whole food items that now I’m even more excited to be eating clean.  I have a ton of options for whole food eating since going to the Farmers Market. I highly recommend checking out the closest one to you. I also find it difficult to eat every 3 hours now. Last week I was a little hungry, and was counting down to the nearest minute when it would be time to eat. This week I’m like, “Ugh…time to eat again! I’m so full.” I’ve been drinking 1 bottle of water in-between the 3 hours and 1 whole bottle before eating breakfast. I also tried Jamie Eason’s Cinnamon Swirl bread recipe this weekend and it was delicious and fulfilling.

Today is Monday, September 17, 2012, and I’m really excited to go to the gym. Friday I will order all the supplements recommended by Jamie.

To make the diet work, definitely print the recipes and try them. Drink plenty of water and make a homemade lemonade or sweet tea using stevia for sweetener. Try homemade Kale Chips and Zucchini Chips as an evening snack. Make the diet work! Its 80% of where your results will come from. So make it happen and visualize the results. Eat slower or as mom would say, “Chew your food”. Take self-control and accountability and seek what your heart desires.

 No matter your religion, pray and ask God to help you through this. Keep supportive friends around you, and avoid hanging out with people who will encourage you to abandon your diet or take a break from the workouts until you are mentally strong enough to handle that type of pressure. I noticed that my friends who would tell me, “Oh you look great, you’ve lost 16lbs, live a little” took me more seriously, and gave up trying to get me to live outside of my clean eating lifestyle the more I said “I’m good. I’ve got to stay focused.” Stay focused on the new you that you are creating and the people around you will respect you for it. The may even want to jump onboard with you. 

Epiphany Moment: A proper diet and exercise plan is only successful when paired with determination. People who are determined to accomplish a goal don’t make excuses that go against their goal. It’s mind over matter. Every day is a chance to reset your mind and start over. I am ready for Week 3.