Friday, June 17, 2016

Hair Update!

Hair Journey 

I've been back to natural for 1 year and 2 months now. My main concern about my hair is my edges. I never had an issue with my edges before, and it was always strong. However, my last relaxer really jacked it up. It's never been the same since. I make sure that I'm very careful with my hair now. I can say that I've noticed a slight difference using Jamaican Black Castor Oil, MTG, and massaging my scalp more and more. 

My hair texture has changed a lot too. I think mainly since it's growing a lot. My coils are becoming looser, and at first I was like why is my hair being so weird right now, lol. I don't often do length checks with my hair. I get compliments on my hair often and being told that my hair looks so "healthy" really made me happy. The overall health of my hair is more important than the length of my hair. Healthy hair grows, so I must be doing something right. I just purchased some more Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera Juice. I was reading that they help promote hair growth, so I'll keep you updated on how that helps my edges.

Styling My Hair 

Twist Outs have been my main style that I do, but I got back into doing my flat twist crown. But I think I'm gonna let my hair be for the next couple days and just spritz it when it gets dry. Regardless of the weather, I have to twist my hair every night. I've opted to just let it be for a while..at least until the next time I wash it. I also need to find a new deep conditioner for my hair. As long as my hair doesn't have me looking like who did it and why, I'll be ok. I haven't had any problems with my hair this Summer except for the dryness due to the heat. But that's why water is a great moisturizer! I've incorporate Olive Oil in my hair, and I love it! It definitely gives my hair the sheen to my hair, making it look really cute. Dry hair and dry looking hair is what I try to avoid, but also avoiding putting too much oil on my hair and scalp is what I try to avoid too. So if I need to moisturize my hair I'll just spray it with water, and fluff it a bit. 


Life Update! Working, Health Journey, and School!

Hey lovely people of the world! I know it's been forever since I blogged, but I've honestly been busy lately that I just haven't had time to sit and type. This Summer has been great thus far, and I can't wait for more excitement in the coming weeks. 

Let's do a recap of the year thus far!

School Update

The beginning of the year started alright! I began my health journey with my eyes on the prize for a healthier life! I was excited to be successful this Spring semester..everything seemed great! As many people are in the beginning of the year, health and losing weight is the TOP PRIORITY! However, throughout the semester I was very stressed. So stressed to the point that I decided to change my major for the LAST TIME! I was an Exercise Science major, and at first that was something I was very much interested in. I still wanted to go into Physical Therapy..then. However, being 26 years old now I just wanna do something that won't take too long to do and that I'm passionate about. I still love the idea of being a Physical Therapist, but I suck at Science. Like SERIOUSLY SUCK AT SCIENCE! I have no idea why I chose to pick a major that had multiple science courses in it, that I knew I wouldn't do well in. Secondly, the major I was in was going to take longer since the prerequisites for that major prevented you from taking other courses. I was taking more electives than I needed. 

I still wanted to work in Geriatrics though. I found that there's a Gerontology major at my school, so I changed it. Fast forward to today, I'm excited to finish in Fall/Winter 2017. I have my courses mapped out and ready to go! I will also be starting Grad School after I complete my undergrad! My plan is to go into Health Science (Administration and Community) will be the dual program I want to do. 

Working again 

I decided to get a Summer job, since I wasn't volunteering. I was fortunate and blessed to not have to work this past school year. But, I wanted to begin working again and save some money. Though I could get a 9-5 job, I know with my school schedule that won't work right now. I can say that it's never been hard for me to find a job. It's out there, you just have to be persistent when looking. I've worked in Retail and Office Settings on and off. I also like to find jobs where there's a nice discount lol. 

Health Journey 

If you've been reading my blog long enough, you know I've attempted to be on my health journey or #healthjourney for a while now. In the beginning of the year, I was so pumped about my fitness and health, but then with school I ate like crap because I was stressed. I gained all the weight back and I was back to square 1. Disappointed in myself, I stopped working out and eating right. My sister kept mentioning Weight Watchers, but I was like "NAH, I'M GOOD ON THAT! I DON'T NEED MEETINGS! BLAH BLAH BLAH BULLSHIT!" Then we saw a commercial from Weight Watchers advertising a 3 month deal, and that you'd get money if you lost 10 pounds with the 3 months. My sister and I decided to join since it was only $50 (a little over I think) to join. I didn't want to do the meetings though. The OnlinePlus was the route I decided to take with my sister, and we'd just lean on each other throughout the process. 

I could kick the shit out of myself because this has been the EASIEST PLAN I'VE EVER BEEN ON! I started on April 29, 2016 and have lost 17.8 pounds (today losing 2 pounds)!!!! I've lost 5% of my weight thus far! Below, I've provided my journey with Weight Watchers thus far. It's important to be honest with yourself. You'll see some days that I weighed in I lost and others I gained weight. I didn't get down on myself though. I just encouraged myself to do better, and continue to work hard. 
It's a very simple plan where you get daily and weekly points. I love points rather it's for rewards at a store to school to better my grade lol!!! Also incorporating exercise into my daily life, either walking around collecting steps on my Fitbit, or Zumba, FitnessBlender via YouTube, etc! Bodyweight training to ton while I lose has become important for me as well. Though the scale is an important tool throughout my #healthjourney, it's not what I'm mainly focused on. My energy is what I'm focused on most! How I'm feeling on the inside will reflect how I feel on the outside. The other day, I had a dentist appointment, and instead of waiting for the bus that was running late, I decided to walk up the hill. It was hot as hell, but I did it. Being able to put on my jeans that were once tight and uncomfortable to baggy is an accomplishment! But above all, my butt is BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!!! It was on a hiatus for the longest time, but it's back! *GIVES SELF A HAND CLAP* 

Now I've set more goals for myself! Like I want to lose another 10-20 pounds by the end of August. That may be an unrealistic goal, but it's a goal. At my highest, I was 341. I'm not 322.2. I'll definitely be under 300 pounds before the end of the year! I'm so excited to just be in a healthier state. I'm so blessed and thankful that I don't have any pre-existing health issues other than my Vitamin D deficiency. If you knew me personally, you'd know that I just naturally have so much energy. I love that about me. I know you'd see those commercials where people were depressed about their size. I knew I was sexy and still am sexy. I wanted to make that clear. This isn't about a size or anything, but HEALTH! Health is important no matter how big or small you are. I love that about Weight Watchers because I've been able to lose weight without RESTRICTING MYSELF OF FOOD THAT I LOVE! I am smarter about what I eat as far as daily points. But if I want an ice cream, I will eat it. If I want brownies, I will eat it. If I want a CHEESESTEAK, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE THING TO EAT, DAMNIT I WILL EAT IT!!