Hair Slips: A Beautiful Disaster

Saw this video on Urban Bush Babes blog and fell in love with it. Great inspiration for transitioners and naturals.

Happy transitioning!!!

Monique

Health Slips: Whole30 Week 3 Meal Plan

So, It's now week 3 of my Whole30 challenge which I'm doing semi well on. I do very well during the week because I mostly cook and eat at home but on the weekends its another story. I normally only eat breakfast at home on Saturday and Sunday and its normally a late breakfast so by the evening time I am starving. Another reason I have been cheating a bit is because I'm out somewhere that don't have anything I can eat which I stated in my last post. Luckily, my cheating has been so minimal that I don't think it will make a big difference in the results I have been getting from the challenge. I also believe I will continue to follow my meal plans even after I complete the challenge. I'm really beginning to embrace not eating most of the stuff I was eating on a daily basis....but anywhooo here's my meal plan for this week:

Monday:

• Breakfast: Protein box from Starbucks. I didn't have anything to fix for breakfast :(
• Lunch: Left overs from my dinner on Saturday from Pappadeaux's. Grilled Tilapia with spaghetti squash and a orange
• Dinner: Chicken Tikka Masala with cauliflower substitute for rice

Tuesday:

• Breakfast: Two hard boiled eggs and a black berry, blue berry, strawberry, flax seed and coconut milk smooothie.
• Lunch: Left over dinner from Monday
• Dinner: Southwestern Tilapia, spinach, and carrots...recipe  http://nutmegnotebook.com/2010/09/baked-southwestern-tilapia/

Wednesday:

• Breakfast:  Two hard boiled eggs, bacon and a black berry, blue berry, strawberry, flax seed and coconut milk smooothie.
• Lunch: Left overs from Tuesday
• Dinner: Pesto Salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, and broccoli

Recipe for Wed. dinner....http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2008/01/foil-baked-salmon-recipe-with-basil.html

Thursday:

• Breakfast:  Two hard boiled eggs, bacon and a black berry, blue berry, strawberry, flax seed and coconut milk smooothie.
• Lunch: Left overs from Wednesday
• Dinner Spaghetti squash, ground turkey, diced tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms.

Friday: 

• Breakfast:  Two hard boiled eggs, bacon, and a black berry, blue berry, strawberry, flax seed and coconut milk smooothie.
• Lunch: Left overs from Thursday
• Dinner: most likely eat out or leftovers from Monday

Saturday and Sunday:

• Breakfast: Cowboy breakfast skillet here's the recipe  http://www.health-bent.com/pork/paleo-cowboy-breakfast-skillet.
• Lunch: I usually skip or have a snack before my weekly runs
• Dinner: Out somewhere

There you go....week 3. After this week I'll have one more week to go and I'm done...Well somewhat done. I have to say it really does get easier after the first week and I am feeling a lot better these days. The one thing I notice is the decrease in my stomach and bloating.....no bloating. I also feel a different type of energy daily. Its hard to explain but my energy level is different and better. None of that high energy and then crash type of feeling. I love it. Its really worth the sacrifice of all the bad/good tasty things I used to eat. Until next week....

Happy Transitioning!

Monique 

Hair Slips: Nappy Love Houston Meet & Greet

This past Saturday I went to my first natural hair meetup here in Houston. I had such a wonderful time chatting with other naturals about transitioning and hair care. There was a lot of beautiful ladies there and all of them had gorgeous hair. Here a few pictures from the event:

Photos are courtesy of VIP Studios

Joy and Riyike the host for event

Rocking a braid out with two cool chicks I met at the bar while waiting for our tables. The one in the middle has these really cool yarn braids...yes her hair was really braided with yarn. 

I won a giveaway for Afro Angel Oragnics

Review coming soon of her hair products

All of the current transitioners and our Carol's Daughter transitioning kits

Review coming soon

Group photo with some of the lovely ladies I met

Going home with loads of goodies to try

I had such a great time and I think for people transitioning like me these events are great to go to and learn from those who have already completely transitioned and are fully natural. The awesome thing is that everyone there transitioned for the same reasons they just got tired of putting harmful chemicals on their hair and scalp. I feels great not having the burning feeling on my scalp and not smelling those harmful chemicals I was  putting on my hair. I love that it takes half the time to do my hair now and that my hair is so much healthier now. I will be trying my new goodies soon and I'll post a review for you guys. Also I'm due for a length check since I started my hair vitamins...look for that in the next couple of days. Until then....

Happy Transitioning!

Monique

Health Slips: Whole30 Week 2 Meal Plan

This weeks meal plan for my Whole30 Challenge. Last week I did well until the weekend mostly due to the fact that the weekends for me is usually spent out and about so its difficult to adhere to the diet plan when there is not much you can eat where you go. I have decided that I will follow the diet to a T during the week but if I'm at an event that has nothing I can eat that is allowed than I'm going to cheat a bit because I can't starve. I will do myself to take snacks though. If at a restaurant I will do my best to order something on the menu that is allowed rather than ordering what I want and getting a stomach ache after.

So, here's this weeks meal plan:

Monday:

• Breakfast - two boiled eggs, strawberries, and grape tomatoes.
• Lunch - can of white tuna, chopped roma tomato, chopped cucumber, chopped avocado, and a little bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Dinner - Chicken Tikka Masala and cauliflower as a rice sub (the sauce I'm using have a couple of no no ingredients but whatev)

Tuesday:

• Breakfast - ground pork, scrabble eggs, sweet potato hash, and berries. 
• Snack - banana
• Lunch - left overs from Monday
• Snack - almonds and a orange
• Dinner - Baked salmon, green beans, and mashed sweet potato

Wednesday:

• Breakfast -  ground pork, scrabble eggs, sweet potato hash, and berries.
• Snack - banana
• Lunch - left overs from Tuesday
• Snack - almonds and a pear
• Dinner - Turkey burger minus the bun topped with sauteed spinach, mushrooms, and avocado. Side of roasted sweet potatoes 

Thursday: 

• Breakfast -  ground pork, scrabble eggs, sweet potato hash, and berries.
• Snack - banana
• Lunch - left overs from Wednesday
• Snack - almonds and a orange
• Dinner - Spicy lime shrimp salad with avocado, cilantro, spinach and white wine vinegar and olive oil dressing. 

Friday:

• Breakfast -  ground pork, scrabble eggs, sweet potato hash, and berries.
• Snack - banana
• Lunch - leftovers from Thursday
• Snack - almonds and a pear
• Dinner - eat out

Saturday and Sunday:

Not sure what the plan is because I usually skip meals due to sleeping in or running errands. Typically eat out for dinner.

There it is for week 2. If anyone is following my blog then hopefully this is helpful to you if you are on the challenge as well. 

Happy Transitioning!!!

Monique

Health Slips: Whole30 Week 2

I'm starting week 2 of the whole30 diet tomorrow and I have to say I'm a little disappointed in myself. All last week I did really well staying strict to the diet plan and only eating what was allowed but than the weekend came. I think the hardest part about this diet is going to outings and there not being anything you can eat that is allowed. Sooooooooo, I cheated a bit. I had a little bit of cheese, french fries, a little bit of chips, little bit of rice, half a cookie, half a cup of beer....so forth. Sunday was the worst. For Mother's Day breakfast I decided to order french toast. I don't know what it was...maybe the sugar but my stomach was really hurting today after breakfast. I should have just gotten eggs, bacon, and fruit but yeah. After dealing with an upset stomach, which is what usually forces me to stop eating certain foods, I've decided that I am going to stay strict with the plan but allow myself some no nos when there is nothing available I can eat. I think my biggest accomplishment was the no alcohol part of the diet. I have tried and failed going off of beer and alcohol many of times but for some reason right now I just don't have the urge the drink. I had a half a cup of beer Saturday and today only because one was a home brew I wanted to try and the other I just wanted a taste of it because it was new to me. On the upside I have been doing really well with my water challenge and have been drink more than enough water for the past few weeks. I was going pretty strong with my hair growth vitamins but I have been skipping them a bit lately...meh.

This week I plan to get back to the gym. Last week I did not work out at all except for a 7 mile run/walk on Thursday. Due to withdrawals from my camp out weekend binge fest I was very fatigued and motivation for working out was very low. I have to say that Thursday was a good run for me. The type of energy I had felt a bit different from my normal energy level and I ran a bit more than normal. Today's run wasn't so great but I think its associated with the breakfast I had or at least  I think it is.

Anywhoo, I haven't planned my meals for the week yet but I will do it tomorrow and post what I'll be eating for the week. For the most part tomorrow I plan on making chicken curry with cauliflower for a rice substitute so I'm hoping it turns out well. I'm praying this week I hold true the diet plan...maybe week 2 won't be as hard as last week.

Happy Transitioning!!!

Monique

Hair Slips: My Hair Survived a Camp Out Weekend

So, my hair and I survived this weekends camp out with my running group. I was so worried because I haven't exposed my hair to any really harsh conditions until now that I did know how I was going to manage. I took a duffle bag of my hair stuff with me and paid very close attention to my hair the whole weekend. With having two textures of hair right now (relaxed and natural hair) I have to be very careful with my hair because I don't want it breaking to much. 

My hair regimen this weekend:

The first night I just put leave in conditioner in my hair after playing in the river most of the night. Saturday I did a co-wash at some point in the day and anytime I felt my hair was dry I put some leave-in conditioner in it. Sunday I did a wash with my Giovanni 50/50 shampoo, conditioned, added leave in-conditioner, and my shea butter. When I finally got home Sunday evening I washed again with my shampoo and then did a deep conditioner for about a hour followed up with some leave-in and shea butter. 

Along with all this I did keep my hair in a clip all weekend and tried to protect my ends as much as possible. The most my hair was dry dry was after riding on the jet ski on the river. I think all the wind took a big toll on my hair. My tip for anyone that will be attending a camp out or going to be swimming all weekend on a trip just remember to get your hair moisturized. Co-washing and using my Giovanni leave-in really helped out a lot. Protective styles are also helpful too. 

Happy Transitioning!

Monique

Health Slips: Week 1 of Whole30

This is week one of my attempt to do the Whole30 diet program. If you don't know what it is read my previous post with information on the diet plan. Here is just a run down of my meal plan for the week. The only way to get myself through this diet for the next month I have to plan my meals and reduce how often I eat out. The hardest part is going to be giving up alcohol/beer but we'll see how I do this weekend. 

Week 1 meal plan:

Breakfast everyday this week will be:

• ground turkey patty
• hard boil egg
• strawberries, black berries, and pear

Snacks in between breakfast and lunch will be a banana and carrots in between lunch and dinner

Lunch is usually left overs from the previous night's dinner.Friday lunch will be Tuna with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and pack of carrots. 

Dinner this week:

• Monday
• Turkey burger minus the bun with sauteed spinach and avocado
• Roasted herb sweet potatoes
• Tuesday
• Tilapia
• broccoli
• carrots
• Wednesday
• Chicken thighs
• Yellow squash
• green beans
• Thursday
• I plan to eat out 
• Friday
• I plan to eat out
• Saturday
• I plan to eat out

Thursday through Saturday I plan to eat out for dinner because I have runs with my running group and happy hour with them on Friday. I will most likely do a salad or something on the menu where ever we go that is within the guidelines. 

Tonight's dinner turned out so well and was really good. You definitely have to be creative with this diet but you can do it if you plan your meals wisely and look for recipes online that work or you can alter to fit the program.I've very creative in the kitchen so maybe I'll post some recipes for you guys. Main thing is to just keep it simple.

Happy Transitioning!

Monique

Health Slips: The Whole 30 Challenge

So, I've decided to take on yet another challenge. For the past week and a half I have been doing a hair growth and water challenge which has actually been going well. I have been keeping up with my supplements and drinking about 2.5 liters of water per day (the recommended dosage for my size and activity level). I still have about 2 more weeks to go with that challenge before I check my hair growth so why not add another challenge to my load. This year is all about me going natural and bettering my health. I'm a pretty healthy person but I still have some bad eating habits I want to kick for good. I heard about this program from a friend and decided I would look into it. I have tried a similar diet before and failed but I think this time might be a little better because I'm motivated to getting healthier this year. 


What is the Whole 30 Program?


Its pretty much a paleo diet that includes only eating meat, veggies, fruit, healthy oils, and seeds. With this healthy eating plan you pretty much stop eating all the foods that have a negative effect on the body. According to the website for this program they state that this type of diet helps decrease various health issues, increase energy, and overall fitness. 


What are the rules to this program?
*All information have been taken from the Whole9 website 

Eat real food – meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re totally natural and unprocessed. 

More importantly, here’s what NOT to eat during the duration of your Whole30 program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages will help you regain your healthy metabolism, reduce systemic inflammation, and help you discover how these foods are truly impacting your health, fitness and quality of life.

• Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. Read your labels because companies sneak sugar into products in ways you might not recognize.

• Do not consume alcohol, in any form, not even for cooking. (And it should go without saying, but no tobacco products of any sort, either.)

• Do not eat grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, millet, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, buckwheat, sprouted grains and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains like quinoa. Yes, we said corn… for the purposes of this program, corn is a grain! This also includes all the ways we add wheat, corn and rice into our foods in the form of bran, germ, starch and so on. Again, read your labels.

• Do not eat legumes. This includes beans of all kinds (black, red, pinto, navy, white, kidney, lima, fava, etc.), peas, chickpeas, lentils, and peanuts. No peanut butter, either. This also includes all forms of soy – soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and all the ways we sneak soy into foods (like lecithin).

• Do not eat dairy. This includes cow, goat or sheep’s milk products such as cream, cheese (hard or soft), kefir, yogurt (even Greek), and sour cream… with the exception of clarified butter or ghee. (See below for details.)

• Do not consume carrageenan, MSG or sulfites. If these ingredients appear in any form on the label of your processed food or beverage, it’s out for the Whole30.

• Do not eat white potatoes. This is somewhat arbitrary, but if we are trying to change your habits and improve the hormonal impact of your food choices, it’s best to leave white, red, purple, Yukon gold and fingerling potatoes off your plate. 

In addition, no Paleo-ifying dessert or junk food choices! We call this “Sex With Your Pants On” (SWYPO), and it will ruin your Whole30 faster than you can say, “Paleo pizza.” Do not try to shove your old, unhealthy diet into a shiny new Whole30 mold. This means no “Paleo-fying” desserts or junk food – no Paleo pancakes, pizza, brownies or ice cream. Trying to replicate junk food with “technically approved” ingredients misses the point of the Whole30 entirely.

One last and final rule. You are not allowed to step on the scale or take any body measurements for the duration of the program. This is about so much more than just weight loss, and to focus on your body composition means you’ll miss out on the most dramatic and lifelong benefits this plan has to offer. So, no weighing yourself, analyzing body fat or taking comparative measurements duringyour Whole30. (We do encourage you to weigh yourself before and after, however, so you can see one of the more tangible results of your efforts when your program is over.)

Here's the link to the website so that you guys can read up about to program and decided if its something you will like to try. 

Whole30 Challenge

I'll be starting this diet on Monday after my running groups spring camp out. I'm planning to use this weekend to pig out on all the stuff I'll be giving up for the next month and so forth. I'm hoping I can keep this diet going longer than a month but we'll see. 

Happy Transitioning!!!

Monique