Well, this is actually nothing new for me. Since about August 09 I have been eating differently. I have consumed a lot more fruit and vegetables. I watch my portion sizes. With that being said, I am not one for deprivation. It makes no sense to me. Self control issues are one thing, but to starve yourself with ridiculous diets one after another is foolish. You cheat your body out of the necessary calories and nutrition that it needs just for normal function, just to maintain a level of homeostasis and multiple chemical/cellular reactions throughout the day. I hate diets because again, they are the quick and easy way out. It's like a sure way of failing. Dieting is a set-up. It's a multi-billion dollar conspiracy!!!! Why, because it's a roller coaster. They're very difficult to maintain and if you do lose weight your more than likely, I mean, almost guaranteed to gain it right back because while your dieting your not being shown how to eat the right things. Your normally isolating certain things from your diet. People, think about the vampire movies and maybe this is a horrible analogy, but there is always a good guy who wants to do right and has some type of synthetic solution to replace the desire for blood. I say that, to say that in the movies the hunger always wins right? Corny, I know, but nonetheless true. The hunger will always win because it's as natural as breathing. You have to eat, no way around it. So go on all these crazy diets if you want, but when your ready to really, really make a difference in your weight and health you'll realize that it is a complete lifestyle change. You'll see when you cross that bridge.

This is gets very overwhelming for me sometimes, too. I'm just a normal “Jane Doe”. I'm a twenty-five year old married mother of two, a five-year old and a two-year old. My hubby is always on over the road. I work full-time and still have to find energy and time in between cooking, cleaning, homework, bath time, reading time, etc to exercise. I had an emergency c-section that tore me apart. My stomach muscles even after two years just aren't the same and I struggle with my core all the time. I say start of with one thing at a time. For instance, start with smaller portion sizes for a few weeks. Then move on to incorporating more veggies and fruits. After a few weeks of that, add in the exercise but do not overwhelm yourself or you'll end up quitting. Transition slowly and then gain momentum and add on according to your desires.

My Healthy Lifestyle Regimen

• As I said in the beginning I have been eating healthier and experimenting with green smoothies for a few months now.
  
• I exercise about 3-4 times a week. I use a DVD schedule that I made (13+ DVDs and several different workouts to mix it up) along with an elliptical machine. I motivate myself and include my children. I'm beginning to see my hubby come around and have an interest in getting his 360+ lbs in check.
  
• Do not forget Cardio exercise, You need to condition your heart and cardio is what is going to burn the most calories and shed the fat.
  
• I drink at least 64oz daily. The amount of water you drink is widely debatable so I just stick with two mandatory jugs. I have a 32oz water bottle that I fill up twice daily and I can't drink any other type of beverage until I've had all of the water throughout the day. This is extremely difficult for me so I reward myself. Once I get down to the 16oz mark I allow myself to mix one of the flavor packs to it. It's my own little incentive.
  
• I take multivitamins.
  
• I don't eat breakfast. It messes with my stomach. I will usually have a mid-morning snack (granola bar, yogurt parfait, etc.) I have a mid-afternoon snack also(trail mix, usually home made, granola bar, sometimes I will finish up my lunch or some other light snack)
  
• I try to have a salad with every meal before I dig into the rest of my food. I remember the size of my stomach and I never force myself to eat just because there's food still on my plate. If I have food leftover that I never touched I'll take it for lunch, no need to waste it. If you recognize when your full it will become easier for you to control your portion sizes while fixing your plate.
  
• I eat slowly unless I'm starving :) A lot of times when I eat fast (as in inhaling food), I end up eating a heck of a lot more food. I look down and I've eaten a whole bag of something or I'm sitting here feeling full and miserable because I didn't stop and rushed.
  
• My cheat day is Saturday. When I first created my cheat day I thought I would go crazy and cancel out all of my hard work during the week on this one day, but the more I got into my lifestyle change I realized how important the outcome was for me and even though it is a cheat day I am still programmed to have self-control.
  
• I do not count calories. I do, however, look at serving sizes and sodium intake. I get dehydrated very easily and it causes other issues with me that aren't so pleasant so I watch my sodium and water intake.
  
• Last but not least, I am part of a fitness challenge at my place of employment that officially starts February 4th , 2010. I got measured and I even wanted to show you semi-starter pics but there isn't a good enough reason to convince hubby that I need to be on here showing the goods, lol! Maybe I'll take a couple of pics throughout this journey. Anyway the participants are all measured and pinched. I had no idea that I had a lot of fat until I walked out of that place. She was pinching my skin, it was funny and a teeny, tiny bit embarrassing. The challenge ends in August/September 2010. It is about losing body fat percentage, most inches lost, most weight lost, etc. There are several categories and a winner or two for each category. We were all weighed and measured and will have another weight assessment in March.
  

So these are my measurements:
Weight:167
Height: 5'5''
Goal Weight: 155( I like my curves. I'm here to tone. I enjoy my thickness, but I was happy at this weight)
Biceps: 12”
Bust: 37”
Waist: 32” (I really would like to get back to 27-29”)
Hips: 44”
Thighs: 25”

Trail Mix-very simple
3 cups almonds- non-salted
1 cup or less of everything else

Hydratherma Naturals(HN) Amino Plus, Protein Deep Conditioning Treatment
HN Sample Pack-2oz $25
http://www.healthyhairjourney.com/
Dates of Usage: 1/1/2010- 1/24/2010

Product Description:
This deep protein conditioning treatment strengthens the hair and prevents breakage. With just one use, you will see and feel a difference. This treatment contains an exceptional and unique complex of structurizing proteins, all of different molecular weights. These proteins penetrate deep within the hair shaft producing benefits like no single protein can. Enriched with 10 amino acids, vitamins and botanical extracts. Strengthens each hair strand and protects the hair from harsh weather. Also provides sunscreen protection. Your hair will look and feel terrific. Superb for all hair types. For best results, use with other Hydratherma Naturals brand products.

Directions:
Shampoo hair with Hydratherma Naturals shampoo of choice. Gently towel blot hair and saturate hair with conditioner from root to tip. Cover head with plastic cap and sit under warm dryer for 10-20 minutes then rinse with warm water. You may comb through with wide tooth comb before rinsing out the treatment to gently remove tangles.If unable to deep condition under dryer apply a warm towel to your head after applying a plastic cap and leave on for at least 15 minutes. Follow with Hydratherma Naturals Moisture / Protein Balance Leave-In Conditioner. For best results, alternate Hydratherma Naturals, Amino Plus Protein Deep Conditioning Treatment with Hydratherma Naturals, Moisture Boosting Deep Conditioner weekly.

My Experience:
The scent reminds me of the "Baked Beans" candy I used to eat as a child. I know sounds gross, they were actually pretty good and they were really roasted peanuts with a hardened candy crust. Anyway, it has a really creamy texture. I found this dc to do exactly what it says it would do. It added strength to my hair without the drying or stiffness that protein dc's can add. Again, I am pleased, but honestly I was kind of expecting wow!!! from these products. My experience with the HN line is getting better so I look forward to trying my other samples.

I would use this product again, I don't guess I would buy it as a staple, but it did exactly what it was supposed to do. It was just blah and I already have a protein dc in mind that I compare my others to and this one doesn't beat my Joico. I'm not sure there are any out there that can beat Joico KPAK and Motions CPR, but b/c I have so many products in my pj stash I will use each and every one of my products up.

STAPLE STATUS: No

Ingredients:
Water/Aqua, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phytonadione, Pyridoxine HCL, Biotin, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Fragrance/Parfum, Methyl Gluceth-10, PEG-45M, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. PARABEN FREE

UP NEXT: CHI Infra Treatment(After this protein dc only one more to try and then I will know protein dc staples)

DISCLAIMER- Whether my review is good, bad or downright ugly, I am in no way affiliated with any of the aforementioned products. I am a consumer and I purchase all of the aforementioned products with my husband's hard-earned money. I am a self-made pj without any reimbursement or acknowledgement from any product companies.

809 Estrella Honey & Almond w/ Lanolin Treatment $6.99/16oz
http://www.beautyofnewyork.com/
Dates of Usage: 1/1/2010- 1/20/2010
Usage: A dc with/without heat, dry dc,


Product Claim:
"This exclusive formula is specifically designed for color treated hair or hair with fading colors. It restores and moisturizes the hair fibers, giving your hair the vitamins and brightness that it loses when tinted. It makes your hair soft, bright, gentle and easy to comb. This formula gets these effects because of the minerals, nutrients, oils and vitamins extracted from honey and almond."-Verbatim off bottle

Directions:
Wash hair with Honey and Almond Shampoo. Apply Honey and Almond Treatment while massaging. Allow it to work for 2 to 3 minutes depending on hair conditions, rinse.


My Experience:
This product is pink in color. It has a floral, artificial honey-type of scent. It wasn't overwhelming, yet I still had to get used to it b/c it lingers and to me it was reminiscent of a pissy diaper. IDK, maybe the artificial honey scent.

Anyhow, on to it's use. This dc left my hair with a thick feel, possibly due to the lanolin. It also gave me amazing slip, I'm sure not moisture but great slip. It was great with and without heat. At first I thought it was moisture until I noticed how dry my hair would be a few days later, leaving me to dry dc and cowash, which I haven't done in awhile.

This product is difficult to find and is now discontinued, no surprise. The 16oz jar was discontinued when I ordered so they shipped me 2-8oz jars. I knew then that this would not be something I would restock due to product security. Nonetheless, I liked this product, it was okay. How could I say that? Well, during the wash there was no damage to my hair, and after the wash I could m&s properly to counteract the dryness so I only noticed the extra dryness after a braid out. It wasn't really all that bad for a non-staple dc.

The ingredients are really nothing special. There are lots of big, "no-no" ingredients, yet it wasn't a horrible experience. Would I recommend this product? No, as someone who doesn't really care about ingredients, I was quite offended by this ingredient list, too much of the wrong stuff and not enough of the advertised ingredients.

STAPLE STATUS: NO

Ingredients:
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Petroleum, Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride(Softening/antistatic agent), Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Mineral Oil, Methyl Paraben, Lanolin, D&C #6, D&C #5, Almond Essence Oil, Fragrance

UP NEXT: Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol Conditioning Treatment
***I actually have one more moisture dc after this one to try and review and then I am finished with looking for my staple moisture dc's.***

DISCLAIMER- I am in no way affiliated with any of the aforementioned products. I am a consumer and I purchase all of the aforementioned products with my husband's hard-earned money. I am a self-made pj without any reimbursement or acknowledgement from any product companies.

Okay so we all know my blog is called, relaxed, long way 2 grow. Well I'm relaxing and truth is, don't we all have a long way 2 grow in so many more ways than just one(hair). Well, I've decided that I am also going to share my quest to a greater more fulfilled life with GOD, my health, and my family.

We have been in Texas collectively for about 6+ yrs and the children and I have been to church collectively throughout the entire time about 2 months total, again not consistently. I feel that my life is definitely missing GOD. I miss him, however I still remember being burned out. Does anyone remember Steve Harvey's joke about going to church any and every time the doors were open for Sunday school, prayer meets, sleep in, bible school, vacation school, youth board, usher board, choir practice, praise team, revivals, well that was me all the way. Now don't get me wrong I love church and fellowship and I miss it dearly but unlike a yr ago, I want to start off slow with involvement and make sure that I am in the right "toolbox" (church) so that the Lord can use me(I'm but a tool for the Lord) according to his will. I have been invited to church by many of my patients and I kid you not, I had a whole week where it seemed like every other patient kept giving me hints about going to church. Funny thing was, they all kept saying the same thing, " Don't put your life/job/hubby/children before GOD". I heard this endlessly and had too many church invites that I didn't know which one to choose. Shamefully, I haven't been to any of them. Nevertheless, I knew it was GOD talking to me. Why else would these people who know nothing about this friendly face at their appointment come out of the blue to tell me these things. We're planning on going this Sunday so pray for us as I pray that the Lord will lead us and anyone else seeking him to a church family they can call home.

Hair/Health Update :

1) HAIR: I didn’t get a relaxer yesterday b/c stylist forgot appt so I ORDERED it from bluebeez.com and will now get back to self-relaxing. I am so sick of trying to hunt a good stylist down. It’s like I have bad luck with stylists. One of my favorites got pregnant, moved her shop and then increased the price of a relaxer from $55 to $90 and told me that when I do long stretches(in her opinion anything past 6 weeks) it would cost extra. So, NEXT!!!! Really nice lady, results nice, but not as great as I expected them to be. I didn’t have the fresh from the salon-look going on when I left. It was above average, but still quite average. The next person was my absolute favorite, but he no longer does hair FT so availability has now become an issue. So long story short, I’ll be doing them myself from now on. Heck, I’ve been doing my own since I was 14yrs old. It has been the last year that I have been venturing out to find someone worthy of doing my chemical treatments.

2) HEALTH: I haven’t had that many smoothies lately b/c I’ve been too cheap to buy any fruit. I’ll probably go buy some this weekend

3)

EXERCISE: I organized all of my favorite and most challenging fitness DVD’s 2 days ago. I made an excel spreadsheet with 7 columns (days of the week) and 5 rows (wks). I think filled up the spreadsheets with all of the many workouts. For me this works great because now I have an “inmyface” plan. I planned it out carefully dividing them into Cardio, Fitness Quickies (20mins or less), Strength Training and Balance & Flexibility. From here I determined that I want to work out a max of 3-4days a week given my 19lbs goal. The more challenging workouts I do only 3 times a week and the others, 4 days or so. I throw in a fitness quickie on rest days- 10-20min Pilates or a 10 min abs routine.

Each sheet is a 2 month rotation, for example Jan. & Feb, Mar. & Apr. and so on. I wanted to do this to give my body variety and also so I wouldn’t get bored or only pick my favorites. I go week by week. No two weeks are the same; I wanted every week to be different. My rest days are never the same. Sometimes, I workout back-to-back and other weeks the days will be spread out. My food cheat day is Saturday, yet I still add on a few weekend workout days.

This has helped me exponentially because ‘whenever I felt like exercising’ meant that I missed quite a few days. Not to mention, it takes the guessing out of which DVD I want to do.