A Strong Person Gets Help

This weekend has been an unbelievable weekend for myself and my family. I don't want to go into any details just yet (it's still a touchy topic), but I learned a lot about someone close to me and how strong this person can be.

As women, we carry everything on our shoulders and wear our hearts on our sleeves. Some of us our prideful creatures and we're afraid to ask for help; and asking for mental health help sometimes is seen as a sign of weakness. Don't carry more than you can handle and ALWAYS ASK FOR HELP.

Don't hurt yourself or the people around you any longer! I just wanted to just touch on this a little. Maybe it will help someone in their time of need.

For more information on mental health look on these websites:

National Institute for Mental Health

Mental Health America

For Indianapolis: Mental Health America

For Puerto Rico: Inspira Mental Health

Janelle

Phat Like Me & Nite Nite Hair

I'm so happy! In December of last year, as I've said before, I was diagnosed with diabetes. My doctor filled my medicine cabinets with high blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and diabetic meds. I was taking the same medicines as my grandmother. That's when I woke up, I have to start looking at my body and really start changing how I'm treating myself. Well, as of Monday, I've lost 18 pounds!!!  

It's been crazy hard. I do well for a week...fall off...get so busy I don't eat or just grab trifling food. It's a learning process, but I'm taking it day by day. People are starting to notice my weight loss and my clothes are getting loose; some I have to buy in a smaller size! I'm just so proud of myself. I'm going to stop gloating now and start my new nightly hair regimen.

I LOVE my natural hair. I didn't about a year or so ago, but I'm starting to really cherish my hair in all it's glory. Tonight, I'm dry twisting it. I started with a wash-n-go, but I'm too lazy to do two strand twist.

What I used tonight: Organic Root Stimulator Coconut Oil, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Shea Moisture Reconstructive Elixir, Ms. Liz Magic Leave In Conditioner (My stylist's concoction of her homemade leave in she uses. It is a special formula of different oils, conditioners and water. She won't even tell me what she puts in it. She sells it for $5.)

I would NEVER leave the house in my two strand twist, definitely not doing that in the dry twist. Me fresh face almost ready to for bed. Need to put on my bonnet and crash...

Finished dry twist. I don't make them pretty, it's just to give my fro some definition.

I will take pictures and post tomorrow so you can see how they turned out. I need to work on my flat twist and cornrolling; one of these days!!

Family Wednesday: What's For Lunch?

I remember as a child, the cafeteria was the Wall Street of food. Kids would bring lunches from home. Your lunch would determine your status in the lunchroom; any cupcakes or Twinkies you were considered first class and cookies middle class. No sweet was disappointing or turned away.

Having a character lunchbox was a plus too! Choosing a lunchbox highlighting your favorites shows, cartoons, characters and having the same as your friends was so COOL!!! Taking a lunch to school also set the mood for later when you got home.  Your feelings toward your parents depended on your lunch status for the day. Winter days included soup in the matching lunchbox thermos. Chicken noodles and tomato soups were my favorite...and don't forget the crackers! I remembered a time when we went outside and played; we didn't sit in the house in front of the TV or a video game.

Moving on to 2011...today we are having a huge FOOD FIGHT!!! Today we are dealing with food allergies, food nutrient and special diets (no pork, red meat and vegan). Some schools are sounding off on what your child can or cannot eat; taking the pop machines out of the school, no white flour, no sugar, no processed food or fast food.

So next time you pack your child lunch, add more fruits and vegetables. Give them flavored water and make their sandwiches on whole grain bread.

The school systems wants to give our children healthy choices, but they want to take away gym, health classes and recess. With this being done, teachers and staff must eat healthy lunches to show the students they believe in this method; no soda, no fast food nor takeout food for them.

Parents, fight for your kids’right on what they can eat.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110411/us_yblog_thelookout/chicago-school-bans-homemade-lunches-the-latest-in-national-food-fight

~Takia

Let's Get Physical

Lately the media is focusing on the younger generation; labeling them as the fattest generation. What has happen over these the years? Are families sitting on the couch more? Are parents allowing children to eat more? I noticed the past generations was more physical; they had to walk to school, church, or work and not everyone could not afford car or bus fare. Riding a bike was another past time children enjoyed. So encouraging our children to ride their bikes can be easy for some parents. but some children are glued to their TV or video controllers.

These children are becoming husky, busty or just thick before their time. Is it something in the food or genetics? Some parents are in denial calling it baby fat when their child is looking like Baby Huey. It’s time for us parents to step up and take charge of our family's health. We need to change our eating habits. Becoming an active family is not hard, there are so many activities families can do.

Here a few PHYSICAL Activities.

• Bowling

• Skating

• Field games (Kickball, volleyball, basketball, football, baseball)

• Walking

• Swimming

• Dancing

Those are activities you can invite another families to join the fun.

From elementary we are taught exercising is very important to our body. We have some school systems removing Physical Education to make the budget, while you have some kids out of breath by the time they walk up a flight of stairs. Let the school systems know that you support Physical Education programs.

Last year, our First Lady launches a campaign LET MOVE!!

For more ideas and resource check out

http://www.letsmove.gov/

~Takia

Weekend Love: Good or Bad Hair?

I've been fighting with my hair for over six years. I went natural for the first time about six years ago. No reason really; just wanted something new. 

I've been getting perms...or relaxers...whatever you want to call them...since I was 10 years old. The relaxer didn't make my hair break off. Besides the occasional scalp burns, the creamy crack didn't bother me. I got tired of the whole cost factor of getting your hair "did". Some black women spend more money on their hair and hair care products than they spend on their bills. I've seen women go without major necessities in order to get their hair done. I mean women trying to decide on whether to pay their light bill or get a touch up.

I wanted to save money and make a step in the direction of an all natural lifestyle, something I struggle with and still trying to achieve daily. 

Some women and men think that natural hair is nappy hair or bad hair. I have that internal struggle with myself everyday! I get really discourage with my hair. I want my hair to get wet and instantly look like Rachel True's glamorous locks. (Which will NEVER happen...Ms. True is Biracial.) I get discourage, I don't feel "pretty" and go back to the creamy crack. 

Rachel True (pic from actors.com)

When I flirt with natural hair, I'm not comfortable with it, so I hide it with wigs and pieces. Even last night I had a natural meltdown. I changed into four outfits only to realize I didn't like my hair and I slopped my wig back on my head. 

On Sunday, I attended Felicia Leatherwood's Loving Your Natural Hair Workshop here in Indianapolis. Ms. Leatherwood is a hair stylist out of Los Angeles who does hair for Jill Scott, Sanaa Latham, Terrence Howard and many more. So when it was broadcast she would be here in Indy. I was one of the first to buy a ticket. We even got product junkie swag bags!!! I love FREE stuff!

I learned so much from the workshops; techniques, eating healthy, styles. But what I learned most is to embrace my natural hair and LOVE MYSELF. Felicia told us to go home and for the next two weeks, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself THREE times a day. I challenge you to do the same thing. Let's see how we fill within two weeks time. In the meantime, I'm going to ween myself of my wigs and start being comfortable with what God put on my head; a glorious head of thick healthy tightly coiled hair.

Here are some pics from the Loving Your Natural Hair Workshop:

Felicia Leatherwood speaking to the audience.

Our free product junkie swag bags...A LOT of GREAT stuff!

MC of the festivities, Kyla Williamson.

Felicia demonstrating how to moisturize hair and a quick style remedy.

MC Kyla Williamson with Felicia Yvette Hooks, the woman who brought Felicia Leatherwood to Indy to speak.

Felicia continually told the audience, if we had any questions about our hair or hair products to contact her on her Facebook page and her website (Lovingyourhairworkshop.com). I invite you to do that. She answers her emails personally and is SO knowledgeable about ALL things hair...even Caucasian and Latina hair.

Really? Neti Pots

My boyfriend has horrible sinus problems. He was told by his doctors not even surgery could help. It's so bad it affects his sense of smell and taste. I've been trying to get him to try alternative methods to help him with his situation. I suggested a neti pot for YEARS...literally since we've been together. So while we were at the store this weekend, he snuck a cylinder similar to a neti pot in the cart. Men are so typical!

Neti pots are supposed to help remove all the toxins, impurities and nasty gunk from your nostrils and sinus cavity. Getting rid of the impurities in your body helps to ward off illness and give you energy. People practicing Holistic medicine and some doctors swear by neti pots.You put the spout in one nostril, bend your head down, make sure your mouth is OPEN and you're BREATHING (notice this is in caps...because someone almost drowned themselves) and squeeze or pour depending on the type of pot you have. The saline solution should come out of your other nostril; washing away any impurities you may have hiding in your cavities. 

Okay...this process was HILARIOUS and we laughed until we cried. You're supposed to do it twice a day; but he's only done it twice since Monday. He really notices a difference in his breathing. Ummm do we have something here? Really?

WARNING: The pictures you're about to see are not for the easily squeamish!

Hahahahaha...he's going to kill me for posting these!

Janelle

Reflection: October is Breast Cancer Month

As many of you know by now October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  Last November, I noticed a lump in my breast. I lost both parents to cancer, so I took this lump seriously. I made my appointment to have a mammogram done in January.  

 I was nervous because I heard stories of pain and discomfort while having the procedure done.  The day came for me to go to my appointment and my husband went me for support. I remembered hearing the door close as I departed him and changed into a gown. All I could think of was our life together. I thought about our kids and my parents.   

 I see this intimidating machine. I say to myself, "that's supposed to smoosh my breast"?  I recalled how my husband's grandmother described the procedure, smooshing your breasts into a pancake. I held still as the machine took pictures of my breast. It was the longest seconds, or minutes, of my life.  

I’m still in my gown in the waiting room, and the nurse returns and to tell me she would like to do mammogram again. I asked her what alarmed her. She put the x ray to the light and I see this circle.  She explains if it something the doctor doesn’t like, they conduct an ultrasound and check closer. She smooshed away. 

I sat in the waiting room for the second time. The door open and the doctor entered. Now I’m nervous! She ask me to follow her. The doctor conducted an ultrasound on my breast. She explained to me it could be a temporary lump, and urged me to come back in six months for a follow-up.  I went back for my follow-up visit and the lump was GONE! 

I'm so happy, but I will do another check up in six months to be safe.  Never ignore pains or symptoms, go to your doctor and ask QUESTIONS. 

-Takia

A True Tail of a Binge Eater

(A shirt I recently bought from Torrid.com.)

Okay, it's no secret that I am trying to lose weight. I think everyone nowadays is obsessed with weight and weight loss.

When I was in my late 20's, I wanted to look like that super thin model that you see on TV commercials or in magazines. I tried every diet fad and weight loss supplement in the book. You can ask me anything about any diet or pill; the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, Weight Watchers, Relacore pills, Diet Fuel...I'm serious just ask me. The all worked too...just for a millisecond. The weight would melt right off and then the pounds would return with more than a few of its girthy buddies. I've yo-yo'd from a size 10 to a size 24; up and down repeatedly. I remember when I was a size 10, I thought I was so fat, desperately trying to reach that size six or eight. Nothing was ever good enough.

With this obsession with my diet, I adapted a new relationship with food. Food was not just calories and energy that kept my mind and body alive, it began to be my friend, staple and crutch. If I had pressing issues on my mind and no one to talk to, a piece of cake would console me. If I was in the dumps, down and out, Church's Chicken would cheer me up. I can't wait to go home and pop open the fridge. The cool breeze on my face; the condensation running off the containers inside. I'd hop on the scale and see my weight escalate each week. Depressed over the numbers, I'd run to Mickey D's for my french fry fix.

Fearful what I have become, I contacted a shrink. She diagnosed me with a binge eating disorder brought on by mild depression. What?! I'm so not depressed! Or am I? I lost myself. I lost myself in food. I didn't eat to live....I lived to eat. With this new found diagnosis and now internal health problems looming, I had to change my perspective. I have to stop being concerned about what makes society happy; what makes me sociably acceptable. I only have to accept myself and not answer to anyone else.

I will never be thin. I will always be, as society puts it, a "plus size" woman. I'm no longer trying to lose weight to conform or to be anyone else. I want to lose weight to regain my health. I want to be healthy in my mind, body and spirit. So when I see all these magazines, television specials, and statistics, I have to remind myself to love MY booty!