Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Wave!

Hope everyone year an awesome Christmas! I know I did, I got a tablet (which I'm using how).
I'm still on the no poo bandwagon! As far as my skin I know for fact I'll never use a oil stripping soap again! Since I've been using coconut oil my skin is softer, clearer and more radiant. I went to my Mom's house for Christmas and she noticed my skin right away, she went and bought coconut oil for herself and and a dry spot She has been battling for about a year now is gone after just a few days! The stuff amazing!
    I'm also really loving my hair although I am defiantly still in the adjustment period! Im playing with measurements and such but my hair is so much healthier its almost unbelievable! I know it sounds weird but I'm not "shedding" so much and my hair seems to be growing or maybe its just not breaking as much. I don't know but I like it! I'm also getting used to my hair in its natural state I've discovered my hair is wavy which is interesting. I'm brainstorming on how to embrace the new waves. We will see!
A funny thing happened yesterday I decided I wanted  to do a coconut oil mask in my hair so I got online read how and put the oil in my hair. I'm not totally sure how I thought it would go.....I let the oil sit for about an hour then jumped in the shower. From what I read you just rinse with hot water then rinse with a vinegar and water mixture. NOT THE CASE! I have no idea what these grease balls are doing but hot water and vinegar does not take coconut oil out of your hair! So tried my  "shampoo" well baking soda didn't  get it out either! I seriously contemplated shampooing my hair (but I didn't). I got out of the shower braided my hair and decided I'd try again tomorrow. Anyone that is familiar with  coconut oil knows that  when heated it's liquid and when cold it's solid so for the rest of the day every time I took out my dog my braid turned into a coconut oil popsicle! On an up note I  got up today and washed my hair again, the oil came out no problem and my hair is pretty amazing! Maybe next time I won't use so much oil!
With the new year coming I've got a few resolutions: 1.) Less cussing  (unless I'm crossfitting) 2.) Less screaming (unless I'm lifting) 3.) Complete " The Whole 30" which I'm going to blog about to help keep me accountable( I'm going to try to blog more as well).
I hope everyone has a safe New Year and I'll be back on then 1st for mesuments and weighing in!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Day 6

Ok so I'm going on 6days of no soap or shampoo. My hair is kinda fuzzy but much softer and my ends look and feel wayy better! My roots seem to be getting oily faster but I'm guessing that my hair is still adjusting! My face is healing really well and I haven't noticed any new blemishes! A few things i didn't expect I wear contacts and usually my eyes are sucked dry by mid to end of the day. Since I started using oil to cleans my face my eyes no longer get dry! Also the circles under my eyes are fading which I LOVE! My hair is easier to brush and I don't seem to be "shedding" as much (my hubby is super happy about not finding my hair everywhere lol) I'd say operation no-poo is a success so far!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Cutting the crap!

I’m not quite sure what is up with my body lately but it is totally out of wack! Seriously my skin has gone nuts along with my hair! I’m not sure what’s up maybe stress, change in training, hormones, change of seasons and I honestly don’t care what it is but I have to do something about it! The fantastic part is it seems the more I piled the expensive acne treatments and leave in conditioners on the worse it got! so I decided to “Google” after reading through a few sites I stumbled upon the “no poo” concept. I read through a few blogs and I was intrigued! Most articles I found used a mixture of water and baking soda for “shampoo” and vinegar and water for “conditioner”. The way I understand it is that the natural oils your body produces are “supply and demand” the more you wash your hair with harsh sulfates stripping the oils the more oil your body produces in result you need to wash your hair more. when you stop using harsh shampoos your body regulates and only produces the amount of oil it needs to! HOW COOL! I mean there where so many people that were doing this and all for different reasons some where wanting to cut out the chemicals and sulfates, some wanted to save money, some were just plain curious. The coolest thing is most had the same results! There seems to be an adjustment period for your body to get used to the poo-free lifestyle …but the ones who lasted through this period all said pretty much the same thing! Individuals that have taken the plunge rave that their hair has never looked better, that they no longer have to use product , their hair is healthier and growing faster! I decided that if I’m cutting the poo I might as well cut the rest of the crap too! So after a little more searching I found ways to cut out the soap and face wash …..As far as my face I decided to go with a method called “oil cleansing” the basic concept is that oil clears pores of dirt and bacteria without stripping your face of natural oils and good bacteria. strange I know but worth a shot! So if I’m not using soap or shampoo what am I using? I promise I’m not going full on primal on ya’ll! For shampoo I’m using baking soda and vinegar. You can use either apple cider or white from what I gather white is better for oily hair and apple cider for dyer hair. For soap I am using baking soda and olive oil or just plain baking soda. For the oil cleansing of my face I’m using olive oil and for moisturizer (body and face) I’m using coconut oil!

Getting started … It seems there are a few ways to mix your “shampoo” some made the baking soda in to a thick paste, some pre-made the mixture, the way I decided was best for me is to just make it in the shower. I jumped in my shower right after the gym I was nice and sweaty I started with my face. I did exactly as directed

1)Apply oil to dry face (whatever oil you decide to go with ) I used olive oil. rub oil into your face for a minute or so.

2) Take a wash cloth get it wet with hot water and lay it over your face to steam your pores remover when cools.

3) Massage face again for about a minute

4) Steam again

5) Wipe face clean removing excess oil

I thought for sure after I did this my face would be oily and full of un-removed make-up and sweat! In fact it was quite the opposite my face was squeaky clean and fresh!

Next I did my body with olive oil and baking soda making a paste and washed my body! It was pretty much like a mild scrub about what I expected

Last but not least my hair ! I was pretty nervous about this I mean what was this going to do to my hair!

1) Mix 2 table spoons of baking soda into one cup of water pour over wet hair (mostly on the scalp)

2) Scrub your roots just like you are washing your hair (its pretty strange with no lather or bubbles) leave the mixture in for about a minute or so

3) Rinse

Now for the “conditioner”

1) Nix 2 table spoons of vinegar and one cup of water pour over head starting at the ends

2) Massage scalp and hair just like you were using conditioner and let it sit

3) Rinse

Now I’m going to be honest when I did this it felt strange and smelled weird. By the time I washed the vinegar out my hair felt like heavy dry straw and I was concerned! I wrapped my hair in a towel and moisturized (with coconut oil) anyone that knows me knows that I’m tinder headed and I was preparing for a full on fight with a brush! Towel out brush to head and I braced myself BUT the brush went right through no problem and again and again! This made me pretty hopeful! I walked around smelling I little bit like pickles (the smell goes away as soon as your hair is dry) once my hair was dry it was soft and shiny and all around pretty nice!

I’m on day 5 now my face is soft and all my blemishes are healing with no new ones.

My hair is a tiny it oily at the root today ( adjustment period) but I have noticed I big difference in my ends which are now softer and smoother compared to the dry mess I was experiencing 5 days ago!  
Taken on day one all I did was towel dry and brush :)

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Rest Day!

OK so its been a really long time since I posted last ... I could blame it on school, kids, my Long workouts or life but really I have just been lazy when it comes to blogging that is. Its a quiet Sunday(a rest day) so I decided to take advantage of the Hubby being in the field to give y'all alil update! I mean that's not the only reason lately I have been in-boxed with LOTS of questions about crossfit, paleo, recipes and just advice. Also I have been receiving messages about how my posts have inspired others to get up and get fit! How amazing is that! With that being said I want to send out a HUGE Thank You to those who have been giving me feed back y'all have inspired me to take a minute and sit down to blog again!! Today I would like to share with y'all a picture I'm 9 months out and in a two piece it feels amazing to be comfortable in my skin! while my surgery defiantly helped this I have crossfit, weight lifting and great fitness friends to thank for lots of HUGE revelations Ive had in the past few months. I no longer want to be a size 2 I see a "skinny girl" in the gym and I take comfort in the fact that I could squat them for reps with no problem( no offence to my lovely thin ladies just be cause I embrace myself as a thick chick doesn't mean I don't think y'all are beautiful or love you any less lol) ...I  no longer stress about  the number on the scale (pure freedom). There is something about picking heavy stuff up or knowing you can get through a crazy intense wod that is so empowering! I literally face problems like this "Well I can back squat ## so I know for a fact I can face this head on" or " I got through this wod so I know I can get through this"...strange maybe? Many may not understand. But others don't have to "get it" today I stand up alittle  A LOT straighter because I love me... not just my body... I love me :) Today I would also like to share a variation of a recipe I got off paleomg.com( amazing site) I was craving something sweet and didn't have all the ingredients I need so I just kinda winged it and came up with something yummy!!!
    Sweet potato apple cakes
1 sweet potato shredded
1 apple shredded
1 spoonful of fat of your choice( I used bacon fat)
2 eggs
tiny pinch of nutmeg
dash of Cinnamon
drizzle of raw honey

Shred your apple and sweet potato mix them together with eggs, Cinnamon and nutmeg.
Then heat fat in pan and make sweet potato mixture in to pancake like patties. Cook patties in pan for about 3 minutes on each side or until brown...put them on a plate sprinkle with Cinnamon and honey ...ENJOY!!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

3 months

Just figured I'd post a few pictures since today is exactly 3 months! Everyday gets better still not a lot of feeling in my tummy....but I'm slowly starting to see tiny parts of the scar fade to flesh color. I started back my normal exercise routine and I'm even seeing definition(wish u could see it in the pics) I'm still swollen for the most part its BAD on the days I do abs. My belly button is out most days but some days I notice its in and you can't see the scar around it. I love my tummy now scars and all everyday gets better I almost wish I could fast forward a year to see the results!