:: Lynnieluve ::

Beautiful story. I am so glad that you were so happy once you chopped. The funny thing is, I have not found one person unhappy once they BC'd.

I have heard of a few people who didnt like their hair when the BC'd but in the long run, they didnt regret it.

How could I forget to share that my Karens Body Beautiful came yesterday so I will be trying out the Hair Nectar as a leave in. That was the suggestion made on the site.

oooo I want to try her stuff. I am in NJ and keep saying one of these weekends I am gonna go to her shop! Please tell me how you like it

I've try the body butter and I love it!!! I dont like the fragrance I picked (chamomile sage) but can you say moisturized skin!!!

I ordered two of her sample packs so I will have a ton of review to give but I am only gonna use them one at time to get the full effect.

Ooooh! I'll be waiting for that review!

--Reese.

Weightloss Journey - kinda long sorry

My weightloss journey and my natural hair journey started at the same time, April 2009. I was fed up with my hair falling out and the 20 pounds I had gained. I was not happy.

When I was pregnant, I gained 45 pounds! I weighed 198 pounds. I never imagined I would weigh that much in my life. I was all belly so I wasn't too concerned. See pic below: I was HUGE!!!



I nursed my son for 6 months so the pounds melted off. No one told me once you stop nursing you need to start exercising to keep the weight off. I quickly gained 20 pounds after I stopped nursing. Once you have lost the weight and gained it back, you can't call it baby weight.

I gave my weightloss journey a name - "Mission Prebaby Fine N '09!" LOL! It gave me a little motivation. I have lost 15 pounds and I am now in maintenance mode. I do want to lose the last 5 pounds but I have to get focused again.

This was definitely a lifestyle change for me and not just another "weightloss for the summer" weightloss. I wanted it to be something I would stick with so I made small changes to my diet and started to exercise.

I tried working out after my son went to bed but I would be so tired most nights I wouldnt do it (stay at home mom). I was so fed up with my weight that I decided to go to the gym at 5am. If you know me, I am not a morning person but this was my only option. My husband work crazy hours so I never know what time he will get home which means I would never know what time or day I could go to the gym. At 5am, everyone is still sleep and wont need me until about 6:30am.

I started out exercising 2-3 times a week for 45mins to an hour. I now go 4-5 days a week and workout 30-40 mins.

I still eat everything I want but in smaller portions. I am a junk food junkie!!! I still eat junk food but less frequently. I started drinking more water and taking a multivitamin.

Because of all my changes (weight and hair), I am proud to say I am now a better wife and mother for my guys.

Before - a pic of me Easter Weekend with my 90 yr old great aunt.




After - My 32nd birthday - family pic




These aren't the best comparison pics put I hope you can tell the difference.

I hope by sharing this, I am able to help someone else.

I love the natural look better on you....just one curly opinion

Me too Intelligentbeauty!!

Your family is beautiful and your aunt looks 40 years younger than her age! Congrats on losing the weight you've lost so far~ that's awesome!!

And I agree, natural hair really suits your face.

Thanks Lovesunshine17!

(Week 2 Day 3)

This morning, I co washed my hair with VO5 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Conditioner and Aussie Moist Conditioner. I deep conditioned with VO5 Moisture Milks and olive oil. I sat under the hooded dryer about 20 minutes and then let it marinate for about 2 hours. Rinsed it out and started what ended up being an all day process . BTW, I loved the results of the deep conditioner - soft moisturized hair!

I put Beyond the Zone Leave In Conditioner (it's a spray), Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Nectar and coconut oil in my hair and pickeded out the 'fro to air dry. My hair was still really soft. It's still to early to give a verdict on the Hair Nectar.

Styling my hair

It took ALL day! My son (22 months) was super clingy today. I couldnt move...he want to lay on me, sit on my lap, me to pick him up. I couldnt even start on my hair until he went down for his nap. I like to get me a little shut eye while he is napping but it wasnt happening today.

So after reading curly+kinky+fierce's thread yesterday I decided to do finger coils . This was my second time doing them with the first time being over a month ago. WHY DID IT TAKE ME 4 HOURS....4 HOURS TO DO MY HAIR??!!??!!!!??! My plan was to do a coil out tomorrow but you best to believe I will be wearing these coils until the weekend!!

Here are some pics:





I used my shea butter mix with aloe vera gel to do them. They look kinda like locs. It took me so long to do them, I dont even know I feel about them. What do you think? I hope the coil out turns out nice.

Later ladies!!

i like them!!! they are so long...

I see you soror! Oo-Oop! And by the looks of your great aunt...you have some great genes that run in your family! Wow! Wow! Wow!

BTW, your coils look fantastic! Coils are one style I'm yet to attempt! Judging by the 4 hours it took for you, I probably won't be trying them for a while! I recently looked at a youtube video on comb coils. Have you tried both finger coils and comb coils? I'm wondering which one is easier??


Hmmm...makes me wonder...will coils last underneath my "girls" for a week? I'm thinking they'll turn into a fuzzy disaster, but who knows?

Don't forget to post your coil out photos! We wanna see!

---Reese

Kea wrote:i like them!!! they are so long...

Thanks. I was surprise at how long they were too!

Freestyles wrote:I see you soror! Oo-Oop! And by the looks of your great aunt...you have some great genes that run in your family! Wow! Wow! Wow!

BTW, your coils look fantastic! Coils are one style I'm yet to attempt! Judging by the 4 hours it took for you, I probably won't be trying them for a while! I recently looked at a youtube video on comb coils. Have you tried both finger coils and comb coils? I'm wondering which one is easier??


Hmmm...makes me wonder...will coils last underneath my "girls" for a week? I'm thinking they'll turn into a fuzzy disaster, but who knows?

Don't forget to post your coil out photos! We wanna see!

---Reese

Hey Soror!!! Gamma Psi (Tougaloo College) Fall 1998 "Fiery Innocence" LOL!! I haven't introduced myself like that in a long time!!

My great aunt is a DIVA!! Can you believe she has a pair of knee boots?

I've only done a full head of finger coils. I tried the comb coils and can you say, "A tangled mess." I kept getting the comb stuck in my hair..OUCH!! I'm not sure if coils will hold up underneath your "girls." Because I used the shea butter, they are really soft.

Don't worry, I will be posting pics of the coil out.....good or bad!

Hey Sorors (Lynnie and Reese)!!!

I am proud of your dedication, with working out. Earlier this year (Feb-May) I was going to the gym 3-4 days/week and I was looking GOOD. Well in May I started school and being a fulltime student, mommy and employee leaves me little time to go to the gym. 5AM, can't do it. But my BF bought me a Wii and Wii Fit for Christmas this year (no surprises here LOL) so I hope to use that to get active because not only am I product junky, but also a food junky LOL. I love to eat, and mostly the bad stuff like carbs.

Anyway I love your finger coils. I think I will try that eventually too. I love that look. I can't wait to see the coil out. How easy/hard was it (with the exception of your son being clingy).

YOUR COILS CAME OUT GREAT, LYNN.

adiaha wrote:Hey Sorors (Lynnie and Reese)!!!

I am proud of your dedication, with working out. Earlier this year (Feb-May) I was going to the gym 3-4 days/week and I was looking GOOD. Well in May I started school and being a fulltime student, mommy and employee leaves me little time to go to the gym. 5AM, can't do it. But my BF bought me a Wii and Wii Fit for Christmas this year (no surprises here LOL) so I hope to use that to get active because not only am I product junky, but also a food junky LOL. I love to eat, and mostly the bad stuff like carbs.

Anyway I love your finger coils. I think I will try that eventually too. I love that look. I can't wait to see the coil out. How easy/hard was it (with the exception of your son being clingy).

Hey Soror!!!

They are easy to do but it just takes a long time. Most people use gel to do them but I dont like gel (only use it to slick back my edges). I read somewhere that aloe vera gel gives hold (not sure though) so that's why I mixed it with my shea butter mix. I take a small section of hair and make sure it is detangled. Apply the product from root to ends, paying close attention to the ends. I use a small tooth comb to help smooth the product through and smooth out my ends. I start twisting from the root down to the ends. Make sure you twist in a downward direction so they will lay down. I hope this helps.

Intelligentbeauty wrote:YOUR COILS CAME OUT GREAT, LYNN.

Thanks Intelligentbeauty!!

Your coils are beautiful!!!!!!

Thanks nmoultry!!!

@Lynnieluve: I saw your post on CKF's thread so had to come over here to check out your coils. They look soooo good. Okay, I have enough motivation to try them again.

And congrats on the weight loss. Just another bit of motivation I need to crack open this Jillian Michael's 30 day shred DVD that's been sitting by the TV for 2 weeks.

Thanks Traveljunkie08!

I use to do the Jillian 30 day shred...only did it for two weeks but it works. You are gonna be sore. I have turned into a gym so I dont like doing aerobic workouts.

Make sure you post pics when you try the coils.

(Week 2 Day 4)

There's not much going on with my hair today. My finger coils made it through the night. They are soft, moisturized and look good. So today I will share my hair's progress:

From the Big Chop 'Til Now

Hey Lynnie...Your natural hair journey and weight loss journey is AMAZING!!

You have inspired me. I am going to drop these 40 pounds, stop taking these blood pressure pills, and have BIG hair!!