Naturally Obsessed

submitted by Ken of SoulShakedownParty
Personal Challenges keep me sane. Knowing that I’ve decided to start something, endured the full period and started seeing positive results or changes- however small they may be, is a great feeling. So, I’ve decided that I’m going to do a personal challenge again in the upcoming month. In deliberation, I’m running back and forth through a mental list of the challenges I’ve done before, attempted or thought of doing, and trying to decide which one would be a good idea.

I compiled a list of 5 of these great challenges to share with my readers: 5 Challenges Everyone Must Try. Of course my list is female-biased but nonetheless, no one is excluded from trying any of these challenges.

If you are new to any of these challenges, doing it as a group challenge is probably the best way to start off. It is easier to stay on track because it’s so easy to lose focus at first. The idea of competition is also always a great source of motivation.


30-Day Squat Challenges have gone viral. Although I’ve never done a squat challenges, I used to include squats in my regular exercise routines so I know how challenging it could be. Squats are a great workout for your lower body and are among the few exercises that are super easy to do at home. The good thing about the squat challenges that I’ve seen so far is that they include proper rest days and the difficulty level increases. I know a lot of beginners are complaining about the pain of trying to walk the next day. Well..the old cliche No Pain, No Gain works well with exercise.

The 8-A Day or eight glasses of water a  day is something I try to live by. You don’t have to literally drink an eight ounce glass of water 8 times daily. What you eat, how much extra physical activity and your body’s needs determine how much more water you need. Water intake depends on individual needs. What I’ve learned to do is drink small amounts of water regularly or when I really feel the need to. Carrying around a bottle of water instead of buying juice also helps. It’s a hard habit to get into but it was really worth it after some time. Your body will really thank you later..

This was a personal challenge idea that I got from a book. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the title/author of this book. The aim of the challenge is to say something positive or give a compliment to someone you may not know too well (since it’s easier to be nice to people we are familiar with). This self-development challenge was an uncomfortable one at first since I’m shy with strangers in person. I know you’re probably wondering how giving someone a compliment makes YOU feel better. A compliment works positively both ways- for both giver and receiver. Try it..

The Eat Healthy Challenge  combined with the 8-a day challenge, has bigger and better overall health benefits. But it is my least favourite, most frequently attempted and least successful challenge to date. I love junk food. The End. Okay, eating healthy is a great choice and we all know that it’s something we should be doing so, but it’s hard right? Junk food is my weakness so I make up a million excuses. This is the one challenge that I’ve only attempted too many times to count. But I think that it’s also the one challenge that everyone should try- Including myself again. So, motivation anyone?

Ken, you've definitely motivated me! Especially the eat healthy, sweets are my weakness lol! On the outside I look pretty darn fit, but even a skinny chick can be out of shape. Lately I've been trying to workout and incorporate more veggies in my diet by way of juicing, but it's sometimes hard to stay focused. However, when I'm lacking inspiration I'll be coming back to this post. Thanks for sharing! -SHANA

Article submitted by Daisy Raybould- Maintaining healthy hair is unfortunately not as simple as just using shampoo and conditioner. There are a number of things we need to consider and all are equally as important in order to achieve the perfect hair we all desire. These are not complicated or expensive tips however practiced on a regular basis they have proven to be very effective.

Balanced Diet
The food we eat is an essential influencing factor in the overall condition of our hair. A balanced diet is key to healthy hair.

•Water is vital for nourishing the hair and locking in the natural shine making it silky smooth and more manageable
•Eggs contain the hair growth vitamin known as biotin, which also helps to maintain a healthy scalp
•Salmon and nuts contain high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, these acids are responsible for maintaining a healthy scalp and revitalizing dull hair
•Poultry is a great source of protein that can help strengthen weak hair and restore color
•Low-fat yogurt and milk are great sources of calcium, a mineral that is very important for the growth of hair
•Dark green vegetables contain vitamins A and C, which assist in the production of sebum. This oil acts as a natural conditioner for the hair
•Whole grains found in bread and cereals will provide the hair with a healthy dose of vitamin B, iron, and zinc
•Beans, legumes, and lentils are a great source of vitamins and minerals to help strengthen brittle hair

Healthy Scalp
No matter how hard you try, healthy hair cannot be achieved without a healthy scalp. You should opt for a mild form of shampoo with an acid base; this will ensure the hair is protected while maintaining the texture of the hair. It is not recommended that you shampoo every day, as this will further dry out your scalp. Simply wash your hair when it feels dirty.

The scalp must be kept moisturized; this will keep the skin supple and help to stimulate the growth of hair. Try natural essential oils such as jojoba, rosemary or tea tree oil. Use Shea butter for hair to maintain moisture in the scalp. Exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin and massage regularly to improve blood circulation.

Here I am with my sister (I'm the one waving) walking in some parade in New York with our Brownie Troop. Look at the socks!! Could we get them any HIGHER??? Anyway, our hair was still natural. My mother was only combing, brushing and braiding it but for this ultra special occasion she must have curled it for us. It's way too far back for me to remember.

I posted that pic as a peek into my childhood when most little girls were natural. Maybe a few were getting their hair pressed but not many. I know I wasn't even 9 years old yet, because we were still living in New York so we're talking this took place during the 70's. I was just a string bean and the biggest thing on my body was my head! Childhood...

Somewhere things went wrong and we started getting our hair pressed and eventually when I turned 13 or 14 years old, my sister and I were getting our hair relaxed. As a child I didn't have much of a choice of how to manage my hair or choose if I could wear it natural. My mother, as many mothers have and still do, took charge and made the decision to alter my hair from it's natural state. I've heard some naturals say if they had the choice they would have STAYED natural but I'm going to be brutally honest and say I wanted the silkiness of straight hair. That's what was considered beautiful in my eyes as well as many others. I vividly remember prancing around with a long knitted or silky scarf on my head watching it dangle on my sides pretending it was my long flowing hair. I loved how it felt as it bopped me in the face and I swung that 'white girl swing' so it would stay out of my chocolate eyes. Oh, if I could steal a peek into my past and watch the little string bean I would be ashamed and saddened by the spectacle.

I cannot change my past or my past feelings. I can only remind myself of what the media as well as toy makers and cartoon writers allowed the world so see as 'beautiful'. I bought into the hype. Now, I can remember during my teen years the envy I had of the white girls who had that glorious wash and go hair. How I wished I could just get in the shower and not wear a shower cap with a scarf tucked ever so tightly around my relaxed tresses. How I wished I could then go on to let it air dry as well as having the opportunity to go to the pool or wave pool without cramming my head into the ridiculously tight swim cap. How I wished I could have naturally curly hair....and to think I've had it all this time.

I look back at a past full of poor decisions but no real regrets. Going through what I went through made the transition from relaxed hair to natural all the more sweet. Maybe I'm a fanatical wash and go Natural because I've wanted to do this for so many years? Maybe I go out even in the dead of winter with a wet head (never ONCE getting sick mind you) just because I can. Whatever the reason, I'm glad to have moved to Colorado 5 years ago and turned my back on chemically altering my gorgeous naturalness. This proud Natural has got REAL curls, not store bought ones and I cannot thank the little girl from the 70's enough for wanting this so badly. I sometimes feel like that little girl as I surf the blogs and YouTube seeing all the newly naturals in their teens and 20's. I may have entered later than most but I'm just really, really glad to be here...

Sabrina P.
http://www.seriouslynatural.org

You guys should remember "Heartfelt Honey" from the Food For Thought posts on the old site. Well she wanted to drop by and a story about her recent trip to the dollar store lol!

Hair Epiphany
Every now and then I will have a hair break through. An epiphany so to speak. It happened for the first time when I tried Giovanni’s Direct Leave In. It was magical!! I thought I had died and went to hair heaven. Styling had never been so easy. Then earlier this summer I tried the Tresemme Naturals Conditioner. Huge mile stone! It is my FAVORITE detangling conditioner. I will not bother detangling my hair without it. Since using Tresemme, I’ve had less hair loss while detangling, incredible slip, and wonderful deep conditioning. But yesterday after a minor hair episode, due to carelessness on my part, I discovered what I am calling my “2011 Hair Breakthrough” the detangling comb!!! It is one dollar!! Yes, you heard it right ONE DOLLAR at your local Dollar Tree. You know the green and white dollar store? Yea that one lol I am too through with everything else. The Denman brush, wide tooth comb, whatever I have used in the past is no match for this comb! The teeth are just wide enough to catch all shed hair without removing healthy hair strands. It has two rows of teeth rounded on the ends so not to puncture or tear my tresses. It is a breeze! I am in love. The only regret I have is not finding this comb sooner. I am sending this story to all my favorite hair blogs in hopes that you see it and try it for yourself. If you don’t like it hey it was only a dollar right!? Lol But seriously, it is the best dollar I have ever spent. I am running back to the store to by a few for YouTube giveaways. Just to be fair, if I had to change one thing about this comb it would be to have grips put on the handle so that it doesn’t slide when wet. However, I can remedy this with a few rubber bands I have not been paid to endorse this comb or any of the other products mentioned here. I feel like everybody is prefacing their reviews with this statement lately. I am just a young lady who stumbled into a dollar store, found a comb, and fell in love with it. Who knows maybe you will do the same.

Thoughts?!?

Hello NaturallyObessed readers. I am so happy to have the opportunity to share with you all today. Just to give you a little background as to who I am, I am a blogger over at HoneyCee•Blogspot•Com, a vlogger as "TheHeartFeltHoney" on youtube, a sister, a friend, and an over all lover of life and all things natural. My passion has always been writing. I have a Bachelors Degree in English and Modern Language with a concentration in African-American Literature and I plan to use my knowledge base to bring you all the best possible information I can on food and how it relates to hair. Thank you for having me :)

This week's hair food pick is Tomatoes! Now I know I'm not the only person who has noticed the cosmetic industries recent infatuation with tomatoes. They are showing up as an ingredient in everything! We see tomato in our facial toners, eye creams, conditioners, soaps and the list goes on. Just the talk about Yes to Tomatoes alone is enough to make you take a second look in your own refrigerator. I decided to do a little research on this super food and find out exactly what all the fuss is about... 

I was surprised to learn that tomatoes could be so beneficial to hair health. According to an article by Sandra Piddock, eating or ingesting tomatoes can be good for hair growth as they are a good source of biotin and vitamin A. Biotin is necessary for cell growth, the production of fatty acids, and the metabolism of fats and amino acids. The body naturally produces biotin . Vitamin A is required for development and maintenance of the epithelial cells, in the mucus membranes, and your skin, which is important for the growth of scalp hair.

Tomatoes are also good to use topically in hair after swimming in pool water to prevent hair staining and odor. They also help to balance the pH levels in our hair. However, tomatoes should not be applied directly to healthy hair regularly as they are highly acidic. Click here for more on tomatoes and their acidity.

http://www.mamaherb.com/hair-loss-home-remedy-using-tomato-paste