Sisterlocks: Month 2 Update

At the two month mark I became a little frustrated with my locks. The main reason for my frustration was the fact that they  keep unravelling. I band before every wash, decreased my washes to every two weeks, and tie down at night and sleep on a silk pillow. For some who may know, I went to my loctician at the 3 week mark for a touch up on the 7 that unravelled. Well i had to do so again this friday. She reassured me that I'm on the right path and actually gave me some great news. She said although they are unravelling, they are starting to settle. This made me happy to know that at least something was happening. I went ahead and scheduled my 12 week retightening for thanksgiving weekend and will see how i do in the next 3 weeks. 

As I mentioned before, I diminished my washes because I decreased my workouts.  Since i have no control whether they unravel, I'm going back to working out aggressively with cornrows then letting them dry before i take down and do a witch hazel/water mist. 

6 wee update

So its officially been 6 weeks since I had my sisterlocks installed. Im enjoying them! Although I'm still too short and too new to style, I'm making the most if it. Im the 6 week interval… I washed my hair a total of three times: once in the two weeks, once before I went to get them reassessed, and lastly right before my retightening session. I purchased the witch hazel and hoping to do a dru shampoo at three weeks and at six weeks. I went to her bc I had a few questionable locks and one completely unravelled. So we fixed a total of seven locs. Heres my 1 month mark: 

So, when I showed up to my session, My  trainee rewashed my hair with a dry   shampoo (witch hazel) then we started. It took approximately 5 hours to do. I had seven more fixed that either almost completely unravelled and 3 completely  unravelled. 

Somethings i have noticed is that the back few rows and the front area is growing faster than the middle area. If I keep up at this rate, my hair will be growing like a staircase! Also, I'm  considering stretching my wash sessions until budding starts. Because at this point my hair just curls up when the moisture hits it then starts slowly unravelling from tip to root. So I'll updates on what I decide to do. Can't wait for length and color. 

Started the work out sessions again and will tie my hair down with a satin scarf. 

Week 1: Sisterlocks Install and progress

So I had my sisterlocks installed and i love them! Im still getting use to the appearance ( they look thin), but playing around with accessories to make them pop. 

Day of install with freshly washed and air dried hair.

 Opted to go in the night before forpre parting  sections and setting up the grid for the front. 

 The front took 13 hours to do.

Back took 7 hours.  

 Ended up with 501 locks. I have a variation of small medium and large in the back. Initially i wanted all small sbd medium but was told that its considered "step sisterlocks" so opted for the traditional parting. My hope is that the front and back grows similarly in size.  I took down my first set due to size inconsistency.  She installed a reverse 4 pattern because it would provide the tightest hold for my lifestyle (very active). Both the reverse 4 and the 3 lasted. But i originally wanted the 3 because I loved the feel of it when i had the medium tester lock placed in my crown, and I read it gives a fuller loc.   

Ill monitor and see how these turnout based on sizing and lock pattern.

Week 1 looks

 

Sisterlocks and Fitness

Sisterlocks

So approximately 9 months ago, I decided to cut off my 3 year old locks to start on a new journey. I have always admired the precision and appearance of sisterlocks. I also appreciated the maintenance was not as tedious as my current set of locks. I was retwisting my hair every 4 weeks but with my new found love for fitness and sweating, I wasn't as appreciative of my locks. For those who follow my Instagram, or Facebook, I initially cut my locks off, got a relaxer, then got a low fade again. To me it was a tough decision because during that 3 month-6 month period, I hate the shape the hair grows out in and I hate the inability to have a variety of style; although others have proven otherwise. I also hated always having to section and create styles for my hair. So....long story short, locks won the battle and they will be installed at the end of this month.

Selecting a trainee or consultant:

I probably emailed a gazillion qualified trainees/consultants in search. My main objectives were: How well the previous clients hair looked and thrived, the interaction between myself and the person, how receptive they were to my concerns and questions ( I am inquisitive ya'll). So my search lead me to consultants in \: New York, Alabama and Atlanta. Now the discouraging factor was the cost it would entail to travel there, lodging, and pay the consultant. So my search redirected me to contacting the trainees in my state to see where they were in the process of obtaining their certification and how well their novice installs appeared. Welp, I said all of that to say that I found a trainee locally had all the attributes I was looking for in a consultant and she was very courteous and professional. We've emailed back and forth what seems like 12 times before even setting up the consultation, and she was it.

Tester Locks

During my consultation I had tester locks installed ( approximately 6). For the first two weeks I wanted to mimic the environment that my hair would be in once started so I did not condition my hair nor put other additives in it. I simply shampooed and air dried. For me this was hard because I'm a product junkie at heart, but I was successful.

Of the six, four stayed. Now the four that stayed had some issues as well. Two completely unraveled with one having slippage in the back, a third is unraveling from the end but the base still seems to be intact, the other two are small and kind of holding up, and my favorite sizing/ pattern didn't even flinch!

So when I go back at the end of this month, I will have had my tester locks for a month and will be immediately go into sectioning in preparation for locks.

My next post will have the tester locks installation photos and two week progress as well as my installation process.

Fitness

I am still in the process of tailoring my training schedule and defining my new fitness goals so stay tuned.

Fasted Cardio

This morning I found that I could not sleep. I tossed, turned, called my granny with still no resolve. So next best thing… take my frustration to the gym. I completed my fasting cardio at 5am. But on days where I'm working through the night I figure that I'm going to switch it to 4pm, shower at the gym and be at work by 6pm. I will the. Work all night, then go straight back to the gym for strength training at 8am. I'm still trying to piece my schedule together to fit several different fitness classes. I think I'm also going to purchase some home gym items to help me get some type of workout at home too so that I'm not completely dependent on the gym.

Changes

I've decided to split my muscle groups up even more. Meaning, instead of a complete leg day, I will train twice a week with a variation of larger and smaller muscles. Today I had the opportunity to do quads and calves, with squats and lying leg press. Next week, I will complete my glutes and more hamstring exercises. I have been working and out every day and attending the gym two times/day I'm hopes of spending less time but getting more work done.

Those lying leg lifts, I was able to complete 3x12 (100lbs) then 2x15 (120) with leg placement variation. I also went up on my leg extensions to 75lbs. Squats 70lbs, and leg curl 50lbs. Doesn't sound like much but I will be adding another leg day with weighted lunges, deadlifts etc.

That's it for me folks.

Setting records making my own personal goals!

The infamous leg day came for me on Thursday and I'm pleased. Last week I started incorporating lying wide leg press to my regimen (I usually do the seated press), good golly is it tough. When I started doing leg press, a trainer told me to start at my body weight so I started pressing at 135. Theming leg press on he other had is tougher because its literally you pushing the free weight up. Last week I completed 5x12 at 90lbs. This week I completed 5x10 at 100lbs. I may do another round at 100lbs so I can increase my strength to 12 reps per set. That alone with 30 second rest breaks left me completely drenched in sweat!

Another accomplishment made since I omitted dead lifts on back day was adding weight to these exercises. I was able to get the squat rack all to my own so I added 10lbs to the 45lb barbell and used the padding and went to town. When I fusty started my journey I could not even lift the 45lb bar, then, I only able to use it in the form of dead lifts only, now I adding weigh to both my deadlifts and wide stance squats.

My vastus lateralis muscle protrudes as is but I need to work on my definition more on quads hamstrings and V.S. I think I. Was so focused on inner thigh that I'm neglecting other leg muscles.

Unfortunately I was t able to really get into my other exercises because my hypoglycemia started kicking bad. I know it's bad to work out on a empty stomach but I was so presses to get my workout done that I did not want to stop at the grocery store for pre and post meal nutrition. I'm fixing it though.

So inconsistency killed the cat!

One trait I would have to say I absolutely hate about myself is the fact that I'm so labial and inconsistent. To my defense I absolutely hate driving in the rain. Unfortunately it rain all week and, will rain until Monday.

Last night I had a bit of fun during my workout. I was able to complete all the new exercises I've been dying to try out. Next week I'm hoping to increase the the 15lb dumbbell and incorporate my arm raises. By the way, I hate those things but I love the definition I'm yielding.

Still have areas of my body that I'm trying to build up so we shall see if a change emerge.

I'm also starting a steamed only entree choices. Converting my oils to olive oil has not helped.

I like to Move it Move It. 🏃

Anyone who has known me for years know that I am so fickle! Lol.

Last few weeks with the devastations on Boston I had the opportunity to visit. Not only because it was my grandmothers birthday but because Boston always steals my heart. I'm considering a move. Of course my move is contingent upon several factors: residence current and prospective, employment, my grandmother, and school.

If I can secure at least a job and nursing program, I'll be able to better decide. I'm not the type that wants to move blindly with no job and in hopes of getting something because to me, that's too risky so I will be doing my research and preparing myself. Of course my move is not final but I need to start opening myself for the possibilities. Of I don't move, maybe ill do traveling nursing. What I can do is: after official decision of application process is complete, I'll solidify my plans.

I love things about the south but, I love way more things about the north.

On another note.…

I did get a chance to run up there. It was nothing but aside from that mini run, I did some yoga at the house. Boy was my progress at the gym tested when I had to lift the heaviest cart up two flights of stairs!

Dead phone = long run

Music definitely sets the mood for a work out. I know some may say you should be motivated enough to push through, but for me that's not the case. I completed my 5k today in an hour because I ran 2 miles in 24 minutes… average pace of 11.9 ish minutes per mile and walked the third mile super slow and need to tinkle before my run but didn't ( does that count as running with weights? lol). I took a new route again but this time it was on the roadway and not an actual running park. I'm addition to this, I cycled 2 miles in 10 minutes as a warm up to my work out.

I'm already on day two of my work out and noticed the following improvements:

I can go longer when doing my HIIT.
My stretching is better.

I'm also learning how to effectively plan my pre and post work out meals to get the appropriate type of energy for each phase. Complex carbs to before a workout, simple carbs go after. I've upped my protein shake amount to two a day.

So for the next couple of weeks the goal is to do 3 days train, one rest day and three days training again. In other words I will be training each body part twice a week. I think this will help ensure I get all my workouts areas situated. I also dropped my weight and increasing my sets. I may start adding some movements in between sets in that thirty second period to keep my heart rate elevated.

Hair I am baby!

PROTECTIVE STYLE

Finally got my twist dine. From the many years I've been natural on and off I never had kinky twist with weave. When I I was a loose natural, I'd wear my hair in natural twist with my read hair. So these will be staying in until June. I picked the worst season to do them because they do get hot, but a protective style is a protective style. I may get the parameter done over when it starts looking shabby next month but I will challenge myself until June. I like playing in my hair and I like to run my fingers through just for fun so I will be working maintaining these.

PRODUCT ADDITIONS

I did make a concoction of rosemary, lavender, castor and sweet almond oil mixed with water as a reviving spray before I got my hair braided. Unfortunately, the summer heat is taking a toll on my scalp. It it bed like the dickens. It's too soon to wash my hair so I will not be doing so but Im going to pull back on the spray and just use plain water to spray my hair.

Another product I added to my regimen is Megatek. My sister rave about this product. I did use it mixed with castor oil and I had less shedding and a moisturized feel which I struggled with due to no product maintenance on my twa. I'll keep up with its and see.

The area I've struggled with for the past 4 years is right above my ears and behind them. When I cost completed my big chop in 2009, it was an obvious separation between the two areas. As I grew locks it became less obvious because of my hair covering them. Being the girl that I am that LOVES a good bun, I was adding to the problem. With the new spray and megatek I'm hoping to restore this are to allow for better briefing when I get my sisterlocks.

SISTERLOCK

I am researching loctician and believe I found my favorite one. The problem that I'm having is that they are all located out of state. I don't mind to travel for instal but what will I do for maintenance? Although I love the idea of being a DIY, I can be very impatient when it comes to actually sitting to do my hair of I don't have something that grabs my attention completely while I'm doing it. This fear is now hindering me from deciding in a lock size. I wanted about 600 or smallest as my hair texture will support but nervous that I may not like to down the line. Nonetheless, one of the locticians is all about grid which made me super happy. I can't tell y'all how much I appreciate a good neat grid pattern!

I hate a crazy weeks

This week national news was made during the Boston Marathon. Many runners who trained months and years to be able to complete this milestone couldn't.

My heart is heavy because this is the week I'm traveling for my grandmothers birthday. I may visit the site to see the action (no restricted areas lol).

In other news, my workout week has suffered tremendously. No real meal planning done and haven't hit the gym for any cardio. So in order to maximize my impromptu vacation. I plan on completing three mile run today-Friday. I did introduce HIIT into my work out last week and all though small, I did notice my abdomen getting flatter. No six packs yet but just flatter after awakening and eating. I also noticed that I broke the scale (plateau). So HIIT and cardio will be my newest friends

We will see what week 3 has to bring. My reveal date is June 18th.

1st 5k!!!!

So, I have been completing this workout thing all wrong. 3 weeks out the month I am super amped to get all my training days in, and the remainder of the month, I'm hitting up the gym maybe 2 times, and eating junk food.

In the beginning of April I decided to take a different approach. I was going to complete the Insanity workout and strength train. Unfortunately that plan was derailed by only one of the CDs working. I've had the CDs for almost 2-3 years now and only played the fit test.

Anyhow.… Im making it a point to start now. After all, a start is a start, right! I joined Black Girls Run and only been able to make it to one run :-(. That motivated then unmotivated syndrome again. Today I woke myself up and said I will run. So without further a due, I present to you my first 5k run straight! I was familiar with the first mile but usually take a different route. Today I stayed around the lake. During this run, I considered stopping to qalk and rest. I had to tell at myself in my head. I was also motivated by the other runners who I saw multiple times on the route. I saw one guy three times. I will consider run 3 miles, walk 3 and run the final 3. We'll see!

Next up… Zumba…

I took an hour break and headed to a Zumba class which I thought was being out in by my favorite instructor. I got there and I was wrong. I ended up staying for the class but was not impressed. The teacher was more concerned with making sexual faces than she was at teaching coordinated movements. My original instructor does a variety of music (dancehall, salsa, bachata, merengue) which I enjoy. This was all Spanish music with a belly dancing beat. I did sweat but know that I could have done more.

The results are in…

Looks like my blog is going to be a one stop shop… hope you all like the variety…

Revamp

I've been thinking of revamping this account for the longest. I still enjoy thrifting, and I still enjoy makeup and writing but I have shifted my energy towards newer and better things.

My thoughts is to combine everything here: thrifting, fashion, hair and fitness/ workout updates.

The pros of this is this will serve as a one stop shop for all of my adventures. The con is that if people are I retested in one aspect of my journey over others it will all get compiled and tedious to search through all the posts for a specific topic. I hate making decisions for those who followed my blog and know me! We shall see. Secondly, I do have another blog created soley for my nursing journey in grad school and my triumphs on searching for the rich unit for me!

Renovatoins

I will be revamping this blog in the next few days. I havent decided if I will keep it as a style blog, then create on for my hair and makeup.... yet. Im motivated by different things these days such as fitness and education, and preparing myself to be the best person I can be. So in the next few days, this site may have a new look and name Any ideas would greatly be appreciated

School is in!!!

So school started for me this week and I'm not sure how to feel. On one hand I'm ecstatic that I'm making progress in my educational pursuit but on the other I'm scared to push myself. I have a mentee and each time she comes to me and tell me her progress in school or states she's ready for the next semester… my response is to say " well what about np school, what about phd." I come from a linage of educationally hungry men and that gene is instilled in me. My circle of friends typically joke and call me a professional student. I'll wear that cron proudly as I ascend to the highest of highs!