Nearing my 4 year anniversary

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July is here and guess what that means. That means my hair gains another year of loc growth. This hair is getting so long and lush. I decided to try a braid out and I can say the results were okay. I didn't really give it my all nor did I use any setting lotion. Here are the results. Next time I will try a setting lotion and some rubberbands for the ends.

11 more to go...One month progress report

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I have been working it out these days trying to get these pregnancy pounds off of me. I am happy to report that I am 9 lbs since getting serious about this and 6lbs since last month. I put the white stuff down as well as the breads. I also learned some portion control by using saucers to eat from. I also incorporated Tae Bo Amp'd and p90x. Here are the results.....

Client Updates

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Time has really been skirting out of dodge (time has been flying) and I finally took some time to take some photo updates of a few of my clients. Sisterlocks really did wonders for their hair growth.

Back to work!

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Today I have scheduled my first retightening since having my son. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I am still on on leave from my full time gig so I have some time to get my business affairs in order for Locks 4 Life Atlanta. In the next two weeks I have 7 retightenings scheduled. I have made arrangements for a sitter to come over on Saturdays while I am servicing clients. For the most part it will be in the mornings until my husband can come home and spend some time with CJ. My new client schedule will be Friday and Saturdays only.

My son is in daycare this week (we are doing a trial run) and it has been extremely hard to leave him. It gets easier each day I take him but I still feel my heart breaking when he is not around. The funny thing is this little boy is thriving in the daycare environment. The teachers raved about him when I picked him up yesterday. CJ is lifting his head. CJ is so alert. CJ is such a calm baby. CJ has some teeth that will be coming in soon. WOW! Every mother believes their child is the best but these ladies are making me feel great. I walked into the infant room yesterday and CJ was sitting in the swing just smiling from ear to ear. Swing? CJ? He hates his swing at home. The teacher picked him up to change him. She walked past me with CJ in her arms and CJ turns his head to look at me and smiled really big as if to say MOMMY. My pooter is growing up! I love him so! He is only 6 weeks and making moves. The women joked...CJ is moving out the way for his sibling. Sheesh!! Can I get used to him first before they start talking about a sibling?

I have been in the gym every day this week and it feels great. I plan to visit a couple of gyms in my immediate vicinity to see what the facility is like. If I can find a great gym within 15 minutes of my home and the daycare I can still have my gym time after work before I pick up CJ. I've playing around with the idea in addition to P90X. We will see how everything works when my hubby starts his new schedule next week. We will be in full swing next week with my hubby dropping CJ off and me picking him up. I plan to work 7:30 to 3:00 PM to ensure that I have time (including any ATL traffic) to get the daycare before 6 PM. If there is no traffic I can get to the gym by 3:45 PM, work out for an hour, and pick CJ up by 5:30 PM. It sounds like a plan. We will see how it works. LOL!! I am such a planner.

P90x...I love it!

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So we finally broke down and purchased P90x and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. I LOVE IT! I've heard so many people talk about it is so hard and I couldn't finish the workout blah blah blah. Well not only did I start the series I am keeping up and giving it my all. I paced myself and started with the bands and the weights versus the chin up bar. I think if I would have started with the chin up bar I would have failed. I think this is where a lot of people are going wrong. Why go out and buy this chin up bar when you know you can't get your large frame (I wanted to say something else) up there to even grab the bar. Do the bands until you work your way up to the chin up bar. It works much better that way. I started as soon as the DVD's arrived last week. I started over this week this week to make it count. I even took some before pics. These are my post baby body and after 5 workouts I am seeing my shoulders, chest and arms come back. YAY!!

This is me post baby at 217. I still have some water on my legs and around my midsection but as I continue to work out the water is moving. My pre baby was 196 so I have a little way to go before I get there. My P90x goal for the 90 days is to lose 25 but more importantly is to fit back into my clothes comfortably.

Something else that I am doing differently that is helping me succeed is EATING. Most people start this program and only eat 1,000 calories trying to lose as much weight as possible. Well that may work for some people but for my body I need to eat. I need to fuel my workouts properly or I will be on the floor somewhere. Especially with me breastfeeding which is already burning plenty calories. So I set a goal to eat between 1,500 and 2,000 calories a day. I am not doing so hot at eating as many fresh fruits and veggies but I am getting better.

All in all I love the program. Each DVD goes fast! Before you know it you look at the screen and you see the time is almost up and you are sweating it out good. The one thing that I know I will have to get is that weight set. I have two sets of resistance bands and a set of 5lb and 10lb weights. I am going to exceed that by the 2nd month so I am going to purchase the bowflex or something comparable. I also have plans to purchase a portable DVD player so I can take this to work and utilize it in the gym downstairs from my office. The gym is small with 3 treadmills, 2 elliptical, 2 stairclimbers, free weights, and nautilus equipment. Did I mention it has mirrors, two tvs, and a shower. I can bring my portable DVD player and get my P90x on in the gym. I might even meet some new friends who may want to join me.

I hope all of you ladies who are trying to get your prebaby body back are making progress. It is hard work being a mommy.

I was so ready to cut it

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With the birth of my son, I have been beyond busy. I had a moment. I was dreading washing my hair and looked down at the scissors. I was seriously going to cut my hair off because I didn't want to deal with the shoulder length locs. OMG!! I had to get some assistance and talk myself off the edge. Just think I was about to cut my hair right before my 4 year lock anniversary (June 2006). I would have probably kicked myself afterwards. Other moms have told me those moments are perfectly okay, but I really can't believe I was about to cut all of this hair. I attached a pic (sorry the hubby didn't capture the back). This is the longest my hair has ever been and it shows no signs of slowing down. Sidebar....I really need to color this gray patch in the front of my head but I fear that I will damage my locs by coloring too often. It has been over a year since my last coloring.

I am officially back on the workout circuit and it really feels great. I am doing run walk intervals on the treadmill for 30 to 45 minute time frames. I am also doing strength training with my bands. I also incorporated Bosu Ball training which kicks the core's butt. I ordered P90x since cancelling our $109 monthly fee gym membership. I really loved that gym but it just doesn't make since to waste that money if I have no daycare for that hour that I am there. I have heard some great things about p90x from both men and women. The men however tend to stay dedicated to the program more than the women I have talked to. That is about to change once my package gets here. I just have to keep my schedule with my hubby and son. I think during a certain time there will be no phone calls. I am discovering that answering the phone is my biggest downfall when it comes to my schedule.

So how did I do with the weight gain during pregnancy? I gained 45 lbs of which I lost 27. I can't believe I am sitting here at 217 and hating every minute of it. I know it was for a wonderful cause but it hurts to have it on my body. It is a lot of water too. I can press my shin and see the water move which is a little creepy. I am going to continue on my quest to get the 18 pound remaining baby pounds off so I can pick up where I started. I know it won't be easy but I am up for the challenge.

He is here!!! YAY!!

Hey Blog Fam!

I am so in love! My son CJ arrived on March 30, 2010 weighing in at 7lbs 4 ozs and 19.5 inches long. I never understood how much I could really love someone until I met my son. My heart is so full right now that I am at a loss for words. Take a look at this face.