How I Use Lemon In my Morning Routine

I was juicing lemons this morning when I realized just how much use I get out of them. They are anionic, anti-ageing, anti-cancer, antibacterial, antiseptic, and what's more, they're affordable. Winning!
 

 

  

First of all, I must say I never use processed lemon juice.

I buy fresh (organic) lemons, juice them, pour into a handy bottle, and store in the refrigerator.

 

My Morning Modus Operandi

• The first thing I do in the morning, is drink a liter of lemon water. If I'm going for a run, I'll do a 1/2 liter before and a 1/2 after. This concoction balances the body's pH, boosts the immune system, helps with weight loss, aids in the digestive process, acts as a (gentle) diuretic, and clears the skin. Go for warm water rather than cold (if you can stomach it, I can't) and reap greater results. 

• The next thing I do is apply some lemon juice to my entire face, let it sit for about 20 minutes and then rinse. This diminishes scars, heals acne, exfoliates, and tones the skin.

• Next up is my natural teeth whitening step. I combine baking soda (singing: baking soda I got baking soda lol) and lemon in a tiny container and brush my choppers with the mixture for a few minutes for a whiter smile.

• Finally, I take some coconut oil with a squeeze of lemon and apply it to my nails for longer, stronger more beautiful nails. I recently got tired of my acrylics and decided to go the natural route for a while so this will really help.

These are the steps I executed today. The last 3 are not done every day, but rather once or twice per week.
 

There are a myriad more ways to incorporate lemon into your days, ranging from conditioning your hair to cleaning your microwave.

What beauty uses do you have for lemon? Let a girl know.

Ciao!
 

My First 5k Race.

 

 

 

I ran my first 5K race on Sunday, January 25.

It was a lovely experience.

A friend of mine who does these races all the time, ran with me and acted as my pacer (Thanks Kamau!).

 

My goal for the race was to do it in less than 30 minutes, and my actual time was 29:22.

 

 

look how close us 3 were!

 

The fastest time was 16mins:07secs and the slowest was 1hr:13mins:14secs.



post-race - soaking wet but satisfied

 

I started training 4 weeks prior to the race.

My training included:

• an open-air 5k run 2 times per week + abs directly after
• an open-air hill sprint session once a week + abs
• a treadmill 5k run twice per week
• resistance training at the gym 2-3 times each week
• 1st day - legs
• 2nd day - upper body
• 3rd day - full body (giant sets)
• 1-2 rest days

 

On the morning of the race, I was a little ill and I almost didn't make it, but I didn't want to not run, so I armed myself with pain meds and was on my way.

 

Since the run was at 2pm, breakfast on the day was 6 bananas, a handful of grapes and some strawberries with a 1/2 litre of water. Had it been an early morning race, I would have gone on an empty stomach (as is recommended).

 

My hairstyle for the run (this is a hair blog right?! lol) was a simple top knot bun, which was great for keeping hair out of my face, nothing fancy.

 

 

All in all, It was a pleasant experience and as per my list of things to be accomplished in 2015, I have at least 2 more to participate in.


This post is just in time to be linked to other "Fit Friday" posts, so check them out if you haven't yet had your fill.

 

 

See you on the trails.

Ciao!

 

 

The 10 Commandments: Relaxed Hair

As relaxed girls, there are some things we just should. not. do.

These practices cause so many problems and stunt our progress on our quest for long and healthy relaxed hair.

I've put together a list of the 10 most forbidden habits (IMO) and made them into...

 

 

Guilty? I hope not!

 

Ciao!

Monday Morning Motivation: Length!

Happy Monday!
I am a sucker for everything Pinterest, but especially of course, black hair.
This morning I am bringing you some hairspiration (comprising of pictures stolen taken from Pinterest) of long straight hair, you know, to keep you on the straight and narrow. If these pics don't influence you to take better care of your hair, I don't know hat will lol.
Enjoy the view. And remember, this could be you!

 


Angela Simmons

 

 



_immathug (instagram)



 

 

 

BeautyByGabbie

 

 

 

 

 

 Itching to deep condition yet? I am!

Ciao!

 

 

 

My Meatlessness.

Going vegan is pretty high up on the priority list for 2015.

Now, this may come as a shock for those who know me, but I stopped eating meat mid November of last year.

 

 

 

I remember when Ebony of L4L went meatless for a month and I told her I couldn't do that because meat was my favorite food lol. But I suppose I knew deep down that it wasn't that good for me because I started a 'Meatless Mondays' shortly thereafter. Then one day my boyfriend's nephew and I were talking, and I was admiring him so much because not only was he an 18 yr old vegan, but he had been a vegan for most of his life. I was saying that it's very interesting and that if I had the willpower I'd do it too.

 

Holdup, wait, WHAT?

If I had the willpower?? Of course I do. And a few days later I gave up meat for a month.

It was only supposed to be until my birthday (Dec 19) or until Christmas, but when that time came, I just didn't crave it and I haven't had any meat since the first day I gave it up and I plan to keep it that way.

I still have fish about 2/3 times per week, but I intend to cut that down dramatically in the near future, and entirely by the end of the year.

 

 

What do I eat, you ask?

 

 

 

Well, I have been eating as per the RAW TILL 4 plan, created by Freelee the Banana girl on Youtube.

It sees me eating mostly fruit, with some vegetable until 4:00pm and a cooked meal thereafter. She has a vegan cooked meal, while I do a pesco-vegetarian (sometimes vegan) meal.

 

I feel so much better being meatless, oh yeah I don't have and dairy either, so my sinuses are so much better for it. I am still going through what they call a detox phase so all is not perfect, but I feel great and I'm not fiending for meat sooo, no need to reintroduce it into my diet.

 

I have been getting info from various sources, but mainly from Youtube. I'll leave you with a few videos to enlighten you about the dangers of animal products and the benefits of going vegan.

 

 

Annie Jaffrey

 

Fully Raw Kristina

 

Simply Raw Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days

 

Super Size Me

 

 

 

Of course the above will lead you to a plethora of other insightful videos. Enjoy.

 

 

 

Have you considered this route? Let me know your thoughts.

 

Ciao!