I've moved!!

The new blog/site is complete!!

I've been working on it for a while now, and it is finally finished!!

I have a lot more freedom on the new platform! I'm excited! I hope you like it too!!

With that being said... I've moved!! The new site is below... I hope to see you all over there! :0)

Let me know what you think!!

www.luvbeinnatural.com

I Have Been Blessed

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude!

I have truly been blessed! I am overwhelmed with joy right now, and I wanted to share it with you all.

I am so thankful that I am surrounded by friends and family who love me and want to see me succeede in any and everything that I do!!

Even if I feel like I am not good enough, or can't do something, there is always someone there to give me that encouragement or that push that I need to keep going and keep moving forward!

I relize that not everyone has that support system! I want you to know that I appreciate you all, and I don't take it for granite!

I hope I can give encouragement and pass that blessing on to you all as well!

I have so much in store, and I am glad you're along for the ride!



I will talk to you all soon!

Luvbeinnatural <3

The importance of PICTURES!!

Hey Guys!!

I was just thinking to myself about how important pictures are! 

It is so important to document the different goals and activities that you have going on in your life! Sometimes it's great to be able to look back and see how far you've come. Sometimes, looking back is what gives you strength to keep moving forward!! 

Bottom line... take pictures!! After all ... a picture is worth 1000 words right?!

It's so funny because I was looking at some of my old pictures, and I can't believe how far my hair has come! 

Isn't that crazy!! Such a big difference!! 

It's nice to see those kind of changes! And you can't see them without ... pictures!

Anyway... Here is a new video that I posted. It talks about how I maintain my mini twists. Especially after I wash them, it helps them stay stretched out for a while longer. It also talks about picture taking a little bit as well. 

Watch the video below, or you can even click on the 'Luvbeinnatural <3' link and it will take you to my video page, and you can see some of the other videos I have up there! 

Luvbeinnatural <3

Talk to you guys later!! *bigsmile*

I'm Expanding! - And I have so much in store!

Why Wait ... The link is below!! (tehehe)
Click the link and click 'like'

Luvbeinnatural Fan Page

I am starting a Facebook Fan Page!! I have a lot in store for the future, and this will be a great way to support and stay informed with upcoming news and events!

I am not very technically inclined... lol! ... so bare with me! :0)

I am really excited about the fan page and I am working on getting it going ... but you can definitely like my page in the mean time and watch it grow!!

Thanks for the support guys! I REALLY appreciate it!!

Talk to you later!! 

Stay Blessed!

Bad Hair Days + Natural Hair!? ... NOT the business!!

What in the world am I going to do with this mess!!!!!????!!!!

Everyone has bad hair days!! 

I get questions all the time about what to do with natural hair when nothing... and I mean nothing... you do seems to work out right!! 

Or in my case... when I'm lazy the night before and I don't prep my hair for the next day! Haha! 

(I know I'm the only one with that problem right!? ... haha! ... you guys never do that right!?)

Well, I usually just stand in front of the mirror, grab some hair pins, and start pinning!!

I keep trying different things until something looks presentable enough to wear outside.

I usually get frustrated ... a few times at least ... but it alwyas works out. And hey... practice makes perfect!! 

Since I receive so many questions about it... I decided to record one of those days... here it is!! 

Click here to see the video page! 

I hope your bad hair days aren't so bad anymore!  :0)

Talk to you guys later!! 

- luvbeinnatural <3

I DID IT!     I DID IT!!     I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

7-Week 10K Training Schedule
Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	25min	2	Rest	30min	Rest	3	Rest	5
2	30min	2	Rest	35min	Rest	45min	Rest	2
3	40min	3	Rest	40min	Rest	4	Rest	7
4	30min	2	Rest	35min	Rest	60min	Rest	2
5	3	50min	Rest	35min	Rest	70min	Rest	3
6	20min	3	Rest	20min	Rest	75min	Rest	3
7	20min	2	Rest	20min	Rest	6.2	Rest	8.2

10-Week Half Marathon Training Schedule
Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	3	Rest	3	3	Rest	4	Rest	13
2	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	5	Rest	15
3	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	6	Rest	16
4	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8	Rest	19
5	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	10	Rest	21
6	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	11	Rest	24
7	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	12	Rest	26
8	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	9	Rest	22
9	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	8	Rest	18
10	3	Rest	3	Walk 2	Rest	13.1

I finished the race!!! 

I'm so excited guys! I did it! I finished the race!! I can't believe  it! ... And guess what...

I RAN THE ENTIRE TIME!!

(not fast... but I ran!)

And I could not have done it without God, as well as Ivan and Catina!! 

My finish time was 2:42:27 which is a 12:24 mile pace!

If you want to see a video of the course that we ran... click here!  

It was definitely not quite what I expected! Especially with so many people! There were 32000 participants!! It was nuts! ... Sooo many people!  It was supposed to thunder storm, but thankfully, it only rained... lightly for about 10min or so.

I have so much to tell you guys about the race and I want to make this post short and sweet, so I will save the rest for the recap video!! I am editing the video now, and I will post it later this week!

Talk to you all soon! 

-luvbeinnatural <3

Where the - - - - have you been!?

Hey Ladies & Gents!!

First and foremost, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who sent me messages to my inbox and posted comments on my youtube channel! 

 Thanks for thinking of little ole me!! :) 

I missed you guys too! I have been MIA, and I am so sorry about that!! I feel so behind and left out!! I haven't been able to make videos, watch videos, nothing!! I'm so out of the loop! But everything is a-ok!! 

I was so busy with ... well...  life ... but I am back!! *bigsmile*

So now... what's to come! Lots of videos and blog posts! I have a box of goodies that I ordered and received over a month ago! I didn't open it because I've been wanting to do a haul video just for you guys! Now I forgot what's even in it (lol! ridiculous!), so that will be fun to go through!! I love surprises!!

It's Just Like Christmas... except in April!! lol!

The race is just over 1 week away!! - 10days!! Yikes!! -

 I am so excited! I've been working my butt off, and I can't wait to run this baby!! Literally... you guys would be so proud!! My goal isn't just to finish anymore... it's to RUN the entire time!! 

- Can't wait to tell you how I came up with that crazy idea!! -

:0)

I have a lot ... I mean ... a LOT of hair videos to do!!  

(my first protein treatment, new styles, new products, new tools, updated regemine... lots of good stuff!)

Also... some skin and nail updates!! (Healthy skin... going great!! *thumbs up!* Nails ... not so much! *thumbs down :/*) As well as some new makeup looks! Ooohh - lala!

And of course some fitness videos! :0) Can't forget those! 

I am so thankful you have embraced me and my videos with open arms and you actually like what I put out!! :0) You care... you actually care!! :0) 

I can't wait to interact with you all!! See you in the next video!!

Now... LET'S START EDITING!!!!!... well, I'll start editing!! :0)

luvbeinnatural <3

Marathon Training Week 12: Oh No... Not Shin Splints!!

7-Week 10K Training Schedule
Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	25min	2	Rest	30min	Rest	3	Rest	5
2	30min	2	Rest	35min	Rest	45min	Rest	2
3	40min	3	Rest	40min	Rest	4	Rest	7
4	30min	2	Rest	35min	Rest	60min	Rest	2
5	3	50min	Rest	35min	Rest	70min	Rest	3
6	20min	3	Rest	20min	Rest	75min	Rest	3
7	20min	2	Rest	20min	Rest	6.2	Rest	8.2

10-Week Half Marathon Training Schedule
Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
8	3	Rest	3	3	Rest	4	Rest	13
9	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	5	Rest	15
10	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	6	Rest	16
11	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8	Rest	19
12	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	10	Rest	21
13	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	11	Rest	24
14	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	12	Rest	26
15	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	9	Rest	22
16	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	8	Rest	18
17	3	Rest	3	Walk 2	Rest	13.1	Rest	21.1

Ooohhh … My Freakin Legs Hurt!!

SHIN SPLINTS!! … They suck! When I first started working out, I had shin splints and I thought it was bad then… but that wasn’t nothing!! The best thing to do for shin splints is not to get them at all! Below I have posted some ways to help prevent them if you don’t have them, and the same exercises can help relieve the pain if you do have them! Of course… I’m not a doctor, and this is just what I do. You should consult your physician if you have any questions, or concerns! I hope this helps! I'm going to do some exercises right now!!

• Towel stretch: Sit on a hard surface with one leg stretched out in front of you. Loop a towel around your toes and the ball of your foot and pull the towel toward your body keeping your knee straight. Hold this position for 15 to 30 seconds then relax. Repeat 3 times.

When you don't feel much of a stretch using the towel, start using the standing calf stretch.

• Standing calf stretch: Facing a wall, put your hands against the wall at about eye level. Keep one leg back with the heel on the floor, and the other leg forward. Turn your back foot slightly inward (as if you were pigeon-toed) as you slowly lean into the wall until you feel a stretch in the back of your calf. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times and then switch the position of your legs and repeat the exercise 3 times. Do this exercise several times each day.
• Anterior compartment stretch: Stand with one hand against a wall or chair for balance. Bend your knee and grab the front of your foot on your leg which is away from the wall. Bend the front of the foot toward your heel. You should feel a stretch in the front of your shin. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
• Resisted ankle dorsiflexion: Sit with one leg out straight and your foot facing a doorway. Tie a loop in one end of elastic tubing. Put your foot through the loop so that the tubing goes around the arch of your foot. Tie a knot in the other end of the tubing and shut the knot in the door. Move backward until there is tension in the tubing. Keeping your knee straight, pull your foot toward your body, stretching the tubing. Slowly return to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 10.
• Ankle range of motion: Sitting or lying down with your legs straight and your knee toward the ceiling, move your ankle up and down by pointing your toes toward your nose, then away from your body; in toward your other foot and out away from your other foot; and in circles. Only move your foot and ankle. Don't move your leg. Repeat 10 times in each direction. Push hard in all directions.
• Heel raise: Balance yourself while standing behind a chair or counter. Using the chair to help you, raise your body up onto your toes and hold for 5 seconds. Then slowly lower yourself down without holding onto the chair. Hold onto the chair or counter if you need to. When this exercise becomes less painful, try lowering on one leg only. Repeat 10 times. Do 3 sets of 10.

• Resisted ankle inversion: Sit with your legs out straight and cross one leg over your other ankle. Wrap elastic tubing around the ball of your bottom foot and then loop it around your top foot so that the tubing is anchored there at one end. Hold the other end of the tubing in your hand. Turn your bottom foot inward and upward. This will stretch the tubing. Return to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 10
• Resisted ankle eversion: Sit with both legs stretched out in front of you, with your feet about a shoulder's width apart. Tie a loop in one end of elastic tubing. Put one foot through the loop so that the tubing goes around the arch of that foot and wraps around the outside of the other foot. Hold onto the other end of the tubing with your hand to provide tension. Turn the foot with the tubing up and out. Make sure you keep your other foot still so that it will allow the tubing to stretch as you move your foot with the tubing. Return to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 10.
• Standing toe raise: Stand with your feet flat on the floor, rock back onto your heels and lift your toes off the floor. Hold this for 5 seconds. Do 3 sets of 10.
• Balance and reach exercises

Stand upright next to a chair with your injured leg farthest from the chair. This will provide you with support if you need it. Stand just on the foot of your injured leg. Try to raise the arch of this foot while keeping your toes on the floor.

1. Keep your foot in this position and reach forward in front of you with the hand farthest away from the chair, allowing your knee to bend. Repeat this 10 times while maintaining the arch height. This exercise can be made more difficult by reaching farther in front of you. Do 2 sets.
2. Stand in the same position as above. While maintaining your arch height, reach the hand farthest away from the chair across your body toward the chair. The farther you reach, the more challenging the exercise. Do 2 sets of 10.
• Resisted hip abduction: Stand sideways near a doorway. Tie elastic tubing around the ankle on your leg which is away from the door. Knot the other end of the tubing and close the knot in the door. Extend your leg out to the side, keeping your knee straight. Return to the starting position. Do 3 sets of 10.

To challenge yourself, move farther away from the door.