Get Ideas For Your Diet and Exercise Routine

Sometimes you just don't know where to start when trying to improve your body.  Should you start with diet, exercise or both really depends on you and your body.  You can't look at only what works for a guru, or your friend.  I personally feel that each body is different, just like our hair.  No one person's hair grows in the same pattern as another.  Like finger prints our hair is unique and I believe this is true of our bodies as well.  The best thing to do for your body is to learn what works for you.  Study what works for others.  Use your own imagination and creativity.  Find what works for you.  That's what this blog is about, finding your own way.  Combine the knowledge of others with what you know about yourself.  I am providing links to help you find your own way.  Some of the diets I have tried.  Some blogs I really like but I cannot say I agree with everything.  I must say some of the ideas that I like you may hate.  Things that I find useless may be the very thing you need.  This is a place to start your body journey.  The number one way to lose weight is to accept who you are.

Diets, Books, Programs & Blogs

The 4-Hour Body   The Bulletproof® Diet   DDP YOGA   The Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting   Experiments With Intermittent Fasting  The 5:2 Fast Diet  Correct Food Combining Principles   6 Food Combining Rules for Optimal Digestion  Ayurveda Food Combining  Suzanne Somers Diet  Ketogenic Diet Plan  Lose Weight by Achieving Optimal Ketosis  30 Day Ketogenic Diet Plan  Starting a Raw Food Diet  Raw Food Diet  A Low Carb Diet Meal Plan and Menu That Can Save Your Life  How Much Carbohydrate is Right for You?  The Benefits of Calorie Restriction  Want to Live Longer? Don’t Try Caloric Restriction  Counting calories: Get back to weight-loss basics  CalorieKing   Calorie Counting - A Guide to Calories & Weight Control   Tracy Anderson


Exercise

Butt
How to Get a Better Butt: Step Up Your Knowledge
Butt-ology 101: How to Enhance Your Gluteal Muscles
The biggest problem areas for runners : the results!
6 Glute Exercises to Improve Your Runs By Nikki Kimball
 Runner’s World
Clams: The Ultimate Pilates Butt Exercise
Gluteus Medius Hip Exercises
Gluteus Medius: Activation and Strengthening Exercises Note: Had a hard time adding so had to share this video as its own blog

Gluteus Minimus Stretching Exercises : Training & Stretching Tips

Gluteus Minimus

Exercises to Isolate the Gluteus Minimus : Working Out the Body

Exercises for the Gluteus Minimus & Piriformis : Tone & Trim the Body

Gluteus Medius Isolated Activation

Get a firmer butt like Beyonce using a pillow

The Beyonce Butt Workout

Butt Workout - The Best

Abs
Fast Abs  

Pilazies! Sexy Abs from Bed

Standing 10 Minute Ab Workout Real Time: Melissa Bender

more STANDING ABS, how to get a flat stomach, ab workout

Jillian Michaels: Standing Abs Workout

Legs

How to Strengthen Your Adductor Magnus   Biceps Femoris, Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus…ever heard of them?   

2Min Challenge: Legs!

Active Isolated Stretch for the Adductors

Open All Three Hamstrings and Attachments - Active Isolated Stretching

How to NOT stretch hamstring and get MORE Flexible! Stretching is making you tighter!

Tight Hamstrings Freed without Stretching -- Feel It Happen.

Tight Hamstrings? Don't Stretch, Do This Instead

How to Restore Tight Hamstrings

Combo Exercises

POP Pilates: Serious Standing Pilates for Legs, Butt & Obliques

Standing Workout Thighs, Hamstrings, and Glutes (Real Time)

Release Tight Hamstrings in Seconds

Gluteus Medius: Activation and Strengthening Exercises

Sunscreen/Skin Protection Is Needed For Black People, White People And Everyone In Between (Summer Skin)

My Favorite Sun Protection Sunday Afternoons

Yes, I wear sunscreen.   Yes, black people need sun protection.  Yes, black people get sunburn and have sun allergies.  Guess what some white people never get sunburn but they still need to protect themselves from premature aging.  Yes, Asian girls do get great tans but they still need to protect their skin from sun overexposure.  Heck even pets need sun protection! Are you human? Do you want to look 10 years older than you are? Well, if you are human you can get skin cancer and age prematurely due to sun exposure.  Don't be lazy.  You are worth the time it takes to protect your skin.  Your skin will thank you.  Your life will thank you.  Your reflection will thank you.

There is a major debate about how healthy using sunscreen is, especially in America, where sunscreen advances are 12 years behind Europe and Asia.   Okay, so you don't want to use sunscreen. You can still protect yourself.  You can protect your skin using supplements, clothes and choosing the right hours to go outside.  Just making a few adjustments can make all the difference.

1. Avoid Peak Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Go to the beach/pool before or after these hours.)
2. Clothes: Wide brimmed hats, thin light colored long sleeved T-shirts and linen pants/skits really help.  I know it is hot but just wearing long sleeves in the car will prevent that ugly drivers tan.  I often will wear long sleeves over a summer outfit just to protect my skin and I will take off the long sleeve top once I get to where I am going.  If you are going for a walk put on a hat it does make a difference.  Sunglasses are not just a fashion statement; they are also protection.
3. Supplements: Yes there are some supplements you can take to help you protect your skin.
Zinc, Astaxanthin, and Vitamin E/C/D are a few easy ways to protect your skin.

Do your own investigating.  There are clothes that are treated with sunscreen and supplements that are sold together just for the purpose of protecting your skin.  What the heck I'll even help you get started with some web links:
8 Natural Ways to Prevent a Sunburn (And Sunscreen’s Not One of Them)
Can a Pill Replace Your Sunscreen?
Buy Heliocare capsules, the original sunscreen pill
5 Reasons to Take Astaxanthin Every Day
Wholesale - S5Q Summer Shirt Female Long-sleeve Sun Protection Clothing Thin Anti-UV Cardigan Jacket AAABOH
Sun Protective Clothing by Solumbra 100+ SPF
Sunscreen Clothes: Do They Work?

Okay You are a dark skinned human like me and you hate that white/blue look some sunscreens give you.  Well, not all sunscreens give you that horrible look.  There are some really awesome sunscreens that make your skin tone look, dare I say, even better.  A spray on sunscreen will almost always look good on darker skin.  There are oil based sunscreens that are really good on dark skin, too.  For the face you need to be a little more selective.  Avoid zinc based sunscreen, it gives dark skin that horrible sick look. I have used Olay Regenerist Regenerating Lotion With SPF50 for my face but I am still experimenting.  When I find a facial sunscreen I love I will be sure to update this post.  Oh, and just so you know, wearing sunscreen will not stop you from tanning.  Everyone tans in the sun.  Yes, black people tan and we tan quickly.  If you don't want to tan don't go outside when the sun is up.  Sunscreen is not the same as no sun at all.

Please note after a day of being in the sun please use an after sun skin lotion.  After sun lotions are not just for sunburns but for restoring your skin.  Plus using an after sun lotion or organic oil at night will make your fresh tan a pretty color (this is a good idea for all skin tones).

List of sunscreens I will use and other info:

L'Oreal Paris Advanced Suncare Sheer Protect Sunscreen Oil Spray, SPF 50+
NEUTROGENA Beach Defense Sunscreen Spray
Sunscreen salvos: US products pale next to Europe's protective salves
FDA review of new sunscreen ingredients languishes, frustrating advocates
New, Better Sunscreens Could Be Coming
Many blacks are unaware of a skin cancer that primarily affects dark-skinned people

PS don't be embarrassed to buy sunscreen.  Buying sunscreen does not mean you hate your skin color.  Buying sunscreen means you love your skin.