Sisterlocked ...

Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself. ~Hubert de Givenchy, Vogue, July 1985

I have my sisterlocks, now what? This is a few weeks after my sisterlock installation. I have mix feelings about them. On the one hand I still feel that this is the right option for me. On the other hand I am not sure I like the way they where installed.

It took about 19 hours to install 284 locks. I expected to have more. But that is not what bothered me. I seem to have locks in four different sizes. I had several question about lock sizes and based on the answers received I decided to go with the standard installation of small, medium, and large. I asked the consultant to put test locks representing all three sizes into my hair. He did. The large did not look that much bigger than the small. At this point I felt comfortable about the sizes that would be installed. Fast forward to installation day; I was told that it would take three days to complete the installation. He was finished in two. Day one went ok, the largest lock appeared to be slightly bigger then the biggest test locks. All in all the parting was ok and the lock size was acceptable. Next Day: He is locking the thickest part of my head. The locks on the top of my head are about the size of a mouse cord. If they start off this big and they swell they are going to be bigger than I would like them to be. In the same row you could have three x-large ones then one or two medium ones followed by more x-large or large locks. I was thinking that maybe I should have this section taking down and the rows split in half (about 7 or 8 rows). I decided to wait a couple of months (no more than two) and get the advice of one more consultant before making any decisions.

I am a project manager, you would think I would no a little about managing expectations and providing strong requirements. I guess I did not do a good job expressing what I wanted. I always try to live the now but plan for the future. If I start off with locks that are bigger than I want, it will only be worst later on. I see a number of people blogging about wanting to have larger locks and few who wanted smaller. Me, I would be comfortable with at least 400 locks. I understand that it cost morer in maintenance but I have always found doing my own hair to be very therapeutic. It is a way for my mind to shut down and go on auto pilot. Stay tune for my decision … Keep them, Take down the front and top, start all over?

Last picture of my Afro

New 1 week old Sister locks

3 weeks: Soft Spike set

4 weeks: Braidout

Time to get back in shape: Rebounder, Rebounding, mini-trampoline

To resist the frigidity of old age one must combine the body, the mind and the heart - and to keep them in parallel vigor one must exercise, study and love.
Karl von Bonstetten

I tried different types of exercises, but nothing really sticks. I don't have a lot of time to work our so what I need from an exercise routine is:

• Short duration & Maximum impact (30min)


• Low impact Exercise


• Strengthen Muscles


• Aerobic (cardiovascular exercise)


• Allow me to focus on my problem areas (abs, core, love handles)


• Reduce stress


• Routine or Equipment changes to meet my expanding needs


• Enjoyable - It almost feels like I am not working out


• Produces results (either physical or emotional)

What I tried:

Running: I truly feel (at least for me) that this is an activity that works best if you have a partner. This became a chore, finding a sitter and compatible partner. Outdoor Cycling: I do not live in area with assessable bike paths. I would be fighting with the traffic. Indoor Cycling: I couldn’t motivate myself to keep this up especially since I know how much fun cycling outside is. Gym (Machines): I just don’t like the gym. Walking: I cannot maintain a routine during bad weather. Gym (Classes): I Yoga and Pilates, but I always seem to have scheduling conflicts and end up missing too many sessions. Dancing (Classes / DVDs): I love to dance but for some reason the classes and DVDs make look like I have two left feet. Weight Lifting: Get’s boring after a while and starts to feel like a chore. Equipment: I have had treadmill, stationary bikes, steppers, all sorts of ab machines, and a rowing machine.

What I like:

Combination Exercise: Since I am not looking for bulky muscles, the best exercises for me are combination exercises. Combination exercises are multiple exercises performed at the same time (ie Lunges w/ shoulder press). These are the best exercises for women because they will allow you to work multiple muscle groups, and get more overall work in during your workouts. More overall work means extra calories burned, which means a higher metabolism, which means you will be more likely to burn fat, tone up, lose weight, and be lean. This route may not be for everyone. So, as long as you have a healthy diet, perform cardiovascular exercise and try to live a healthy active lifestyle all exercises that you can stick with, are beneficial.
Relaxing Exercise: The best exercises for stress relief are activities that are rhythmic, mindless, and steady, and last for at least 20 minutes. Although aerobic exercises such as walking, running, swimming, rowing, and cycling are ideal, any physical activity will help; choose the ones you most enjoy. A good exercise routine leaves me feeling refreshed, calm, and at peace after a workout.

What is in my Video Collection?

I have about forty exercise DVDs. I put them into about five different group and talk about a few in each group.

• The Firm DVDs: Focuses on toning, aerobics, and weights. Get’s boring after a while and definitely feels like a workout. Favorites – Cardio weight system, fat burning sculpting ball, and Fannie lifter


• Gaiam Yoga and Pilates DVDs: basically soothing low impact exercise that both relaxes and tones. (anything by Jillian Hessel, Ana Caban, and Rodney Yee)


• Tamilee Webb – I like her workout. Nothing fancy, just hard work with catchy names. As an added bonus she is several years older than me and looks fabulous.


• Kathy Smith – see Tamilee Webb

Next Steps

REBOUNDING is a unique form of exercise that reduces your body fat; firms your arms, legs, thighs, abdomen, and hips; strengthens all your muscles and your bones; provides excellent aerobic effect for your heart; instantly stimulates your lymphatic circulation, rejuvenates every system in your body, and allows you to easily achieve a higher level of health and fitness. Rebounding with small weightss is a excellent Full Body Toning and Strength Training activity! Rebounding is Total Cellular Exercise! This means that every one of your hundred trillion cells is positively affected from the moment you begin moving up and down through gravity. Jumping on a Rebounder is suppose to exercises every part of your body. Rebounding is fun, easy and efficient. It's said that:

Rebounding for 10 minutes is equivalent to 30 minutes of jogging! Rebounding for 20 minutes is equivalent to 1 hour of jogging!

I willing to give it a try and let you know what I think.

Some resources on Rebounding:

Rebounder - Household Traditions
Rebounder, Rebounding, low impact exercise, rebounders, mini-trampoline

Rebounding Videos

Why did I choose to lock my hair?

How can I control my life when I can't control my hair? ~Author Unknown

I have been natural for about ten years. My hair has had plenty of time to grow to the length that I maintained during my relaxer days. Yet I was unable to grow my hair past the shoulders. I started off with braids, then switch to twists and finally settled on an Afro. Also within the last three years I started using natural products on my hair. I was putting in the time and money and not seeing the results that I wanted. I don’t my doing this if I get results.

I always admired women and men with long maintained locks. I never thought that I could pull off the look. So, I just admired them from afar. This year after taking 45 minutes to comb my hair and another 45 minutes to wash and condition it with out trying to style it, I decided that it was time for a change.

I asked myself “What did I want / expect from my hair?” Although I am not my hair, it is my crowning glory and can be an outward representation of what I am on the inside. These are some of the things I am looking for:

• Length – I want my length back, need I say more!
• Movement – I want my hair to move with me; to be an extension of me, not just an accessory.
• I want to see my scalp again. The afro, though lovely, does not make it easy for someone to massage your scalp. Which is something I find to be very sensual.
• Styling Options: I want to easily be able to move from curls to a pony to a straight look.
• Play in the water: I want to be able go swimming or go on water rides without worrying about what my hair will look like afterwards. I want to walk in the rain during the summer months like I did when I was a child.

When I started looking for options that will meet my needs / hair goals, locks kept coming up. So I started looking into different locking techniques. Again, although I liked the look of traditional locks they just different seem right for me. A friend of mine had mentioned a few years back that I should try sisterlocks. Not knowing anything about them and thinking that they where the same size as traditional locks, I wasn’t interested. This time around I added sisterlocks to my search for hair options. I was floored by what I discovered. I loved the look and decided that these were the locks for me. My reasons for locking are:

• I grew tired of combing my hair - I would have these pretty little coils then I would have to comb them out and by the time they returned it would be time to wash and comb them out again.
• Length - I love the aesthetic of long hair on me. Locks seem to be the best natural way for me to get length.
• Styling Options - I like the fact that I still have "control" over my hair. I can still style my hair in a manner similar to styling loose natural hair.
• Works for an Active Lifestyle - I have a physically active lifestyle, which includes water activities.
• Scalp massages - Any time, any place that I want them; with the added benefit of not messing up my hair.
• Movement – I love it when my hair moves with me when I dance.

Why Sisterlocks?

• Styling Options: The idea of small locks that can be pulled back in ponytail, worn straight, or curled really appealed to me.
• Beautify Parts - Well defined parts also appealed to me. Something about the perfect little lines running up and down my scalp sent chills up my spine. My scalp is supper sensitive and is definitely one of my pleasure / pain centers.
• Size Matters - The smaller locks seem to be able to mimic your natural curl pattern. I have small tight coils that I felt would be well suited for small locks.

I don’t consider myself a high maintenance kind of woman and my morning make-up routine is down to 5 minutes. My hair is dense and thick. Locking will give me a fighting chance to obtain my hair goals while keeping my hair under control (say control freak) and manageable (busy bee). I am tired of fighting with my hair. Locking seems like a nice compromise that with allow my hair to do what it wants and will allow me to still have some control.

Introduction

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.
Carol Burnett

I liked to start by with a brief introduction. I am a forty something divorcee with a seven year old son. I got divorced about six years ago (more about this later). I was born in the south (SC) and moved to NY when I very young (around three or four). After we moved to NY, every summer my mother would pack me up and send me to my grandmother’s house.

I am about 5’ 4’’. I always thought I had a mocha complexion until someone described my complexion as the color of tequila. The description stuck.

Between pre-k and 5th grade we moved around a lot and I never really established the ability to maintain friendships. As soon as I got comfortable we moved. This changed when I entered into 6th grade finally I was able to stay in the same school district until I graduated. Unfortunately it wasn’t a district that did not support me socially. I was described as cute but too dark with bad hair. It was easier to get straight A’s then to get date.

Fast forward to my college years; my last seven years of school was spent in a predominantly white school which impacted my college selection. I chose to stick with what I new, a predominantly white college.

Fast forward to pre-marriage; I never knew my father. He didn’t want to meet me when I reached out. I think this colored my idea of what I was looking for in a husband. I think what I was looking for was a father figure. That is just what I got. It took too long for me realized my mistake. I am an independent thinker and couldn’t stand someone telling me how to do everything. The marriage ended badly.

Present day; now I am single parent with a good job and no real social life. You usually can find me at work or doing something with my son. My goal is to learn how to balance all aspect of life.

• I want to be the best parent I can be.
• I want to be successful at my job.
• I want to have an active social life.
• I want to be involved in a relationship.
• I want to have time to my self.

So, come join me in my journey. I hope that my successes and failures can act as lessons or inspirations to others.