Ok ladies, it’s time to run down this week’s list of tips for being your most fit, healthy and fab! Use these tips to inspire you, and feel free to share with anyone who needs a bit of inspiration too. Remember guys, you can be as healthy, happy and fabulous as your heart desires. All you have to do is get fired up and committed to the goal. I believe in you. Do you believe in you? Of course you! Here we go!
1. Get your calcium and vitamin D
As women age, we naturally lose bone density and bone strength. And this is especially the case with Black women. That said, to prevent things like broken bones and hip fractures later in life, you need to start taking care of your bones now. Essentially bone health comes down to two things: calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is a mineral that strengthens your bones, and vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium from your foods. So the next time you grab a meal, try to throw in a few calcium rich foods like cheese, yogurt, milk, and dark leafy greens like spinach and kale. And of course, you can also take a daily calcium supplement with vitamin D, if that’s what you prefer.
2. Don’t go to bed angry… or with makeup.
Going to bed with makeup on is a big skin care faux pas. So if this is something you do, I’d highly suggest that you start taking those extra 10 minutes before bedtime to wash your face. Why? Because sleeping in makeup will lead to clogged pores and the formation of skin occlusions called microcomedones– which attract acne causing bacteria to your pores, which can then lead to inflammation, which can lead to more breakouts, which can ultimately lead to skin that becomes scarred and blotchy. No bueno.
3. Find your fitness inspiration.
So many of us struggle with getting in shape and it makes things so much easier when you have someone you can look up to for inspiration. And that’s precisely why I encourage women to find a fitness inspiration and use that person to keep you motivated. For example, one of my biggest fitness inspirations is Jillian Michaels. Her body is sick, I can identify with her feistiness and I can tell she really cares about helping people. And yes, Jillian is a tough-as-nails chick and scares the heck out of some folk. But she’s about the business (which I love) and her passion truly inspires me to stay on my fitness game.
4. Smile!
I really love the above Pinterest pin: “A smile is the most beautiful curve on a woman’s body.” Yeah, you like that don’t cha? Feel free to re-pin ;). Now the reason why I love this pin is because there’s so much truth to it. Your smile is your most beautiful curve, and a projection of your inner joy. In fact, one of the greatest lessons I learned in life was to surround myself with people and things that keep me happy, inspired and smiling because being in that state of joy seems to pull more positive energy and positive people towards me. And how do I handle negativity and people that are all about the drama? Well let’s just say that they get promptly placed on the curbside. Ain’t nobody got time for that. So that understood, remember to keep smiling and never underestimate the beauty and infectious nature of your smile. And moreover, never underestimate the importance of surrounding yourself with positivity and people that make you happy.
So guys, what fit & fab tips can you share with others? I’d love to know! Post in the comments and tweet me at @Dr_Phoenyx. Can’t wait to read what awesome tips you have to share! – Doc
So I’ve been working out, and have lost 20 lbs so far :), but my skin has taken a nosedive. I have acne and dry patches everywhere (which is not the norm), my face wash no longer works. Any tips?
If you’ve never had skin problems before, and this recently started becoming an issue, I’d say have an allergy test! I started getting really bad cystic acne and it was because I had a chocolate allergy! You never know what can throw your hormones out of whack! Good luck!
Thanks for the tip Bianca!
Hey there! Weird, I just got alerted to your comment and question. Def didn’t mean to ignore it so excuse the late reply. Ok, what you’re experiencing is not uncommon when you sweat alot and one suggestion I would give is to start using skin cleansing products that gently exfoliate and that are ‘non-comedogenic’ (meaning they won’t clog your pores). Specifically look for products that say ‘non-comedogenic’ and if they contain exfoliating acids like glycolic acid and beta hydroxy acids, that’s even better. Acne is basically due to clogged pores and if use gentle products that take care of that you’ll be fine. Hope this helps. Good luck!