Getting it together...

Once I decided to become natural, I, like many other naturals, began to take a look at myself as a whole. I started not only reading labels on conditioners, but also on lotions, face wash, crackers, juice. Everything that went on or in my body. I looked in the mirror and was not happy with what I saw. I thought back to 5 years ago when I was a size four, and then I looked in the closet at my size 11 pants. Smdh. How did I let this happen? How in the world did I gain 30 lbs in that short amount of time? How did I think I was looking ok?!

I still struggle with this everyday. You know how you know that you need to do something, but you just don't do it? Well, that's my life everyday. How can I be so adamant about only putting "healthy" products or ingredients on my hair when I'm planning a fried chicken, corn and rice dinner? I have got to get it together!

I'll share something with you. I'm 29, will be 30 in June, and I've had high blood pressure since I was about 27 years old. No, I'm not obese. If you saw me and I told you my weight (now 141) you would call me a lie (not because I'm bigger than that, but because I look smaller. Just wanted to clear that up). I hate salty food, and my only pork infatuation is a couple of pieces of bacon every once in awhile. So how did I develop HBP? Lord only knows. I was prescribed a slew of medications to tackle it. I've been to the emergency room 3 times in a hypertensive episode. I've lost a job because of the amount of days I missed due to HBP. Have I changed my diet? No. Have I significantly increased my intake of potassium-rich foods such as sweet potatoes and bananas widely known to help lower blood pressure? No. Have I eliminated all cured and luncheon meats from my diet? No. Do I exercise daily? No. Have I thrown away every hair care product I owned that contained sodium lauryl sulfate? Yes. Have I completely eliminated the use of mineral oil on my skin in any form? You better believe it! 

Do you see the irony here? What is wrong with me? Can't I see that this goes hand-in-hand? Do I want to have the prettiest hair and skin in the city morgue? NO! So that means, I have to Get It Together! 

If I'm going to "be healthy" then I have to be healthy. No more half stepping. I refuse to buy anymore clothes to cover this fat. I WILL NOT buy another flowing top. And I will stop my search for wide-calf boots! I've given myself until August 1, 2011 to lose 20 lbs and I will do it. Point blank.

So today I affirm: I WILL NOT TREAT MY HAIR BETTER THAN I TREAT MY BODY, FOR HAIR HAS THE ABILITY TO GROW BACK.

Won't you join me?