What’s your exercise and corresponding hair regimen?
CN writes:
During my pregnancy (from the 2nd trimester till the last few weeks) I walked 2-3 miles, 7 days a week. Although I have a treadmill, I walked many of those days outside. It kept the swelling at bay, my back feeling great and my weight gain under control.
CN writes:
During my pregnancy (from the 2nd trimester till the last few weeks) I walked 2-3 miles, 7 days a week. Although I have a treadmill, I walked many of those days outside. It kept the swelling at bay, my back feeling great and my weight gain under control.
Whenever I finally drop this baby, I plan to continue to walk most days. Yes, I’m still pregnant, LOL. But after my appointment and ‘stretch and sweep’ this morning, things are stirring…
Along with the walking, I’ll be adding a bit of toning and weight lifting- -crunches on my Yoga Ball, and 5lb free weights to tone my arms.
As for my hair, I bun it most days (high messy, or low side), but my Twist-n-Curls fair pretty well despite my workouts. I just make sure to pull it up high or down low with a scrunchy prior to the workout. When I take it down, it looks great!
I'm going to dance one to twice at day, i really love it and sweats every time.
And often a go walks with my dog, sometimes i also run a small turn for fun, do yoga, and push ups and stuff like that.
I do also have gym in school.
And in my holiday this year i walked a lot everyday, did volleyball and dance nearly everday. 🙂
Two Words… BIKRAM YOGA!!! AKA hot yoga. I love it. Nikki if you can take heat and want a great way to tone and stretch bikram is the bomb! I can't say enough about it.
Michelle
I do an intense boot camp class 4 days a week. I BC'd June of this year, so I am rocking a TWA (although it is long enough for me to do finger coils). I do daily co-washing, and since I sweat a LOT, I will co-wash again after my workout. My hair has done well. Co-wash, leave-in, seal, and little bit of gel is all I do…
Congrats on the baby Nik! We are glad that she has made her arrival! 🙂
I go to the gym for Zumba once a week, P90x twice a week and a run/walk once a week. Since school has started, I will add bellydancing once a week to my schedule. I have been natural two weeks now, so it is sooooo much eaiser to care for my hair than when I was transitioning.
I take a pole dance/fitness class!
I have always worked out, even when I had a relaxer, so nothing is different for me. I used to co-wash my relaxer too back in the day. Because I couldn't stand the sweat and grime, so I would just rinse conditioner through to freshen up. Unfortunately I slacked last season and gained back a couple pounds, so I am trying to whittle that off before winter truly hits again. I usually just braid up my fro, and wear a scarf to the gym. I hit the treadmill or eliptical 5 days a week. Twice a week I hit the weights for about 30-40 minutes. When I can I jog outside with my man every now and then. But frankly natural hair and exercising does work out great, because you can just co-wash/style and go as usual. I love it.
For my 30th birthday, I've decided to challenge my own self: go from not having ever run to training for a marathon in March 2011. As such, I train 6 days a week: 3 days of running, 3 days of strength training and cardio, and one day to rest. I'm beginning the 3rd week of my training plan, and just ran 4 miles this morning (the longest ever). Each week, the distance will increase until I'm able to (hopefully) run the better part of 26.2 miles (crazy, right?!). I'm keeping a blog of my progress: http://onemileforeveryyear.blogspot.com
I've been natural since 2002 and have never been much for styling, other than wash n'go's. Now that I'm training, nothing much will change. Plus, I've decided to let me hair grow during this process (I usually keep it very short). Because of all the sweating and whatnot associated with running, I want to be able to pull it back in a bun or ponytail.
My exercise typically consists of working out 2 days a week. I typically run 2 miles one day a week or do a cardio dance class and then I swim one day a week. When I gave birth to my twins I started working out again slowly after my 6 month check-up. I tried to stick to the treadmill while my babies were sleeping for 15-30 minutes here and there. I also took them for walks in the stroller while I tightened my ab muscles and walked with them.
In terms of my hair while working out. It's so easy to maintain since I'm natural now. I just cowash after a workout because my hair is typically drenched after cardio activities. I just cowash and do a low puff. When I swim I wash with a sulfate free shampoo, deep condition with Aubrey organics, and then braid and let it dry or do a low puff.
I just started working out again after a 1-month break. Now that my classes are finished and the kids are about to go back to school I'm working out again. I workout everyday. Kickboxing on Monday, Yoga on Tuesday, Wednesday is a sports conditioning group class. My Thursday workout routine is a water aerobics class and I finish the week off with strength-training Fridays! I run/walk on Saturdays (logged about 3 miles today). Sundays I go to yoga. I'm loving, loving my after workout routine now that I've cut my hair and gone natural.
Jasmine T. Genus;-)
I shake at zumba and bake at bikram yoga. I also love to walk. It's awesome because thanks to natural hair I can sweat it all out and not worry about a thing.
I just started doing yoga.. And to myself I wondered what took me so long..LOL For some reason, my hair looks 10xs better after I exercise. I wear my hair in a bun on top of my head. So far, so good.
Yoga twice a week and cardio twice a week. Once I return to work (teaching), yoga stays the same, and I do a core class once a week. There have also been a couple pregnant women in my yoga class!
I walk 2-3 miles at least 3-4 times a week. I also do yoga throughout the week. Sometimes if i dnt feel like going to the gym i just do this tape called the dorm room diet since im in college.
I am training for a half, so I am doing 3 days of running; 3 days of weight training/yoga.
My hair routine is really easy–wash/DC on saturdays; cowash on the days I run; put it in a puff the alternate days.
Thank you for posting this. I am training for the Komen 3 day walk and workout 5 days a week a minimum of 2 hours a day. 3-4 days of walking, 2 swimming sessions, spin once or twice a week, with a bit of resistance training. I was thinking of having braids with extensions but after reading the posts, I may try the buns. I typically wear braidouts or 2 strand twists. But the increased workouts are causing me to not want to style my hair nightly. Thanks for ths blog..
Wow! I am totally inspired by both this post and the women who have commented! I've been "afraid" of what exercising (more like SWEATIN') would do to my natural hairstyle and what a pain it would be to have to wash & twist it more than once a week, but I'm feeling really encouraged right now.
For the last nine months, my workouts have been rather sporadic. I have recently recommitted to working out 3-4x week and I am enjoying it. Last night, I did a step aerobics class sporting a wash and go (covered with scarf). When I got home and took off the scarf, I was pleasantly surprised as my hair looked even better than when I began my workout. Natural hair rocks!
I will start my other workout program september 1st. It will be an athletic type program being that I am a former pro-athlete, however, it will have portions in there that a non-athletic person can definitely do. Right now I only participate in the aerobic classes I teach at my local gym, which is body sculpting and hi/low (cardio) class. I will be documenting my workouts on my blog http://alwaysfirstathletics.wordpress.com if anyone want to check it out…
Hope the baby come soon nikki…
I enjoy running on the treadmill or outside and usually do it 4-5 times a week. I haven't been as diligent this summer, it's been too hot and I've had lots to do. I am stricter in the winter since I become sedentary. I also lift weights in the gym after the treadmill. When I'm too tired to run I like to walk in a park close to where I live, for at least 30 mins or do pilates at home if its cold. I also swim as often as I can during the week which might be 1-4 days, swimming lengths for 30 mins-1 hour.
Exercise helps to lift my spirits when I'm down, it helps me maintain a healthy weight and it's a stress reliever.
Sue
meant to say 30 MIN brisk walk in last post.
I used to run 3-4 miles per day (treadmill set on 6.5-7) on the treadmill at least 6 days a week. I did that for several yrs along with weight training. Now, I set treadmill at 4.5 and walk (very briskly) for 1 hr.- usuallly ends up being 4.10-4.2 miles. I wash my hair 2x/wk, sometimes cowash an additional one time, deep condition overnight 1x/wk (sometimes 2). I have been natural since 2000. I have a stressful, demanding job, but I always make time for exercise- even if it means getting up really early.
I am 45 yrs old, and have been mistaken for 18-28yrs. consistently.
Everyone I know who does some form of aerobic exercise regularly (at least a 30 brisk walk 3-4x/wk) looks younger than their stated age and (most importantly) is in excellent health and feels GREAT!
I love yoga! I do Ashtanga yoga on my own and at a yoga studio near my house. It's the greatest…:)
I work out 3-4 times a week (currently training for a 5k in October). My hair is always in two strand twist. I can NOT work out with my hair loose and it's not quite long enough to bun yet. I usually spritz my scalp with my aloe spritz to keep it refreshed.
I wash (shampoo – rotate between sulfate and non sulfate) my hair every two weeks (until my scalp and hair says otherwise).
Tennis!! twice a week
i received an elliptical for christmas so I usually hop on that for 30-60 mins. No special hair routine, maybe pin the front back if it's dangling in my face.
http://socialitedreams.wordpress.com
Zumba twice a week.
i walk daily and am constantly moving and on my feet with my job.
Nikki, please remember to set easy goals for exercising after you have the baby. I worked out with each of my pregnancies but once the baby comes, its difficult to fit exercise in as often and as intensely as Mommy wants sometimes:-)
I spin twice a week, walk on treadmill twice a week, weight train three times a week and do Zumba once a week. I go to the gym during my lunch hour during the week and attend classes some evenings after work.
I typically cleanse my hair twice a week, once with shampoo (non-sulfate) and once with conditioner. DCing takes place at least once a week. I’m trying to get to twice a week. I have been wearing WnGs during most of the summer. While working out, I’ll place my hair in a band and don a scarf.
Oh my gosh! I thought you baby would have come by now. Thanks for letting us live through your experience. I love your blog and really appreciate the CN community's insights. All the best for you, your husband, family, and this wonderful bless who will soon come into the world.
Nesha Evans
I usually exercise 5 days a week. I have to make it fun and enjoyable for me to really get into it, so I attend fitness classes at the gym. Monday and Tuesday – Step and Tone, Thursday – Zumba, Friday and Saturday – Step and Tone. I sweat like CRAZY when I'm working out, so my hair is usually in a puff or bun. I sweat so much in my head that almost always my twist-outs and braid-outs don't make it to a "day 2".