LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST HERE:
" Comments with Cookie " The Blog
#BodyByCookie x #SweetlyToned
-> BEING COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN... 8/16/2017
I know the title sounds very cliche but there is truth in a lot of cliche sayings.
I was really skinny (only 98 lbs) and was really uncomfortable with having a flat chest. I got teased about it my entire life (and still sometimes do — the only difference now is I'm okay and comfortable with my chest so I don't get annoyed at the comments). I hated how my jeans fit back then because of my thigh to butt ratio. I naturally have bigger quads than the average person (one of the ways I was able to master the science of "flute isolated" workouts) so from the front it look like I would have a nice butt and then when I would turn around it was a disappointment because of how small it was lol.
I started to hate how I was nick picking myself apart all the time and comparing myself to people on social media, mainly Instagram. I would look at how their bodies where in comparison to mine and it made me feel even worse about myself because of things I thought I couldn't change.
Then I realized a lot of them didn't even look like themselves. A lot of them were using all types of apps to make their waists smaller, their butts bigger, their boobs more plump and perky , etc. And then obviously the newer trend of physically going in to make your waist smaller and your butt bigger through surgery — it was all overwhelming understanding that so many people were living a lie.... then it made me think.... could they truly be happy and comfortable with themselves if they are going in and altering their bodies? I understand a boob job I suppose because it's something you're either born with or you're not but something like wanting a bigger butt and a smaller waist you can achieve that on your own if you have a little patience! They are doing all these things to alter themselves and a lot of time to fit into societies definition of beauty instead of taking the time to truly understand themselves and love themselves. Once I realized this I stopped comparing myself to other people. I was fortunate enough to understand this at a very young age because now I get to spend my young loving me and living life to the fullest because I am comfortable with who I am. I started focusing on loving myself more, understanding what things I like and don't like, what makes me happy, what I want out of friendships and relationships, just more things ME.
I would pinpoint what my flaws were and then figure out how I can fix those things. I had a lot of characteristic traits that I did not like about myself — number being how unhappy I was and not knowing why. I began to google motivational quotes and wrote them on sticky notes and placed them all over my room and bathroom. The main spot was right by my bed right above the little table that held all my perfume and nail polish because I would put my jewelry there as well so that I would see it everyday; so every night I would look at that before getting into bed because my necklaces where the last thing I took off.
I started watching the company I kept and started going to the gym more; that eliminated A LOT of stress out of my life. That's how my journey began. I wanted to love everything about myself so bad back then and would be furious when I wasn't able to. Which was so dumb because what I wasn't realizing is that I had the power to change that - to change my mindset and outlook. I use to let dumb comments like ones about my boobs being small get to me but now I don't! Because to me it's like I worked so hard, day in and day out, on my body and mental that you can say bad about me is that I have small boobs? I'll take that insult because you can't find anything wrong with my energy.
Being comfortable in your skin is about all just owing who you are and fearlessly be that person. Regardless of what your family says or what your friends and peers think. It's about you enjoying the process of learning yourself and loving that person. Being so happy with yourself that no matter what anyone thinks of you you still think you're dope af, What you think of yourself is the most important thing ever and all you should care about.
Stop the comparisons.
Stop the self-hate.
Stop the doubts.
Stop the insecurities.
You ARE awesome.
You ARE somebody.
You HAVE self- love.
You HAVE self-confidence.
Now go into the world and be great with no doubts or worries of failure!
I was really skinny (only 98 lbs) and was really uncomfortable with having a flat chest. I got teased about it my entire life (and still sometimes do — the only difference now is I'm okay and comfortable with my chest so I don't get annoyed at the comments). I hated how my jeans fit back then because of my thigh to butt ratio. I naturally have bigger quads than the average person (one of the ways I was able to master the science of "flute isolated" workouts) so from the front it look like I would have a nice butt and then when I would turn around it was a disappointment because of how small it was lol.
I started to hate how I was nick picking myself apart all the time and comparing myself to people on social media, mainly Instagram. I would look at how their bodies where in comparison to mine and it made me feel even worse about myself because of things I thought I couldn't change.
Then I realized a lot of them didn't even look like themselves. A lot of them were using all types of apps to make their waists smaller, their butts bigger, their boobs more plump and perky , etc. And then obviously the newer trend of physically going in to make your waist smaller and your butt bigger through surgery — it was all overwhelming understanding that so many people were living a lie.... then it made me think.... could they truly be happy and comfortable with themselves if they are going in and altering their bodies? I understand a boob job I suppose because it's something you're either born with or you're not but something like wanting a bigger butt and a smaller waist you can achieve that on your own if you have a little patience! They are doing all these things to alter themselves and a lot of time to fit into societies definition of beauty instead of taking the time to truly understand themselves and love themselves. Once I realized this I stopped comparing myself to other people. I was fortunate enough to understand this at a very young age because now I get to spend my young loving me and living life to the fullest because I am comfortable with who I am. I started focusing on loving myself more, understanding what things I like and don't like, what makes me happy, what I want out of friendships and relationships, just more things ME.
I would pinpoint what my flaws were and then figure out how I can fix those things. I had a lot of characteristic traits that I did not like about myself — number being how unhappy I was and not knowing why. I began to google motivational quotes and wrote them on sticky notes and placed them all over my room and bathroom. The main spot was right by my bed right above the little table that held all my perfume and nail polish because I would put my jewelry there as well so that I would see it everyday; so every night I would look at that before getting into bed because my necklaces where the last thing I took off.
I started watching the company I kept and started going to the gym more; that eliminated A LOT of stress out of my life. That's how my journey began. I wanted to love everything about myself so bad back then and would be furious when I wasn't able to. Which was so dumb because what I wasn't realizing is that I had the power to change that - to change my mindset and outlook. I use to let dumb comments like ones about my boobs being small get to me but now I don't! Because to me it's like I worked so hard, day in and day out, on my body and mental that you can say bad about me is that I have small boobs? I'll take that insult because you can't find anything wrong with my energy.
Being comfortable in your skin is about all just owing who you are and fearlessly be that person. Regardless of what your family says or what your friends and peers think. It's about you enjoying the process of learning yourself and loving that person. Being so happy with yourself that no matter what anyone thinks of you you still think you're dope af, What you think of yourself is the most important thing ever and all you should care about.
Stop the comparisons.
Stop the self-hate.
Stop the doubts.
Stop the insecurities.
You ARE awesome.
You ARE somebody.
You HAVE self- love.
You HAVE self-confidence.
Now go into the world and be great with no doubts or worries of failure!
How to keep those edges laid while sweating like Beyonce! 8/30/2017
Okay so I know, like many of you reading this, that you have struggled with keeping your hair cute while working out... it is so frustrating paying all this money to get your hair done, or spending hours on end prepping your hair for the next day just to mess it up in the gym while trying to get your life and reach your body goals.
I struggled with this battle so much when I first started my journey because I soon realized I love going to the gym looking super girly and getting underestimated by all the boys and squat more than they are - I felt like it was the perfect mind f*ck lol.
So here are a few tips to help you look super bad ass while killing it in the gym!
You can have both hair your hair laid and sweat it out - it just requires a little extra time before the workout to ensure when you leave you are free to do whatever without your hair holding you back! Even if these particular steps don't work for you - find out a regimen that does because everyone's hair is different. Just remember to take extra care of your hair and that will help keep it laidttttttt!
I struggled with this battle so much when I first started my journey because I soon realized I love going to the gym looking super girly and getting underestimated by all the boys and squat more than they are - I felt like it was the perfect mind f*ck lol.
So here are a few tips to help you look super bad ass while killing it in the gym!
- Oil: I know a lot of people are so fearful of using oil because they feel like their hair will get super greasy. That's actually only based on the amount that you use! Your hair best absorbs treatments or healthy product for your hair when it's wet; so since you're sweaty in the gym this is perfect. My go-to is Jamaican Castor Oil - it can be found at any beauty supply. The reason I love it is because it helps my hair grow and get thicker without making it super greasy because I only use about a nickel size and rub it together and run it through my hair (I do this also when I'm wearing a weave like 80% of the time lol). I put it on my edges, using my finger tips, on top of two other products I'll mention later on.
- Edge control: Some kind of edge-control helps keep your hair laid even while working out. My favorite is Design Essentials "Honey & Shea Edge Tamer" it is brilliantly amazing!!! Regardless of your hair type not only will it keep your hair laid but also keep your edges soft and that's hard to maintain.
- Gorilla Snot: I know this name sounds super funny because trust me I thought the exact same thing..... "WTF is a Gorilla Snot?" My little sister ran across a review about it on YouTube and I figured out how to use it to work for me. I'll use the Design Essential first and then after applying DE I'll brush my hair into the position that I want it in and then using my fingertips apply a thin layer of Gorilla Snot to my edges to hold the DE in place and lastly I put the Jamaican Castor oil to ensure the softness before putting on a headband,
- HEADBAND!!!!! Headbands will be your best friend during this journey! And I'm not talking about the super tight kind that leave an imprint when you take it off like most sports headbands. I'm talking about the old school cotton headband. It will absorb all the sweat versus your hair absorbing it all.
- Wrapping your hair: I know it sounds super cliche but wrapping your hair at night helps you keep how your hair was previously laid in tact. This will help control the amount of heat used on your hair which will help your hair growth journey. I usually use heat 2/3 times at most during the week and only 3 times if I missed a day of all these steps.
- Ponytail: Be sure that all times your hair is up in a ponytail! This keeps your hair in a neat condition the whole workout. There are multiple ways to twist your hair into a bun to help prevent a serious hair tie crease but working out with your hair down (despite how cute it is) is asking for a disaster. Your hair gets tangled faster, oily quicker, loses it's shape and body and just becomes down right gross.
You can have both hair your hair laid and sweat it out - it just requires a little extra time before the workout to ensure when you leave you are free to do whatever without your hair holding you back! Even if these particular steps don't work for you - find out a regimen that does because everyone's hair is different. Just remember to take extra care of your hair and that will help keep it laidttttttt!