Have you ever wondered why men are of the opinion that women and women alone should be the ones to make an extra effort about their physical appearance?
With the emergence of Metro-sexual – (that guy that is proud of his looks and yet is confident in his sexuality) and Über-sexual – (that guy who though dresses well, does not dwell so much on his looks because he is handsome and self-assured), one would think that such an idea would be water over a dam.
A man should have a good understanding of his body in respect to health, fitness, what to wear and grooming. We often think that as long as we take out baths once or twice a day, we are as good as clean, but that is only the beginning!
I will now give a few tips that should solve common grooming dilemmas men face:
BODY ODOUR:
The solution here is to bathe well and use a good anti-per spirant deodorant. Contrary to what you may think, perfumes do not solve the problems but could even aggravate it.
A deodorant decreases the activity of odour-causing bacteria, while anti-per spirants help decrease the amount of sweat produced.
HAIR:
Black men due to the texture of their hair are most often caught in a tight spot when it comes to their hair. Well, five options readily come to mind:
Dreadlocks- this is easy to maintain as there is no brushing, combing, or patting into shape.
Skin Cut- this is the easiest of them all and is favoured mostly by men losing their hair. It is so basic that some guys just buy a set of clippers and shave it all off!!
Corn rows- it is my opinion that only patient guys can sport this look as no matter tiny they are, they have a life span of 2-3 weeks and loosening and re-braiding it is quite a bother.
Low cut- my favourite. It is also probably the most acceptable style for (black) men. As the name implies, it involve keeping the hair short but not shaving it off entirely.
The Afro- this is another one that requires patience. Afros should be washed everyday with a good ant-dandruff shampoo. Once the hair is dried and combed, it needs to be patted into a spherical form. The afro is high maintenance for a guy.
CHEST HAIR:
If shaving or waxing it all off is not a preference, you could trim chest hair with clippers or scissors. Avoid cutting the hair too low and though it might sound and seem queer, brushing chest hair makes it look better.
NOSE HAIR: Trimming nose and ear hair can easily be done with a nose hair trimmer which can be purchased in pharmacies and body shops. You must be careful though, as getting cut in the nose/ear is somewhat painful.
NAILS:
Bitten nails look dreadful! Though only a perception, it gives the impression that you are not a confident person which is not healthy in today’s world where impressions count a lot. Getting a manicure and a pedicure at a good salon is as easy as it sounds.
However, if you are too nervous or too much of a coward J to walk into a salon, you could either DIY or call a girl friend.
EXFOLIATION & MOISTURISERS:
Exfoliation is simply the removal of dead skin cells form the outermost layer of the skin. These dead cells make the skin look dull, patchy and dry. Exfoliation sounds like a complicated process but it’s carried out easily by using a facial scrub or even just sponge. Using a facial scrub once or twice a week removes dead skin cells and helps the skin look brighter.
Moisturiser is a must for everyone, particularly one the body. A good moisturiser easily corrects the white patches of skin on the hands and feet. Applying moisturisers on the face is a good idea…especially after exfoliation. If you suffer from acne, consider using moisturisers particularly designed to treat this predicament.
SHAVING BUMPS:
Shaving bumps are caused by hairs growing back into the skin and it is most common in black men and those with very curly hair. If the bumps are causing much misery, consider switching to shaving powders. If your preference is shaving sticks, ensure the blade is sharp always. Shaving sticks with single blades are considered to be better than those with double blades as they don’t shave as close to the skin and so reduces the chances of hair growing back into the skin.
If possible, try shaving once in three days to give the skin time to calm down. Finally, using a good aftershave after shaving may help prevent bumps from getting infected.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Healthy Weight Loss.
Ok, I just may have been slightly mean in my last post; and so, I have reconsidered and researched on HEALTHY weight loss and body fitness in general. If you are considering a proactive approach to your wellness, I can understand how daunting it may seem. There is so much to consider – your diet, creating a work-out routine, and sticking with it!!
I am not an authority on the topic but like I said, I carried a little research and here are my findings, which I hope will help you achieve a better body-
Let’s start with the DIET-
The secret of a healthy weight loss is actually very simple. It has been said that averagely, a woman needs 2000 calories a day while a man needs 2500 calories a day. This is essential for the proper functioning of your body – if you do not consume the right amount of calories, it could lead to organ damage. Starving yourself will do you no good. The whole idea of denying yourself of your cravings just would not work. Your diet should work around your eating habits – it should not be too restricted or boring. You can have some of the things you want to eat but in moderation and should not exceed the amount of calories you should have per day.
There are three major classes of food – carbohydrates, proteins and fats & oils. Your body absolutely should not be deprived of these and so you must learn to eat ‘SMART’ around these classes….
‘SMART’ Carbohydrates include: whole wheat breads, cereals, brown rice, barley, beans.
Skip carbohydrates for dinner and stop eating at 8pm at the very least.
‘SMART’ Proteins include: skinless chicken, turkey, skimmed milk, snails.
‘SMART’ Fats & Oils include: olive, sunflower & canola oils (USE MINIMALLY!!). As much as possible, avoid fried foods.
Be careful to maintain a healthy eating habit after weight loss. You could eat whatever you want but in small moderate proportions not like a glutton.
WORK-OUT ROUTINE-
An overweight/unfit person may not have the energy to gym and so, there is the need to turn exercising into a hobby – something fun and absolutely rewarding. Dancing in its various forms, walking, swimming or even cleaning could be used as a tool to achieve fitness goals.
You have to find the time to work out. If you are a morning person, then by all means go for mornings, it might mean waking up a few minutes earlier but it will become part of you. What can you do?? Plenty!! Go for a jog, a brisk walk. You don’t even have to leave your house to work out. Jog around your house, go up and down your flight of stairs, skip/jump ropes, do sit-ups and push-ups. You could also invest in a couple of aerobic DVD’s and work out in your house or, if you can spare the cash, get a personal trainer (you can do this as a group to save cash).
Finally, you could also join a gym and work out on your way to work in the morning or back home in the evening.
In all of this, you need to start slow. Slow and steady they say wins the race. Ten minutes twice a week should do and gradually build upwards. Remember Rome was not built in a day. Relax and watch your body gradually beat itself into shape.
So there, you have my findings. Take note though that the condition of your mind also plays a role in the success or failure of your healthy weight loss.
I am not an authority on the topic but like I said, I carried a little research and here are my findings, which I hope will help you achieve a better body-
Let’s start with the DIET-
The secret of a healthy weight loss is actually very simple. It has been said that averagely, a woman needs 2000 calories a day while a man needs 2500 calories a day. This is essential for the proper functioning of your body – if you do not consume the right amount of calories, it could lead to organ damage. Starving yourself will do you no good. The whole idea of denying yourself of your cravings just would not work. Your diet should work around your eating habits – it should not be too restricted or boring. You can have some of the things you want to eat but in moderation and should not exceed the amount of calories you should have per day.
There are three major classes of food – carbohydrates, proteins and fats & oils. Your body absolutely should not be deprived of these and so you must learn to eat ‘SMART’ around these classes….
‘SMART’ Carbohydrates include: whole wheat breads, cereals, brown rice, barley, beans.
Skip carbohydrates for dinner and stop eating at 8pm at the very least.
‘SMART’ Proteins include: skinless chicken, turkey, skimmed milk, snails.
‘SMART’ Fats & Oils include: olive, sunflower & canola oils (USE MINIMALLY!!). As much as possible, avoid fried foods.
Be careful to maintain a healthy eating habit after weight loss. You could eat whatever you want but in small moderate proportions not like a glutton.
WORK-OUT ROUTINE-
An overweight/unfit person may not have the energy to gym and so, there is the need to turn exercising into a hobby – something fun and absolutely rewarding. Dancing in its various forms, walking, swimming or even cleaning could be used as a tool to achieve fitness goals.
You have to find the time to work out. If you are a morning person, then by all means go for mornings, it might mean waking up a few minutes earlier but it will become part of you. What can you do?? Plenty!! Go for a jog, a brisk walk. You don’t even have to leave your house to work out. Jog around your house, go up and down your flight of stairs, skip/jump ropes, do sit-ups and push-ups. You could also invest in a couple of aerobic DVD’s and work out in your house or, if you can spare the cash, get a personal trainer (you can do this as a group to save cash).
Finally, you could also join a gym and work out on your way to work in the morning or back home in the evening.
In all of this, you need to start slow. Slow and steady they say wins the race. Ten minutes twice a week should do and gradually build upwards. Remember Rome was not built in a day. Relax and watch your body gradually beat itself into shape.
So there, you have my findings. Take note though that the condition of your mind also plays a role in the success or failure of your healthy weight loss.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Dying to be THIN!!
There is an alarming new trend in the world today which is the passionate craving to be thin. In fact, it has been said that you can never be too wealthy or thin! Whilst being wealthy is healthy and good, the drive to diet to near-death is catching on like wildfire globally – with alarming results.The fire is further more fuelled by ‘beautiful’ Hollywood stars, both young and old, with million-dollar trust funds: Nicole Ritchie, Paris Hilton, and the list would not be complete without mentioning Victoria ‘Posh Spice’ Beckham, who is a typical example of a size zero, despite having three sons. The latest and most surprising example is Jennifer Hudson (btw, she prompted this article). My jaw really did drop to the ground at the sight of her new album cover. It is either that picture of her on the cover was extremely photo-shopped or; ‘Dr. 90210’ performed a remarkable miracle; or her personal trainer has some trick up his sleeves that deserves a Nobel award.Jennifer Hudson was a reference point to all the plus-sized women out there. She, in addition to a few others like Queen Latifah, was like an ambassador to them. Is it likely that she has caught on the craze to be thin?? The media has incited a lot of women/girls to change the way they view their bodies to attain the skeleton chic status – what is popularly known in Nigeria as “Lepa Shandy”. It is incomprehensible why one would starve oneself into a laboured, bizarre heap of ribs, with such miniature breasts and buttocks!! “In 2005, top Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos died of heart failure caused by anorexia nervosa. At the time of death, she a had body mass index of about 14,5 (as opposed to the normal one of 18,5 – 24,90 and weighed just over 44kg, despite being 1,8m tall. Ramos had been living on nothing but Diet coke and lettuce for weeks.” Ladies, please don’t misconstrue, it IS GOOD to lose weight – healthy weight; it is good to look fit and trim but not excessively thin. Basically, I guess the message here is: Love yourself and again remember – “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Who does the stereotyping anyway??
Why do people have stereotyped minds? And, who does the stereotyping anyway?
Throughout my stay in secondary school, I had to put up with opinionated people telling me I had to like football because I was a guy; I had to like rap music because I was black and young; I had to walk and dress in a particular manner to show I was hip, it was an endless list but I took it all in stride refusing to be intimidated. The final straw came in when a close friend of mine, or so I thought, said to me – “you are just a waste of height; you should be on the basket ball court and not acting.”
Sometimes, these setbacks happen to open our eyes to the reality we have failed to see. It is ironical that: this same friend told me off the very day I made an attempt at basket ball and swimming, the group of people that talked me into playing football where the same ones jeering and hurling insults at me when I made an attempt at a goal but missed . Being a sensitive person, I was greatly hurt by my friends and colleagues but at that moment with a pang of conscience, I remembered what my girlfriend had always told me – “No matter what, always seek to please yourself first, you can never please anyone – no matter how hard you try.”
“Often you don’t know how truly happy you were until you look back and realize how much worse things could have been.” (Nina Simone). On completion of my secondary school education, I opted to do the International Baccalaureate Diploma. One of my CAS activities was to interact with the patients at the Modupe Cole Memorial Home for the mentally and physically challenged children. The very first day my class-mates and I visited the home, we were moved to tears. The sight of the children (and some who are now adults) and the state in which they were being kept moved my body, soul and spirit. There was very poor ventilation in the hostels and as result, they had a foul stench that made me sick for days. The sight of children and teenagers who crawled on the floor with drooping saliva out of their mouths and flies hovering around them was definitely not one to behold. Their skin looked so tough that even a hatchet would not give them as much as a scratch. I all became too much to take when we were led to a room where children where chained to the floor and beds.
It seemed unreasonable and unfair that while these children were languishing in pains in situations they did not chose to be in, I was getting worked up because I failed to meet up with certain expectations people had of me; complaining bitterly about mundane things like clothes, money, shoes and other things which I never seemed to have enough of. That singular visit to the home changed my perspective of life. At the home, I discovered lives basic ingredient, love is this ingredient and because it is usually toyed with it has been devalued in the hearts of many people to the extent that it is regarded as a myth and no longer a feeling. The visits to the home made me ever grateful to God for making me who I am and the way I am. Above all, it made me appreciate my person and to learn to accommodate people irrespective of our different opinions and views. After all, the world will be such a boring place if it were filled with people having the same views and opinions.
Throughout my stay in secondary school, I had to put up with opinionated people telling me I had to like football because I was a guy; I had to like rap music because I was black and young; I had to walk and dress in a particular manner to show I was hip, it was an endless list but I took it all in stride refusing to be intimidated. The final straw came in when a close friend of mine, or so I thought, said to me – “you are just a waste of height; you should be on the basket ball court and not acting.”
Sometimes, these setbacks happen to open our eyes to the reality we have failed to see. It is ironical that: this same friend told me off the very day I made an attempt at basket ball and swimming, the group of people that talked me into playing football where the same ones jeering and hurling insults at me when I made an attempt at a goal but missed . Being a sensitive person, I was greatly hurt by my friends and colleagues but at that moment with a pang of conscience, I remembered what my girlfriend had always told me – “No matter what, always seek to please yourself first, you can never please anyone – no matter how hard you try.”
“Often you don’t know how truly happy you were until you look back and realize how much worse things could have been.” (Nina Simone). On completion of my secondary school education, I opted to do the International Baccalaureate Diploma. One of my CAS activities was to interact with the patients at the Modupe Cole Memorial Home for the mentally and physically challenged children. The very first day my class-mates and I visited the home, we were moved to tears. The sight of the children (and some who are now adults) and the state in which they were being kept moved my body, soul and spirit. There was very poor ventilation in the hostels and as result, they had a foul stench that made me sick for days. The sight of children and teenagers who crawled on the floor with drooping saliva out of their mouths and flies hovering around them was definitely not one to behold. Their skin looked so tough that even a hatchet would not give them as much as a scratch. I all became too much to take when we were led to a room where children where chained to the floor and beds.
It seemed unreasonable and unfair that while these children were languishing in pains in situations they did not chose to be in, I was getting worked up because I failed to meet up with certain expectations people had of me; complaining bitterly about mundane things like clothes, money, shoes and other things which I never seemed to have enough of. That singular visit to the home changed my perspective of life. At the home, I discovered lives basic ingredient, love is this ingredient and because it is usually toyed with it has been devalued in the hearts of many people to the extent that it is regarded as a myth and no longer a feeling. The visits to the home made me ever grateful to God for making me who I am and the way I am. Above all, it made me appreciate my person and to learn to accommodate people irrespective of our different opinions and views. After all, the world will be such a boring place if it were filled with people having the same views and opinions.
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