Exercise and Hair Care

I walk 4-5 miles Mon-Fri mornings with Leslie Sansone’s Walk away the Pounds series. Since my goal in 2012 is no relaxers I’m currently wearing a sew-in which I do over “my-self” every 3 weeks or so. I pull it in a high pony tail and get to working out. I make sure that I wash (clarify) and deep condition my hair when I do the sew-in over. How are you guys doing it?

Hey there, Last year when I began my journey around March 2011 I grew out my perm and did the "Big Chop" I wore my hair short and curly a few years back and wore it very light brown almost a blonde color I really liked it. This time it is was more for exercising with no excuse! I didn't want a lot of color so I could swim and exercise, wash and go! I was banded Jan 17th and I still have it short and curly I work across the street from a gym and will really begin to use it properly after I heal up.

I would love for it to grow out and maybe do some natural twists but I'm not sure, knowing me I'll perm it back out by the end of the year and wear it short and spiky so it won't interfere too much with working out, guess I'll just see where the journey takes me.

Hi All, I did the big chop on 12/15/10 and I love my natural hair...at first i wore alot of wash and go's now it's all about the twist out...I watch alot of you tube videos to get advice and that helps alot...

I've been keeping it simple - I've bee doing braids - love em, love em, love em. Will do braids for as long as possible. Gives me a real youthful look too. Easy to maintain and keep clean. I run, walk and also do Tae-Bo at home so the braids make it easy for me to keep a neat, tailored look even after a tedious workout. May step into a weave or some other cute style in the summer. Ultiamtely I'll shoot for short hair but I need to reach my goal 1st. Then I'll do the sassy, short look.

I've been doing locks for a year now easy to keep up I color and twist them myself! I do the eliptical 2x a week and treadmill 1x a week I'm training to do a 10k next year sill need much training but atleast I'm to the point I beleive I will do it instead of wishing I could do it! now I just need to start running I'm still at the speed walking point. anyone have any ideas? I'm looking on youtube (since you can find EVERYTHING on there)

Lovlee, have you considered the couch to 5k program (9 week program) and the 5k to 10k programs that some lapbanders talk about on youtube. if you google c25k, you find a lot of information including podcasts that you can download you an iPod or mp3. These podcasts take you through the about 30 minute workout. Some let you use your own iPod music and others have programed music for the podcast. I downloaded the free c25k app on my iPhone, but don't plan to start it until I am 1-2 months post op.

I saw some videos about "twist outs" too and do them sometimes ... but I just wear a very thin headband around the hairline to keep stray hairs off my face .... I am relaxed some sometimes my roots get "thick" from the heat and sweat hahaha. But I just flatiron the roots back straight until It's time for a wash and style again

I was banded on May 10th so am still helaing walking a little and havent started exercising again yet. Will be back at the gym on Monday though so this topic is timely. I g=have a perm but know its going to be hard t maintain once I start exercising again.I LOOVE the steam/sauna and see it as my reward fro going to the gym. But my hair is going to be a hot mess lol>> I think I'll do braids for now but ultimately I know Im going to do the BIG CHOP and get this perm outta my hair. One of the reasons I got the band was to lose weight and get back to my tru self, the core of who I am which is really a natural woman!! I wore my hair natural for years and it was short and cute but I was much slimmer. When I started gaining weight I permed my hair so I could add tracks. I felt like it was the only thing I could do to try to look good and groomed since I was so heavy. But now Im on this weight loss journey and am envsioinig a new better me--slimmer, healthier, with NO Perm!!

Welcome to band-hood everfeels9, I was banded on Jan 17th and still getting use to the changes in my health and body. I love my short wash 'n go style.. I swim, sweat and steam and have no worries. I want to let it grow out so I can do a twist out styles but I always say "trim it up" at the last minute. I was going to perm it straight in the fall but I'm thinking nahhh this is too convenient for exercising.. so I just add color for a little variety.

I haven't been banded yet but I made up my mind @ the begining of my journey "NO MORE PERMS" so 6 months ago, I've been natural since then and been geting my hair braided. I love it because its easy. I work 12 hour days so my time is limited. :wub:

I went natural 3 years ago, I just wash, twist and keep going. I feel so much better, no having to worry about my hair sweating out during my workout sessions. I have been banded since May 7, 2012 and have since lost 36 pounds without a fill. I am thinking that this is slow weight loss, but my doctors tells me that I am doing pretty good to not have had a fill yet. There are weeks that I get frustrated due to water weight gain and muscle gain. Just trying to stay encouraged.

Soon to be banded. I tried transitioning slowly but got tired of the in between thing. I'm sort of an all or nothing kind of person. I just did the chop. I switch it up between sew ins and Havana twist. As my hair gets longer I will begin twist outs.