Welcome to Summer!

It is my hope that you are continuing to exercise, eat healthy and maintain a positive and energetic attitude. As summer approaches, we all set goals for our physique and how we view ourselves. I for one have been exercising more often to tone muscle and drop a few pounds in the process. There are all kinds of summer recipes to try. I am keeping it simple by going back to the basics of the original flavor of a fruit and vegetable. Over the years, I have tasted the quality of apples, oranges, pears, nectarines, tomatoes and host of other sweet and tart natural treats and I have not been happy with the results. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been sprayed to the point of tasting waxy and leaving a bad after taste in your mouth which is one of the reasons I rarely eat red apples.

I grew up on Michigan red apples and Sunkist navel oranges and with every bite there was a fresh crunch or enough juice in an orange to make juice. The degradation of the food quality over the years is disappointing but there are glimpses of promise on the horizon towards going back to common sense growth and less harmful pesticides. My mother and father would clip coupons for our large family and plan the Saturday trip to at least three (3) grocers plus the fish store. I went on a few grocery trips with my mom and was exhausted but what I learned was to get the best quality of food for the best price and not settle for less. She taught me and my siblings that no matter what your income or your circumstance (and she had to overcome a lot by being a hearing impaired Black woman), that you deserve to be treated respectively as a human being and as a customer.

Obviously, I took that piece of education to heart and now pass it down to my own children to strive for the best within themselves and others because in the end, everyone benefits. So as a toast to all things natural and summer fresh, I am adding more salads, low calorie fruit desserts and occassionally heart healthy lower alcohol organic sulfite sweet red wine.

Check it out: www.french-wine-online.com and www.esterlinavineyards.com

Also check out my new comments about African American women's hair styles at: http://blackamericabodybeautiful.blogspot.com

Have a Great Summer. CHEERS!!
Stay mentally, physically and spiritually Healthy!

Mrs. B.

NBCD Weight Loss Journal Update - June 27th - July 3rd

Welcome Back Everyone,

We have come to an end of our Weight Loss Challenge and I have lost a total of 8 pounds. I wanted to lose at least 12 more pounds but I am still working towards that goal slowly. Although I did not make it to the set goal, I did lose 3 inches from my waist and thighs. The toning exercises really did the job of making my legs stronger. I am pleased with my results and will continue my weight loss plan through the summer and maintain a long term healthy lifestyle. At the beginning of my journal, I emphasized the importance of positive behavioral changes toward food and exercise. It was also important as I embarked on this journey to analyze my response to food and exercise on a daily basis. Needless to say, I found out a lot about myself. Fortunately, most of the results, mentally, physically and spiritually were positive. I now need to improve a few negative behaviors that impede my progress towards an even healthier lifestyle. One behavioral change would be to address the fact that when the body ages; relisiency, elasticity and flexibility decreases so toning and stretching has become a part of my daily life. I cannot currently change the mid life transitions in my body but I can improve them mentally and physically and I will do that one day at a time.

A Word About Body Image: I am thankful that I am secure enough to accept my body shape. I like who I am and that is an important factor in the decision making process of healthy food choices and physical exercise. Dr. B has published a well researched and ground breaking book on body image of Black America and our influences in society. A new book called, "Black America, Body Beautiful" written by Dr. Eric J. Bailey is due for release on July 30th, 2008. The publisher is Praeger Publishers: An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. -- www.greenwood.com

(Excerpt from press release by Dr. Eric J. Bailey on PRWeb News wire)
"Black America, Body Beautiful: How the African American Image is Changing Fashion, Fitness and Other Industries is a new book, along with its accompanying website and blog, about a people's struggle in finding their particular preference for body image and recognizing their body images, body types and standard of beauty are greatly influencing today's fashion, advertising, fitness, television, movie and political industries." For further information on this highly relevant and academically researched book, please visit the website: www.blackamericabodybeautiful.com.

Thank you for joining us whether you participated in the 2008 Weight Loss Challenge or visited the New Black Cultural Diet website -- www.newblackculturaldiet.com -- for informational tips or inspiration. I look forward to blogging with you soon!

Black Pearl Weight Loss Challenge Reward: Mother's Advice
A Mother's wisdom is often passed down from generation to generation and my mother's advice to me was simple and practical. Her advice was "Be Yourself." In an ever-changing environment and societal influences, it is not always easy for a person to follow their own path and I am thankful to know myself. I have taken those two words of advice my mother has given me and adapted it to "Be Yourself and always maintain a sense of self."

Mrs. B