Laura Bailey

1) So podiatrists are using botox for feet now? Interesting……

2)How many people do you know who have had bariatric surgery (gastric/lapband)?

3)How many of those people actually needed it?

4)Does anyone really get 8 hours of sleep each night?

 5)If so, can you please share your secret?

6)Did anyone’s outlook change after hearing the State of the Union Address on Wednesday?  

7) And how about that Supreme Court Justice who mouthed, “Not true” during the speech??? (Ouch!)

Does anyone know where you can buy ground buffalo? (It’s suppose to be a very lean source of protein).

9)Is it just me, or does that sound kind of weird going to the grocery store and asking for some ground buffalo??

10)Do you think the new IPad is going to live up to its hype?

11)What’s up with the lady in Washington who found an industrial strength staple in her son’s Gerber Graduate’s Pasta? (uh-oh, that’s not looking too good for Gerber).

 12)How about that Serena Williams in the Australian Open?  

13)Uhh-oh……what happened to Toyota?

14)Why was there a man at the gym working out in jeans and loafers yesterday?

15) Jon Edwards………why man, why?

16) Do you think he’s officially replaced Tiger as public enemy #1? (LOL!)

17) Did anyone see the “food 101” episode of Oprah this week?

18) If so, did it change your perspective on chicken or beef? (It certainly made me think)

19) Man…….isn’t that Shaun White just b-a-d? (Busted his face and still came back to complete his run!)  

20)What do you think?

This is me!

With extensions

During the holidays I saw the movie Good Hair by Chris Rock and had mixed feelings about its content. It was a great film documenting what women with ethnic hair have to go through in order to get straight hair. It adds further support to my August 1, 2009 blog (Titled: I think you Should Know) about why many black women often shy away from going to the gym. In contrast, it was disappointing that hair products such as relaxers were referred to as “liquid crack” and even more disheartening hearing how little girls think that they are not “as pretty” because their hair does not flow down their back. It was great seeing how Chris Rock and his wife do their best to instill in their girls that they are beautiful exactly how they are, but lets be honest, although it is getting better, society is not as gracious. Watching that movie I recalled many moments during my childhood when I “wished” my hair was long and flowy rather than in pony tails. I can also recall the numerous times I got chemical burns while trying to get my hair straight……oh the things women do for beauty. But my question is “beauty” defined by whom?

During the years I have sported many hair styles. Everything from braids, extensions & hair pieces, hair weaves, clip on ponytails, cornrows, natural hair, presses, and 2-stranded twists. There is a lot of work that goes into maintaining ethnic hair….and by “ethnic” I don’t mean “black hair” I mean hair that has “kinks” and “coils”. It is truly beautiful hair no doubt. I have much respect for women who work so diligently to maintain it in whatever style they choose. I just hope that with the release of that movie, others will have a better understanding of the beauty and work that goes into maintaining ethnic hair.

And FYI: here are before and after shots of my hair air dried without heat or product in it, flat ironed with heat, and my hair with extensions! Guess what? I’m beautiful any way it goes……and so are all you other women out there! Hoo-rah!

Backstage all dolled up

1) How about those Ravens?

2)How about those Wolverines?

3)What’s up with all the airport security breaches?

4)Should we take the padded corporate CEO salaries/bonuses and give them to TSA workers so they can feel compelled to do their jobs more effectively?

5)And the lady who was going to sell or trade her child for a gun??? What?!?

6)How sad is the disaster in Haiti? (Prayers go out to all!)  

7)Is anyone else getting excited for the Winter Olympics next month?

8 How about for the Arnold Classic?

9)Is it tax time again?

10)How about the government give $3500 tax refunds to people with no kids this year? (I just can’t get a break!! LOL!)

 11)Are people still as excited about 2010 as they were 3 weeks ago? LOL!

12)Why was I so excited that a dozen eggs were on sale for 99 cents? (Maybe b/c I’m use to paying almost $2/dozen!)

13)Who is going to the Fit Expo in Los Angeles next weekend?

14)Why do teachers often make the worst students? (Sit in on one faculty meeting and you’ll see why!)

15)Why did I get so excited when I saw an ol’ skool metal pogo stick in the store today? (Ooo, memories!)

16)Why did the instructions on it say, “To be used with knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet?” It’s a POGO stick, not roller blades!!!

17) Why did so many schools go from not observing Martin Luther King Day to making it a 5-day holiday? (Yesssir, some schools have Friday AND Monday off. And the sad part is a lot of people don’t even know why!!!)

 18) Is The Biggest Loser starting to get a bad rap b/c former contestants are angry that they are gaining their weight back??               

19)Can you believe Teddy Pendergrass is gone??

20)What do you think?

Jenine & Laura

After deciding I wanted to become a psychologist at age 16, I was pretty relentless in my pursuit. Throughout summer school, mid-winter sessions, and undergrad I absorbed everything I could and marveled at anything pertaining to the world of psychology. I was fortunate enough to have a nice mix of instructors in gender, ethnicity, practical experience, educational experience, and schools of thought. Unfortunately the thing that always bothered me was how serious all the professionals in the field were. It was as if they put on a permanent face, attitude, and demeanor that said, “I am perfect super serious psychologist. I am all knowing and omnipotent. You will listen to me for I am the way, the truth, and the light.”  (LOL). Knowing my sense of humor, playful nature, and energetic spirit, I actually began thinking that maybe the field of psychology was not for me, because I am just not that serious and stoic. I actually have depth to my personality….and a whole lot of it! I laugh at myself all of the time and try my best to let the small things roll off my back.

When I began my externship as a requirement of my master’s degree in 2000, I met a new psychologist who had just completed her doctoral studies in Florida and was relocating to Texas. She would be working in the psych department of the Juvenile Detention Facility in which I was going to be placed to work on my hours. The first time I met Dr. Boyd I thought, “Wow, she is pretty, funny, and so full of life.” But most importantly she was great at what she did and so willing to share the knowledge she had with others. I really like and respected what she did and how she did it. I completed my master’s degree and then went on to teach in the public schools for 3 years before returning in 2004 to begin working on my doctoral degree in psychology. Again, the requirements called for several hundred more hours of externship, of which I completed at various rotations. For my final rotation I decided to go back to the same Juvenile Detention Facility. When I returned in 2006, Dr. Boyd had become the Chief Psychologist at the facility and was still the same highly energetic and extremely competent Dr. I remembered from before. She appreciated her staff and all others she worked with. She treated the juveniles in detention with respect. She encouraged and supported continuing education for her staff and believed in celebrating every meaningful moment (big or small) with cake, lunch, and lots of pictures.  :)  After sitting in on several of her therapy session with juveniles, adults, and families I had an epiphany. I realized it was ok to maintain my sense of humor, personality, and zest for life in spite of working in a field that deals with restructuring the delicate mind and human behavior. That was what made Dr. Boyd stand out in her field. She was great at what she did, but always maintained who she was while doing it. She had integrity. She did not let her job define her, rather, she defined her job. It was during that time that I realized I could still be a psychologist and allow my personality to shine through. At the conclusion of my externship I told Dr. Boyd how she helped me see a different side of psychologists, the side I always longed to see, but was unaware it existed.

As for my professional role model and inspiration, it was and still is Dr. Boyd. She “humanized” the stereotype of psychologists for me. She allowed me to see that we should never be extensions of our professions, rather our professions should be extensions of us. We should have passion and drive for what we do, be genuine in our efforts, laugh at ourselves, and take a break when we need it. I have yet to see a young psychologist work as diligently toward perfecting her craft as Dr. Boyd. If I can become a mere fraction of the psychologist she is, then all the aches and pains of pre/post doctoral internship and my dissertation (which has yet to be completed) will have all been worth it. Thanks Dr. B!

So what’s my point? Find the person who does what you love and does it exemplary. Learn from that person, maintain your sense of self, and go out and do great things with the knowledge you’ve acquired, but along the way remember to thank those who helped you get there and remember that someone may be watching you as a role model, inspiration, and possibly one day a mentor.

Supplement Overload

When it comes to supplementation my thoughts are like my high school mathematics teacher use to say: KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid!! People always want to know what they can take to look like someone else, what they can do to be bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, or to jump higher! They want to know what they can stack, how to stack it, and at the most effective times to stack. But so many people forget to ask one thing What is my overall goal and what purpose does the supplement serve in meeting my goal(s). I have seen people hop from one supplement to another and add multiple supplements at a time completely unaware of how each one is helping or hindering their desired progress. Then when asked why they take what they do the response is often, “Cuz so and so got great gains from taking it, or put on size, or b/c it makes me feel good!” So here are my true thoughts about supplementation:

1)Identify a goal and seek supplements to help you meet that specific goal
You can not set 5 goals and then take 45 supplements to get you to all 5 goals simultaneously. Each goal is specific and may require completely different supplements. Additionally, the stacking of various supplements may counteract the effectiveness of others. Exercise some patience and if possible achieve one goal and access your progress and response to the supplements before jumping to another goal and other supplements.
2)Add or stack supplements gradually so you are fully aware of their individual effects on your body.
Do not assume that a new supplement is giving you great gains when it could possibly be the elimination of previously over used supplements that are helping you progress. Make sure you are fully aware of how your supplements interact or counteract each other before adding others.
3)Do not assume more is better.
Supplements are not cheap so do not inhale them like candy thinking you are going to reach your goals faster. You may actually he slowing your progress….and breaking the bank at the same time
4)Do you own research.
Do not take some elses word at the gospel truth. Do your research and find out for yourself. Just because it worked for one does not mean it will work for all others. Find what works best for you and go with that.
5)Remember the name S-U-P-P-L-E-M-E-N-T-S. Supplements do just what they say, SUPPLEMENT! The product alone will not give you success. It should be paired with proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. For some reason, most people seem to forget that!

As an athlete who is sponsored by a supplement company, one of the things I pride myself on is my ability to market a service or goal rather than a product. When people ask me how some of our products work, if I have not taken them I will not offer any advise, rather, I will refer them to someone who has. If people ask my thoughts on certain products I will tell them which ones I take and which I find to be most and least effective, but I always let them know that each person responds differently to supplements and what works for me may not work for them. If they are trying to achieve goals in which we do not have products for, I will gladly refer them elsewhere because in my opinion, it is about reaching your goal rather than simply using products from my sponsored company. It is about honesty and the integrity of human health. But if you want to talk about quality of products, research, and development, then All American EFX is where its at!! My final thoughts are this, I believe in using the least amount of supplements necessary to achieve your desire goals. WHY? Why pay someone to give you something to help you achieve a desired goal, when YOUR OWN hard work and dedication can get you to that same goal? At the end of the day it is the hard work that keeps you at your desired level of success, not the supplement!  Now go take that to your nutrition store!!

I’ve always love omelets, but hate the labor involved in making them in bulk (8-10 at a time). A friend told me about Ziploc Omelets over the holidays and then I saw one in Tosca’s Eat Clean book as few days later. I made some yesterday and they were GREAT so I thought i’d share. The best part was that there was minimal clean up and you can make about 16 or so at a time if you want to use all 4 burners on your stove. Here’s how you make them:

Place whatever fillings you want in you omelet in a ziploc bag, then add egg beaters or egg whites. Get all air out of bag and place in boling water for about 15-20 minutes (or until the insides are not runny). Remove, let cool, and enjoy. The best part is that once cooled, you can freeze them!!! Whoo-hoo! Ziploc Omelets are my new food for 2010!

Here is a sample of how I made mine: cilantro, red, orange, yellow peppers, tomatoes, spinach, onions, 3 slices rinsed fat free deli turkey, 3/4 cup egg beaters, pepper, garlic/herb salf free seasoning. 

Let me know how they work for you if you try them!