After seeing The Big O Hamilton Rocking these in Aruba, watching Coldfinger rock these in the Gym and reading Jada Wright’s review of them on AlumniWellness.com I had to see what the hype was all about myself.

I went to a local retailer who is known for carrying a variety to “special shoes” like throwbacks, TOMS shoes, Crocs and Vibrams and decided to try some on. Just like any other shoe purchase, I went for the one that I thought would look the DOPEST on my foot; and oddly enough, the one that looked most like a sneaker. I immediately went for the black Bikila LS; probably because of string like elastic on the top.
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I told the shoe clerk what American size I wore, since the y come in UK sizes and had a seat. He came back briefly with 2 boxes. He said he didnt have the black Bikila’s but brought the greys and a pair of Komodo Sports just in case I was just looking for a black pair. I tried on both pair for a quick strut around the store .. and I must say, aside from the colors, there still was a definite difference I felt between the two.

The Bikila, although looked the best to me, did not support my foot correctly. Through my running, training and workouts, I have realized that I have foot pronation, meaning that my body weight is supported on a flat foot; I have little to no arch and my foot leans inward on each step. I could definitely feel that the shoe was allowing the very inside of my foot to touch the ground. On the other hand, the Komodo Sport had a velcro strap on the top of the foot and the heel which allowed me to tighten certain areas for more support. The Komodo Sport provided the arch support that I needed and felt overall like a natural step instead of the Bikila.

I was so hyped about my new purchase that I packed my Nike Dunks into the Vibram box and wore them out of the store. In fact, I wore them for the next 3 days just because of they were new and exciting.

I speculate that I did not feel the discomfort that others have described because I have been wearing my NIKE Free’s for the past 6 months; I do know that pain if it is the same though.

All in all, I love the Vibram Five Fingers. It does take some getting used to the double-takes, people thinking you are going surfing and asking if they are comfortable.

The answer is YES. I love them so far and I cant wait to wear them on the beach where I can transition from sidewalk to beach to the water with no issue.

On April 14th, 2011 Jason Frazier and Candace Johnson celebrated their one year anniversary of boyfriend and girlfriend of the day they first met at STRIP restaurant in Altantic Station.

Unbenounced to Candace, Jason had a surprise up his sleeve and wanted to surprise her with a marriage proposal.

Our guest on Roundup Radio this week was entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons. In this discussion we touch on his initial attraction to yoga, his views on meditation, religion, and the message in his latest book “Super Rich – A Guide to Having it All.”

Listen to the interview and let me know what you think. Shout out to Zenzele Tanya Bell who tweeted in a question to @AlumniRoundup that was asked on air. We love it when you participate!

-Be.

Pick up Super Rich here:

I have just ended week two of the God Body Diet with a tough workout. This morning we met at Stone Mountain. First we climbed the mountain then walk/jogged around it. That was a total of 7 miles. I was near death by the end of it but very proud of myself for finishing. While on the walk, Reggie and I have decided to do the 5 mile distance around the mountain on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This week I was faced with a challenge of not being prepared for dinner. This made me venture out and try an organic burger place. It was delicious and I didn’t feel as guilty as I would have going to a fast food spot. Otherwise… Drinking the gallon of water is getting much easier. I was telling Russy today that I have gone a year without drinking as much water as I have had in the last two weeks. Now that I’m fueled by water and healthy foods, I feel much better and more energized. I see the God Body diet becoming my way of life.

-Danielle McGhee

Week 2: So I just stepped off the scale and I’m down to 192lbs. That’s a 10lb loss in a matter of two weeks. I find myself going to sleep earlier but having more energy than usual throughout the day. I’ve decided that I’m going to go the extra mile for these last took weeks and get all I can get out of the GodBodyDiet. Holla at ya’ll next week.

- Reggie Ward

To put it quite simply, life after the God Body Diet is just the beginning. God Body is a trial run. It’s a test and gage for your level of dedication, endurance and commitment.. It’s a test and gage for your level of dedication, endurance and commitment. If you get through God Body, the results should inspire you to take the lessons and discipline learned, in those 30 days and incorporate them into your life. God Body is more than just a 30-day challenge, It’s meant to serve as the foundation for a new lifestyle.

If your goal is to change your shape or improve your overall health, exercise should be more than just an act. The goal is to make exercising apart of everyday living. Just as we eat, sleep and breathe, you should not go a week, month or year without testing the boundaries and challenging ourselves through physical activity. In addition, exercise is not something done alone. Changing and maintaining any part of your life and body is not done without incorporating healthy eating habits, sleeping habits and mental balance.

Any athlete, model, entertainer or self proclaimed health and fitness nut would tell you that if you exercise without complimentary eating habits, you are doing yourself a great disservice. For my ladies, you will also do yourself a disservice if you aren’t eating enough. Starving or subjecting ourselves to unrealistic caloric restrictions is never the way to go and will always do more harm than good. We must eat and what we do eat should support and enhance our fitness goals and activities. Yo-yo dieting is also the death of any healthy lifestyle and/or weight loss plan. Consistency is key. Once we start our bodies on a new regimen, whether it be new eating habits or exercise routine, make sure the changes are ones that can be maintained. When we subject ourselves to restrictions, while they may produce great results, not being able to stick to those restrictions may also result, in the beginning, the inability to continue in the same pattern has reverse effects like overeating, decreased metabolism and more weight gain. For most, it is easier to gain weight than to loose it and while fat cells can shrink, they never disappear but will multiply.

For many of us, sleep has become an optional activity. We choose to put a whole host of activities, which we feel more important, above it. Don’t to it! There are an infinite number of things that happen during sleep. Our bodies are self-operating machines and much of our healing, refueling and rebuilding happens when we aren’t awake. Sleeping and resting is essential, especially when working to maintain a healthy life style. Did you know also that you burn calories in you sleep? It’s true, you do. So sleep and let your body continue its work.

Our mental state is just as important as exercise, eating and sleeping. While working out can be a great stress reliever, the stress itself can hinder its benefits. Just as we eat, sleep and breathe we should also remember to take stock of ourselves and make sure we are personally balanced. Did you know that for many people, stress can actually cause weight gain and/or prevent weight loss?* Take time for yourself and decompress and disconnect. Be able to identify your stressors and what helps you relieve them.

The God Body Diet is just the beginning. Take it and run with it! We only have one body and throughout our life times will undoubtedly push these bodies to their limits. Why not work to be as strong and healthy as we can, for as long as we can?

My life style change began just over a year and half ago and from here, there’s no turning back or going back to old habits and inactivity. I made a commitment and promise to myself to work on becoming healthier and because of it, I will be stronger and I know that l will need to continue to work at it EVERYDAY.

For more healthy living information and inspiration visit these sites:
OxygenMag.com
FollowtheLita.wordpress.com

-By E. Isis Adewale


*Reference OxygenMag.com, July 13, 2010 article by Judi Ketteler
“When you’re under stress, your body releases the hormone cortisol as part of the fight-or-flight response. Too much stress leads to an overabundance of cortisol, which science has linked with weight gain – particularly fat storage around the midsection (the most unhealthy place to store fat).”
http://www.oxygenmag.com/stressless

Back again with another phone review.. this time, T-Mobile’s latest Android Operating System phone called the Samsung Vibrant GalaxyS. At first, I want to say that I was thoroughly confused about the name. I know Samsung always likes to use adjectives to sell its phones but then I saw “Galaxy S” written on the box and even on the back on the battery pack on the phone.. Noticed that Avatar was advertised on the box then even downloaded on the phone in full HD movie mode. So i guess its a Special Edition Vibrant?!?

So I cracked the box open and here you go:

Size: 4.8 x 2.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 4.2 ounces
Included battery: 1500mAh Li-ion
Talk time: up to 6.5 hours
Standby time: up to 18 days
Band (frequency): 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz;UMTS: Band I (2100);UMTS: Band IV (AWS);UMTS: Band IV (1700/2100)
Included Accessories
Battery
Charger
2GB SD Card
USB Cable
Stereo Headset
Additional battery cover

The Real Deal
Price: $199 seems to be the going rate for smart phones now .. so this is right in line
Size: Slimmer than the Iphone 3Gs, iPhone4, Moto Droid, & Blackberrys.. Lighter than them all too
DOPE: The camera has a panoramic feature. Click the button once, then pan from left to right. The phone provides arrows and a hovering green box that lets you know when to stop panning so the picture comes out correct.

Also, the phone comes with Amazon Kindle App and a joint called MobiTV.. I watched a free episode of 30 Rock on the phone last night. Other episodes are available in the Android store for $$ I’m sure.

Gonna take Some Getting Used To: That swipe text thing is crazy! there is a tutorial that will walk you through effective texting with it.. i just see it as dragging across possibilities.. I’d much rather press the letters.

The Skinny vs the Iphone 3Gs: As I mentioned when I had the Motorola Droid, there are a few things that Android phones have the one up on Apple:
– Android has full integration with Google and Google’s subsequential apps, therefore, The navigation system is DOPE as it uses Google Earth to give you turn by turn, every evolving directions including road closures, traffic and satellite views of the road.
– Android phones can stream HD videos on YouTube without being on a WiFi Network. This really makes a difference to me as I liek to be able to show people some of my videos while I’m on the road without pulling my laptop out.

The Skinny vs the BlackBerry Curve: Not even in the same category. I use my BB really only for BBM.. I was never a fan of hard keys but i think i find myself texting a lot faster on the BB Curve.. i guess you learn that BB keyboard just like a computer keyboard. I’ve been known to text in someones face on the BB and still maintain the conversation.. try that on a touch screen keyboard and you’ll be speaking in tongues.

What I Hate So Far: I can’t find out how to turn this d@mn vibrate on touch feature off.. Everytime i hit a key during a text or email, the phone buzzes in a slight confirmation that it got my keystroke.. NO THANK YOU! Thats the exact reason why I never bought the BB Storm.. i couldn’t/can’t stand that press touch sreen.

All together. .. its a nice phone so far, slim, sleek and fast. #1 still remains the Apple Iphone. But if you are Anti-Apple or still have to live out a contract.. this is not a bad look

I have also been able to eat what I want as long as I cook it at home. Cooking not only saves me money but I can control what goes into my meals. This week I didn’t cook with any butter or oil either and reduced the amounts of refined carbs I ate.

Eating healthy is very expensive and I see why people aren’t jumping to eat more produce items and fresh meats and fish. But how I see it, if I want to be around for a long time, I must put only good food in my body… I have no other option. And now is the time to start!

Last Sunday, I weighed in 173. Today, 7 days later, I am down to 165. *dances then does 5 cartwheels into the splits* lol. Seeing results is my motivation to keep pushing forward. Can’t wait to see the end result on day 30.
-Danielle McGhee

Now Scott chimes in on the #GodBody Diet:

-Abstinence from Alcohol
Abstinence from Alcohol is probably the single most important factor to achieving fitness goals. After consumption of about 2 cocktails, the liver becomes saturated with alcohol and the body’s ability to burn fat is turned off completely. This phenomenon lasts for about 48 hours. In short, even with a perfect diet, alcohol will cause weight gain and your grilled tilapia may as well be Popeyes chicken..

- Abstinence from Sex
No comment! If Russy thinks it’s important, I’m all for it! If you feel as though sex impedes your focus and detracts from your fitness regimen, by all means remove it from your life. I personally like the extra abdominal work!

-At least 6 hours of sleep every night
Proper rest is key to any fitness plan. Muscles grow, fat burns, and the body recovers all during sleep. If you are not getting a minimum of 6 hours of sleep per day, go lay down!

-No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic
Packaged foods are typically loaded with additives, preservatives, and sodium, which are all negatives in the fitness arena. Your food is your body’s fuel and you want to always burn high octane. Eat lean, green, fresh, and organic.

- Consume a gallon of water every day
Most people live in a state of dehydration. Without adequate water, your body begins to retain water as a survival mechanism. A gallon of water per day will actually allow your body to release the water that you are retaining as well as help to detoxify you. Drink up!

- No farmed fish or meat
Same principle as the no packaged food bullet. Burn high octane fuel for a high performance body!
- Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized
Homogenization makes dairy products much harder to digest. Some people that assume that they are lactose intolerant are actually experiencing digestive issues due to the homogenization process. You want to always eat foods that the body can process easily in order to keep the metabolism up and keep you body running like a well oiled machine.

- 3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming)
3 days of cardio per week for at least 45 min each along with a sensible nutritional program is all you need to lose weight. Vary the type of cardio, and the results will come much faster because your body will constantly be forced to adapt to new circumstances. I don’t care if it’s swimming or salsa…Get It In!