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From StyleBlazer

We’re here to banish one stereotype right now: brown girls do work out! From the gym to the basketball court and atop mountain trails, we’re keeping fit, healthy and strong!

And with dance inspired workout classes like Zumba, and organizations like Black Girls RUN! that foster a sisterhood, it’s never been easier to find a workout that’s just for you!

Now that the bikini season is literally around the corner and the weather’s getting warmer, we have some fitspiration to get you up and at them this weekend. Whether it’s a lap around the track, a swim or a hike, or break your best booty pop out at Zumba, let these strong ladies inspire you to be your best, most fit self!

From Christina Milian to Misty Copeland, check out some of fave ladies of color getting their work out on!

Read more at StyleBlazer.com

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There will always be debates on how to show a man you’re worthy of him keeping you around by doing certain things. I’m not too sure what works and what doesn’t work in terms of making a man stick around and showing him you’re not just wifey material but should be his wife. What I do know is,  you should’t knock it until you try it and do what you feel is appropriate because every man– and woman — is different. Check out some of the most notable “make him keep you” advice around. What’s worked for you and what hasn’t?

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When it comes to exercise, it’s hard for someone else to determine whether or not it’s time for a change. Exercise is a personal thing and your workout routine results and problems can only be recognized by you. No matter if you’re a novice to physical fitness or an expert, there’s always wiggle room for change when it comes to your workout routine. Here are 14 signs that you need to switch up your exercise regime ASAP!

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When it comes to trainers, one size does not fit all. And since you’ll inevitably be paying a pretty penny to get a pretty derriere, you want to be sure you and your trainer have the same vision for that trim/toned/buff/bootylicous or whatever figure you’re going for. So how do you choose the perfect trainer who will motivate, challenge, and get you?

Though it is a bit embarrassing to admit now, my going natural was a very vain venture in the beginning. All I wanted was a bouncy, juicy ‘fro like Tracee Ellis Ross.

That was it.

That was my sole reason and goal. So I transitioned for about two and a half years with a series of semi-big chops, weaves, hundreds of dollars worth of product-junkism and perhaps a gold mine worth of psychotherapy behind seeking a head full of someone else’s hair with no luck in that direction.

What I didn’t fully understand until the past few months is that I educated myself immensely in the way of health and fitness and just total body care all while seeking that infamous “Joan Clayton ‘fro.”

I was beginning to love my hair and take my health more seriously in a way I had never given a second thought to, being that my metabolism has always been so high that at my heaviest I was 120 lbs. and at my smallest (yes, even in my adult life) I am 105 lbs. I was researching clean-eating regimens and which foods battle cancer the best. I was keeping journals of my goals both heath-related and faith-related. I was taking a more active approach to my holistic health than I ever deemed necessary before.

And it felt good. I felt good. I was no longer only concerned with the best ways to turn thin hair into thick luxurious locks. Or how to best attain length. My focus was shifting toward the overall HEALTH of my hair and body and mind. I started to accept that I inherently have thinner hair and embraced that fact, choosing styles that best accentuate what I love about myself. I embraced the fact that I am thin and began to work toward maintain healthy weight and eating habits.

I looked up one day and realized that from wanting Joan Clayton hair I was now a more socially conscious young woman, reading the labels of my hair products to make sure they were “Cruelty Free.” It’s even to the point that I take the time to research the different superstores where I purchase my hair and body products to ensure their employment practices are suitable. I recently decided to stop patronizing one superstore in particular when I found that they do no support unions for their employees.

I sat down one day and looked at all I had become, just from one vain moment of wanting to be like someone else and gave a laugh of joyful amazement. I loved who I was becoming. I LOVED her. It wasn’t just about a pretty ‘fro anymore – although once I stopped obsessing over it, my ‘fro decided to be the flyest chick in the game. No offense, Tracee, you’ll always be my inspiration!

This natural hair movement (and it IS a movement) morphed from the silliest of vanities to the most revelatory all-encompassing experiences of my life. And the deeper I choose to go, the more I’m consequently choosing to grow.

My hope for all who are embarking on the natural journey is that you find the same peace, sense of self, consciousness and zest for life that I found.

La Truly’s writing is powered by a lifetime of anecdotal proof that awkward can transform to awesome and fear can cast its crown before courage. La seeks to encourage thought, discussion and change among young women through her writing. Check her out on Twitter: @AshleyLaTruly and AboutMe www.about.me/latruly.

You hear the thud of your sneakers pounding the treadmill as you run for . . .What?!? Only 4 minutes and 10, 11, 12 seconds?!?! You know you need to switch up your workout routine when you’re constantly looking at the time to see how much longer you have to feel like a rat on his wheel. And that is just the warmup! Workouts don’t have to be boring though. There are so many different ways to bust a sweat and take inches off, and it’s all relatively inexpensive. Check these workouts out for a unique way to challenge your body.

The First Lady taking questions on Twitter. via @FLOTUS

Michelle Obama took to Twitter yesterday to take questions about her anti-obesity initiative “Let’s Move,” just one more way the First Lady has been out there promoting the program in recent weeks. Although some people used it as an opportunity to take shots at the President and the program, it was effective for getting the word out.

“Since 2009, Mrs. O has effectively used social media, especially Twitter, to promote her causes and reach people she might otherwise miss. But her husband’s opponents know how to use social media, too, to promote their causes and to bash the president through the first lady,” writes USA Today.

Still on tour to promote “Let’s Move! Active Schools,” which the White House hopes will be adopted by 50,000 U.S. schools, Michelle Obama held her first Google+ hangout last week.  And while the First Lady may appear to be having a lot of fun, dancing with kids and even “mom dancing” with NBC late night host Jimmy Fallon, it is also about business, reports TheGrio.  For the fitness movement, FLOTUS has partnered with a long list of corporate partners such as  Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Darden Restaurants, and Nike, which put up $50 million to support fitness programs including “Let’s Move! Active Schools,” which will be administered outside the White House.

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As we slowly crawl toward spring, you can turn to technology to help you get in shape, get organized, clean the house, and more. Half of all African-American cell phone owners have downloaded a mobile phone app, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, and as far back as November 2011, mobile app usage surpassed mobile browser usage. So here are nine apps and websites that can help you do a bit of self-improvement this spring.

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It makes sense. If your employees are in good health, then corporate health care costs go down. According to a new study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the  official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM), workplace health promotion programs have the potential to reduce average worker health costs by 18 percent — and even more for older workers,

But wellness programs only succeed if  the employees participate, says elite personal trainer Michael Levy, president of Online Rewards, who has created wellness and behavior change programs for clients including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lend Lease, State Farm, and a number of public agencies. Wellness programs encourage healthy living.

According to Levy, 79 percent of large U.S. companies now offer wellness programs. “Fidelity Investments released February 27 the results of new survey research showing that U.S. employers have doubled their spending on wellness incentives in the last four years. They plan to spend an average of $521 per employee on wellness-based incentives,” Levy tells us.

But there are things businesses—including small businesses—can do to increase participation. “With the right incentives, participation in health reimbursement arrangements and biometric screenings can be as high as 80 percent,” explains Levy. “Gift cards, travel vouchers, electronics and other prizes can be more powerful motivators than a premium contribution notation on a pay stub.”

“Women have a much higher propensity than men to participate in activities associated with employee incentive and recognition programs, in some cases a 60-40 ratio,” Levy added.

Some programs work better than others. “To achieve the best results, programs must feature three key components,” Levy explained to us. “First and foremost, they must be incentive-based. Second, the programs must be based on achievable, frequently reached objectives, accompanied by frequently delivered rewards. Third, the programs must include an experiential web site, an online component that enables the employer to articulate goals, keep people engaged and track progress.”

According to Levy, the best way to entice employee participation is by offering fun and tangible. “Rewards should be distributed on a monthly, not an annual basis. Wellness programs encourage healthy living on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. It’s not an annual strategy,” Levy points out. “The incentive program website enables employees to celebrate success. It also facilitates the [mechanics] of healthy living objectives. Together, these elements foster greater engagement and lead to the ultimate goal — positively changing behavior.”

According to the ACOEM study,total medical care expenses per person for all working age adults would be reduced by about $650, or approximately 18 percent. The possible savings increased with age: up to 28 percent for older working adults and retirees. And of course, healthy living is its own reward. Corporate wellness programs are a win-win for everyone.

This week, MadamenNoire is introducing a new fitness column — A Black Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss — written by the creator of the popular site by the same name, Erika Nicole Kendall. In her column, Erika will share tips on how to mimic her weight loss success through personal narratives. But, if you happen to have topics or specific questions you’d like her to address, feel free to email them to us at editors@madamenoire.com.

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Recently, I received an e-mail from a reader asking me for advice on how she should try to lose weight even though she’s a single parent with limited resources.

It only brought me back to my roots because there was a point in time where I had to be an at-home exerciser, too.

Early in my weight loss journey, I was a single parent of a 2-year old who was definitely focused on getting the weight off. I didn’t want to spend the money on equipment or technology because, like so many others, I didn’t want to invest money in something to which I wouldn’t commit. I didn’t want to have to live with the embarrassment of having spent a wad of cash on something that wouldn’t work.

If I was going to do this thing – whatever “this thing” was – then it was going to be the barest of bones. It was going to be the most neanderthal, caveman fitness plan ever, because I wasn’t about to spend a single pink penny, let alone a copper one.

It makes sense, though. As single parents, you never feel like you’ll make as much money as you would if you had the second income, so it always feels like you never have the money, even when you clearly have the money. It feels like you have to hoard cash. Not only that, but in the beginning of a weight loss journey, it feels easy to rationalize why you shouldn’t be spending money on yourself… especially when you’re not convinced that it will actually bear any fruit.

That being said, I do have a few tips for helping single parents drop that weight. Actual tips, not “do sit ups and drink water all day!” tips, either.

1. Don’t underestimate the value of a nice, long walk. You not only burn calories during a long walk, but you also relieve stress. Take your little – or big – ones along for the walk! You’ll eventually develop the ability – and desire – to run, at which point you’ll want to embrace a program that can train you for running an extended period of time, like from Couch to 5K. Running is easily one of the least expensive and most productive means of burning fat, and short of a can of mace and a good pair of running shoes, you don’t need much. If you’ve got little ones, they make jogging strollers for that.
2. Never buy anything especially marketed for weight loss, healthy living, or even stress relief. Trust me: if you’re buying something that’s telling you how good it is… it’s probably nowhere near as good as the natural, holistic alternative. You don’t need specially crafted cereal; you need its infinitely cheaper alternative: oatmeal. You don’t need a “healthy microwaveable pasta dish;” you need its – again – infinitely cheaper alternative: fresh vegetables (frozen even works here), lean protein, and quality pasta. Sticking as close to the source – the source being Mother Nature, here – will get you exactly where you need to be.
3. Don’t be afraid to incorporate your children in your workouts! One of the most invaluable parts of adopting a healthy living routine for the first time, as a parent, is being able to teach your children that working out is a natural, everyday part of living. Spending a little time each day devoted to your wellness, in sight of your children, provides them with a reason to think about being healthy as kids and as teens, and gives them a base foundation for how to operate as adults. It teaches them dedication, determination, and commitment. Take your son running! Let your daughter try to do push-ups with you! I used my little one as a weight, and did bicep curls with her, and this was how I taught her how to count. Get creative, make it fun, and your kids will benefit, too.
4. Don’t believe the hype: you don’t need weights to strength train. For a beginner, calisthenics – using mostly your body weight in an effort to challenge your strength – is just as good, if not better, than using full weights. If you’ve never lifted a weight regularly before, going from zero to 15lbs isn’t ideal. In fact, it’s injury waiting to happen. Exercises that use body weight – think tricep dips, push ups, squats, lunges – also often work out more of your body in one exercise and, combined with changes in speed (can you go faster? slower?), can help you get your heart rate going and your muscles growing to give you the tone you want and the fat burn you may need.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of a clean eating lifestyle, free of unhealthy processed food engineered to make you lose control, excess calories and all-around garbage chemicals. You clean up your daily eating habits and, barring any hormonal concerns, you’ll likely also drop the weight, too.

As I always say, your body (and your babies) will thank you for it!

Erika Nicole Kendall is the writer behind the award winning blog, A Black Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss, where she blogs everything from fitness to food, weight loss to wellness, body image and more. A trainer certified in women’s fitness, fitness nutrition and weight loss coaching, she can be found taking over your Internet on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.