Periods and Exercise...new article by MOI on GL!

Check these out, too...

• Conquering a Facebook prob
• Eat-better secrets that work!
• In the news: Shrinking junk food packages
• Calling all health nuts! It's time to give walnuts a shot
• How can I get over my junk food cravings?

Could exercising delay your period or make them irregular?

Hello there darling friend!

I often thought that exercising can delay your period, and I’ve learned that there is some truth to this but only in extreme cases.

First, you must ask yourself how much you exercise. If you exercise moderately, then it will not harm your menstrual cycle. If you do light exercise during your period, it can actually help get rid of ouchy symptoms by keeping the blood pumping through your system, sending endorphins (‘happy’ hormones) shooting through your bod and kill some of the cramping and back pain too!

Now for the dark-side of exercising…

The only way that exercising can delay your period or make them irregular is if you are exercising excessively. If you’re working out every day for hours at a time and dropping significant weight, then you will exhibit amenorrhea, which is when your period says “bye bye!”

Because working out takes lots of energy, if you do it obsessively, yourbody has to turn off other functions that require energy, i.e. menstruation.  However, there is some good news: Amenorrhea is not a DISEASE but a symptom of a larger issue. If you are working out like crazy and have skipped a period or two, once you’ve cut down the workoutsand get your weight back up a bit, your periods should return.

But don’t always think that the crimson wave leaving is all about your weight. You should always check with your family doctor and/or gynecologist to make sure that there are no bigger problems involved.

BY AFIYA AUGUSTINE ON 4/5/2011 1:33:00 PM

POSTED IN body, period, health

Prompt- Dream- I had a date with Big Bang

I figured that I would use some of my time on this blog as a means to get some of my self-imposed prompt writing done. I've gotten prompts from other places, such as this one but I was told by a friend that I need to try and write for a few minutes a day, just to keep the old brain moving. It's super hard to do, especially since all my energy is usurped by my job, but I figured I'll take a whack at it anyhow.

So what can I really write about today? Let's see...I'm letting my mind roam, so let's let it fall on the fact that I had a dream last night that I went out on a lunch/dinner date with the band members of Big Bang. If you don't know who they are, it's all gravy. I was recently put onto them by a girl I know, who's in love with one of the members. Anyhow, I was on this date with the members and it was super awesome. We were at a mall and I was checking out clothes and they were just boys being boys. Some of them looked at me funny because...well I'm black and well...they're Korean. It was a pretty big culture clash but at the same time it was okay. I was hanging around TOP a lot because I think he's super cute and I would sneak in hugs and waist-holding moments from G-Dragon cause he's uber adorable. He was like the friend you tell people is your 'little brother' because he's cute and sweet and you don't want other chicks to mess with him, but you yourself engage in somewhat "incestuous" behavior with him and then laugh it off by saying "he's just a friend."

Seung Ri or VI was getting a lot of attention too. He was seeking attention from me which I was more than willing to give. After all, he is the baby in the group and Taeyang was doing his job, being his little Korean pseudo Usher self. I went back and forth a lot between GD and TOP. It was sweet. They played my song Lollipop 2 and I danced with all of them, including Daesung who seemed the most nervous of them all. They all spoke in Korean, mainly looking in concern at me because once again- I was this random black girl that they were hanging out with. None of them for damn sure thought about getting with me, but I think I kissed one of them. And  nope, it didn't start a romance. It was what it was. We went shopping, and that was extremely sweet because those boys have style for eons and I was just amazed at how they picked out hoodies and sneakers like stylist pros and um, we ate in the cafeteria where I taught them some English phrases and got hugs and smooches (on the cheek) here and there. I remember at one point someone decided to say something to fresh to me, in regards to me walking around with five dudes and TOP and Taeyang got a little defensive, but at the end of it all, we ended the day with hugs and kisses and me promising to come to Korea again and hang out because they were genuinely nice dudes.

For the first time in a long time I had a seemingly innocent dream about a bunch of cute guys. I did want to bang TOP though, I will not tell a lie. And I wouldn't have mind practicing the art of making babies with GD, but out of Elo's loyalty to him and my own to someone I will just deem "the other one," even in my dreams, I didn't succumb to temptation. But that was my dream... 

My 2nd Interview for Girls Life Magazine Online!

Tweenager Brooke Bestul stars in a hit video blog

Check these out, too...

• Snag that dream job: Fashion designer
• 11-year-old takes over Broadway
• Syd Rocks necklaces for a cure
• Zoey Wagner crafts so-chic hair accessories
• Hopeful teen designer gets Justice

When Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet praised her blog, 12-year-old Brooke Bestul knew she had made it big.

The tween stars in a serialized video blog produced by her twin brother, Bailey. In just under two years, the pair's YouTube videos have received over 60,000 views. What started out as a class project in the fifth grade spiraled into a video diary filled with skits, experiments and whimsy. Brooke says that doing the shows has given her a sense of freedom and allows her to be herself.

But that’s not the way things started. At first, Brooke didn’t want to be in front of the camera at all. When you meet her, you wouldn't think she was shy at all, but despite being exposed to acting and theater by her mother, she was nervous about starring in the videos.

Nowadays, Brooke is at ease with her work. She enjoys incoporating her real-life experiences into the skits and personas she develops.  Her favorite character, for instance, is an old lady/grandma who she based on her time spent working in a retirement home.

“It’s lots of fun goofing off and doing skits,” admits the Minnesota native, who dreams of being a veterinarian when she grows up. Brooke and Bailey have been doing the shows for almost two years now with Bailey editing, directing and doing the majority of the behind-the-scenes work and Brooke taking on the role of breakthrough actress.

“It feels good to be seen online every day,” Brooke says. Supportive comments have been pouring in, including the one they received from Kate Winslet, whose children love the show. At first, Brooke didn’t understand how big a deal Kate was, but now she can’t believe her own notoriety. “It was awesome!” she says.

Brooke says that she feels some pressure to keep the show fresh and entertaining, especially with all the press that it’s been receiving, but she doesn’t sweat it. The duo tries to keep the show as updated as possible, with new skits, product reviews and kid-approved hi-jinks. Brooke loves that she and her bro are attracting so much attention. The two plan to continue the show, doing what comes naturally to them and what seems like “fun.”

Interested in seeing their show? Click here to catch their latest video.
Click here to see story on site!