Healthy Ramadaan: Part 1

Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatu

With Ramadaan just around the corner (a few weeks to go), all I'm hearing is "yes, I'm gonna lose weight," "time to get rid of this fat," "the only time I can lose weight is in Ramadaan," "I can't wait for Ramadaan so that I can lose this weight." Let's get one thing straight, the beautiful and holy month of Ramadaan is not a weight loss challenge or diet to make one lose weight. The month of Ramadaan is not like any other Islamic month. It's purpose it to rid man of those habits which he/she has accumulated throughout the year. It prepares us for the remaining months by teaching us discipline and self control. Acts such as eating, drinking and fulfilling ones desires have been made haraam by Allah. If we can control our desires during Ramadaan, then we can control it any other time. So if you've ever fasted, you know that losing weight doesn't happen so easily in fact, some us gain weight. 

Let's look at what happens to your body during Ramadaan. While you are fasting, you become more dehydrated at rest than usual, but less than if you had exercised aerobically for over an hour. Your main metabolic fuel source for bodily function during fasting is mainly fat, which is a good thing. So what you want to do in Ramadaan is to maximise metabolism even though your metabolism slows down due to less frequent meals; preserve and enhance as much lean muscle mass as possible which will increase your metabolic rate and allow you to burn more calories at rest. Don't put all your hopes on Ramadaan to hep you get slim and trim because that is setting yourself up for disappointment instead focus on staying healthy and not gaining unwanted fat due to all those pastries. If you want to make this Ramadaan a healthy one, set goals and stick to them.

Here are a few things to choose from and a few things to avoid to keep you energetic and nurtured throughout Ramadaan.

Meat and other protein sources
Choose:

• Fish
• Grilled skinless chicken
• Lamb
• Moderate amount of prawns
• Legumes such as beans, lentils and peas
• Eggs at least 3 times per week

Avoid

• Fried chicken
• Fatty meats
• Liver and other organ meats
• Sausages and Wors
• Large amounts of prawns, shrimps and shellfish

Milk and dairy products
Choose:

• Skimmed milk
• Skimmed or low fat yoghurt
• Low fat cheese

Avoid:

• Full cream milk
• Whipped cream
• Creamy and cheesy sauces
• Yellow full cream cheeses 

Fruit and Vegetables
Choose:

• All fresh vegetables cooked with a little olive oil
• Fresh fruits and natural fruit juices

Avoid:

• Coconut
• Fried veggies
• Veggies boiled or steamed in butter
• Juices with added sugar

Bread and grains
Choose:

• Whole wheat or brown bread
• Plain brown rice or spaghetti
• Whole grains

Avoid:

• Pastries that contain large amounts of fat like doughnuts
• Fried rice
• Slap chips, French fries or fried potatoes
• Sweetened desserts

With such an assortment for you to choose from, this Ramadaan journey will surely be a pleasant and healthy one. Do remember that whatever you decide to eat, a balanced food plan containing healthy ingredients, cooked the right way will help you enjoy Suhoor and Iftaar giving you more energy and staying healthy.

Look out for part 2 of the Healthy Ramadaan series which will include more tips and recipes.

Until my next post: peace.love.unity

MwaHugs :)

The #Gimme5Challenge

I'm always on the look out for new workouts to try because I'm one of those people who gets bored after doing the same thing over and over again.
I stumbled across the #Gimme5Challenge on Womens Health online mag and I decided to take the challenge and challenge you to do the same. I'm looking for something that will challenge me physically and mentally and give me killer results. I am already built athletically since I grew up doing sports, but I'm not yet at that 'fit' level that I want to be at.
So, here's the link to the #Gimme5Challenge, get your weights, get your gear and let's get fit and fabulous together #Gimme5Challenge Don't forget to eat right and drink lotsa water.

I'll be posting results after the first 30 days of the challenge on my Facebook page Le Mis Mimz so make sure you check it out.

Time to get fit. Toodles. MwaHugs

HD in your face

Being a t.v presenter for an Islamic magazine show, modesty is key and I'm fortunate enough to wear beautiful dresses made by some of Mzansi's most talented modest wear designers. One designer in particular that caught my attention was Zainab Khoele, the face behind HD or commonly known as Haya Designs.

Her style is a fusion of beautiful African prints from all over Africa with denim which is something that she loves. The designs are simple, yet elegant and can be worn for any occassion. Imagine wearing sneakers with a dress, well, with HD you can.

This is what I wore on the set of An- NUR, The Light on one lovely Friday morning :)

This print has all the earthy colours that many African women like and I must admit, it's my personal fave. Zainab will soon be featured on our 'Person to look out for', so make sure you look out for her. To view her collection Click here

Makeup by: Maureen

Hijab/scarf style: Me

Dress: Haya Designs

That's all from me for now. I'll be back soon with more awesomeness. 

Peace. Unity, Love Mwahugs

Fifty Shades of this n that

Hey ya'll, I'm back :) I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I've been a busy girl hey.

So it has been well over a month since the-highly-anticipated-much-awaited, first installment of the Fifty Shades Trilogy, 50 Shades of Grey. There were many mixed reviews to the release of this movie with some calling it 'mommy-porn', others dubbing it 'bad' and 'un-religious' or whatever they were calling it.

Okay hold up, let me just say this, 50 Shades of Grey is not the first and probably won't be the last of its kind. Erotica has been around for a very long time. I'm talking before the 18th Century. So why such a buzz on 50 Shades of Grey? Growing up, I didn't read a lota erotica because that wasn't my kind of thing. I was more into scary stories and fantasies, (well 50S is a fantasy on its own) and adventure.

October 2013, my cousin introduced me to the compelling; dull; unstimulating; unnerving world of Anastasia Steele and the unholy; abominable Christian Grey. Why did you do it girl... whyyyyy??? You have awoken my 'inner Goddess' hahaha.

Reading the book then watching the movie was a whole new ball game. It seems like not much thought was put into capturing the entire story as it is in the book. If you were watching the movie and have never read the book, you wouldn't understand what was happening. Take Wanda for instance (that's Ana's blue beetle by-the-way), you didn't even know she named it unless you read the book. While watching the movie, I waited to see how the conflict between Ana and her inner Goddess and Subconscious would turn out, but it wasn't there... where did that go? Or was the budget too low to include it?

On to the characters, oooh my gahd, Eloise Mumford as Kate? Noooo. Luke Grimes as Elliot Grey? Noooo. Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey? I'm still getting used to that, it hasn't sunk in yet. Dakota Johnson as our leading lady Anastasia Steele, I have to admit, at first I didn't quite like her, but to me, she's the only one who actually got into her role and gave us that timid, dull, boring, under-dressed-for-an-interview-with-a-billionaire kinda girl.  And as for the other characters, they were fine by me.

Everything else in the movie was spot on, like Grey Enterprises Holding Inc. the cars; the apartments; Charlie Tango; the secretary and other 'blondes', in fact the entire ambiance.
For Fifty Shades Darker, extra effort needs to be put in to make it better than the first or else it will be a huge flop. I've already got friends saying they aren't going to watch it because the first was a disappointment.

Ratings:

• Story line- 7/10 (it was not just about the hanky-panky)
• Character cast- 5/10 (they should've listened to the audience)
• Ambiance- 8/10
• Overall- 6/10

At this point, I can't really say I'm looking forward to the sequel. And I suggest that you read the books before watching the movies so that you like you know what's happening.

That's all from me until my next blog... mwahugs

Yoga March

We all like to look our best because when we do, we feel our best, but when it comes to working out and getting to that 'best', we always find making excuses the better thing to do.

If you feel that you're no longer as motivated to get where you want to be, perhaps revisit your past. What made you quit the first time? Was your diet too strict to follow? Were the exercises just too much to cope with or too difficult to handle? Were you just too busy to fit exercising into your daily routine?
Follow a simpler diet, something that works for you with a 'cheat day' now and then (don't over-do the cheating though).
If the exercises were just too difficult, cut them down and do what you can. Don't overwork your body and push it to limits that it can't handle, that's why there are workouts for beginners.
Don't make flimsy excuses not to workout like: "I just don't have time in my busy schedule" or "I'll do it later." Your schedule can fit a workout in, trust me... it can. If you have to get up extra early, do so.

Before you quit, try everything you can to stay on track. Get a minimum of exercise in.
Park your car far from the entrance so that you can walk and don't take the lift... the stairs will do wonders for your legs.
Find a workout buddy or get a personal trainer if you can afford one.
If you're like me and can't stick to one exercise routine all the time, then change it. Do what you like to do and enjoy doing it. I like to do exercises that will challenge me and I always do a new challenge every month.

I am not a fitness guru for you to look up to because I also lose motivation now and then, so I look up to others who have been in the same boat. So look for people who motivate you to get better. People who want to see you achieve your goals and help you get there. As Bradley Martyn always say: "Let's get better together,"

Here's this months workout:

Let's get stretching with these yoga poses... They are guaranteed to help you with all those aching muscles...

Until my next post: peace, love, unity MwaHugs ;)

Outfit of the Day: Aatiyah Dineo Moyeni

Doing the OOTD ft. is always my favourite part of the blog, because I get to show you what modest African fashion is all about. Again, thanks to social media, I've come to know and become friends with many lovely fashionistas and showing you what they're capable of when it comes to fashion... is just an amazing feeling.

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across this beaut and just fell in love with her style. 

I could say 'modesty' is her middle name, but wait until you see her chic African style. Allow me to introduce Aatiyah Dineo Moyeni, a fourth year B.Ed student from the University of Witwatersrand. Aatiyah fell in love with the hijab at the age of 16 and has been wearing it ever since, masha Allah. This has inspired her to write poetry as a means of communicating what Islam means to her. She loves accessories and is obsessed with long socks. :) 

Here's what she put together.

With this look, Aatiyah represents both her Islamic and African identities without compromising one. Now as you can see for yourself, these bright, bold colours are what caught my eye. 

 

High waist maxi skirts are a must-have item for all modest Muslimahs and if you don't think so, check out my OOTD ft. posts. Aatiyah got hers from downtown Jozi. She pairs the skirt with a royal blue top and a yellow hijab from her wardrobe. Accessories always completes a look and she accessorizes with a chunky bracelet and necklace which she found in her mom's car (cos mom's just know where to get the coolest stuff from). 

Skirt- downtown Jozi (Jhb CBD)

Scarf and top is from her closet

Bangle from her closet

Statement necklace- mom's rear view mirror :) 

Having your own style is what makes you 'YouNique', but you can always get some style tips from our stylish Modest Muslimahs. She has definitely inspired me to get in touch with my 'inner African Queen' and to not be afraid of colour. Good-bye blacks and navys, helloooo oranges and yellows.

That's all folks. Peace, Love and Unity, Mwahugs ;)

OOTD: Bulls baby... :D :D :D

Assalam alaykum my belles personnes (that's beautiful people in French).

It's been a while since I did a take on my OOTD... yeah I've been focusing more on my lovely and stylish friends, cos who needs to show what they're wearing when they've got friends for that right?! right! But for those of you who want to know what I wear and where I get them from, then this one is for you :D

Now I don't know about ya'll, but I'm such a sports fanatic, love watching soccer (or rather the players *wink*), basketball, athletics, swimming and wrestling. I also like sports merchandise and if I have the funds to buy myself some merch, I do. I also have this little Tomboy in me and I love my sneakers as much as I love my heels.

Someone once told me I've got 'hijabi swag' and I didn't believe it cos I didn't know what they were talking about. If I were going to watch a Bulls game, this is exactly what I would wear. Having 'swag' does not mean that you an attitude or you're this 'tough girl' or whatever. So this is me rocking that 'hijabi swag', you might wanna try it.

This is the Jordans look...

... now for the Air Max look

Found your fave? I like both looks, but the Air Max really does it for me. The Jordans makes me look bulky and short as opposed to the Maxs. Here's some more pics...

The sky is the limit

Hijabi swag

Jays on ma feet

Taking it to the top with Air Max

Le Mimz wears:

Black maxi hijab scarf

Black long sleeved vest (Lilys Fashion)

Indigo Jeans (Marco Polo)

Red Chicago Bulls jersey Number 3 (HHJ)

White Nike Air Max and White, Red and Black Jordans

Red (swagger cap)

Red framed sunglasses (Mr. Price)

Photographer: Luqman 'Luqstar Photography'. lol, just kidding, that's my lil brother, but he did a good job though.

So that's all for now and until my next blog: Peace, Love and Unity... MwaHugs :)