Berry's Gym Chronicles: 8 Things

Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!

Comment allez-vous tous? Je vais bien.

Okay, it's enough. That's more tiring than my workouts. :p

Speaking of working out, I thought it would be nice to share some of the stuff I've been doing at the gym since I started working on my 2015 Goal of losing weight before my birthday (which is next month btw). I owe you guys a Goals update. This is going to be just some random info thrown out at you, so take it as it comes.

Throwback Thursday RANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY??????

MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!!!!

RHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYME!!!!!

I promise I'm not trying to become the latest rapper in town, with all my rhyming above.

CRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

WALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHI!!!!

*I plan to update this post as your comments come in, so please add sad, frustrated, angry, wailing words that rhyme*

What's the cause of all this, you ask?

This Weekend: A Stage Play 'Promise of the Future'

Hey everyone,

I was invited to see this play by a very intelligent and high-achieving young lady, and I thought it would be great to share it with you. Sorry the post is coming late, but if you haven't made plans already, you have a chance to go and see this enlightening production.

TEECOKS LITERARY INITIATIVE  #TLI  is at it again as it presents a stage play titled ‘PROMISE OF THE FUTURE’ a manuscript written by TOWUNMI COKER.

For those of you who haven’t heard about TLI, it’s a literary initiative aimed at impacting its environment through literature. One of its activities is the annual writing competition for secondary school students in Lagos State.

Promise of the Future is a stage play (based on a book of the same title that's out this November) that mirrors the life of a young girl, Ajoke, in her sojourn to better life and livelihood. Life takes a sudden turn when 12 year old Ajoke loses her parents in a fire accident. She becomes a maid and slowly has her life ruptured by the turn of events. There are twists as time slowly morphs her to a beautiful lady, but does the promise of the future hold beauty or more pain?

This play commemorates World HIV/AIDS Day, not just address unspoken fears but to enlighten and entertain. AIDS Awareness is essential to every individual across the world.

Venue: Main Auditorium, University of Lagos,   29th November 2014,    1pm,  4pm

Tickets: #500 for students with ID card       #2000 for adults         #5000 VIP

There will be enough fun and merriment, with lots to eat and drink. There will also be free gifts for the first twenty people to arrive.  

For more details call 08033843334 and check www.towunmicoker.com You can also follow @teewrites on Twitter.

Berry at Sweet Kiwi Yogurt

I was going to put up these pictures as part of the weekend post, but since that one was quite long with a lot of pictures, I decided to split it up.

If you guys know me, you know I enjoy food. One of my favorite things in the world is ice cream - specifically, chocolate ice cream, or any ice cream with a Baileys flavor, topped with coconut candy, brownies, almonds and a smashed up waffle cone. Unfortunately, loving ice cream isn't great for my waist line, so every now and then, it's better to go with a healthier option = FROZEN YOGURT!!! And this is where Sweet Kiwi comes in.

Monthly Breast Self-Exam and BC Secrecy

Hiya,

I'd like to address something that's been on my mind for a while though, and it's the issue of secrecy surrounding Breast Cancer, especially among Nigerians. Remember the Pink Pearl Foundation event I went to (see post here) - the founder mentioned that one of the biggest issues with forming a Breast Cancer support group is that people who have it aren't willing to speak up. They want to remain anonymous. I don't have Breast Cancer, and I pray I never do, so I cannot overly fault anyone who wishes to keep it a secret. However, I feel the need to point out that being quiet about it may not be the best option. 

First of all, there are hundreds - thousands of women out there who have Breast Cancer, so you have to know that you're not alone. In a difficult situation like this, wouldn't it be good to reach out to other women who are or have been in the same position as you? You might learn something new about how to cope with it better, or have someone you can vent to, or you might meet someone who can inspire you or give you tips on being comfortable and how to deal with it. 

Monthly Reminder: Self Breast Check

Welcome to the month of October! October is generally known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month around the world, and today I want to share some inspirational quotes from Healthline. These came from breast cancer survivors and I think some of the quotes can help anyone going through breast cancer to keep their chin up. Healthline emailed the link to me and asked me to share, so I'm putting my favorite quotes in this post. To see others, click here.

Don't forget to do your breast checks this month. You can use Dr. Craig's guidelines here.

Follow @BerryChocoLatte

Monthly Reminder: Self Breast Check

Hey everyone,

I'm sorry I didn't put up the monthly reminder for the self breast check last month. I got carried away with the Proverbs Blog-Along, which I still haven't finished *tsk tsk*. Anyway, this time, I've decided to use info from Dr. Olamide Craig's post on Bella Naija (read the full article here).

He writes about the Look (3 times), Feel, Squeeze, Feel technique in checking your breasts a few days after your period. He also mentions that you should get a feel for what your own breasts are like, so that any abnormalities will be caught quicker.

Ebola Awareness: Salt water?

Hi guys,

So I was about to leave for work this morning, and I gave my neighbor a short ride. She said her father called her this morning saying that T.B. Joshua (a big pastor in Nigeria) said that you should bathe with warm salt water to prevent yourself from getting Ebola. My friend and I both rolled our eyes. By the time I got to work, the news had spread like wildfire and the medical team has been trying to spread the word out that bathing with or drinking salt water to prevent or cure ebola is FALSE!!!!!!!!

Not only can salt not kill viruses, but ingesting too much salt will only have a negative effect on your kidneys. SO PLEASE O, tell your family and friends!

Continue washing your hand regularly, and additionally use hand sanitizers.

Thanks!
Berry.

Follow @BerryChocoLatte

PSA - More on Ebola

Hey guys,

I got a broadcast this morning that Bitter Kola has been verified internationally as a cure against Ebola. That eating it slows down or inhibits growth of the virus in your body.

PLEASE NOTE: In 1999, BBC posted an article about this topic. This is what people are using to broadcast this information now, 15 years later. According to the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control in 2014, there is still no verified cure for Ebola. That is not to say, vaccines or drugs aren't being researched. But there is nothing that is clinically verified for use right now.

Please DO NOT spread that broadcast if you get it. The information is outdated.

Thanks,
Berry Dakara.

Follow @BerryChocoLatte

Ebola Virus: The What, Where, How and more

This is particularly for my African readers; more specifically those in West Africa. However, just because you're in other parts of the world, this is information that may be helpful because of air travel. Most of the information listed here is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites.

I'm going to make this as easy as possible to read, because I know some people just don't have the attention span to read a whole bunch. I don't even have the attention span to write out everything. If you want more info, just click on the any of the websites above.

Monthly Reminder: Breast Cancer Self Check

Sorry everyone. I forgot to post this on the 1st, like I promised to do every month, but it's better late than never. As I mentioned when I first started, a family member was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo a mastectomy. She's not even 30 years old and it's really heartbreaking. She's undergoing chemotherapy right now, and afterwards, radiation. I pray that every cancerous cell in her body will be removed and not come back, in Jesus' name. Anyway, please remember to check your breasts today - male and female.

See guidelines below...

Source

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Monthly Reminder

Hey everyone,

I forgot to put up the monthly reminder post in May to check your breasts for lumps. I apologize and here's June's reminder. Guys, remember because you too can get breast cancer.

Source

Have a nice day :)

Follow @BerryChocoLatte Follow @BerryChocoLatte

Happy by Pharrell

Hey friendly friends :)

So you know this song, Happy, by the vampire Pharrell Williams? It was nominated for an Oscar for best song in a movie, Despicable Me 2. Let me tell you, I ABSOTIVELY POSILUTELY LOVE the song! I think it's one of my favorite songs in the whole wide world, and in fact, I wish I had heard it earlier because I would have wanted to use it in my wedding. The song just radiates joy in a world full of chaos. For just 4:08 minutes, you can forget that there are missing planes, warring countries, fuel scarcities that make ZERO sense, broken hearts, etc.

Did you know that the actual video is 24 hours long?! As in, Pharrell decided to make the video a 24-hour project and there are 24 1-hour videos from 12am to 12am on Youtube and on the 24 Hours of Happy website. Isn't that just genius?!

Now, for all the happiness from Happy, I have to make 2 confessions...