I’ll be honest — I wish that I had a better (and by “better,” what I mean is more consistent) relationship with water. As I’ve shared a few times before, the main reason why I don’t consume as much of it as I should is because it’s just so…boring. More specifically, to me, it tastes like wet air.
That doesn’t mean I’m not fully aware that I need it in my system, though. And that is why I’ve found a fairly good workaround: either sparkling water or mineral water; to me, they just seem more “exciting”…although, as I will explain different article on bloating, I have had to accept that any kind of carbonation can create a bit more of a tummy bulge than I would like for time to time. Man, you live long enough and you really do come to fully accept that very few things come without at least a couple of “cons.”
Anyway, as I’ve been doing some stair climbing in order to get my body where I want it to be in time for the summer season, believe it or not, something that I’m considering doing is going on a water fast. Not so much for weight reasons but for detox purposes. Because the more research that I’ve done on water fasting, as of late, it really does seem like a quick and effective way to benefit your body, on a few different levels.
Here's what I mean.
What Water Does for Your Body Overall
GiphyI’m pretty sure that you grew up hearing somewhere that your body is made up of somewhere around 60 percent water. However, what you may not have known (or didn’t remember) is that your brain and heart reportedly consist of 73 percent water, while your lungs are made up of 83 percent water. Since water keeps you hydrated and it has oxygen in it (which is something that your organs need in order to function properly), that’s enough of a reason to prioritize water consumption on a daily basis (and yes, I am definitely preaching to the choir here).
Okay, but what are some other things that water does for you?
- Water lubricates your joints
- Water helps your body to produce saliva and mucus
- Water improves the quality of your skin and hair
- Water regulates your body temperature
- Water helps you to digest your food better
- Water helps to prevent migraines
- Water helps to make diabetes more manageable
- Water increases your energy levels
- Water helps to maintain your blood pressure
- Water makes your period cramps more bearable
- Water helps you to lose and/or manage your weight
- Water helps to prevent urinary tract infections
- Water can help you get over a hangover quicker
- Water keeps natural lubrication going
- Water increases longevity
And gee, this is just 15 reasons why it’s important to drink no less than 11 cups (cups are smaller than a glass, if you’re thinking about the whole “eight glasses a day” thing) of water daily if you are a woman and 15 cups if you are a man.
That said, if you’re someone like me and you know that you’re not hitting the “cups mark” each and every day, it might be a given that a water fast is something that you should give a shot. Yeah, but what if you’re someone who does enjoy water and you actually do make sure that you keep a bottle of it around with you at all times?
When it comes to going on a water fast, is it something that even you should consider doing as well? My short answer is “yes;” however, check out the next section of this to see why I say so.
What a Water Fast Can Ultimately Do for Your System
GiphyI’m pretty sure you know what a fast is, but just to be on the safe side, it’s when a person intentionally decides to go without food and/or drink for a certain period of time. Some people fast for religious or spiritual reasons. Some people do it as a form of detox. Some people do it to address some health issues that they may have. There is also what is known as intermittent fasting (which you can read about here) — but that’s kind of another topic for another time.
Anyway, when it comes to water fasting, specifically, it’s when you make the decision to consume nothing but water for a period of time, usually somewhere between 24-72 hours. And how can doing that help you out as far as your health is concerned? Good question.
Studies have proven that a water fast can help to:
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve heart health
- Treat hypertension
- Fight obesity
- Help to balance your hormones
- Fight against free radicals
- Lower your cancer risk
- Improve your quality of sleep
- Revive your body’s cells
- Decrease stress levels
Goodness, so with all of these great things that can happen to you if you do decide to go on a water fast, are there any challenges to keep in mind? That’s a good question, too. First, if you do happen to have any health issues, you should run your desire to go on a water fast by your doctor first, just to make sure that it doesn’t end up doing you more harm than good.
Something else? Make sure that your fasts last no longer than 72 hours. Your body needs food for fuel, so going beyond three days could prove to be problematic. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are currently dealing with an eating disorder (or have in the past), or you’re under 18 or over 65, a water fast is actually not something that you should be doing.
Another thing? If you’re considering a water fast in order to lose weight, while you probably will shed some pounds, a lot of it will probably be water weight, so make sure not to overdo the fast just because you’re seeing what appears to be overnight results. Also, as wild as it may (initially) sound, a water fast can actually dehydrate you. That’s because you don’t just need water but also electrolytes in order for your system to remain hydrated, and ones like potassium, sodium, and magnesium come from food.
However, if after taking in all of what I just said, you believe that you are “in the clear” to do a water fast, I’ve got a few tips for making the process easier and most beneficial for you.
5 Things to Keep in Mind When Doing a Water Fast
GiphySo, what if you think that you are more than ready to attempt your first water fast? Here are a few things that you should definitely keep in mind:
1. Eat less 2-3 days before going on the fast. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to fasting (no matter what kind of fast it is) is not “pre-gaming” for it. By eating lighter and smaller meals (ones that preferably don’t consist of processed foods, dairy, caffeine, or alcohol) 2-3 days before your fast, your body will already have been somewhat prepared for going without food totally.
2. Consider drinking some mineral water. Remember that when you are on a water fast, you’re not taking in any nutrients from food, and that is why you might want to consider consuming mineral water. It gets its name because it has minerals in it like magnesium, potassium, and calcium that can do things like improve your bone health, reduce heart disease, treat constipation, and even help to lower your blood pressure. Mineral water is one way to get some nutrients into your system without “cheating” when it comes to your water fast.
3. Don’t overdo it with the exercising; meditate instead. Again, food provides fuel that gives you energy. This means that if you’re not eating, your system may be moving at a slower pace, and if that is indeed the case, you shouldn’t overextend it. Bottom line: If you are someone who has a consistent workout routine, chill out on that a bit while you are fasting. Instead, opt for something like yoga or meditation, so that you can keep your system calm while you are going without sustenance.
4. Pay attention to potential side effects. Since water fasting tends to send your body through certain metabolic changes, you could experience headaches (even migraines), nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and even feelings of disorientation during your fast. These are not indications to further push yourself. That said, if it’s already been 24 hours, you should pat yourself on the back and consider breaking the fast. If it’s been less time, at the very least, snack on some fruit or try ginger or peppermint tea to see if the side effects subside.
Remember, a fast is supposed to improve your health; if that isn’t happening, don’t try to be a superwoman out here. Do what makes you feel better.
5. Ease back into eating. Just like you had to ease into water fasting, it’s wise to ease out of it as well. Bone broth, fruits, and veggies that contain lots of water (like watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers, zucchini, and peaches) can help your body adjust to being on food again once your fast is done.
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At the end of the day, anything that cleanses you out — mind, body, and spirit — is something worth considering at the very least. And since that is the aim of most fasts, and also since water is healing in so many ways, a water fast might just be what the doctor ordered.
I mean, pun intended (you still should consider trying it, though).
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During the Los Angeles tour stop, which spanned three dates on May 21, May 23, with the finale on May 24, xoNecole had the opportunity to test out the glosses included in this soft launch, as SZA revealed in a statement that "this is just the start of other lip products, including plans to launch stains, liners, and creams all inspired by SZA's “infamous layered lip combinations.”
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So, what is included in the first Not Beauty launch?
The current Not Beauty products available are lip glosses that come in three shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz.
During my visit to the first LA Not Beauty pop-up activation, I not only had the chance to purchase all three glosses but also took a peek inside the blow-up log tent. Inside, fans got to experience SZA’s love for nature and her fascination with bugs, which are prominently featured in her performances for this tour. At one point, she even had human preying mantis prancing across the stage y'all.
There were blow-up photos of the beauty that is SZA for fans (myself included) to take photos, but in wooden-like tree trunks were a deeper dive into some of the ingredients featured in her products and their benefits.
For example, the glosses feature Hi-Shine Lip Jelly and Shea Butter as key ingredients and some of the listed benefits included are:
- Shea Butter - “A powerhouse ingredient, offering both functional and nourishing benefits.”
- Hi-Shine Lip Jelly (featured in the In the Flesh shade) - “Formula glides on with perfect adhesion to the lips without stickiness).
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What are in the products?
Featured in an orange package, with images of a bug and flower on the side, the back of the box reads: “It’s NOT BEAUTY, it just works. Developed by Solána “SZA” Rowe.
As someone who never leaves home without a good lip gloss, I loved how compact the wood panel packaging is. Perfect to slip into my purse, or in the case of the show at SoFi Stadium, into my pocket when I’m not carrying a bag.
Because I’m a sucker for a good black and brown lip liner and clear gloss combo, I decided to wear the Quartz flavor on night one of the Grand National Tour LA stop, and it did not disappoint. I’ll admit, it’s light weight feel made me nervous because it felt like there was nothing on my lips. However, when I checked my lips in my compact mirror several times throughout the night, I was shocked to find that my gloss was still intact. I only reapplied once out of the habit of looking cute and applying my gloss, but not necessity.
Here are some of the ingredients featured, but not limited to, in the Quartz flavor.
- Polyisoubutene
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)Butter
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
- Tocopherol
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Lip prep
I’m a simple girl who loves to stay true to her roots. So ahead of the show, I stopped by a local Inglewood Beauty Supply store and grabbed a Black and Brown shade lip pencil for just under $2 a piece.
Shading the outline of my lips with the black pencil first, I used the brown to lightly fill the inside of my lips before applying my Quartz Not Beauty shade gloss.
How to apply
There’s truly no right or wrong way to apply lip gloss (in my opinion), with this being a brush applicator sort of product, I simply untwisted the top and swiped the gloss around my top and bottom lip generously.
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Results
Again, my Not Beauty Quartz product stayed on my lips from the start of the show, which began with a fire DJ set from LA’s very own, Mustard, to the conclusion when Kendrick and SZA reunited on stage to send us home to their duet, “luther,” featured on the rapper's GNX album.
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xoMAN started as an Instagram Live series and is now a full-cast production, with Walker as the host. Initially, she was skeptical about joining as the new host of xoMan. Not because she doesn’t have the chops to thrive in the role, but because coming in on something that wasn’t her original idea initially seemed daunting for the media personality.
However, since she loves a challenge, the CockTales: Dirty Discussionspodcast host embraced the task with an open heart and mind.
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“I was like, this is a cool concept, so I’m so glad that they decided to turn it into a podcast,” Walker tells xoNecole. “It’s been interesting to take somebody else’s idea and try to turn it into a thing, put it together, and bring it to fruition. I am anxious, nervous, and all things, but above all, I’m excited.”
When xoNecole's managing editor Sheriden Garrett approached Walker to take on the position, it felt like fate. She had previously attempted to get Garrett on her CockTales platform about six or seven years ago due to her expertise in the love and relationship space.
“I was like, wait, y’all listen to the show? And you want me to host a show where I’m only talking to men? And I’m listening to them and not giving them a hard time? I say that because sometimes I feel like, on my show, I may come off like I don’t even like men," she says.
"I love men, but it can be frustrating sometimes on that platform, social media, and other places when they continue to regurgitate the same rhetoric about what I like to call Twitter topics, like constantly talking about who’s paying as a man, as a woman. You should do this. You should do that…It’s been cool hearing the stories with the men we’ve spoken to so far at xoMAN, hearing these stories, and hearing them let their guards down.”
A Howard graduate, Walker almost didn’t enter the world of media after listening to advice from elders who said she would make a great lawyer because she loves to debate topics and sometimes argue (haha).
"It’s been cool hearing the stories with the men we’ve spoken to so far at xoMAN, hearing these stories, and hearing them let their guards down.”
After traveling to the nation’s capital to study political science, Walker soon discovered that her only motivation for becoming an attorney was the potential income and witnessing how boss women like Erika Alexander’s Maxine Shaw character on Living Single would look in their suits as career women.
“I realized that this was for real,” she says, studying law at Howard. “This is a lot of work, and when you think about what you do, I was like, this is not a performance, and I just wanted to talk. I wasn’t trying to defend anyone.”
A visit to a fair showcasing the different organizations on Howard’s campus, combined with her affinity for celebrity gossip and entertainment news, ultimately led Walker to explore a radio career. Soon, she auditioned for a show and landed the gig. By the spring semester, she was on the radio, ultimately leading her to switch her major to journalism with a concentration in broadcast news.
Soon after earning her degree in the field, Walker decided she didn’t want to do anything related to hard news. Instead, she became involved in lifestyle content. She used her friends' love of hearing her stories to motivate her to get into podcasting.
The rest is, as they say, history.
“Before podcasts became what they are, I was in a living room with a microphone before ultimately moving to a studio and refining the show. I loved it and knew people were listening because I monitored the analytics and everything," she explains.
"When we decided to do a live show, the show sold out in two weeks, and I was so nervous. I was like, 'Are we ready? Are we gonna be able to sell out this venue?' We didn’t have any sponsorship. We were still independent and had to front the money for everything.”
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“When they sold out in two weeks, not only did I price my tickets too low, but I thought, wow, we’ve got something. I was like, people spent money to hear me and my co-host talking about our shitty love lives. This is wild, all from an idea in my head. It made me feel like I was on the right path and encouraged me to stop doubting myself. I have imposter syndrome," she reveals.
"Even to this day, I’m constantly biased. But it’s like, if not me, then who? And, like, why not me? If people can do it with way less and way more. I’ve been trying to encourage myself and other people to eliminate the doubt that we have in ourselves so we can do whatever it is we want to do. I love it. No matter how many sleepless nights I have, I will continue to have bags under my eyes until the end of time because I’m enjoying it.”
"I have imposter syndrome. Even to this day, I’m constantly biased. But it’s like, if not me, then who? And, like, why not me? If people can do it with way less and way more. I’ve been trying to encourage myself and other people to eliminate the doubt that we have in ourselves so we can do whatever it is we want to do."
In between garnering a strong social media presence for her work as a podcast host, lifestyle influencer, and beyond, Walker has managed to use her many gifts and talents, like cooking, and most importantly, giving a strong opinion about the things she does (or doesn’t) believe in to carve out a lane of her own.
As she embarks on this chapter as the host of xoMAN, where she has already spoken with actors Devale Ellis and Skyh Black and Dear Future Wifey podcast host Laterras R. Whitfield, Walker hopes that it encourages people, especially women, to look at their male counterparts from a different perspective.
“I hope that anyone listening can listen to the first few episodes, hear how different each man is, and learn to let down whatever preconceived notions you have about me or a specific man, whoever it is in your life," she says. "Just listen, talk to them, ask them how they feel, and listen with an open mind, without thinking that you already know what the answer is.”
“I just hope that people learn to, again, not put people in boxes and make the other person, whoever it is, men specifically for this show, but sit down and talk with an open mind and listen to understand, not to respond. Help someone feel safe.”
xoMAN officially launches on Tuesday, June. 17.
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