Body Lotions and a Weight Loss Update

First... The Lotion Conundrum:

Body lotion... there are so many to choose from! So how do we know which ones are actually good and which are slowly leaking chemical poisons into your body? Wait... lotion has poison in it? I didn't know this before either, but last year, I read a book called No More Dirty Looks, and I learned a ton about what was in my favorite lotions. 


I used to be a HUGE Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret fan. It was so easy to become addicted to B and B Works because every time you go in there, there is some kind of a sale and incentives for you to come back. In addition, they have great smelling products! However, I find it disconcerting that I can't find an ingredients list ANYWHERE on their website. They tell you the fragrance notes, and feel-good ingredients like shea butter or jojoba, but nowhere can you find a complete list. If they were truly proud of their products, the entire list of ingredients should be in plain sight, such as with Burt's Bees or Tom's of Maine. What Bath and Body Works doesn't want you to know is that they put harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde and parabens in all of their products. Some people are willing to dismiss these and other toxic chemicals as being safe in the small amounts that are in lotions.

However, stop and think for a minute. Where does lotion go? ALL over your body, and it stays there, and absorbs, on a daily basis. I don't know about you, but when I decided to switch to more natural products, lotion was my first choice since most everything else (like shampoo, body wash, etc.) would at least get rinsed off. 
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So what do I use now? Thankfully, I've been able to find some good lotions that are free of most chemicals, and are comparatively priced to Bath and Body Works. My current favorite is J.R. Watkins Aloe and Green Tea Body Lotion. This lotion is fantastic. It is rich and absorbs nicely and lasts all day. Even with my favorite Bath and Body Works, I would have to reapply up to three times a day because my skin would suddenly get dry again. Not so with J.R. Watkins, because it doesn't wear off. I usually buy this product at the Sunflower Market, but it can be ordered online and also found at various natural food stores. 

If you have any questions about what else to avoid when looking for a body lotion, feel free to email me or leave a comment below!

Weight Loss Update:

I just wanted to report that I have lost 4 pounds!! My friend and I weighed ourselves on July 3rd, and I was very happy to see my new number. It looks like my new healthy habits are paying off. Let's hope this trend continues. As I mentioned before, I've just been doing some easy switches: wheat bread instead of white, whole wheat pasta instead of regular, brown rice instead of white, extra virgin olive oil instead of butter or margarine. I've also been eating slightly smaller portions. I drink no soda anymore, and I've been saying no to cake and other pastries. Hooray!