Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?
Nicole Grays:
As I mentioned earlier, swimming is a favorite fitness routine for me. I’ve been known to hit a treadmill every now and again, but nothing will compare to what awaits me come January 2017. My personal trainer, Karlene, has placed 1st several times, in professional body building and bikini body competitions. I look forward to the day I can do pull ups, push ups and flip those huge tires back and forth with her. With having had so many major surgeries this year, I’ve not been physically able or allowed to do anything strenuous, but I’m in the home stretch now, so look out! Here I come.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Nicole Grays:
Admittedly, pizza is still my favorite food and I have a slice at least once a week. When it comes to things like rich desserts or red meat, I don’t deny myself anything. It’s all about moderation, portion control. Since diets never worked long-term for me in the past, it’s a word that I rarely use. Healthy eating – now that I can get into. If it’s green, I’ll eat it. Grilled asparagus tips are like french fries to me. French-cut string beans, heavenly. Kale is cool. Protein comes from poultry and fish, red meat is seldom on the menu, and the only pork I consume is pepperoni on my pizza, otherwise I cook with turkey. Turkey tacos, spaghetti, burgers, chili…you name it, I can make it with turkey. Robust olive oil is another fave. I use it on almost everything.
Bread is a weakness, as is chocolate, but that’s where portion and moderation come in. I can have whatever I like, just so long as I don’t overindulge. Tea over coffee is my preference. I get in as much water daily as I can. Believe it or not, water is hard on the stomach. There are minerals in it that, after having GPS, make it more difficult to consume. Lemonade and sweet tea (I do reside in the south y’all) are my go-to beverages. As for alcoholic beverages, well, I’m kind of a buzz kill there. I can hold the same glass of Moscato for an entire evening of socializing with friends or over a dinner date and never come close to finishing. I’m pretty much a cheap date (laughing). When everyone else is tipsy, I just giggle and play along for the fun of it. I’m incapable of getting drunk. Bummer.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your haircare and skincare routine.
Nicole Grays:
Thank you! (I’m blushing and smiling) Although I’ve tried many expensive and exclusive creams, cleansers and scrubs, my all-time go-to is still hot water and baby oil on a fresh washcloth everyday to remove all make-up. Then Noxema to cleanse and refresh my skin. And Oil of Olay to moisturize. In fact, Olay has several “systems” on the market now and I currently have on hand the Regenerist line of products. When all else fails, I use good old fashioned Johnson&Johnson Baby Lotion to moisturize my face and vaseline on my lips. Simple. Effective. Works like a charm. My genes might play a small part in it too.
My hair is a different story. Let’s just say I’ve mastered my flaws. With the stress I experienced earlier this year, my entire hairline fell out from the follicle at both temples and the loss went back about 2 inches. Talk about a challenge. If if wasn’t for a side-part and enough wavy hair to swoop into the direction I needed it go, I would never have left the house. It took 6 months for it to return. I use Mane and Tail Shampoo and Conditioner daily. While still wet I apply a generous amount of KeraCare Foam Wrap-Set Lotion to style and Kinky-Curly Curling Custard to whip and hold these strands into shape and it leaves it touchable and shiny. My hair is is also prematurely white, not gray, not silver…white. So every 10-14 days I use Bigen 88 to color it. I’ll stop dying it when I turn 50 and not a day before.
