Week 21 WLJ

Check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out! lol *Nicki Minaj voice* lol

"Girl Look At That Body...I Work Out"

So today's topic in the ever so prevalent field of fitness...BODS. More specifically body image.

Check out this provocative spread from Plus Model Mag : http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2012/01/12/plus-size-magazine-says-most-fashion-models-have-anorexic-bmi/


I really thought all my body image problems went away when I became pregnant with Liam. I was hot. Literally because I was pregnant the entire summer of 2009 and 'cuz I was feeling myself. My skin was glowing. I lost about 25 lbs. I wore dresses. I liked the way my new pregnant bod fit in clothes. It was one of the most empowering times for me. I loved it.

Fast forward Spring 2010, I had gained back the weight I'd lost while pregnant and then some! Imagine my horror. I was not so happy with my bod anymore and I was stressed! Back in class full time and working all the time and it was not a good mental or physical state for me to be in.

Then 2011, I tipped the scales at the highest weight of my life and I had to take action!!! I've lost 23 lbs since August 28, 2011 and I'm still not happy with my body.

Let me count the ways:

1) I hate that I have stretch marks (they cant go away, just be reduced in size and color), so ok I can live with that.
2) Cellulite is gross and so not cute lol (they have creams for that though which actually do work)
3) My love handles & general flab accumulation in my waist area. I have lost about 6 inches in the waist and STILL can't rock with this area of my body.
4) my thighs they have always been something I disliked. From girlhood they have always been a prominent feature

*sigh* but really what can be done? I hit the gym 3-4 times a week, work w/ a trainer 2 times a week & started the Isagenix program. I am doing all in my power so for now my flaws will stay.

So what about you guys? What is an area/areas you would like to change? What makes you self conscious? Spill the beans lol ;-)

And her name is Freddi but bka Christi to me! :)

http://www.comediva.com/giggle-goddess-freddi-scheib

This is a link to one of the most amazing people I know and luckily...she's also my friend and someone I've known for 20 years! Jeez! She hasn't changed one bit and she is making such huge waves and moves in comedic writing! I am so proud of her. She is truly talented and I'm glad I can call her my friend.

We lost touch for a few years and reunited back in the greatest city in the U.S. - NYC of course and since then, it was like nothing changed. Please follow her many social websites and learn more about the sensation that is my boo Freddi Scheib!

Follow her: @Freddischeib, @MCWebseries, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Friends...How Many of Us Have Them?

I often think about some of the friends I used to have here in Kentucky. These are the people I spent the majority of my formative years with and people I thought I would know and be friends with forever. Yet, in reality, I've lost touch with more than a couple of them. Moving to NYC wasn't so much the deal breaker as it was the different directions we were moving in life. I'm sure none of my friends thought I would be the one knocked up out of our "crowd", well hell neither did I. But for a couple of them, things between us really changed.

Take friend O for instance. When she heard the news I was pregnant, I immediately began to feel some air of disapproval and discontent coming from her. Slowly, but surely our phone calls became fewer to infrequent to nonexistent. She even at one point asked if I was dropping out of school becuase I was pregnant. That really pissed me off. So around that time almost 2.5 years ago, I decided that she was no longer a fit for me and my life and I cut off all communication with her. Deleted her from FB (heard her reaction through other friends- of course she didn't know why) and deleted her phone number. It's not so much I wanted her out of my life as I realized I no longer had a place in hers.

Then the biggest shock of all came to me with former friend J. We had been friends since we were 9/10 years old and I expected us to grow old together. We had great memories together and I loved her family. For her, I'm pretty sure me having a baby didn't bother her. She even showed up to the baby shower we had in July 2009. My split from her came in Spring 2010. It just seemed like I would text and receive no response and when i would call, I'd leave a message or 2 and NEVER get a response back. I understand we are busy and I also understand that we all have lives, but even when I can't do it as much as I want to, I STILL call and see about my friends. I think that situation hurt my feelings more than anything really...I thought that after we had been through so much that she would like being Aunt J and that we could continue to build our friendship...Hmmm guess not...

Now that I live back in Kentucky, I sometimes dread seeing her. I know it's something that is very possible and I honestly don't know what I'd say to her. Would we sit down and talk about what happened to our friendship or would it be super akward?!

What's your take? Have you ever lost friends at important times during your life? Ever had to remove people from your life? How did it feel and what was the situation?

Until next time,
Cicely

Weight Loss/Health Week 20 - 5 months

True Love

Contests!

Finally! The moment you have all been waiting for. In the month of February I am going to run 2 contests! One will be a smaller contest, makeup oriented. The other will be fitness oriented. With the makeup I will be giving away some AWESOME goodies! By next month, a lot of brands will have their Spring lines out & I want all my faithful readers to get in on the trends ;-).

The second challenge will be bigger and requiring dedication on your part. I will be doing a 60 day fitness challenge. I say fitness because it is not about just weight loss. I want to encourage all of my friends, readers and anyone I can to take care of themselves and to start it now!

Here are the basic requirements for entry into both contests:
1) must subscribe to my blog and yes, I will check lol
2) Like my page on Facebook - www.facebook.com/thesinglemomtrepeneur
3) leave at least 1 comment each on both blog and FB page in response to a post or status.

Again these are the very basics and things you can start to do now. Please stay tuned for the official rules and start/end dates. :-)

Until next time,
Cicely

Steps Toward Better Health

Hey guys!
Here are some of the things that are new in my fitness life:

I am now 1 week into the YMCA Get FIT Club. I am doing M,W 11:30-12:30. I am getting a great workout and am still doing 2-3 days on my own.
Isagenix Isabody Challenge- I joined Isagenix as an associate. My main purpose is to cleanse my body of toxins and get nutritionally better. I will be doing their 30 day system every month for about 6 months. The Isabody challenge is a 24 week get fit challenge consisting of b4/after pics, pictures of me in action and an essay on how losing weight/using Isagenix has changed my life. I am going to do a youtube vid on that so that will detail everything. My goal during these next 23 weeks is to lose 50 lbs. I'm pretty sure I can do it and I can't wait because once this contest is over and I'm closer to my goal weight...I begin to submit to agencies!!! :)

come check out the products http://cicelycarter.isagenix.com/


I joined a weight loss network online Sparkpeople.com - was able to figure out my caloric intake daily and how many cals I should burn/week! I think this will be very helpful b/c I have reached a mini plateau!

Surgery? Also in addition to all the above, I have submitted my information to Georgetown Hospital bariatric clinic. Again, I don't know if Realize band is something I will go through with, but I would like to see my options. I am not trying to get below 200 lbs really. I think a good weight for me is anywhere between 220-240. I know my body, my body type and I know what different weight looks better on me. More importantly if I'm active and healthy at 220, does it really matter? Once I reach goal, I will be about maintenance...I'm looking into surgery as a lifelong tool to help me MAINTAIN the weight loss which is what I've truly struggled with in the past.

So let me know your thoughts, opinions and of course leave some comments! How are your Get Fit goals coming along? :)

Until next time,
Cicely

Poetry Pause

Dreams' Worst Nightmare

I feel it welling up inside,
ready to brew over and expose itself.
I stifle it and swallow my pride,
unsure of life's path ahead.

Sometimes they appear so close I can reach out and touch them,
I envision them approaching and get lost thinking about their possbilities
then all of a sudden, the prospects seem dim
I start to choke and tears of anger, sorrow fill my eyes.

I don't want them to slip away!
No, not like this!
My mind becomes blank and I lose the words to say
My dreams just died, dimmed and now there's nothing left.

sole intellectual propety and original concept of Cicely N. Carter (written January 2, 2012)

Bienvenido2012!

We finally made it here. I will be 24 in 31 days (let the bday countdown begin) and still have much to accomplish!

I keep seeing on twitter, this is the year to believe and dammit I'm committing to believing AND achieving by any means necessary!