blacKandi Fitness

Me as of August, 21, 2010…

Body Definition

Some side notes…I’m starting to look muscular like “dude” muscular and it’s kind of scaring me a little.  I find that my upper body builds mass fast and they get big.  I have decreased my calisthenics down to two times a week.  I am in full throttle with my circuits 3-4 times a week.  I have also increased my straight strength leg workouts from 1 once a week to 2 because I need them to catch up with my upper body.

People ask me why I do calisthenics.  I do it because it sculpts my body.  It also helped me build strength to be able to do  pull ups and chin ups.  If I want body definition like curves, cuts and to look nice lean I will keep doing my calisthenics.  I have not seen any results like this from anything else I have done when it comes to definition.  For burning fat…it’s circuits all the way for me.  For leg toning (to make firm), I do barre workouts and my newest barre workout is Aerobarre and it’s AWESOME!!!!  It’s mixed with boxing so check that out guys.

FLAWLESS SKIN

What else?  My face looks so clear in this picture doesn’t it?  Almost flawless, right?  Well, don’t be fooled…I’m on medication for cystic acne, yeah, at my age.  Who would have thought.  I eat right, I exercise, I am very hygenic and I keep my body clean and I STILL GET HIT WITH ACNE!!!!  WHAT???!!!!  My face looks great in this picture because I do a good job of covering up my skins imperfections with  makeup.  I love makeup…check out my beauty blog http://www.properlymadeup.com.

Anyway…my first ever acne breakout was last year.  I was getting these painful, puss filled pimples all over my face.  I did the wrong thing and popped them because they felt better after I popped them but then it left very dark blemishes.  Anyway, it took three months of antibiotics and Retin-A to clear it up.  Even the blemishes went lightened up and went away.

Three months ago, the acne came back!  My Dermatologist said that I should have gone back to her so I could get on some maintenance medications…I didn’t want that.  The acne was gone and everything great so why do that?  So, three months ago I got back on the same antibiotics I was on last year and the Retin-A.  Yesterday was my 3 month check up and the acne is still here.  It’s not as bad as it was three months ago, but it’s there and I have dark blemishes all over my face.  It’s really ugly.  I feel ugly without makeup on.  Sometimes I don’t want to wear makeup, but I’m at a point now where I have to.

My doctor put me on a new antibiotic, back on Retin-A at night before bed, a medicated acne lotion to put on my face in the morning and she gave me Hydroquinone USP 4% to put onto my blemishes to lighten them up.  People I’ve talked to say that the Hyroquinone works so I’m looking forward to that.  I’m ready to get my old skin back.  I want people to say I look like I’m 22 years old instead of 32 years old.  I am 32 years old, but no one ever believed it…and now I think I look 32 which is depressing.

My next Derma check up is three months away so we’ll see what happens.  Oh yeah, and before anyone sends me messages about what I wear on my face, I wear Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer and for my skin tone I use shade Mocha – it’s the bomb for summer ya’ll – I will never wear foundation in the Summer again.  It’s not a foundation, but it does cover up light-medium blemishes and it’s so light you can’t feel it on.  Goes on like lotion, no brushes needed.  I set it with a light coat of MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in shade Dark with my MAC 134 brush to take the shine out.  I don’t like my face shiney.  I remember wearing makeup to enhance my looks, now I must wear it to not look a hot mess.

Going Raw

Going raw for me was easy because I don’t like to cook, wanted to eat as close to natural as possible and I wanted to spend the shortest time in the kitchen because I am so busy these days.  I am eating 100% raw  now so that means I’m a raw foodist – except for when I need a slice of chocolate mousse cake which isn’t often.

Before I go on with this I just want to say that YES I am one to preach about eating a good carb with a protein every time you go to have a meal, but when I’m out and about it’s not always like that because for instance, at McDonald’s they have apple slices, but they serve natural pecans so I just grab the apple slices.  It’s better  than eating a burger patty and the apple slices.  I refuse to eat processed proteins so I always try to see if there is a Quick Check or a Subway around so I can get some fresh things to eat.  So, that my solution for eating out raw.

I eat mostly natural/raw nuts, seeds, cottage cheese, soy milk different fruits and veggies, oats and spices.  I only drink water unless I want a treat and I will get an iced latte or a cherry limeade.  I get my recipes from that Raw Food for 1 or 2 people to keep things diverse, tasty and interesting.

That’s all for now…keep up with me on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/fitKandi)