Jocelyn D - BRING IT!

Still going

2010-08-05T03:17:00.000-07:00

Monday I took an impromptu rest day, mother nature just sucks sometimes is all I have on that.

Tuesday I will still insanely tied but I forced myself to do something, so I did the scheduled P90X back & bi's and lifted heavier than the week before. It was good, but still I felt crappy.

Yesterday I did the 1st of 3 scheduled 28 min runs for the week. The last mile of it I really didn't want to keep going & finish, but I made myself & I did it. Then I cooled down a wee bit & did a max incline walk & the total tready time was an hour.

This morning I did P90X chest/shoulders/tri's and progressed in it. I'm planning on a really good elliptical sweat session midday and that's about it for now. I'm not counting on progress with stats this week, but as long as I don't go backward I'll be good.

Progress!!

2010-08-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

The scale has been the same for weeks on end, and now it has finally budged with my super-ish clean eating (no, not raw, not organic, yadda yadda). That makes me happy ha! Finally I hit one goal, now there's 3 lbs to go until the next one then I won't really have a scale goal anymore. That sure will help with motivation for eating better!

I was pretty hungry this morning, so since I had gotten up early I figured I'd go down & do something. So I did 30 mins elliptical, was going to do some abs but I thought I heard a kid up & walking around. No biggie, it's rest day anyway. Quads are SORE from plyo and that ROCKS! Having been doing P90X Legs & back my quads haven't been getting sore :)

So, onto my non-cheat cheat day.

Endorphins how I LOVE thee!

2010-07-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

Seriously nothing is better than a workout that gives you that LONG endorphin high! Today was the first time I attempt P90X Plyometrics since surgery. Honestly, I was skeered going into it, but told myself that if I couldn't do it I'd quick pop in Legs & back instead [I'm doing it for a leg & cardio workout combined]. So I had an awesome workout, needless to say, the long after endorphin high and was thinking... NO matter how long, how hard I've RAN or did the elliptical I never got an endorphin high from those, EVER. If I'm to set my head on running a friggin marathon and I don't get endorphins it might just be near impossible. I think this is why I LOVED P90X and INSANITY so much, ENDORPHINS! Insanity was the most endorphins since almost all the workouts are plyo, I think that's the key for me, so sad!!!

Before surgery I never sweated that much either, I hope it's my metabolism cuz I have goals that need to get MET!

On facebook I started a new photo album I ended up naming "Getting back to ME at 30, accountability". Last weekend I turned 30 and this is a way for me to better myself, physically AND mentally (I have had issues for a long while with eating). This sweaty pic was the first one in it, of course. I'm hoping to do a weekly pic, they don't need to be same pose (that'd be BORING, okay?!), just a little extra something and my 1400+ "friends" to be able to see. I am really struggling here & there and want to work this fat off so fast but I totally am missing Insanity *POUT* I will stay strong though. Tomorrow morning stat check and maybe even some easier cardio. Now I will forever be looking forward to Plyo days!

Food and food!

2010-07-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

These are things I bought for my upcoming non-cheat cheat days :) Delicious blueberry waffles, sugar free chocolate pudding (with active cultures even), sugar free cool whip for the pudding, ff cheese, whole wheat sandwich thins & original BOCA burgers for yummy burgers, and a melon package cuz I've been craving some melon! Actually I forgot to add the light string cheese I bought too when I busted this all out for a pic. I'm actually looking forward to this!

I eat really non-processed (not totally strict like people can get, but still). I'm hoping stuff like this will help me refrain from actually cheating because I have not been able to get cheat days in check. I have one morsel of refined sugar or white flour (any form) and I go nuts, it's really really sad.

That is my typical daily food intake 6 days a week (roughly), well this is the new plan I started doing on Monday. If I need more I add in a couple ounces of chicken. I am really tired of not making much progress so now the freaking game is ON!

Freaking intervals!

2010-07-30T02:59:00.000-07:00

So today's run (prescribed 2.5 miles) workout went like this: 5 mins walk @ 4.0 mph, jog @ 6.0 mph for 8 mins, then three times through of [1 minute each] 6.0 mph, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6. I wanted to do one more set of those intervals but I wouldn't have been able to finish so the last 5 minutes were 6.0 mph. Then I walked very very slow for 2.5 mins to cool down & got on my elliptical for 20. I'm not sure if my body is really ready for intense intervals yet, so I'm not going to push too much.

A couple days ago when I was doing an extra elliptical session I thought I was bonking in the middle of it (running out of energy) because all of a sudden it felt like I was running through knee deep mud instead of the easy breezy smooth sailing of minimum resistance (ha). Well after doing extra on it yesterday I found out it adjusted it's own resistance (aka it's getting old & I think I knocked something loose) so at least it wasn't just me getting worse or something lol.

Speaking of yesterday, I did an extra 30 mins elliptical and some abs and it was good. I'm hoping I see some changes this week. Hey I'm up to 7.5 miles a week (running) that's not toooo shabby :) Next week will be more then the next week will be the 5Ks. I'm possibly cutting out intervals altogether just to be able to do the time jogging "easy".

Moving on up

2010-07-29T02:33:00.000-07:00

Or something like that. Yesterday was another C25K day. I did 3 slight intervals, my body isn't so ready to push more but I'll keep trying to do more every time. 5 min warm up then 1 min each of: 6.0 mph, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, & 6.4 3 times for 15 mins, then 10 mins @ a 10 min mile to finish off the called for time/distance. Then I went to max incline & walked & did a full hour. Midday I did half hr elliptical which was 2 mins forward 1 min backward (10 times).

This morning was P90X chest, shoulders, tris for the first time in forever also. It was good! That workout always makes my iffy wrist sore but my body needed a change. That's about all I got for now. Midday I'll probably hit the elliptical then do some crunches I think.

Whoops...

2010-07-27T02:49:00.000-07:00

Yeah I keep forgetting to blog, probably mostly because I'm not feeling like how I used to in that I was super motivated, etc.

Saturday morning with Hubby on nights I missed my workout because the youngest woke up and was hard to get back to sleep. SO I did P90X shoulders & arms Sunday morning (and I won't do that workout again for a month). I took pics & starting stats for a 12 week challenge, not too bad but definitely nowhere near where I really want to be. It's all very discouraging with not losing weight, but I have to keep going so that I can at least get a running base to build on and so on.

Yesterday was C25K w7d1 which was run 2.5 miles or 25 mins (that's what all the runs are this week). I was tired ALL day because I don't sleep well with him on nights and every passing day it gets worse. Around 1 I made myself get it done though, regardless. At first I felt strong so I did slight intervals 1 min each: 6.0 mph, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 did that twice (10 mins) but realized there was no way I'd be able to do the full 25 mins so I just did the last 15 mins @ 6.0 mph. Then I did 25 on the elliptical.

Today I did P90X back & bi's and man that is killer! I haven't done that since before surgery so I know I'll be feeling it!

Plan for the next 4 weeks is during my clean 6 days a week eating the processed foods I eat will be the ingredients for my protein bars (oats will be with breakfast too): whey protein powder, non-fat powdered milk, natty pb, old fashioned oats. The rest will be lean proteins & veggies. Hopefully this will get things moving! I can't commit to my old "cheat days", every time I try to skip a cheat I end up caving & feeling guilty, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do there yet. I would love to be eating clean, just not as strict, more processed foods, more carbs, fruits and the like and not really having anything wholly bad, but we'll see.

TGIF!

2010-07-23T05:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did a full body workout courtesy of Power 90 Sculpt 3-4. I went up in some weights which was good to feel some progress, and I could've gone up in weights on more (which I will do next time the workout is repeated, IF it is that is).

This morning was w6d3 C25K which ended up being pretty easy. It was just run 2.5 miles or 25 mins. I ran it at a 10 min/mile pace (since it's the first time I'm doing this distance) and it was pretty easy. Then I did 20 mins on the elliptical just to burn a little more. Next weeks' runs are all the same as today, so goal will be to do the 25 mins but progress to doing it all at 9:40 min/mile. I'm thinking Monday I'll alternate speeds and whatnot.

I'm really glad that we have power & nothing outside was damaged! We had BAD t-storms last night & tornado sirens were blaring & the center of it on the map? Oh that was centered over our freakin HOUSE! So yeah, I was glad power stayed on so I could workout this morning haha.

Just keep swimming

2010-07-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did P90X legs & back again, still a very good workout. I'm better at it.

This morning was couch to 5K week 6 day 2 which was 5 min warm-up then: run 10 mins, walk 3, run 10. I did the runs at a 9:40/mile pace. I started to get a side stitch on the 2nd run about halfway through but I slowed down for a minute (just a hair), stretched & said things in my head and it went away. So I picked the pace back up and the last minute of that I did 7 mph for the heck of it, good stuff. Then I walked slow for 2 mins then stepped up the incline to 12% and walked. I did a full hour.

That's about all my update for now. I got the tracking information that my body fat monitor is on its way, so that's good. Soon I'll feel like I have more direction. Friday it should be a 2.5 mile run (which will be slightly longer since I'm going for time not distance), and very very soon I'll be up to 5K & not feel bad anymore!

Couch to 5K week 6

2010-07-19T02:51:00.000-07:00

Looking at the C25K program I saw that this is the last week with walk breaks during the prescribed runs (only today & Wednesday), so I decided to take advantage of it and step up my pace a wee bit so that I can get the FULL 3.1 miles in 30 minutes when it's time for me to run that in 3 weeks. Up until now I was just building a base getting used to jogging again and now that I know I am good to go I can push a little more. So today's prescribed workout was 5 min warm-up then: run 5 mins, walk 3, run 8 mins, walk 3, run 5 mins. I did all that with the runs at 9:40 mile pace then I walked until 45 minutes utilizing the full amount of the incline [no, I didn't want to get on the elliptical ha]. So that was good & easy.

Hubby wanted to surprise me, but I guess he just decided to spill the beans early. My b-day present will be spending $$$ at the sporting goods store =) I'm easy, ha.

Anyway, so the next step with running after the C25K is up will be adding in another day of running per week. At least one outside run a week, some speed intervals, hill training & slowly adding on distance on a long run. I don't know anything about running, but I'm gonna pretend like I do ;)

GAME ON!

2010-07-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm starting the 1 month no cheats. It might possibly extend longer than that depending on how I feel. As SOON as my Ezekiel bread is used up I shall buy no more. Time to go psycho with the diet, I am finally ready after being on track for 5 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty happy with how I look, I just want to be LEAN and stay there, and I will.

Today was originally supposed to be rest day, but I woke up early so I wanted to get on the elliptical. I've been crazy bored with going the same pace/speed this past month (plus I had some anger to work out) so I did some crazy HIIT. I haven't done HIIT since before surgery and it was freaking awesome! No issues with it, nothing, just me going hard, sweating & breathing harder, it was fabulous. So now that I finally felt the strength, power & speed [once again] I really do have things will be moving along quickly and I am more motivated. The Couch to 5K workouts will stay as prescribed and when I get there I will start using the tready for HIIT & run outside once in a while.

So, anyhow, tomorrow week 6 C25K starts (it's only 9 weeks). I will impatiently await news on the body fat monitor and step up my stinking game. I feel great! BRING IT!

More progress and random thoughts

2010-07-17T04:57:00.000-07:00

This morning I did P90X shoulders & arms, did more reps at the higher weights that I had done last time. I even tried out some easy standing ab work and I CAN do that without things bugging me. So I figure come Monday I will call Doc and see if I am allowed to do some light ab stuff now. I won't retry a plank for a while, I do miss doing things that incorporated more muscles for sure. One day I'll get back there, whenever enough scar tissue has built up.

I have been coming up with a plan of attack lately too. I bought a body fat analyzer online and as soon as that gets here I will do a 12 week challenge type thing to getting back to my former awesomeness. So until I get that I will keep doing the workouts that I have been doing (which I really can't complain about since they really have rehabilitated me and I'm finally feeling ready for me). Then things will be a changing! I will be doing more P90X routines like back & bi's, & chest, shoulders & tri's. I'm thinking fat will be melting off & I will feel better.

Next weekend I hit the big 30, when your metabolism is said to start dropping and the like. Hubby will be working nights, so we celebrated early bad foods abound. I dealt with the aftermath, but it's no big deal. I figure I'm going to start a clean eating challenge with myself (if anyone wants to join in that's cool). I figure as a present to ME I will go a whole month without cheats. Now that I put that out here for everyone to see, I shall do just that. Now I will have little weekly treats like ff/sf pudding or whatnot, but I'm extra cleaning up the eats the rest of the week and then on until I'm exactly where I want to be body fat wise. That means reinstating my old no dairy, no sauce, and so on rules (except the one day a week I allow myself to feel like I'm "cheating" without the added fat & sugar & white flour & the like).

Yay

2010-07-16T03:18:00.000-07:00

This morning was Couch to 5K prescribed run 2 miles & I did it, easy peasy. I'm not going for faster time, I'm just going at an easy 10 min mile pace until I'm up to 5K, then some days I'll do speed intervals, other days I'll do hill intervals & whatnot. Soon, very soon :)

Boooo to colds!

2010-07-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

This morning I did Power 90 sculpt 3-4 which is a full body workout. It's quite good actually & I wasn't looking forward to squats & lunges with a sore booty! I did that then 30 mins elliptical.

After today though, until I'm over this cold crap that my girls gave me, I'm not adding on ANY extra cardio beyond the prescribed C25K workouts and the lifting I'm doing. I need more rest to kick it.

This weekend my cheat day will be horribly evil, ha! My b-day is next weekend but Hubby will be working nights, so I decided we'd celebrate this weekend instead. There shall be some cheesecake involved, pizza, and some alcohol ssshhh. Mommy never drinks, but she deserves a few once in a dang while! And I'm going into a new decade, so yes I shall drink :P

So it's easier...

2010-07-14T03:06:00.000-07:00

The running thing, that is. I was so looking forward to the time when it got like this. Now my C25K workouts won't make me want to die anymore :) Today was week 5 day 2 which was 5 min warm-up then: run 8 mins, walk 5 mins, run 8 mins which felt very easy for some reason. I kept saying "easy" to myself in my head when jogging, I swear it helps. So then I walked for 4 mins & followed up with 25 mins on the elliptical. Good stuffs. I'm ready for Friday's 2 miler :) Bring it!

P90X Legs & Back

2010-07-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

Done again, more reps on the pull-downs, feeling stronger. I'm thinking I might hit the elliptical around noon for something extra. Gotta strip this fat off somehow!

My girls are both sick and on antibiotics now. I have their congestion symptom & have been taking Mucinex. But I'm not coughing like they have been, so maybe I'll be lucky *crossing fingers* Anyway my thing is as long as I don't have a fever I can keep going, so I will. It's not like I'm doing HIIT or anything, so I will keep going as I feel like it.

I also decided it's too weird for me having rest days on Fridays, so I'm shifting this week to my regular Sundays. That's about all I got for now.

Bring it ON!

2010-07-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

I am totally convinced the Couch to 5K program is the BEST way anyone can build up from not running to being able to a wee bit. It must be the very best beginner program out there. I'm sure most people who want to get into running do too much too fast & it takes a toll on the body, so they use the aches & pains excuses as to why they can't/won't keep running. Well this is made for minimal pains, especially is you fuel properly, take any vitamins you made need, and so on.

Today I did week 5 day 1 workout which is a 5 min walk warm-up then: run 5 mins, walk 3 mins, run 5 mins, walk 3 mins, run 5, then I did a 4 min walk cool-down & hit the elliptical for 30 mins. I was even smiling during some of the running, juust sayin.

It was freaking awesomely easy! That felt sooo good for it to be EASY when I know this week is pretty pivotal. The next workout is 1 more minute of running total but only one walk break, then the one after that is 2 miles straight (next week is harder, and so on). I am finally feeling like I CAN do this. I might not be great or fast, but I can do it.

Getting there

2010-07-11T02:42:00.000-07:00

This morning I did P90X shoulders & arms again. I was finally able to get to an old weight on one of the bicep moves & got pretty happy about that (but not as many reps as I used to). I also went up weight in one of the delt moves as well. I'm almost lifting what I used to before sx so I'm feeling better! I'm starting to feel positive (at least) that this building back up to what I had been is going well. I know I won't be able to do core work for quite a while (I'm hoping come September I'll be released to do some again), but I'm getting happier about what I can do now. I do miss the feeling of being an athlete & hope I get that feeling again soon. I'm thinking when I can run a 5K I will feel tons better, and I'm not so far off on that (just about a month). I'll get there, soon!

Take THAT!

2010-07-10T02:59:00.000-07:00

Mmmmhmmm! Couch to 5K week 4 hath finally been concluded =) I went to do it this morning, didn't want to but decided on it instead of lifting. Well it was easy peazy! No wanting to die, hurl, or even slow down. No killer side stitches, just J running & walking. Soon there shall be only walking in warm-up and cool down. Just sayin.

Bring on week 5! I'm READY to start solid longer running blocks. Yes yes!

On a side note, I got the new workout clothes yesterday and OMFG is moisture wicking freaking INCREDIBLE! Screw all my old crappy stuff, that's getting burned ASAP! Sorry Hubby, but I'm gonna be spending more $$$, juuust sayin XD

Progress NOT perfection!

2010-07-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

I need to continuously remind myself that we should be focused on progress, not perfection. As long as I do continually get better, I am getting closer to my goals.

This morning I did a repeat of the C25K week 4 prescribed workout. This time I didn't contemplate death by falling off treadmill. I didn't wonder if I'd purge the water I drank before. Before the last 5 minute run, though, I did get a side stitch. During the 90 sec walk period before that I stretched, slowed a lot, tried my best & got it to disappear momentarily. I tried to convince myself that I could make it, it was really really hard. The last 2 minutes of that last bit started hurting a LOT, but I figured I could push through and I did. So, plan is to keep up this run until I can do it without pleading for my life or side stitches. Just sayin... It was 5 min warm-up then twice through of: run 3 mins, walk 90 sec, run 5 mins, walk 2.5 mins.

I'm so looking forward to resting tomorrow :)

Another day....

2010-07-07T03:00:00.001-07:00

I went old school since I was tired of repeating the same workouts... Power 90 sculpt 3-4, a full body workout done in 4 circuits. It's actually quite good! I forgot about it :) I started with a good sweat from 10 mins on the elliptical. I went up in weight on bent-over rows, everything was really good.

One more day, one more C25K workout then I can "rest" for a day and keep going. It's not easy to keep going, but I know how things would be if I quit, and I don't want to go there. It'll be worth it & one day (hopefully soon) I'll start having my old bad @$$ attitude about it all again.

Oy!

2010-07-06T02:47:00.000-07:00

Okay so this running stuff is hard for beginners (or those who do not run lol). With the last running I did being easy I figured I'd go to the week 4 workouts & be fine, omg um no. I must've forgotten I'm building up from not being terribly out of shape again, oy! Week 4 Couch to 5K prescribed workout: 5 min warm-up then run 3 mins, walk 90 sec, run 5 mins, walk 2.5 min repeat that run/walk sequence a 2nd time. Well the last 5 min run I wanted to die. I wanted to let myself fall off the tready then just lie in a bloody heap on the concrete basement floor... what? Okay maybe I didn't want that pain, but I sure as heck wanted to quit, felt like I was going to vomit etc. but I made it every stinkin second. And DANG IT next time I won't feel so bad doing it, it'll be easier! Then when I finished that & did a sloooow walking cool down I said EFF IT I'm going on the elliptical and getting in some time even if all I wanna do is go crash on the floor or couch or whatever. So I did 20 on the elliptical, stretched & ate. And I am here to tell the story, so I'm alive. HA! I don't want green lungs anymore, phew.

Another day, same ol...

2010-07-05T02:56:00.000-07:00

This morning was P90X legs & back which was great! I am stronger & more flexible. I did more pull-downs (not sure if I'll eventually try pull-ups or just not). I almost didn't get it in because Aubrey walked out of her room at 4:30 again, but luckily I got her sleeping in 10 minutes and was able to go down there and get the workout in, barely.

DOMS will most likely be minimal now since I'm used to the movements again, but I still really like the workout & lots of sweating it induces :) It was near impossible to eat all I needed to yesterday. Not due to lack of appetite, I just could hardly force it all in (really TOM sucks!), but I did. We don't need me in starvation mode, we needs to keep the calories up enough to shrink da booty!

Anyway, tomorrow more running :)

Getting better =)

2010-07-04T05:21:00.000-07:00

Sooo... This morning's prescribed C25K workout was: 5 min walk warm-up, then run 90 sec, walk 90 sec, run 3 min, walk 3 min go through that twice. What I did was warm-up then: run 90 sec, walk 90 sec, run 3 min, walk 2 min repeat 3 times :) Then I hit the elliptical for a faster 30 mins. So next run day I'll skip to week 4. It seems that mile run I did sure helped speed things up. Toward the end of my workout silliness crept in my head. All of a sudden I saw myself turn my head to my bestie on the westie & saw how we were running the last mile in our marathon & I grinned big & started kicking up the speed LMAO, really like 11 months away? Okay, I'm crazy, I already know that. I can already see myself doing it though, weird that it seems so easily possible but I've never run more than 5 miles at once.

When I was done working out I had a bloody sock. Dang my crazy toes, this happens to me time to time when I'm running regularly. One of my toes cuts the one next to it, whoops. It doesn't hurt. I'm also getting a baby blister on the pinky toe that I've broken repeatedly lol. I popped it so it shouldn't grow more, it also doesn't hurt.

HA also the freaking fabulous monthly "gift" came, so now I know I can't be upset about stats that I took on Friday. Hopefully it won't be more than one bad day, and now I'm looking more forward to upcoming stats since things will be less.

Here we go!

2010-07-03T11:35:00.001-07:00

I TOTALLY cheated way too much yesterday. From now on cheats will be strictly limited to ONE meal because more is NOT worth the after effects! Because of the bloat and whatnot I decided not to run today. This morning I did P90X shoulders & arms, with typical weights & very high rep (can't go heavier yet). I did the full video too. This afternoon I got in a half hour elliptical session to work off some of the bloat and MAN did it feel great! This morning it probably would've made me want to hurl, stupid bad food hangover, ick!

So I'm totally stoked to start running and I don't even know why, maybe it's just having some sort of concrete goal. I do wish I had someone to DO it with (in person), but regardless I'm happy LOL and I can't even run yet. Maybe after I finish the Couch to 5K program I'll be a runner, maybe. Before Hubby had given me an extra monthly allowance (incentive for staying on track when the going gets rough) so I've now decided that $$$ will be for running gear LOL! Today I ordered a hat, shorts & 2 shirts. I figured as soon as I hit the 5K distance I will start making it out on the road for weekly runs, then come fall I can be outside 3 times a week easy regardless of DH's schedule.

I think I can make that 5K race. It's Sep 25th, it should be on the Saturday of his monthly week off. It's only a half hour drive away, so he should even be able to bring the girls down & make it a family thing & my first race can be cheered by my lovies ;) I think it's perfect to get a race feel, and it's better for my first because it's pretty small (just a 5K and a 3K). It's pretty much the only one I can run before the end of the year (because of his schedule & not being able to travel etc.). I'm not even 100% sure if I will be able to do it because his plant should start this insane thing called an outage either end of September or beginning of October. I'm really really hoping for October, just sayin'.

That's enough babbling for today. Adios!

Patience...

2010-07-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Is soooooo very very hard! Especially when you are me and used to being able to push yourself to all extremes on workouts... It's sooo hard following the sloooow Couch to 5K program but I know I KNOW, it's for the best.

So you have ME Miss I've never liked running, I will not run, I won't ever race... Ego put in check for surgeries & a friend 3000 miles away (I'm guessing lol) says HEY I bet you can't do a marathon with me next June... Yeah, I can't not agree to that. Worst comes to worst I do half. I bet I can go the distance.

Anyway so I'm trudging along on the C25K now, I picked up this awesome book on training for a marathon, read it and am now super jazzed to see what I can do. Main problem? I can't run 3 miles yet LMFAO, and I have to go, slowly progressing, and so on and so forth. But I don't want to hurt myself, sooo I'll grudgingly keep building up :)

I found a 5K run pretty close to us end of September, that falls on Hubby's monthly week off, so I'm gonna try to do it! I figured if I'm running a big race next year I might as well do a couple before so that it is not the first time I experience the race atmosphere. Soooo.... Yep. Tomorrow is rest day, then I will start blogging the boring daily workouts start Saturday, and try to be excited about jog/walking aka wogging, ha. Adios!

See J run...

2010-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

I am back, sorta. I think I'll be turning this into my new "training" blog. I've had multiple surgeries about 9 weeks ago, a major one which really limits a lot of torso & ab stuff for a long time (like 6 months to a year). So ab work in general is out, lifting heavy is out, things that engage the abs too much is out, stuff like Insanity & plyometrics etc. is out. I've been working on walking & running and currently just finishing up week 2 of the Couch to 5K program. Now maybe I could push myself harder to get things back up to speed, but I truly am limited from surgery & I get internal shiz yelling out EFF OFF when I push more than my point in the healing process will allow. Soooo... Let it flow, let yourself go, slow and low that is the tempo!

A friend of mine in Washington challenged me to a marathon next June and I said okay (even if all I can build up to is half, that would STILL be amazing for ME the run-hater for life). So since I'm turning 30 very very soon, I figured why not? I'm not planning for any sort of figure comp, I think I'm too tattooed, and running is perfect to train for & keep going. Why NOT do something at 30 that I NEVER thought would be possible for me? HELL YEAH! Bring it! I will train slowly & intelligently so as to prevent injuries. It will be difficult once I start running longer distances to change from eating low carb to higher, but I can handle that, I'll need it for fuel and by the time I get to the longer distances I'll be lean again & my metabolism will be blaring hot.

So I'm back!

Today's tip - Flexibility

2009-11-18T06:52:00.000-08:00

And no I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about getting your workout in! Why? Because Monday morning I could not wake up. I had sleep issues and did not want to be overtired all day, so I slept instead of working out early. I wasn't upset because I got my workout done later on in the day. Everyone has the time that they can make, each day, to do some sort of exercise or movement. So I pushed my workout hard later on in the day. Get it in when you can, despite obstacles!

Tuesday morning I was 15 minutes into my workout when I heard my youngest crying for me, so I had to stop & take care of her. I got it DONE later on in the day. Why? I don't want to be one to add to the obesity epidemic!

I have it written on my calendar what workout I will do 6 days of the week, and I stick to it because it's gratifying accomplishing what you set out to do! So the point is - CRAP happens and LIFE throws you curveballs. It's ALL about how you deal with it, you can work around things if you choose to. Or you can sit on the couch & let your butt grow. It's up to you.

I just have to say the new SHAKEOLOGY sites are pretty sweet! I'm so glad I'm drinking this stuff, it's so good & good for ya! :)

Shakeology!

2009-11-14T02:31:00.000-08:00

I HAVE to admit I've been very skeptical of this product (especially because of its price tag) but I vowed that I would buy it & try it and O.M.G.!!! I got the chocolate flavor (I will get the green berry someday) and the taste was SO MUCH BETTER then I could've imagined. It got me, I won't stop drinking this! I just HAVE to say that the fact that it's like 70 crazy ingredients, things I would NEVER EVER try because I'm a PICKY ARSE eater [& I must admit I do NOT eat a good variety of veggies] I am just blown away at how this tastes! They say it detoxifies you, HECK YES IT DOES! I felt the effects of that in like an hour after I drank my first shake. Oh I also must say that it IS filling! It's a perfect meal replacement shake! It's more chocolatey then I expected (so far I only blended it with water) but I can only suspect throwing a tbsp of natty PB will just make it perfect. They say it gives you energy, I can thoroughly agree with that! It is SO packed full of nutrients it's just simply amazing! EVERYONE MUST TRY THIS! I feel psycho now, but I have to admit this is AWESOME!

It is gluten free, caffeine free, refined sugar free etc. etc. It's friggin amazing.

Yiu can get a 10% discount if you're a club member or a 25% discount if you're a coach. If you sign up to get it via Home Direct (monthly auto shipment) the SHIPPING IS FREE PEOPLE! FREE! So for me being a coach I get 30 servings of this wonder shake for a grand total of $95! That's friggin amazing! THis stuff has super powers! I really HOPE more people try this!

This video is a must see, follow the link: SHAKEOLOGY THE BREAKTHROUGH

If you want to get this for a discount go to this link & set up a club account (only $15 each quarter) or even become a coach. The discount you get on it more than pays the cost of being a coach, so it's WORTH IT! GO GO GO NOW! I Swear you will NOT regret it! And anyway BeachBody has this guarantee with EVERYTHING you buy that if you don't like it or change your mind within 30 days you get your money back (even if it's signing up to be a coach. Just sayin'. I know I sound crazy, but this stuff is awesome!

Nutrition facts for chocolate:

I'm here!

2009-11-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

I just haven't really been up to blogging, not knowing what to write. I had problems figuring out what I was going to do next workout-wise, but I didn't stop & I'm moving onward! Part of me wants to get leaner & crazy ripped but it's just not practical & not healthy to get your bodyfat under 12% [for females] & stay there. So I am struggling a little with keeping my bodyfat a bit higher, trying to stay in that mentality. I have no NEED & no reason to be lower. I decided I'm going to a "classic" rotation of P90X with having Insanity cardios on Tuesdays & Saturdays in place of the P90X ones, so that is my set in Jell-O plan lol.

Here's what I've been thinking about recently. WHY would you keep on going? If you aren't a fitness model, you aren't going to try a figure comp, you aren't trying to win MONEY, you are healthy & fit & happy with where you are, so why would you keep going? Why NOT keep going? I have the body that is able, the mind might not always be so willing [but you have the CHOICE which is very powerful], so I'm going to use it. My heart might not always be 100% into my workouts, but I'm going to keep plugging away because I can. I like having the extra energy, being able to keep up with my girls, I LIKE how working out makes me feel. I do not like how I feel when I don't workout and I don't like how my body totally revolts when I eat bad food. We weren't made to eat the processed CRAP that our supermarkets are filled with. White sugar & white flour etc. just all wreaks havoc on you! Yes it is HARD but anything worthwhile isn't easy. It's hard to fight cravings & not always give into temptation, it's EASY to be lazy & stuff your face full of fast food & oreos and so on, but do you really want to be that way? Are you HAPPY feeling how you do? I'm not happy like that! That's why I will not let old habits make a comeback, no matter if I WANT to workout & eat clean or not.

I decided to really step out of my comfort zone & reserve a booth at a PTA event. I know it's small because it's just my older girls' elementary school, but it's a start. I'm extremely shy & don't really have any local friends (just a few acquaintances) and I don't want to tell them all about what I do because I don't want them to feel like I'm trying to push anything on them! So I figure I get this booth, put out my information & maybe I will get moving on this coaching business. By having a little booth I know only interested people will come over & talk to me, there won't be my trying to present things to a lot of people so there really won't be pressure. They will see the proof right in front of them that BeachBody works & if they want to get in shape they'll know who to call. SO I'm hoping good things come of it. That is this weekend.

Anyway that's about all I have, just random babblings :) Have a great week everyone & make it count!

Will power & frog push-ups

2009-10-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

So yesterday a girl I coach sent me a FABULOUS chocolate mousse cheesecake (it was FedExed from THE Cheesecake Factory um OMG). I'm proud to say that even though I was literally shaking as I sliced it, I commenced to wrap each slice with wax paper, wrap the WHOLE THING back up & put it away in my freezer. THEN I cleaned up all the chocolate crumbs that fell on the counter & floor without any nibbles. It was hard. The only thing that helped was the fact that I saw the nutrition stats and I had to tell myself I need to hold out until my planned cheat day cuz WOW! It's fabulous looking and I can't WAIT!

I joined this group on facebook that does these neat weekly challenges. You can join & enter. There are 2 weekly winners (one female & one male) and each get entered to win a monthly prize drawing. This month's winners get these super-cool wrist saver POWER STANDS. Just sayin' it's pretty cool. Here's my entry vid.

BeachBody redid the coach websites & I totally personalized mine. It's neat you really should check it out! At the top of it there's this big window with the #s 1-4 at the bottom of it. If you click on #3 it goes to the P90X screen. If you THEN click on "SEE REAL RESULTS" you'l watch a video and see MY pics Red bikini before & orange bikini after. SO cool that my 5 minutes aren't up. SO click here & check it out!

My plan for Insanity round 2

2009-10-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

I just decided (on Wednesday) that instead of a P90X/Insanity hybrid I'd just go through Insnaity a 2nd time but just with slight modifications. On Cardio recovery & Max recovery days I'm going to do P90X YogaX instead of those workouts because I want to get back to doing that weekly & the benefits are so worth it. I'm also going to try to add on 2 extra upper body workouts a week because I noticed my bi's aren't what they were before. SO! That means once a week I will add on the Insanity Upper Body weights routine and another day I will add on ONE of the P90X upper body workouts that include pull-ups. More than likely it'll be chest & back or back & bi's. Of course also the first week or 2 you don't really add on the Insanity abs videos so I'm adding those on from the start. I MIGHT skip fit tests all together, I'm not 100% sure yet on that.

Yesterday I did the insanity upper body weights video & found I need to go up in weight, didn't realize what I could do. So next time I'll do that. I do have some DOMS from it still. This morning I did Plyo cardio circuit & added on Cardio Abs for good measure. I'll probably take mid-round pics too for the heck of it, depending on where I'm at. I'm hoping to lose a little more fat, BUT I don't want my bodyfat to drop too low.

That's about all I got for now :) OH! When I sent in my pics for the T-shirt I got a form to fill out for them to use my pics (possibly) in the next infomercial & info on submitting videos to them of my telling my story & working out to INSANITY so I'll probably do that & get sent out to them next week as long as I get a response email from them saying they are still accepting footage :)

Insanity round 1 finished

2009-10-22T03:00:00.001-07:00

So here are ALL my fit test numbers, starting with my initial false start #s in brackets (I started, did about 2 weeks, got sick then rested a week & restarted).

RESULTS:

Switch kicks - [50] 56, 63, 68, 67, 73 (1 = 2 kicks so that is 146 for today)
Power jacks - [47] 57,62, 73, 72, 76
Power knees - [87] 100,104, 120, 122, 137
Power jumps - [24] 33,43, 57, 60, 80
Globe jumps - [7] 10,12, 13, 12, 14 (1 = 4 directional wide-stance jump squats)
Suicide jumps - [17] 20,22, 24, 25, 29 (burpees without the push-up)
Pushup jacks - [17] 28,35, 40, 44, 50
Low plank obliques - [60] 82,106, 110, 116, 120

Yesterday I decided I was going to start a 2nd round of Insanity TODAY! With ONE day a week of the INSANITY upper body weights video, one day a week of a P90X upper body video with pull-ups & YogaX done in place of Cardio Recovery & Max Recovery workouts (cuz I want to do that video again). Rest days are scheduled to be Wednesday's, but I'll workout if I didn't get one of my lifting sessions in, etc.

BRING IT!

Deluxe workouts & me update

2009-10-15T06:49:00.001-07:00

So in the Deluxe version you get 3 extra workouts. INSANE abs - 32 mins instead of the 16 min Cardio Abs that comes with the regular INSANITY. Great workout! My core is so strong that I didn't get DOMS from it though (and I make sure to thoroughly squeeze the bejeezus outta my abs) I only got hip flexor DOMS, but I really liked it!

This morning I tried Max Interval Sports Training, SHEW baby! I REALLY love that one! There's some craziness, got my heart pounding, burned some muscles etc. I was happy. So I haven't tried the upper body weight one yet but I don't think I'm busting that out until I hit Round 2.

So I started the last week of INSANITY and TOM hit, lovely! I'm thinking I'll wait until Tuesday for pics just to make sure. Hubby starts this round of 12 hr nights tonight & gets off Monday morning, then attempts to adjust his schedule again so I figured I'd just say I'd do pics on Tuesday.

New plans - I FEEL like a need a rest/recovery week before going into a 2nd round of Insanity, so next week will be less intense, shorter workouts, and probably a YogaX, Core Synergistics, & maybe a P90X plyo too just for poops & giggles. Then I'll start again with using all the deluxe vids & such. The 2nd round I'm going to do the INSANITY deluxe upper body weight lifting vid once a week (once I get my plan written down I'll figure out when to add it) and one day a week of pull-ups (I miss those) those will probably be with a P90X vid, I'll just skip through the other parts that aren't pull-ups.

So there ya have it!

Are you gonna BRING IT today?

2009-10-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

I did! INSANITY Max Interval Circuit this morning, it was awesome LOVES IT! And I did vids, so enjoy :) Sorry no music, just workout sounds.

Just over one more week & I can send off for my FREE INSANITY T-shirt! Can't wait! I EARNED that baby!

Trend I've noticed for Insanity...

2009-10-07T03:06:00.000-07:00

I'm on week 3 of month 2 (OMG only a week and a half left, this really FLIES BY!) and have totally noticed a trend.

When I was going into the Month 2 workouts I really didn't know if I could adapt to them because the Month 1 workouts seemed so hard in the first place. I have to say that you NEVER KNOW what you can do if you don't try. MIND OVER MATTER! I use mind over matter so much during my workouts, self talk in my head if you will, to keep going, push through the muscle burning, fatigue, nausea (yea it still comes but goes when I tell myself I'm not going to get sick), etc. and just keep going no matter how much it's burning & I want to stop. Why? Why not? I want to see what I can do.

Anyway back to the trend for Insanity (at least for ME). The first week (month 1 and month 2 both) was a lot of muscle DOMS & a LOT of mental shifting to make myself push through & survive & just complete it. The 2nd week, DOMS minimal (still there, everywhere) & way more manageable & you start noticing improvements on how hard you can push on the workouts. The 3rd week definately less DOMS, can most definately push HARD on the workouts & start keeping up with the people on the video.

The first & second weeks of Month 2 I could say max interval circuit was my favorite, probably because from the beginning I felt the strongest on that WO than any of the other month 2 ones. Yesterday I did max interval plyo & ROCKED IT for the first time, I LOVE getting better! This morning was Max cardio conditioning & cardio abs (for the 2nd time together) & I did NOT have that lay on the floor/mat wanting to die thing happen. I was stronger, I pushed through & it was AWESOME. I love the feeling of accomplishment I get from these workouts!

That's about all I got for right now. Booty is a burnin, good stuff!

INSANITY fit test #4

2009-10-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast INSANITY is flying by! This is NUTS! I don't know why but at first I felt sluggish. Maybe because I'm used to a LONG warm-up now and the fit test warm up is way too short? I don't know. I don't feel like I have the cold anymore, just some congestion that is typical for me anyway. So I can't blame it on the cold. Most #s went up, I honestly don't see myself being able to get much better, BUT I'm gong to hope my final fit test numbers [for this round] will go up! I'm going to push HARD!

Here we go:

switch kicks - 56/63/68/67 boooo!
power jacks - 57/62/73/72 was still feeling "slow" at this point
power knees - 100/104/120/122
power jumps - 33/43/57/60 effing hate these lol
globe jumps - 10/12/13/12 - last time the 13 felt like I wouldn't be able to redo, no biggie
suicide jumps - 20/22/24/25
pushup jacks - 28/35/40/44
low plank obliques - 82/106/110/116

2 more weeks & I can send off for my free t-shirt! I want it badly LOL.

Channeling the inner Bad Ass

2009-10-03T01:19:00.000-07:00

So Halloween is like 4 weeks off from today. I decided a few weeks ago that'd be my goal date to get where I want to be (which is a bit leaner than I am right now, not so sure what my BF% is). I will most definately hit my goal measurements by then. I'm pretty stinkin happy with where I am right now so I figured I'd show a pic as me as Lara Croft - Tomb Raider. I'm not 100% if I'll wear shorts to go out, more than likely I'll put on some warm Under Armor pants; but for picture purposes it's shorts ;)

INSANITY will get my where I want to be in no time - it has leaned me out a LOT since I started. Yep everyone gets off track once in a while, shit happens!

Almost done with INSANITY week 2 month 2!

2009-10-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

I HAVE to say this has got to be the MOST amazing program I've ever done. And everyone who knows me knows how much I love P90X (and will eventually go back to it for muscle, just ya know... Anyway!). I can't believe how my muscular endurance & cardio ability has improved since I started this about 7 weeks ago. Yes P90X made me almost feel like an athlete but INSANITY definately does. Even if I'm just an athlete in my basement ;)

You can not carb cycle with this program, unless you want to have a low carb day on a rest day. You can NOT do the workouts in a fasted state (MAYBE the month 1 workouts you could, but ONLY if you've already done them for weeks & built up) you need SOMETHING in your system to fuel you through your workout or you WILL bonk during it! I eat a small banana & wait at least a half hour before I start my workout. I can not imagine getting through one of the workouts (especially the month 2 LONGER & HARDER ones) with nothing in my system, there is no way that would be possible. Let me tell you, eating first WILL NOT hinder your fat loss! This program works WONDERS, I am NOT kidding you, it is THAT amazing. If you don't believe me, then get it, dig DEEP & prove me wrong. If you go HERE to order I'll be your coach & can help you get through it. I can say I've NEVER felt better and I'm not done, I'm nowhere even close to finding out what I can FULLY do.

Anyway this morning was Max cardio conditioning & cardio abs. This was the first time in month 2 we tack on cardio abs to this workout & BOY OH BOY was it hard! I was SOOOO spent after the ~ 1 hr & 5 mins that I literally crached on the floor/mat. And I NEVER do that. I did not want to get up, but I made myself. Good GAWD IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!!! Just sayin'! After this morning's workout I was thinking HOLY FREAKIN HECK I do NOT want to do another hard cardio tomorrow. When I got up & looked at the calendar BOY was I relieved to see that tomorrow is Core Cardio & balance. Much better ha!

Week 2 the DOMS is mostly gone, I haven't used any Tiger Balm as my lower body is MOSTLY used to it now. My calves still get on FIRE during the workouts (as well as my glutes) but they don't seem to result in DOMS so I'm obviously doing something right & my muscles must be recovering better. I don't know what I'd do without the Recovery Drink! Right now the only thing that has actualy DOMS are my obliques.

I can't WAIT to start Round 2 of this with the deluxe videos & REALLY see what I'm made of. This stuff is just so amazing, I can't praise it enough!

Kickin major BUTT!

2009-09-29T02:45:00.000-07:00

Well my youngest girl came down with a cold over the weekend, but she seems to be getting a bit better each day. Unfortunately when they're sick they want more Mommy cuddle time which means Mommy better step up vitamins to support the immune system. Yesterday my throat was on fire, my lymph nodes were enlarged & my congestion was poo. BUT I upped vitamin C, added vitamin D, took a couple Airbornes, took my L-glutamine & told myself I was going to get better, my throat had burned all day long & I downed INSANE amount of water to try and help my throat feel better (hey that's better than popsicles at least). This morning I woke up with NO throat ache! I'm getting better, the huge power your thoughts can have!

I ate my preworkout banana & started sweating within 15 minutes, crazy isn't it! This month 2 workouts are doing amazing things already! So I was ready...

I felt something special today. At 2 minutes into the warm up I was already COVERED in sweat, crazy! So far I believe this workout (for month 2) is my fave... I don't know if I've ever sweated this much before without being in intense heat. I killed it, it's awesome! At about 12 mins left I heard my youngest at the gate for the kitchen crying/calling for me, so I grabbed her & brought her down so I could finish. The only drawback to having her there is she had to be on my workout area mat so for the full body drills I couldn't do travelling push-ups (she was in the way), I just did regular push-ups. I fought back the nausea countless times, it was freakin incredible! O.M.G. those plank punches kill my core! LOVE THEM!

I LOVE this workout & this workout series! It just might be my new favorite. IN fact next week I'm going to order the deluxe videos because I'm going to roll straight into a second round of Insanity as soon as I finish this one - with the extra videos. Love this stuff, it's like CRACK! :)

I survived 1 week of the MAX workouts!

2009-09-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

I'll tell ya, they are humbling! They are HARD, I've never dug deeper or pushed harder. I've NEVER felt so accomplished after a workout than I do when I get through a MAX workout! INSANITY is just amazing! I can NOT give it enough praise! My RHR was already low 40s before starting this program so not much improvement to be had there. I can easily say that in the beginning of INSANITY the 30 sec breaks did NOT feel like enough & now it takes less than that time for my heart rate to slow down & feel recovered, it's just that amazing.

This morning my obliques were sore, going into max interval plyo. I'll tell you that workout was brutal [in the BEST of ways], but I was BETTER than the first time I did it & it felt AMAZING getting through it! My shoulders are sore, abs/obliques, calves, glutes, hammies... That's pretty impressive, me thinks, especially for not doing any weights. BUT I'm already recovering faster, AMAZINGLY faster! My soreness has already subsided and it's just impressive how much more efficient your body gets from these videos. I wish I could describe it better! I seriously want EVERYONE to do this! It's THE best program EVER! My metabolism is jumping up again, I'm feeling it and I'm going to need to up my calories again but that's okay!

Half way through this week I had to switch to mind over matter to push through the soreness & keep going. I'll tell you, it feels AMAZING to have done a week of these max workouts! Especially knowing that in 3 more very short weeks I'll be an INSANITY graduate, it just flies by! 9 weeks is NO TIME!

I freakin love this stuff, WOW amazing!

Max interval circuit take 2

2009-09-25T02:41:00.001-07:00

That was SO much better! OMFG it was unbelievable! I LOVE how it felt getting through that. I never hit pause, I can't keep up 100% yet but DAYUM is it awesome.

First off compared to Monday it started much better (no 3 year old wake-up and so on). I also went through it once before so I could be a bit better. Well, I don't really know what all to say.

I TRY to not look at the timer until after the warm up & stretch, that way I can easily think to myself "okay, only forty-something minutes left, I can do this" - cuz it's an hour long workout. From there on out I give each circuit what I can and enjoy my water breaks with standing RIGHT in front of my fan :)

My obliquies were already sore going into this workout, and they got worked MORE with the crazy shiz that he came up with. LOVE IT! At about 20 mins left I got an energy surge, so I suppose it was like a 2nd wind? THen maybe 2 minutes later I realized my WHOLE lower body was tingling - calves, quads, hammies, glutes, the whole schebang. I dug DEEP and pushed through. It was amazing.

I love this craziness! Hopefully my lower body won't be too sore for Max interval plyo tomorrow >:)

INSANITY Max Recovery

2009-09-24T03:23:00.000-07:00

So I knew going into this that it wasn't going to be a stretch or easy workout, I knew Shaun T's INSANITY recovery workouts were ONLY a "break" from cardio. This was the only one I hadn't previewed but I knew it'd be a good workout, I just hoped it wouldn't kill my legs more *LOL* Well it wasn't JUST legs, it was full body. Oh the CORE killage in all the plank work! I don't know what it didn't hit, it hit everything I swear ~ abs, shoulders, arms, legs etc. I do know that I made it through, none of it I couldn't push through & next time I'll be better.

This program is sheer awesomeness I tell you! My current plan is to get to the end of the 9 weeks, perhaps do a P90X recovery week & at that time come up with some sort of P90X, X+, Insanity hybrid (at least a month's worth) and keep going me thinks.

I've almost made it through a week of the really crazy workouts, shew!

Insanity max cardio conditioning

2009-09-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

PAIN is your body's way of letting you know you're still alive.

When I started this morning's workout I had glute, hammie & oblique DOMS, a slight bit in pecs too. The "warm-up" KILLS my calves. Way before this workout was over I just wanted to stop. I don't even know what to say... I could've done without the tons of jump squats, really I could've. My butt would probably be grateful for some rest, but there's no rest for the wicked!

The first month workouts are hard. They had been the hardest cardios I've ever done. I hoped they'd prepare me for this month but it seems they very VERY barely did. Right now I'm HOPING "max recovery" doesn't have leg work cuz I don't know how I could do any. I've NEVER been this sore in my life, EVER. And it's only the third day of the first week.

If I can make it through this month, well heck I can't even imagine. One day at a time. I can, I will. Failure is not an option.

Insanity max interval plyo

2009-09-22T03:10:00.000-07:00

Luckily hubby rubbed my back last night so it wasn't hurting this morning. My glutes were sore going into it though, but not too horribly bad. I'm thinking the extra glutamine helps (even if it's just mental).

This crap is seriously crazy! How the HECK did he come up with some of these moves? Squat push-ups um k... SIDE push-ups OMG HELLO LATS! And at the end just when I thought my legs had been trashed enough we had to do diamond jumps, seriously? I looked like a dying bunny I'm sure. My legs were so shaky I could barely do them, but I did, dang it! I'm going to be awesome at these workouts with time & working harder than I ever have before, digging deep & NOT giving up.

Alls I know is my appetite is UP! I'm upping my calories already & paying attention to my body's signals. This program is awesome, lives up to its name & all the hype etc. It leans you OUT, improves your cardio ability IMMENSELY, I mean improves it so much it's hard to believe. It's seriously like making the IMpossible possible for you. Yeah...

I'm probably going to be doing extra stretching today too. I love this craziness!!!

Insanity MAX month begins!

2009-09-21T03:16:00.000-07:00

First I have to say Kelly O thank you for your comment, it just made me will myself to make it through & not miss any max workouts, no matter how much I hurt :)

This morning went swimmingly. I ate my banana, watched my 300 video to get ready & was about to kill it (seriously) then the clouds opened up & downpoured & woke up my 3 year old, at 4:30, yeah... At 5 I thought I had successfully snuck away from her so I went down & started the workout.

Warm up was great! Can't wait to get NEW cross trainers tomorrow cuz this'll kill me if I don't. Well during the first stretch I heard her walking around so I went upstairs & recruited Hubby to watch her so I could keep going. I can't even really talk about how much I wanted to die, really I dug deep. I felt muscle soreness right away, I'm skurred for the oncoming DOMS! At about 22 mins left I heard Aubrey calling me. SO I had to come up again & grab her and attempt the rest of the workout with her there with me & hubby sleeping again. It worked. It was good. I'm already sore!!!! But I'm ready for more & I'm ready to do better. Love this stuff, but I was already deemed crazy before they even came up with these videos ;)

This stuff is no joke. GET FIT OR GET OUT!!!!!!

INSANITY fit test #3

2009-09-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

Ooh I feel ready for the max workouts! I have improved SO MUCH it's nuts! I LOVE Insanity! It's max amount you can do in one minute of each. I'll admit that I feel like I could workout after this [HELLO I know when I first started I didn't feel like I could workout after!], but I think for now (for me) it's best to split fit test & a max workout into 2 days ;)

RESULTS:

Switch kicks: 56, 63, 68 (136 kicks)
Power jacks: 57, 62, 73
Power knees: 100, 104, 120
Power jumps: 33, 43, 57
Globe jumps: 10, 12, 13
Suicide jumps: 20, 22, 24
Push-up jacks: 28, 35, 40
Low plank obliques: 82, 106, 110

I don't know if I can go much faster/do much better than this. We shall see! Month 2 INSANITY max workouts here I come. Bring. it. on. mofos!

Month 1 down onto the really crazy workouts!

2009-09-19T03:58:00.000-07:00

Sooo I finished up month 1 of Insanity (including the 5th week, recovery week) and Monday I start the MAX crazy workouts. So I will be blogging more about them, if I can remember much that is. I'll be doing my fit test & bringin it to a new level I can't wait! My cardio has already grown leaps & bounds, I'm getting leaner & feeling awesome. Oh I don't think I'll be doing *any* extra workouts along with the max workouts. I'm expecting lots of pain & am ready!

I decided on being Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) for Halloween, ha! Yeah, but it's 6 weeks away. Right now I look pretty good in it (got the boots, waiting for the thigh holsters to be delivered), so I have 6 more weeks to get a bit leaner & rock it - I'm not wearing a wig or anything so I s'pose it'll be Lara with a haircut. No pic until my BF is where I want it. But I'm basically going for this look:

How bad do I want it?

2009-09-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a chance yet to go through and answer the questions from that post the other day & since I can't do any vlogs for a while (did I mention I broke my camera?) I figured I'd just do this. Presently I just finished week 3 of INSANITY and I'm starting to feel pretty awesome. I'm starting to feel worthy (of at least the easier workouts HA). Goal is by the time I'm done with the 9 weeks - to feel like I should be in some of the vids ;) Or have a camera again & DO some workout vids again like I did way back when. Anyway, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these workouts! I've NEVER loved cardio this much, EVER.

How bad do you want to be a great athlete? ath·lete (ăth'lēt') n.
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts. I've never considered myself an athlete, I don't play any competitive sports. I do compete against myself though, and with some of the craziness I do at home I must be an athlete. I train as I am one, I eat as I am one, so I must be. I want to be great, I am determined to be as great as I can be. I see others' fit test results & I want to do what they do or better if it's possible for me. The sky is the limit and I have learned to not underestimate what I can do. I am an example for my girls and an inspiration to others, I will live up to any expectations those hold of me & do my best.

1. How Bad? I want it. Bad. And I'm taking it.

2. Why? Why? Why NOT?! I'm not trying to outrun the racer next to me, I'm not trying to squat heavier than the person on my right, or even stand on stage hoping I've peaked my muscles just right, dropped my bodyfat low enough, out pose etc. the ladies next to me. I'm fighting off the overweight/obesity epidemic [aka plague] that is our "culture" because I lost all the fat, I got in the best shape of my life. I deserve to be my happiest which is when I am in peak shape, working HARD and eating CLEAN day in and day out. Nothing makes me feel better than training HARD, so why wouldn't I?!

3. What are you willing to sacrifice? I get up before 4 am 6 days a week, fuel myself ASAP, drink water & prep for my early workout, just so that I can get one in before kids wake up and I get busy. 2 more days a week I commit to extra weight lifting, just to make sure. They say it takes lots of sacrifice... To me there is no sacrifice. Why would I sacrifice HOW I feel by stopping? Nothing feels better than pumping your body full of endorphins first thing in the morning, nothing feels better than giving your ALL and getting better each time. It's not a sacrifice, it's choice. I choose to because I CAN!

4. How much? I find the best things that are easily doable for me. I know my body & how to fuel it & how it responds to certain things. I train a minimum of 6 hours a week. I drink 2 gallons of water a day & adhere to my eating plan no.matter.what. I'm at the point now where if I have things to do I'll just bring a cooler with my food & eat it just in case. I'd rather be prepared than end up eating something bad!

5. Do you really love it? Is it my passion? My passion is to be fit, healthy, be a good strong example for my daughters and hopefully inspire others. My passion is to HELP others find some of the happiness that I found by becoming physically what I never thought I could become. I found when working out I NEED something I like or I won't stick with it! With P90X, X+, Insanity etc. I've found there really is no way I could get bored. I REALLY enjoy the workouts so I look forward to doing them, I can do them in my place so I have no excuse to NOT do them. I feel great after doing them, so I go back, over & over. Because I like it, I want it, I choose it.

No one is PERFECT 100% all the time. Sometimes you don't want to do it, you just make yourself do it & feel good about getting it done. You just need to remind yourself of your why, think about other people who can't choose to do what you CAN choose to do, and just get.it.done.

How bad do you want it?

2009-09-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you LEYA for this!!

How bad do you want to be a great athlete?

So many people talk about it, but very few actually do it. I once heard a quote that I will never forget and one that I use on a weekly basis while working with athletes: “A great athlete does every day what a good athlete does occasionally.” You see, a great athlete does whatever it takes on a daily basis, while a good athlete does it when it is convenient. A great athlete trains every day, while a good athlete trains when it’s comfortable. A great athlete goes out of his or her way to eat right so that his or her body recovers faster, while a good athlete eats whenever and whatever is available. Many athletes enjoy playing their sport. That is not what I am talking about. I am not talking about just making the varsity team; I am talking about being a contributor on the varsity squad. I am not talking about just getting a scholarship; I am talking about being an All-American. I am not talking about just being a professional; I am talking about being an All-Star or a Hall-of-Famer.

I am talking about being great.

A lot of good athletes are out there, but very few are great. The difference between the good ones and the great ones is what they do on a daily basis. It is called consistency, hard work, and dedication. If you are an athlete, I want you to ask yourself five questions. These five questions will determine if you have what it takes to be great or if you are satisfied with just being good.

1. How Bad?

How Bad Do I Want It? How bad do you really want to be great? Do you just talk about it or are you doing what it takes on a daily basis to be great. Michael Jordan once said, “Some people want it to happen; some wish it would happen; others make it happen.” You have got to go and make it happen. You have got to go and take it. How bad do you want it?

2. Why?

Why Do I Want It? Do you want to be great so people notice you? Do you want to be great to be famous? Do you want to be great to make money? Do you want to be great so that you can help others? Whatever it is, you need to know why. Why do you do what you do on a daily basis to be great? What is it that motivates you?

3. What?

What Am I Willing To Do Until I Get It? What are you willing to sacrifice? A lot of athletes say that they want to play professionally and that’s great. However, do you know what it takes now for you to get there? What you need to do on a daily/weekly/monthly/annual basis to reach that ultimate goal to play professionally? To be a great athlete takes a lot of sacrifice. You may have to go to bed early when your friends are out at a movie. You may have to tell your girlfriend you can’t hang out because you need to train. Are you willing to make those kind of sacrifices?

4. How Much?

How Much Do I Really Invest Into It? How much time do you put into what you do? It takes time to be great at anything. How much time do you put into practicing? How much time do you put into studying so that you can master your sport? Be honest with yourself. Are you really ready to invest the time necessary to be great at what you do? There is no substitute for hard work. Are you willing to put the time into practice? Are you willing to work? How much are you willing to work at it?

5. Do You Really?

Do You Really Love It? Is this your passion? Your passion is what is going to drive you. It is what keeps you going when times get tough. Things will not always be easy. The road is going to get rocky and if you do not love what you are doing, you will quit! If you do not have a passion for this, you will throw in the towel. You really need to ask yourself: is this what I love to do? If not, hang it up and find something you love to do. This is what life is about! Now that you have asked yourself these questions, go and get it. Go and take what you deserve, and don’t look back until it is yours!

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I want it, I'm taking it, I'm getting it. I am an athlete even if I don't "compete" in any way. I compete with myself & I get better EVERY single time.

I'd love to help coach YOU, if you'd like me to help in any way (for free) just go to MY SITE and sign up for free.

Insanity fit test results

2009-08-31T01:57:00.000-07:00

Okay my 2nd fit test of this round results. Since I've done 3 total, I'm posting all of them. Reminder I did 2 weeks of Insanity, got sick, took a rest week then restarted. So the numbers will go Initial/Restart 1st/2nd

Switch kicks - 50/56/63 (1 = 2 kicks counted these wrong before)
Power jacks - 47/57/62
Power knees - 87/100/104 (lost my rhythm twice so could've been better)
Power jumps - 24/33/43
Globe jumps - 7/10/12 (1 = 4 directional wide-stance jump squats)
Suicide jumps - 17/20/22
Pushup jacks - 17/28/35
Low plank obliques - 60/82/106

I was REALLY surprised after just the first move with how much more I was doing in JUST the last 2 weeks. Seriously? I didn't KNOW that I'd keep progressing and I'm stoked! This is SERIOUSLY the best cardio workouts EVER!!!! Everyone who CAN do this SERIOUSLY just should GET IT! I'm looking forward to more pain.blood.sweat.& tears. Just sayin' THANK YOU SHAUN T!!!!!

THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO GET INSANITY

Joc furnace engaged =)

2009-08-27T03:24:00.000-07:00

Well I don't know what did it besides just blaming it on Insanity. When my metabolism is rockin I get warmer. Well right now preworkout I have a small banana to get going (since I need some fuel in me now to get through these cardios). I start sweating way faster when I go downstairs (which my basement is colder than the rest of the house). Now when I was comfy about 69-70F inside (according to thermostat) I am comfy a few degrees cooler (66-67). Hubby uses me as his furnace when sleeping & when I get up to workout he gets cold & wakes up LOL.

In-laws are visiting (almost done) and I've been on track. It's really REALLY hard to stay on track with them. See, FIL is 100% Polish & deaf (has hearing aids, hardly wears them & doesn't keep the batteries fresh), grew up as a farmer etc. MIL is 100% Italian, had knee replacements & is quite slow moving. Well they bring sweets & all sorts of things we don't eat & it's HARD staying away and turning things down. I hate how upset FIL looks, but Hubby just says "diet" he makes his face and nods. UGH! Seriously they KNOW what I've done & I don't get it. I mean MIL totally understands but FIL just won't get with the program, ugh! Ugh! That on top of all the extra cooking, extra tons of dishes etc. It's been a rough, tiring week. I REALLY like them, but it's just hard, especially for a full week. I wouldn't be surprised if I dropped a few lbs, just sayin'!

Hearing what people are saying about the Month 2 Insanity workouts scare me a wee bit. I have just over 3 more weeks though. From what I hear Month 1 workouts are nothing compared to them, so yeah...

I'm fighting sinus junk, my ears are having difficulties draining as they always do when my sinuses are in full swing. My left ear hurts & the lymph node right in front of it is swollen. I'm really really hoping it'll clear up without turning worse.

I'm up for blog/vlog ideas, send em my way! Might wait until after Monday's fit test to do another video, possibly, will see.

Week 1 complete

2009-08-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

I love this stuff :) Oh I'm also battling some sort of congestion & have an earache (am hoping Airborne & sudafed will be good, but I don't feel sick just congested). Anyway, In-laws are here for the week, but am going to stay on track.

Vlog link

Insanity fit test results

2009-08-16T02:22:00.000-07:00

Okay this is a restart but I figured I'd put up my sad sad original #s too just because it's ridiculous the difference already! Can I really go even faster? I guess so, will strive to do better in 2 weeks!

Switch kicks: 100, 112
Power jacks: 47, 57
Power knees: 87, 100
Power jumps: 24, 33
Globe jumps: 7, 10 (for those who don't know each 1 is 4 jump squats)
Suicide jumps: 14, 20
Push-up jacks: 17, 28
Low plank obliques: 60, 82

Seeing these really made me wonder if I was just really holding back 3 weeks ago, uh... Yeah... Anyway moving on!

With the restart I'm adding on 2 P90X upper body workouts a week, so later today I'll do chest & back and another day I'll do shoulders & arms. And from the beginning Pure cardio days I'll add on cardio abs as well since I'm already accustomed to the workouts. I will not blog about individual workouts anymore until I hit month 2, so will do weekly updates, probably in video format (on my blogspot).

Hola!

2009-08-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

I'll be back to Insanity tomorrow morning & will post fit test results :)

Figured I'd try to do a vlog weekly, will see how that goes ;)

Not 100%

2009-08-10T03:20:00.000-07:00

I realized Sat afternoon I was coming down with something, Sunday I felt like poo. Then I started thinking about how I felt over the past several days and realized I first had symptoms last Wednesday when the painters started work. Obviously, I did not have much down time to think about how I felt and I kept going, whooops! So there was my mistake, taking care of everyone & everything and not thinking too much about me!

So I'm taking this week as an Insanity recovery week, which is doing "core cardio & balance" for 6 days, then will restart Insanity next Monday. It's a good sweat & a good burn of a workout, but definitely a good recovery workout. Here's to hitting Insanity HARD & with a vengeance next week!

The next few days the painters will be here, so I'm going to be scarce. I can't wait to have nice walls! WOOHOO! Have a good one all!

Day 13 Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs!

2009-08-08T04:08:00.000-07:00

This combo is so awesome! Okay so I love these workouts, all of them in many ways ;) Pure cardio I am getting better at and I am LOVING what my body can do! No I am not the best, but I am doing MY best and getting better (I am not a very fast great at cardio things person, I am not competitive with anyone but myself and finding MY best). I will be a rockstar by the time the 60 days are up, that is the only option!

Cardio abs after this workout, wow! I barely cooled down then just went straight into it, it is outstanding. I really really felt the burn. You do not need to worry about any extra ab work with this program. My goal will be to be able to do it with no breaks :)

Looking forward to my 2nd fit test, I think I'm more prepared now that I know how to fuel myself better for these workouts. I know my form is better and I will do better.

Insanity week 2 cardio power & resistance again

2009-08-07T02:44:00.000-07:00

I might not keep blogging daily about these workouts seeing how a couple are done twice a week, but I had to write this today. I just LOVE how I keep getting better every time I repeat these workouts! This is the third time I've done this and I just love it more every time! Yes I was nauseous, yes I sweated buckets with the fan on me and whatever, but still it's the biggest sense of accomplishment to push so hard, do better, etc. I mean yeah I struggle but that's just because I'm pushing as hard as I can. It's amazing...

I just went back and reread the blog I wrote after the first time I did CPR, and it cracked me up. I am loads stronger, it's amazing! My quads, shoulders, arms, etc. are all so much stronger. I kept up for the most part until the very last move of 8 hop squats 8 push-ups repeat. And I swear I feel my lats engage when I'm doing the V-push-ups somehow, I must be crazy...

Things I do is every time there's a break and everyone is laying on the floor I make myself stand up. Somehow I'm convinced that that'll help somehow, whether it's in my head or not ha.

If you're reading this and are scared about these workouts thinking you can't do them, you're probably wrong. Unless you have major injuries or something, that is. If you really want to see what you can do, enhance your performance etc. you really really should just try Insanity. I can't remember a more rewarding feeling after workouts, seriously, and no I'm not just sayin that.

Tomorrow's workout ~ Pure cardio & Cardio Abs - first time I'm doing cardio Abs, here's to hoping my abs won't still be sore come Monday morning's fit test!

Insanity week 2 cardio recovery

2009-08-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to do this workout this week. Not that it isn't GOOD and needed, just that I didn't want a break in the INTENSE awesome interval cardio. But I know I KNOW I shouldn't do extra, but at this point it's starting to feel hard NOT to do the cardios. Sunday will be hard when I'm not supposed to do any workout at all... This insanity stuff is addictive smack, in the best of ways of course :)

I did cardio recovery, sweated good stuffs, killed the legs, did better than last week but I still can't keep up yet. I WILL be able to before I have to move on to the real workouts in the 2nd month, dang it.

Oh and better news yet is Hubby's work shift schedule has changed and now all his shifts are 12 hours. So right now is our adjustment period *sigh* At least I have INSANITY to keep me sane... as silly as that sounds :)

Insanity week 2 plyo cardio ckt

2009-08-05T04:01:00.001-07:00

Here's the difference, LAST week I was having to psyche myself up big time to go down and do these workouts. This week I LOOK FORWARD to them, majorly. I am better each time I do a workout (either in reps or less rest, etc.), my energy level is through the roof, I have endorphin highs that last very very long times. EVERYONE who CAN do these workouts should SERIOUSLY just get them! I've NEVER done intervals that felt THIS AWESOME.

Reason why I didn't post my first fit test results was because they were ridiculously & absolutely unacceptable. I am expecting HUGE HUGE improvements next Monday because I'm feeling freaking amazing (and yeah I'll finally admit my horrid initial numbers).

I did end up getting in some P90X back and bi's yesterday at noon, and I don't see why not. In the deluxe edition of this series it comes with an upper body weight workout which he says you can add in whenever you can once a week, just don't overdo it etc. So I'm going to do some sort of P90X upper body work once a week, when I can get it in, and I will be making sure it will not affect my Insanity performance.

Painters are supposedly coming over today, I'm not going to hold my breath. But it's ONLY for today, the rest will need to be rescheduled. So if you need me I'll be around in the evening.

What are you waiting for?

2009-08-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

Today is the day where you can choose to begin a new life, go a new direction. Are you unhappy with your physical state of fitness or health? Why not use today to start turning that around. What are you waiting for? Do you think you're too old? Not knowleable enough? Do you think what you're eating is good food? Do you want support or help?

Do yourself a favor right now. Drop the excuses... You know... I'm too tired, too sore, too old, I don't have the time, I have too much to do, the kids are riding my last nerve, etc. Too embarassed to go to a gym, why not do something at home? There is so much you can do with nothing! Don't know how to eat right? That's what we are here to help you with.

Do you want to stay where you are right now? I've been there, having tons to lose (or even that last amount, and wanting to be healthy), no hope, no end in sight. But you have this thing, this blessing called today, and today you can choose to move your body (like it was made to) you can choose to fuel it properly (the way we were deigned to). You have the power. If you need help you know where to find it.

We all have our own journeys. Start creating YOUR success story today.

INSANITY pure cardio 2nd time

2009-08-04T03:40:00.000-07:00

Yep, am definately way better the 2nd time. This is a great workout :) I love how these vids are shorter, but SOOOO intense! I also really like the weekly rotation proression, it seems it gets harder ewach week, so I'm looking forward to this lots. I LOVE INSANITY! :) I'm looking forward to the 2nd fit test already. I totally completely sucked at the first one.

I have to admit, I'm missing my beloved P90X

I'm going to do P90X back and bi's around noon because I'm itching... And I'm better at the Insanity workouts & am less sore, so I can. OOH! I won an autographed poster a few weeks back, finally got a frame for it, I loves it :)

Painters not here today, they suck, but whatever. They'll be around tomorrow.

INSANITY start week 2, CPR again

2009-08-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

First off, I have my meals planned, cooked etc. because the next few days I'll be uber-busy trying to keep us OUT of the house as much as possible (kids skipping NAPS ugh) because painters are coming but I will stay 110% on track.

Today was Cardio Power & Resistance again, I definately like this workout more the 2nd time through. I am MUCH much better and can almost keep up with em! I'm rockin it ;) I moved my full length mirror down there and watched when I could. I definately felt my form much better and I did more than last time. Good stuff! I like the progression week by week, each week seems more difficult.

If you do these workouts as prescribed you should be exhausted EVERY SINGLE TIME, but the point is to get better each week which I will be doing. I already am enjoying the daily torment of Shaun T scooping it up off the floor and saying "here ya go, here's your arse" ha!

But I do want to work in (sometime this week) at least half of the P90X back & bis video, will see if'when I can squeeze that in if the painters are probably going to be here Mon-Weds (not knowing how long on Weds), so the plan is to get that in once sometime at "naptime".

A new day, new week has started. Tear it up!

INSANITY plyo cardio ckt take 2 (day 6)

2009-08-01T02:43:00.000-07:00

YAY I DID THE FIRST WEEKS' WORKOUTS AND SURVIVED TO TELL THE TALE!

I don't know what it is about this one, but I totally love it, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite because it seriously makes me feel like I'm about to lose the water in my stomach (which makes it near impossible to take sips during the mini-breaks). Krissa you have to do this one, right now! Seriously though...

Differences from the first time: uh, I wasn't so sore doing it (I think my body is recovering faster and getting used to the moves sorta), my arms were still really quivering and wanting to give out near the end. When you're down doing the weird plank jumping stuff I really really feel the need to stare at the crappy dark green trash can hoping it's close enough... just sayin!!! But no, it has not been used in that way...

Oh and yes, no shirt, fan on me & faster than yesterday & I was still really really sweating. This is awesome stuff man, to push so hard. I can't tell you the last time I did workouts that made me feel like this.

This is not for the beginner, this is not for someone who can't do high-impact stuff, this is not for someone who isn't ready to push as hard as they can. But if you want to see what you're made of and to find out what you could do if you tried, then you better just go and get it.

INSANITY Pure cardio - day 5

2009-07-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

Alright this was hard to get my game face on this morning, I knew this was going to be killer.

The warm up is the same always, essentially, at the end of that I decided WTF was I thinking wearing a shirt for any of these workouts in the first place? Took it off and set a box fan up & turned on in front of me, sheer genius I tell you! Then the stretch, feels sooo good. Then Shaun T says "anyone else as nervous as I am for this workout" UH WHAT?!?!?!

This is nuts, oh there's a grey bar in the other vids, yeah there is... In this one you get the grey bar after the warm up, then you don't get sight of it again until the count down is like 7-8 mins left. I saw that grey bar coming and felt LIFT OFF, yeah! We hit the grey bar, EVERYONE was on the floor including Shaun and he says "this sh&^&@ is ba.nanas... yo" yep, it is.

I liked when he started one move saying hey do this, uh what is this called? Shaun T is so tired he forgot the names of his own moves...

I love this series, love that it's set in a school gym, the cast is awesome, the music is just right. I'm almost done with the first week, one more workout then a day off, yes!!! Day off though might just be a P90X lifting video though... or I might wait a lil longer before adding lifting, will see how I feel.

BTW there's NO WAY anyone has to worry about lower body doing these vids, esp when every single day you're doing jump squats... yeah...

INSANITY "cardio recovery"

2009-07-31T02:53:00.000-07:00

THis was yesterday, I will blog about today's in a few hours.

Okay here goes, is it CRAZY that starting day 4 I already feel a BIG difference? I'm sure my whole core/waist area is smaller and my legs & booty are better, but haven't checked any stats yet to be sure. I woke up at 2 am, laid down for another half hour but my stomach growling made me get up and eat a protein bar. I couldn't wait. This MUST have already sped up my metabolism in JUST a few short days, nuts! I'm NOT complaining cuz I <3 it!

Going into this workout I knew not to get my hopes up thinking it was just some sort of stretch vid because I previewed it > a week ago. I was a little relieved too, when I got up because my whole lower body wasn't crazy sore, thank goodness!

It's just over a half hour, lots of good stretching but OMG it was a LEG KILLER! Slow squats (all just body weight), HELD squats then when you think your legs are going to explode SHaun says "okay how we're going to pulse it 16 times" OWIE! Then repeat with lunges, more squats, more lunges... Then he does some craziness in the old style regular butt kicks (donkey kicks or whatever), I'm not going into specifics, but let's just say the leg that is supporting you is positioned in such a way that you'll want to scream because it is KILLING its quads and calf! Then there's some plank work which is also killer. I sweated good, but not buckets like on the cardio workouts.

I am now addicted to INSANITY, it's my smack, I can admit it :) I can see EASILY how this will get anyone seriously CRAZY results in 60 days, especially if I can tell a difference so fast. GET FIT OR GET OUT! If anyone is reading this and wants info on getting it, shoot me a message

INSANITY cardio power & recovery

2009-07-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

SORRY! I could NOT log into google at all the past 2 days! This was Wednesday's workout.

First off here’s what they say about muscle atrophy doing INSANITY – “You might lose some muscle mass but you'll make fitness gains that will increase your capacity for improvement, so when you head back to P90X or whatever else you're doing, you should quickly catch up with, then surpass, any previous limits.

It's the basic theory of cross-training only it's, like, max-cross training.”

Starting today my hammies, glutes, erectors & delts were all sore, already. So it took massive amounts of convincing myself to go down and do the workout, these are something ELSE! I woke up at 2, stayed in bed until about 3:30 trying to sleep but got up & had half a recovery drink. Started about 4:30? These workouts have about a 10 minute warm up then 6 minute stretch; the warm up is NO JOKE and a “warm up” like no other! It hurt, doing the various types of evil jump squats he comes up with I was already screaming “are you freaking kidding me? We have to do THIS again after plyo? ARGH!” Then I decided Shaun T might just be the devil…. [and I mean that in the best of ways of course]

After the stretch I thought OMFG now I have to workout and I had already noticed (during the stretch) that the backs of my hands were sweating, then realized my shirt was so soaked that any movement felt AWESOME like an air conditioner blowing straight on me, ah thank you sweeeeet movement! But alas, the happiness is short lived as the craziness picked right back up. We had to do those crazy power jumps again (like wide stance squat jumps & you slap your knees when they’re up) efffff! Then V-push-ups (pretty much OW delts) (sorry the 30 sec mini breaks barely left me enough time to write stuff down ha). Tricep dips for a minute, okay not so bad, and then he says “raise your back leg” owww! Then you switch legs ow. Then these crazy tricep “ball” pushups, interesting, where does he come up with this stuff?!?!! After that bout of craziness then there’s moving push-ups freaking CRAP!

I think 20 minutes into the workout I felt seriously nauseous, like I was seriously eyeing my puke bucket and praying that I wouldn’t need it. It’s one of those feelings you love & hate, love that you’re pushing THAT hard but really hate to really have to throw up… just sayin’! No, I did not need to utilize the puke bucket, thank gawd!

Breaks glorious breaks! Grey bar how much I LOOOOVE YOU! The grey bars signal the glorious breaks, oh yes. CRAP there’s no more grey bar, WHERE ARE YOU GREY BAR?!????? I MISS YOU!

Then there are the torturous globe jumps again, ow freakin ow! I know I skipped a lot of moves on this blog I just jotted down ones that stuck out in my mind during the tiny 30 sec breaks, when I wasn’t trying to sip water. Then you get a break and there’s 5 mins left you think you might be done but ALAS one more move… hop squats (8) jump down do 8 push-ups repeat, wow. Oh yeah and somehow my lats are ever so slightly sore…

I think that is all I have. If I can move tomorrow for “cardio recovery” I will be happy.

This program is off the HOOK and I know I’m barely scratching the surface. Seriously, this is awesomeness!

***I will be back later putting up the blog about yesterday's workout and then today's***

INSANITY Plyometric Cardio Circuit

2009-07-28T03:44:00.000-07:00

Okay so I know a lot of people have already done this as it was a preview workout that came to subscribers of Tony Horton's 1 on 1 series (which I have to mention is perfect for P90X grads and there's a deal running right now for new subscibers that lasts only until this Friday to get July's Intervals for 1 penny and there's also a pay it forward DVD for beginners that you can pass onto someone else *ahem*, just sayin' it's a good deal).

I wasn't a subscriber, so I didn't get this video and I knew I'd get my arse handed to me, and I did, thoroughly. It's like you think you'd be okay because you're good at P90X plyo, well think again. THis is like that, on crack. One part sticks out in my mind (because I can't remember much beyond just pushing through and making myself keep going, seriously it's rough but in the best ways) I remember Shaun T sayin something like "come on, just one more round of this craziness" and I remember seeing Tania mouthing F&@K, yeah I'm not joking. My whole body is feeling this already, are you serious? I CAN get through this week... & I will be better!

BTW I have to mention this deal, see Tony Horton's 1 on 1's typically run $19.95 ish (+ s&h) for free site members ($14.95 for coaches). Right now the first year's volume is 50% off! You do that math $19.95 x 12... You can get it all for half off right here, you bet your arse I'm getting it. It also comes with a great holder for all of them. Doesn't matter if you can't get it, I'm just putting the info out here in case someone is interested.

I'm waiting on finding my camera to add on a pic of my face I took post workout pre-shower, so check back a few hours later haha, if you want.

INSANITY starts - Fit Test thoughts

2009-07-27T02:33:00.000-07:00

Krissa - just wanted to say to you that I previewed all the first month workouts and really the only mucles I wonder about getting worked enough are back and bi's, I don't see needing to lift MORE than that BUT I will see.

Alright so I started the rotation, I'm not sure if it's my "official" 60 days start day but today was my first Fit Test so here are my thoughts.

Warm up - okay nice, sweat starting, let's DO DIS!

switch kicks - I have to jump doing front kicks back and forth raising my legs HOW high? #$@*(& this looked easier a week ago when I just watched it, how in the #$@&^ HELL does Tania do so many? That girl is nuts!

power jacks - okay I can do these good, thank you Tony Horton, now I know I won't die doing these

power knees - I am a beast and I will kill you with my knee repeatedly, okay maybe not, but I can do these good (of course by the end of it you have burning lower body muscles and have to work through the burn but it's okay)

power jumps - okay seriously, wtf, when I previewed this move I didn't realize it was going to make me wanna die...

globe jumps - these are like squat jumps just in 4 directions (right, back, left, front over & over) - my arse, my arse, my arse is on fire, we don't need no water let the mother #$*(&#(*$@ burn...

suicides (aka burpees without the push-up) - okay I can do this, this has to be easy without the push-up... yeah #@^$% right! Crazy m'er f'ers! I crawled to write my results down... okay okay only ONE more move I can do this, I'm almost done! GRRRR baby!

push-up jacks - reg push-ups but when you go down you jump your feet apart come up and jump them together, doesn't look so hard I can do it... holy crap WTFH? Seriously this stuff is crazy! OH good God in Heaven I'm so glad I survived!

Ahhhh 4 mins of stretch & cool down and I feel fabulous.

If I can survive this first week I'm going to love this program. Tomorrow the puke bucket is coming down to the basement with me, you know, just to make sure.

INSANITY!

2009-07-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

The name of this workout series just fits me perfectly. Especially since I've been on Team Asylum for *cough* 2 years now *cough* wow has it been that long? Sheesh!

I bought this series and decided I'd take a P90X rest/recovery week and then dive in. It's 90% cardio program, so if I feel the need I'll add in some P90X lifting (since I get skinny arm syndrome if I'm not lifting enough). I'm starting this on Monday! Maybe not officially starting the 60 days, but am trying out the workouts in their intended rotation.

I'm nervous, I'll fully admit! I had a 10-15 min preview of this workout when I out in LA in March and I felt like I was going to puke in that short time. I do need to push my cardio harder, I haven't been doing that lately, and this will help. I *think* I'm ready. I've previewed most of the first months' workouts and they are INSPIRING, I am looking forward to it.

Defeating the Four Demons

2009-07-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

I figured I'd restart a blog and see if I can't keep up with it. The first post is something my friend Greg posted a long time ago that I love.

The first Demon that one typically meets along their path is the DEMON OF TIRED. The DEMON of tired is most apt to strike when other events during your day have caused you stress or you are preoccupied with something else. Sitting on your shoulder he quietly whispers to you that you've had a long day and it's OK not to train balls out or better yet not to train at all. I am amazed at the number of people that succumb to this DEMON and justify their actions by stating "I don't want to overtrain". Understanding that the body is capable of dealing with massive amounts of physical stress helps you differentiate from being actually burned out a bit and overtrained and under-rested as opposed to looking for an excuse to be lazy.

The Second DEMON that you are destined to meet is the DEMON OF PAIN. This DEMON manifests itself right towards the end of a set. Of course he always appears during your perceived moment of failure rather than your actual moment of failure. We've all seen this demon at work in the gym. You watch somebody doing a set of bench presses and they just "STOP" for no apparent reason other than the fact that the set started to become uncomfortable. "Fatigue makes cowards of us all", this has been proven by Pavlov and a whole slew of scientists. However, where the DEMON OF PAIN is concerned, with a lot of people "The thought of fatigue makes cowards of many" Actually taking a set to true failure is a foreign idea to most because it is HIGHLY PAINFUL and UNCOMFORTABLE. They have already surrendered to the DEMON OF TIRED before hand. "Bending over" if you will, before even trying to fight back. Most people who do this also seem to confuse the idea of being injured with the idea of being in pain. They are not one and the same. If one is injured, they often experience pain, however if one is experiencing pain this does not necessarily mean they are injured. The DEMON OF PAIN blurs the line between injury and pain so that you can rid yourself of any guilt for training like a b***h.

The third DEMON is the DEMON OF CONCENTRATION. There is a famous story of a martial arts instructor and one of his students that I would like to share because it applies equally to bodybuilding. A martial arts instructor welcomes a new student into his dojo. This student was very excited and very eager to learn, so after the first class he approached the instructor and said "Sensei, how long will it take for me to be your top student?" To this the Master replied "10 years!". Disappointed, the student then asked: "What if I train every day and never miss a class?" To this the Master replied "15 years!". Further let down, the student quickly responded: "Well what if I train twice day for 8 hours a day and never miss a class?" To this the Master replied: "20 years". Finally the student asked: "Sensei, I do not understand. Why is it that every time I tell you I will train longer and harder, the longer it will take me to be the best student?" To this the master quietly responded: "With only one eye on the path and one eye on your goal of being my best student, you will never find your way." In simple terms, this means that you cannot partially concentrate on what you are doing in any given moment and expect to get to your maximum potential.

The final DEMON is the most powerful and most difficult. It is the DEMON OF CONTINUE. Day in and day out you will be faced with the afore mentioned 3 demons only to realize that you have to get up and face them all over again. This realization is the DEMON OF CONTINUE. Here is where the "I'll train tomorrow's" and the "I'll eat good tomorrow's" start playing in your mind. Anyone can stay structured and focused for one month, even three months or six months. But can you stay focused and on your path and face the DEMONS everyday for the REST OF YOUR LIFE? That is the question. This is where you can gain ground on those that are seemingly so far ahead of you now. They won't be able to beat the DEMON OF CONTINUE. But trust me if you do, you will surpass them very quickly.

An excerpt from "Beyond Failure Training" by Trevor Smith