Working On Goals For 2013

It's that time of year where you begin to reflect on the past 12 months and start deciding what direction you would like the next 12 to go in.

For me, the focus has been on a few areas, but I've put a lot of thought into doing more "fun races".

I did my first "fun run" this past September and I loved it. The Color Run was so much fun and I had never participated in anything like it before...especially due to my phobia of group fitness activity.

As I perused my 5k options on Active.com and RunningInTheUSA.com, I discovered many different types of "fun runs" and quickly started making a list of ones I'd like to do in 2013!

So far, my goal is to do the Glow Run, Foam Fest and The Color Run.

I, being the Pinaholic I am, have already started collecting ideas for my run attire, for the Glow Run...

 

I LOVE this idea for the Glow Run!

I also like that I now have goals to train for. I tend to need something to focus on in order to keep on track. I know that I will need to make a solid run schedule as well as a lifting schedule for myself. Somewhere in that mix, I'd like to at least do month 1 of Insanity again, because I know how well it builds up my cardio endurance.

2013 has the potential to be amazing. A year for me to finally break out of my shell and start being a social fit person. I survived a group workout with Tony Horton in 2011 and Bikram Yoga classes in 2012. I even attended a BlogHer party by myself during the summer. Maybe there is hope for me yet!

Do you have any fitness goals for 2013? How about any "fun races" that you may have done in the past?

P90X: Day 1, Round 3.5

Yep...after a bunch of debating and procrastinating, I decided to give P90X another go.

I've been skeptical about what I should do for a workout routine since I am technically not cleared by my surgeon to do ab work yet. At first, I was going to hold off until my next appointment in a few weeks and then start Insanity if he gave me the all clear, but then I was talking with Mike and he mentioned that he wanted to start P90X again since he fell off the wagon after getting sick during Phase 2.

After lots of thought, I decided to start P90X again. I've already been lifting using ChaLean Extreme and I've been doing lower body and some running here and there, so I figured why not?! I will just skip Ab Ripper X and listen to my body during the workouts.

Tonight was Day 1, which meant Chest and Back and I was very nervous going in. For those of you not familiar with the program, Chest and Back requires a lot of push-ups, and push-ups require core strength. I definitely paced myself for Round 1 and I made sure to really "Bring It" during the pull-up segments (I did pull downs and hubs used the pull-up bar). I felt some pulling and tightness in my core as I began to max out during push-ups, so I made sure to spend a little time in child's pose at the end of each move.

Overall, I felt really great doing the workout. Push-ups are still a weakness of mine (unless they are of the wide variety) and my numbers were much lower than my last round, but I'm working things the best I can, and that means I'm doing laps around everyone one who is just sitting on the couch.

Tomorrow is PlyoX but I think I will be subbing with CardioX so I can see how my body feels about my starting P90X again.

Today's Workout: Stretch, Cardio & Booty!

Today I woke up and my lower body was still very sore from the lower body workout I posted the other day. I decided a dose of X-Stretch from P90X would do my body good, so that is how I started today's workout. I had to skip the sun salutations, camel and back hero since I still can't stretch my core too much, but I still felt great after completing the workout.

My plan was to hit the pavement this morning since I needed to go to the post office and it conveniently falls along my walking/running path. Unfortunately, mother nature had different plans and it started to thunderstorm as I was getting ready to go. Thankfully I have a stationary bike so I hopped on there instead and got a solid 30-min cardio workout in before giving this workout I found on Pinterest a try:

I did three rounds of this, Insanity style, and felt a solid burn kick in halfway through the second round.

As you can tell, I've been putting focus on lower body workouts, and that's because I've decided to join my husband and some of his buddies in August, as they attempt the Rock Solid Mud Run. I'm a little nervous about this since I recently had the surgery, but my plan is to pace myself, do what I can and just have fun.

If you try any of the workouts I'm posting, please let me know what you think or if you add anything! Also, if you have any that you love, please pass them my way. I'd love to try it out and feature it here along with your fitness story.

Fitness Mindset

Three years ago, I had a similar conversation with myself, and I haven't looked back. Anyone can do what I have done. You just have to change the way you think!

We All Have Secrets

...and I'm about to share one of mine:

"I have loose skin around my abdomen."

There! I said it. (As embarrassing as it is to do so.)

Despite 2.5 rounds of P90X, 2 rounds of Insanity, ChaLean Extreme, running, other workouts and eating healthy, I am left with a reminder of what my body once was, in the form of sagging skin. I can't say that I am surprised by this at all. I neglected my body for years, packed on the pounds and I also gave birth to two beautiful children. I knew my body would never be "perfect" but I did have hopes that my skin would bounce back more than it did.

A year ago when I reached that 100lb+ weight-loss milestone, I began to research tummy tucks and started to really contemplate having one done. Of course the thought of going under the knife scares the shit out of me and I don't exactly have thousands of dollars sitting around collecting dust, so I tossed the thought into the "maybe someday" file in my brain. However, I knew if it was something I was ever going to do, I would have to prove to myself that this truly did become a lifestyle and that my old habits wouldn't creep back up on me.

As you have read here, over the past year I have had struggles with nutrition as well as my workouts, but thankfully never at the same time. Despite these struggles, I have never gained more than 8lbs and I have always dropped it as soon as I felt I gained it. (Yes, I can totally feel when my weight shifts now...it's weird, but I can call the number on the scale before I even step on it). My measurements have even stayed consistent over the past year which really made me happy and brought the thought of a tummy tuck back to the front of my mind again.

A few weeks ago I had a discussion with my husband about how upset this extra skin made me. How frustrating it was to look in the mirror and not be able to see past it despite all of the hard work I have done over these 3 years. I broke down into tears, which is something I hate to do, but this is something that I'm really embarrassed about. (You have no idea how hard it is to even type this blog right now). For the first time, he saw the pain I felt and we discussed going for consultations to see how much it would be to have the tummy tuck done and to find out if I was even a candidate for it.

Yesterday, I went for a consultation with a plastic surgeon who came highly recommended by the doctor I used to work for. I studied photos of his work and looked at patient reviews  on-line for the 2 weeks leading up to this appointment. The anxiety I had going into that office was unreal but I womaned-up, put on the pink paper gown they left for me and stood before the surgeon to have all of my imperfections examined. After the exam, we sat in a conference room and discussed the procedure in detail. He answered all of my questions, gave me all of the information I would need to make a decision and he then walked me down to the hall to another office where the financial portion of the consultation would be handled. I sat there nervously as I prepared myself for number anxiety. This portion of the consultation should really come with a shot of Patron or Jack Daniels...a person needs something to take the edge off when a tiny piece of paper with a large number is about to be presented to them. The woman entered the room with said piece of paper and there was an extra digit before the coma that I wasn't quite prepared for. At this point some smelling salts would have also been nice to revive me and bring me back to present time so I could have heard her going over "payment policies".  I managed to smile even though I was discouraged by the price and I left the office when she was done, with some information on financing in case I needed that as an option...uh yeah! Last time I checked the money tree in my backyard hadn't sprouted yet.

I called my husband after the appointment and almost immediately lost it. I felt all of my hope for ridding myself of the "old me" slipping away after seeing the price tag on the procedure and he quickly calmed me down. He talked me off the ledge and said all of the things I needed to hear. Another phone call to my mother and I was feeling better again. There were a few more wishy washy moments that evening but after the three of us sat down over dinner, went through all of my options and scenarios, it was decided that I earned this procedure.

Yes, you heard me correctly. I decided to go ahead with the tummy tuck and this morning, I called the office and made the appointment to say farewell to the last remaining reminder of the "old me". In three short weeks, it will be nothing more than a very painful incision on my abdomen....Dammit! I wasn't supposed to think about that now.

I know this is not going to be an easy road, but they say anything in life worth having, isn't easy. Heck, the past 3 years of my life weren't easy either, but with hard work and dedication, I proved that I wanted it bad enough to get it.

So there you have it...the big secret I've been hiding is out on the web for everyone to read...and I feel a slight sense of relief now that I've shared it.



Have you had a tummy tuck? If so, please share your recovery tips with me.

Looking At The Big Picture

I know I have spent a lot of time on here calling myself a slacker...and honestly, sometimes I truly feel like one. However, when I look back at how far I have come and how despite not really working out for the past few months I have maintained my weight, I'm actually very successful.

When I started doing P90X and Insanity, I knew it wasn't a level of working out that I wanted to maintain forever. I don't think my body would like me very much if I did that everyday with no true breaks. I knew I wanted to reach a point where I could workout 2-3 days a week and just eat healthy to maintain a normal, healthy weight for my height and age. I knew I'd eventually hit the point of needing balance...between workouts, nutrition, life and work...cause let's face it, there are just not enough hours in the day for all of these things on a regular basis.

I am proud, that as the 3 year mark approaches, I am still on my journey. I have reached my goal, lost over 100lbs, maintained my progress and I'm planning new and exciting ways to improve myself. I am proud that I have been able to inspire others to improve themselves and change the bad habits that they hated for so long. I'm proud of my hard work and determination to see this through and finally achieve something that I thought was just a dream.

Every now and then we should all stop to reflect on the great things that we have achieved. It's so easy to dwell on the negative or get hung up on the slip ups we made along the way. I know first hand how hard it is to stay positive sometimes, but keep your focus not on how many times you trip and fall, but on how many times you get back up, dust yourself off, and keeping moving on.

Think Less & Live More

This is my new outlook on fitness.

I have been stuck in this awful rut of over thinking what I have and have not been doing. I've been dwelling on the negative instead of the positive, and that my friends is no bueno.

For so long I've been fixated on reaching my goals and doing what I had to do to reach them. Well, you know what? I reached them and I guess I hit that point of not really knowing what to do next.

I had nothing to focus on anymore and found myself wandering around, trying to find happiness in what was familiar but not really what I needed anymore. Now, don't me wrong. I'm not saying I don't need to work out daily, or that I wouldn't benefit from it. What I am saying, is that the need and want wasn't really there anymore. Part of me wanted to see if I could maintain the goals I achieved without the "beast mode" level of fitness I had become accustomed to....and you now what? I did...and it's a great feeling.

From here on out I want to take things day by day. I want to enjoy whats around me and just go with the flow of the mood I'm in. I don't want to plan every workout in advance. I want to just do what I feel like doing that day.

Some people may think that's crazy and to them I say, to each their own. I will have my guidelines for the 3 days a week I plan on working out and I will just pick from the workout DVD collections I have to fill the needs of that day. Some days it might be P90X or Insanity, others running or yoga.

At this point of my journey I believe my nutrition is the most important part, and it's the area I have gained the most progress in. To me, it was the hardest to get under control and while I will indulge in kettle chips, Five Guys and ice cream from time to time, I am no where near, nor could I ever return to the fast food fiend I once was.

So...from here on out, I vow to (over) think less & live more, because if I can't enjoy the goals I have obtained, what's the point?

Red Light, Green Light, 1-2-3

The title of this blog is what my workouts have been like lately.

(Internal dialog)

Red Light: STOP: "Take a break. You're going to kill yourself if you keep pushing this hard."

Green Light: GO: "Push bitch! No one can do this but you. If you want results so gotta work for them!"

1-2-3:  Mon-Tues-Wed: Workout, Workout, Workout! Thurs-Fri-Sat: Slack, Slack, Slack! Sun: Guilt.

(Repeat loop of events)

This has been the past two weeks of my life. I decided to start round 3 of Insanity with a group of amazing people and I just can't get myself to stay in the zone. My body is tired from round two and as my work load increases, my excuses seem to as well.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are always great. They are my days off from work and my short shift days so I am not exhausted and I feel good. Thursdays and Fridays kick my butt, so I'm tired and start mentally shifting my rest day around and justify the dreaded double in my head. Saturday rolls around and the thought of the double makes me want to puke so I opt for some college football first and then I lose all motivation. Sundays....um....I blame the RedZone channel for Sundays.

The workout game is NOT new to me and I know that these excuses are a bunch of bullshit. I also know that I can't keep pushing myself as hard as I have, so my new task at hand is to strike balance. I don't like the way I feel when I don't workout. I have a fear of going back to being out of shape and lazy, which is why I think I push myself the way I do. I need to come up with a routine that fits my schedule and my needs. One that I will look forward to and want to do.

THIS is the reality of a lifestyle. There are ups, there are downs and there are hurdles to jump. The important part is to never give up, to keep pushing forward and to find the balance that keeps you growing as a person and pushing you to your ultimate goal.

I wouldn't trade it for the world.


P.S. - If my thoughts seem to be all over the place or if I didn't make much sense to you, I once again blame the RedZone channel. Blogging during the 1pm games is not a good idea.

INSANITY: Max Interval Circuit

Month 2 started yesterday and as I expected, I struggled through my workout.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, month two of Insanity is all mental.

For those of you who have done the program before, you know what I am talking about.

Month one  is basically a warm-up. It physically prepares you for what month two is getting ready to dish out. The workouts in month 1 are all under 40 mins and end right around the point you start to psych yourself out and say "I can't do this". They build up your confidence and show you just how amazing your body is and what it is capable of doing.

Enter month two...

Max month (to me) is a smack in the face. You pop that disc in, ready to make this workout your bitch and you are greeted by a countdown bar at the bottom of your screen that says you have 59 mins remaining. "59 minutes?! Are you kidding me?!" At that moment, doubt begins to creep into my mind and the game begins. The warm-up feels never ending, the stretch a welcome relief and then...the first interval. (cue dread filled music)

Round one of Interval 1, I kept telling myself  "You got this". I pushed myself through, but my eye....it kept wandering to that damn countdown bar and it didn't like what it saw. My mind began to tell me I couldn't complete this. With that, the mind vs. body struggle began.

Round two of Interval 1, my mind was winning. I kept looking at the clock and before I knew it, I was kneeling on the floor after in & outs, crying. "WTF?! I've done this before! I've completed this! Get up, bitch!"  is all I kept telling myself.

Round three and beyond, my body took over. I made a decision to NOT  look at that clock again. I REFUSED to allow my eyes to wander over to the lower left hand corner of my screen. I pushed, I screamed, I cursed, but I finished and I felt accomplished.

Fast forward to this morning and I feel like I was hit by a damn bus, but I conquered a demon yesterday morning in my living room and it feels good.

Today, I have Max Interval Plyo. I'm a little nervous about the inner battle that will take place again today, but I'm going to put my money on my body! I didn't come all this way to give up now...plus I am stubborn and don't like to lose!

The End of Month 1

The end of Insanity, month 1 has arrived and I am on day 3 of my "recovery week".  Anyone who has ever done Insanity knows why I put recovery in quotes...it's not really a recovery, it's just torture at a slower pace.

I have to say, I feel great this round. Month 1 flew by and I am noticing plenty of change in my body already. My last week of workouts was a little sketchy due to work, but I doubled up when needed and switched my rest day around to accommodate.

This week I have also incorporated some weight lifting into my routine. I love lifting and it's the one thing I miss most when doing Insanity.

Now to be honest, I am not looking forward to month 2....Max month. Those of you who have been following my blog or my tweets know that I struggled viciously with Max month during my last round of Insanity. I cried. I cursed. I threw temper tantrums. In the end, I completed it and felt like I accomplished something huge, but once again I am filled with dread and self doubt as I prepare to face it again.

Insanity is a mental game and this time I hope to be stronger than the demons in my head. Afterall, I've done this before and I survived it...I really have nothing to fear.

Week Three? Already?! Whoa!

Once again, I fell off the blogosphere...and I'm sorry.

Hopping back into Insanity has been quite time consuming, especially since I started it right as the kids went back to school. Trying to get into the groove of a new schedule has been an interesting.

To date, I have only missed one scheduled Insanity workout and I ended up doing a double the next night. For those of you who have pulled Insanity doubles before, you know how mentally and physically exhausting this can be....not something I plan on doing, again....especially once Max month rolls around.

As I enter week three, I must say I feel great!

This past Saturday I attended the 10th annual Walk With Joe. It's a 5K walk/run in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 on Flight 93. This is the second year I attempted to run it and I did really well. The only time I had to stop my run was when I lapped the walking crowd. Usually this wouldn't be an issue but because of the hurricane two weeks ago and the rain we had this past week, they had to change us to a lap course. Regardless, I felt great. Finished in my fastest time to date and I felt strong.

I hope to get back to a weekly blog flow soon, life permitting. I am sure I will at the very least post a blog right before I begin the Max month in two short weeks.

I'm Still Alive!

It's been awhile since I posted a blog here and I am sorry about that.

I've been very open about my current fitness struggles and there wasn't much to blog about, since my diet and workouts were all over the place.

Yesterday I hit my fitness-funk bottom. I felt unmotivated, lazy and disappointed in myself. I knew I had to get up and get back on track, so I decided to start Insanity again.

I didn't start with the Fit Test because I didn't want to face the drop in numbers that I would see. I knew that would either work in my favor by motivating me OR depress me and send me further in my downward spiral....so....I played it safe and jumped into Plyometric Cardio Circuit.

Some people may wonder why I decided on Insanity as the program to get me back on track. Well, to me Insanity is just as much mental (if not more) as it is physical. I need to get my head back into the game in order to make the progress I'd like to see with my body, and this program forces you to be in it mentally.

This will be the first time I do this program on my own without the support of the #insanecrew, whom I truly miss. They kept me going when all I wanted to do was quit last fall. I'm hoping to find the strength to keep myself going...I have to, because going back to who I used to be just isn't an option.

Wish me luck, and if you are starting a new routine let me know. Maybe we can keep each other motivate and moving forward.

Two-A-Days....Wait. What?

The warm temps we are experiencing here on the East Coast, are a great reminder that summer is right around the corner!

All too soon it will be shorts and tank tops everyday, not to mention the dreaded bathing suit (gasp) and I want to be comfortable in them.

For way too long I was self conscience and unable to wear the things I really wanted to. This year....I know I have control of that and I am going to seize the moment! It's time to kick things up a notch and I have decided that for at least the next week, I will be doing two-a-days.

Yep....two-a-days!

I will be doing my ChaLEAN Extreme weight workouts three times a week (Go heavy or go home), Insanity twice a week (Dig deep) and a yoga or stretch workout everyday to improve my flexibility (Namaste).

Now, I would love to get out and walk or run more, but this is prime allergy season and I don't know how well that will work out for me. I'm pretty good at improvising but I plan on sticking to above schedule for at least a week. (I've already made it thru 1.5 days so it shouldn't be THAT hard).

Nutrition has been pretty good for me. Of course I had my stumbling points with Easter candy and a small Coldstone ice cream binge, but I've recovered.

So....let the two-a-days begin! I'll see you all in a week.....with a possible Vlog!

The New Year Is Approaching...

It's almost time to say good-bye to 2010 and hello to 2011...are you ready?

For most people, the new year means making resolutions. Topping that resolution list is usually "lose weight" or "start working out" which creates a surge in people going to the gym. After a month of waiting on line for the treadmill and elliptical or dealing with overflowing classes, many people throw in the towel and begin to find reasons not to go anymore. Sound familiar? You know it does...fess up!

It is this very cycle I battled for years. "January 1st is coming, I'll join the gym" or "This year I'll try Weight Watchers". Year after year, I would make these resolutions and NEVER stick with them.....until January 2010!

What happened in January 2010, you ask? Well, that is when I made a promise to myself...a promise to start P90X and FINISH it! I was hell bent on completing this program, even though I knew I might not be ready for it. I HAD to do this for ME....for my children, and for my health. I grabbed my brand new calendar and started marking my 30, 60 and 90 day goals. I printed out check lists for my daily food and water goals....I meant business this time.

The plus to P90X for me? Well, you don't have to climb into the car and head to the gym. You don't have a class time schedule to follow (not that I have ever taken a class....more on this at a later date). There is no line for a machine that you end up having to wipe someones sweat off of. It's just you and the DVD's in your living room. (or any other space you declare your "home gym")

People thought I was crazy and many told me I could not do this. They didn't have faith in me...how could they? I never completed any of my resolutions in the past. The more negative they felt about my new journey, the hotter I felt the fire within me burn...it fueled me and pushed me to great heights.

The key to my completing this resolution and still being committed to it today was my support group. I managed to find an amazing group of people on-line who were all doing the program. Some were already really fit, some were working out the first time, some had a lot of weight to lose and some just wanted a challenge. None of that mattered though, as we were all there to cheer each other on and reassure one another when we had doubts or bad days. Ok...the fact that I was seeing phenomenal results after 30days and felt amazing helped a bit too.

I sit here now as a 2 time P90X graduate. I've completed ChaLEAN Extreme and I've earned my INSANITY t-shirt. I am somewhere I never though I would be. I am 40 pounds lighter since starting the P90X leg of my journey. I gained a lot of lean muscle and I've lost over 10 inches from my waist alone!!

Was it easy? No! It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It was not only a physical journey, but a mental journey, as well. It is the thing I am most proud of that I have accomplished in my life so far. (Well, besides my two kids)

So, my question to you is....As the New Year approaches and you make your resolutions, are you truly ready to carry them out? If losing weight and getting healthy is at the top of your list, I would love to help you get started. You will be amazed at what you are capable of, if you simply allow yourself to push forward.

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!



 

Even If You Don't Journal It, Your Butt Will!

When I completed my 63 days of Insanity I realized that I was now even closer to my fitness goal than I ever thought I would be.

Notice I didn't say goal weight...I don't really use my scale often these days and to be honest, I have no issues with the number on the scale when I do stand on it.

(ok...I do have a number I would like to reach, but I am very happy with where I'm at)

However, it was time for me to step back, look at my routine and see what needed to be tweaked. Of course it didn't take me long to realize that I needed to focus on my nutrition. I needed to recalculate my caloric needs, take a closer look at what I was eating and begin to make the changes necessary for me to reach my final goal.

Over the past year I have made many changes to the way I eat. I started by cutting back on my sugar intake, changing the amount of carbs and how/when I ate them. I began eating more lean protein, more vegetables, I reduced my diet soda intake (I only have it on occasion now) and just started eating cleaner. While making all of these changes I neglected one thing....tracking what I ate.

I had done Weight Watchers before and I know what a valuable tool journaling  and tracking your food intake can be. When you write down the food you eat, it keeps you accountable. I know for myself, if I think about eating something, but it makes me feel guilty when it comes time to write it down, I'm not going to eat it! I also find that when I track my food intake during the day, I don't mindlessly eat or pop a few crackers or almonds here and there.

Keeping a food journal also helps you to look back and see where you may have went wrong or to figure out what you need to change. For instance, this past weekend I noticed that after my cheat meal at Five Guys, the following day I was sluggish, my mood was lousy and I just felt "off". After a day of eating well and drinking my Shakeology I felt better and like myself again.

A few weeks ago I decided to download the My Fitness Pal app for my Android phone as well as for my iPod Touch. I wasn't sure if I would stick with using it, but I have heard people on Twitter rave about it so I figured why not. It asked me for some basic information about myself...age, height, weight, weight loss goals, activity level, etc. Once all of the information was inputted it told me my daily caloric "goal" number and I was ready to go. The food data base is huge and I haven't had an issue finding anything I've needed so far. The Android version of the app even allows me to scan the food items bar code to find the nutrition info, which I LOVE.

Fast forward to the end of week 1...I stepped on the scale and saw a 3lbs weight loss! I haven't seen a loss on the scale in a long time since I have been doing a lean muscle/fat trade off. The only way I have been able to track progress is with measurements, so this was cool! To date, I have lost 6 pounds while journaling my food and tracking my calories.

Yesterday I tried on and fit into my "goal" jeans! Who know this calorie counting  and journaling stuff would actually work! Pft!

Now go download a calorie tracking app onto your phone and try it out for a week! I bet you'll be happy you did. Remember to track everything you eat, lick or taste. Be honest here, because even if you don't journal it, your butt will!



*A special thanks to @BodyByJay for helping me figure out my RMR  (resting metabolic rate) this number is important because it represents the energy required to perform vital body functions such as respiration and heart rate while the body is at rest. You don't want to go below it or your body will begin to use your lean muscle as fuel to make up for the lack of calories.

To find out your RMR click here.

Hybrid Time: Ditching the Routine

This week started a new chapter in my fitness journey...the hybrid. For those of you that do not know what a hybrid is, it's a mixture of different workout programs, usually a combination of strength training, cardio exercise and stretching. Some of the #insanecrew are doing a P90X/Insanity Hybrid which I posted on here. As for me, I'm doing more of a "best of" or "greatest hits" hybrid. I am basically winging it and have just set up dedicated cardio and strength days (following the same hybrid), however I decide that day what workout I'm in the mood to do. I felt like being a little more whimsical this round and enjoy myself after Insanity.


This morning I decided to try Zumba. Yes, you heard me, Zumba!  What's Zumba? Well, Zumba is a dance fitness method based on salsa and other Latin dance moves, performed to Latin and world music beats, and choreographed to allow people of any fitness or dance experience level to enjoy a fantastic workout. Two twitter friends of mine are very into Zumba and would like for me  to attend a class with them. I however, am NOT coordinated and while I have some rhythm it is not up to Zumba class speed. So, yesterday I borrowed a Zumba DVD set from another friend and gave it go today.

I started off with the Zumba Basics DVD which basically runs through all of the moves you will do over the course of the program. They do each step in three stages increasing speed each time until you are at the speed of the actual move. Sounds great right? Maybe if you are capable of moving your feet, shaking your hips and adding "flavor" with your arms all while keeping the beat! I would do great until easy beat 3, then I would over think everything, lose the beat of the music and trip over my own two feet. It was quite a site, I truly could have ran my own comic relief show in my bedroom this morning.

After the Basics DVD I decided, what the heck, let's see what the Zumba 20 Minute Express is all about. Surprisingly, when I don't have time to over think, I do pretty darn good! The salsa stuff still tripped me up a little but with time, I'll get it....I hope! Now don't get me wrong, I'm not about to run to a gym and attend a class filled with people or anything (those poor people would all pee their pants have broken toes from me stepping on them!). I was however, pretty darn proud! Maybe this white girl can develope some rhythm and hang with her latina friend for a class one day (probably not, but hey, allow me to day dream here).

I felt a great abdominal burn while doing the routine and it was F-U-N! I am definitely looking forward to doing Zumba again and showing myself that this white girl CAN dance. Maybe I will even celebrate completing this hybrid by going to take an actual class....with other people in it...GASP!



Here is a taste of the Basic's DVD I did this morning:

Final Fit Test: Revenge Is Sweet!

I did it! I completed Insanity! *cue noise makers, balloons and confetti! I barely made it through the Max month and I just completed my final Fit Test of the 63 day program. I'm a little tired and would like to drink my recovery drink so I'll just get to it...

Here are the results:




Overall here are my improvements since the first fit test:

Switch Kicks:     +11
Power Jacks:     +14
Power Knees:    +33
Power Jumps:    +10
Globe Jumps:       +1
Suicide Jumps:  +6
Push-Up Jacks: +13
Low Plank Obliques: +7
I am so happy that I was able to complete all 63 days of this program. As some of you know, I attempted it back in April of this year and had to drop out after week one. My herniated discs just could handle it so with my tail between my legs and pride broken, I went back to do a second round of P90X and then I went on to ChaLEAN Extreme.

While I was doing ChaLEAN, my coach mentioned he was starting a second round of Insanity...with those words, my itch for revenge began to surface. I started thinking about it non stop and finally found a partner to start with a few weeks later since I couldn't start with him.

Before I knew it we grew into the most amazing group of dedicated people. Without even trying, the #insanecrew was born. Without them, I don't know if I would have kept going when I hit the Max month. (Don't believe Shaun T at the end of  Pure Cardio when he says "That shits bananas yo" cause that's a cake walk compared to Max month).

Next up is the "90 Days to a Better You" challenge which I have blogged about. If you haven't checked it out please take a moment to now. We are starting tomorrow and would love for you to join us!

Special thanks to the #insanecrew: @tmgrant7, @perkinsmichael, @Socee808, @MrThomas619, my husband Mike who was my workout partner at home, @Melysa_S who had to go back to month 1, but is still rockin' it and will soon taste the sweetness of revenge, @graveidea who gave me the nutrition advice I needed, when I needed it and last but not least, my coach, @Adamsfit who "lied" to us about just how hard Max month would be, but was the one responsible for lighting the fire under my ass and making me want to seek revenge, without even knowing it.

90 Days To A Better You!

The new year is rapidly approaching and one of the first resolutions people usually make is to start exercising and eating better. Why wait until you flip the calendar to make this commitment? Why not get a jump start on your dream of losing a few pounds and inches, fitting into a smaller size or just becoming a healthier you? Why not do something to combat the "holiday 10" that so many people gain over the next few weeks?

As some of you already know, the #insanecrew is coming to the end of their Insanity journey. What's next you ask? Well, that would be the "90 Days To A Better You" challenge! Some of us will be doing a P90X/Insanity Hybrid program (the schedule for this is at the bottom of this blog), some will be doing Power 90, and others will just commit to eating better and becoming active in some way for 90 days. I honestly don't care if you do a Beachbody program, just commit to "90 Days To A Better You" - that's all it takes!

Join my "like" page on Facebook and post on the daily accountability page! http://on.fb.me/i1rfoO

We will be starting on Monday, November 29th, so mark your calendars and get ready to Dig Deep and Bring It!

Here are my suggestions of what you should do before starting:

 

1. Look over your nutrition guides. Figure out your calorie needs and also check out Michi's Ladder on my facebook fan page. Make a list of what you need to get before we start. If you need help with this feel free to contact me. Knowing your caloric needs is important since your metabolism is like a furnace....you need fuel properly to keep the fire going


2. Take your before photos. I know everyone HATES doing this, but you really should. You don't have to share them with the group but you'll want them so you can see how far you've come at the end of 90 days.


3. Take your measurements. This is so important! The scale is NOT your friend, toss it out of the window. You will trade fat for muscle and only your measurements will tell the full story. Trust me!


4. Make a list of what you want to achieve during these 90 days. Break it down to 30, 60 and 90 day goals. Put this list somewhere you can see it so you will stay focused. You may even want to make a goal board for yourself. Take a piece of poster board, cut out pictures of clothing you would like to fit into, the beach, ANYTHING that will motivate you and keep you going. It sounds corny, but it works!


5. Pace yourself. Rome was not built in a day. If you are new to working out, listen to your body. You do not have to keep up with the people on the DVD's or anyone in this group. You have to go at your own pace, however I want you to challenge yourself. You have to dig deep and leave your comfort zone. It won't always be easy and there may be times when you want to quit but I need you to push through and just do your best.


6. Stay honest. We all have off days, we all miss days and we all have busy schedules...especially with the holidays coming. It's ok to miss a workout or have a cheat meal, just stay accountable for it! We are all here for each other and I am fulling committing to help you - I just need you to be honest and be committed to yourself!


7. Log into WOWY. You don't have to do a Beachbody workout to track your measurements and workouts here. If you already have a Beachbody account be sure to log your workouts in daily. You can also track your measurements and results there. If you do not already have an account, you can create one for FREE. (I can coach you if you'd like - contact me before creating an account)

If you're ready to join us in this challenge comment below or contact me directly.


 

Don't become a victim of the holidays and the typical 10 pound weight gain! Decide to change yourself. Commit to this 90 day challenge. Together we can Succeed.

If you are interested in trying a program, contact me.



__________________________________________________________

Here is a copy of the P90X/Insanity Hybrid schedule:



 

Weeks 1-3
Day 1 - Chest and Back + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 2 - Plyometric Cardio Circuit (Insanity)
Day 3 - Shoulders and Arms + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 4 - Cardio Recovery (Insanity)
Day 5 - Legs and Back + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 6 - Pure Cardio (Insanity)
Day 7 - Rest or XStretch (P90X)


Week 4 - Recovery Week
Day 1 - Core Cardio and Balance (Insanity)
Day 2 - Core Synergistics (P90X)
Day 3 - Pure Cardio (Insanity)
Day 4 - XStretch (P90X)
Day 5 - Core Synergistics (P90X)
Day 6 - YogaX (P90X)
Day 7 - Rest or Xstretch (P90X)


Weeks 5-7
Day 1 - Chest, Shoulders and Triceps + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 2 - Max interval Plyo (Insanity)
Day 3 - Back and Biceps + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 4 - Cardio Recovery (Insanity)
Day 5 - Legs and Back + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 6 - Max Cardio Conditioning (Insanity)
Day 7 - Rest or Xstretch (P90X)


Week 8 - Recovery Week (Same as week 4)


Week 9 & 11
Day 1 - Chest and Back + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 2 - Plyometric Cardio Circuit (Insanity)
Day 3 - Shoulders and Arms + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 4 - Cardio Recovery (Insanity)
Day 5 - Legs and Back + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 6 - Pure Cardio (Insanity)
Day 7 - Rest or XStretch (P90X)


Week 10 & 12
Day 1 - Chest, Shoulders and Triceps + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 2 - Max interval Plyo (Insanity)
Day 3 - Back and Biceps + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 4 - Cardio Recovery (Insanity)
Day 5 - Legs and Back + Ab RipperX (P90X)
Day 6 - Max Cardio Conditioning (Insanity)
Day 7 - Rest or Xstretch (P90X)


Week 13 - Recovery Week ( Same as week 4 & 8 )

 

 

 

 

Why Yes, It's ANOTHER Fit Test!

Fit Test #4 is officially in the books, which means there are only two more weeks of this Insanity madness left! YES!!!!

Month 2 has proven to be a mental uphill battle for me. I can hack most of it physically but mentally, I look at that clock, see 60 mins and I immediately tell myself I can't do this. I know! I know! I just blogged about how Insanity is 90% mental 10% physical. I know what I have to do, I just need to regroup and get back into my groove. Only 2 weeks to go....no time for quitting now!

Well, here are the numbers for this Fit Test...some are better, some are the same and well, some dropped...I'm only human.


Here is a link to the third Fit Test Results if you missed them.

Overall here are my improvements since the first fit test:

Switch Kicks:     +9
Power Jacks:     +12
Power Knees:    +32
Power Jumps:    +9
Globe Jumps:       +1
Suicide Jumps:  +4
Push-Up Jacks: +12
Low Plank Obliques: +6

I shot my load this time on the Power Jumps, so as usually the second half of the Fit Test suffered. Globe Jumps remain my nemesis and my number stayed the same as 2 weeks ago. I increased on all of my numbers except for Low Plank Obliques, I dropped by 2 this time but I'm ok with that as I set the bar high with those on Fit Test 2 and have struggled to match or beat that number since.

This past week I also hit the Fitness Trail, which is something I haven't done in quite some time. I really noticed an improvement in my cardio there. I didn't get winded at all and if it wasn't for my bleeding toe I probably could have kept on going.

I look forward to the next 2 weeks with my #insanecrew and I really look forward to planning out a hybrid with them!

Keep digging deep, pressing play and pushing yourself to the next fitness level.

I Can Do This! I Think?

During my long and winding journey to the new me, I've discovered that you not only become physically stronger, but you also become mentally stronger. As a matter of fact, you have to become mentally stronger before you can become physically stronger. If the mind is weak, it simply won't let you reach your goals.

Most of the journey is one about choices. You have to decide what to eat everyday. You have to decide to push play, or to put on your running shoes and hit the pavement. It's all about choice.

Everyday when you wake up, you have to face a whole day of choices. Should I eat the Poptart that is taunting me from the cabinet or have a Shakeology and start my day off right? I have an hour to spare. Should I do my workout now or watch TV, tweet or see what's new on Facebook? All of these choices add up and in the beginning they are not easy to make. As time goes by and you fall into a groove they become easier, especially as you see results.

Every now and then, something will trip you up. In my case, it was Insanity month 2.....the Max workouts. For all of month 1 and even before I started doing Insanity, all I ever heard was how hard the Max workouts were. I had never even popped a Max workout DVD in to check it out and I was scared. I would listen to others talk about it and psych myself out before I even knew what Shaun T was going to ask of me.

Monday started month 2 of Insanity, and I faced my 1st Max workout late in the afternoon, after work. All day I read about my #insanecrew's experience with Max Interval Circuit and how hard it was. I of course became nervous and already had it set in my head that I wouldn't be able to finish this workout....I mean who can stand a 64min Insanity workout?!

As I stood there in my living room, nervous, the workout began and I was thrust into a new warm-up and whole new routine......man was it hard! I barely made it through some of the moves and I skipped over or modified a few but I finished. I quickly grabbed my iPod and tweeted a big FUCK YOU to Shaun T. That workout left me feeling broken. My confidence was shot, I was mad and my poor performance left me feeling disappointed in myself. I was stronger than that, wasn't I?

I went into Day 2, Max Interval Plyo, with the same feelings. I was nervous but thankful that this workout would be shorter than the previous one. As I was doing the warm-up I felt more confident because I knew what to expect. I also reminded myself that I could do this....and if I couldn't, I would do my absolute best and forget the rest. The workout wasn't pretty, but I made it through and rewarded myself with a nice, cold, yummy, Results and Recovery Drink!

Today was Day 3 and I had to Dig Deep! I promised myself before leaving for work that I would not procrastinate. I would go home and start my workout right away. I would not worry about it, I would not look at the screen and say "I can't do THAT!", I would simply go with the flow and push myself to a new, greater level. Max Cardio Conditioning was my redemption workout! I pressed play, I dug deep and I felt great when it was over. I didn't skip or modify anything. I kept a good pace and I kept telling myself throughout the workout "You can do this!" Don't get me wrong, I took my breaks, but I jumped back in and finished everything out.

If there is one thing I have learned over the past year, it's that most of the battle is mind over matter. When it comes to a program like Insanity, your mental strength will truly be tested. I believe that Insanity is 90% mental strength. You build a new confidence in yourself and realize what amazing things your body is capable of. As a side effect or reward, you gain increased cardiovascular strength, muscle tone and if you're lucky, a nice set of abs.

I know the next few weeks are going to be a challenge, but it's a challenge I'm up for and actually looking  forward to. I'm an amazing person, capable of amazing things and Shaun T is going to show me just how strong I can be...both mentally and physically.