I've now officially started my recovery week of phase 2, round 2. I can't believe I'm closing in on the last phase of round 2! This has been a crazy journey. 137 days ago, I wouldn't recognize myself. And not just because I look different, but because I AM different. It's become this whole new lifestyle for me. I automatically assume that exercise is a part of my day, and I automatically think about every single thing that goes in my mouth. I'm eating healthier, cooking healthier, living healthier, and exercising healthier. As Jason Mraz says, do something every day for you mind, body, and soul. My roommates and I have started a checklist on our communal white board to make sure that we are doing these things every day. What a blessing it is when I remember to take care of all that God gave me! Beautiful thing.
As I close in on the end of round 2, I am started to wonder where the blog is going. As you can see, I've changed the name of the blog as well as the URL, because this journey has become about more than just P90X. I'd like to change some other things up a little bit. I will still document my P90X progress (I'm starting P90X Plus next round, and I'm starting to use a pull-up bar next week!) but I'd also like the blog to be about a little more than that. I'm going to start talking more about my Weight Watchers journey and talking about my successes and struggles with that program. I'm also starting to learn to cook many different foods and shop healthier now that I'm at school I'm fighting tooth and nail to not go back to where I was last year. (A very scary place!) I'd like to start incorporating more pictures into the blog and telling you all about the things I'm eating that work... and the things that don't. I largely depend on the support of others in this area, as I'm sure many of you do. I'd like to start supporting others the way they've supported me!
I'm donating plasma today, so I've opted to take my X Stretch day today so that I don't overexert myself. Donating really drains me, but I need the money and they don't let you donate if your blood pressure is too high. I'm guessing plyo is not a good option on donation day! I'm helping others with the donation, so I guess I can check off "soul" on my list for the day!
What are you doing for your mind, body, and soul today?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Round 2- Days 48-49
So I took my rest day yesterday instead of taking it tomorrow. I spent some much needed time with the roomies instead and it was definitely worth it!
Today was Legs & Back. Still waiting on my pull up bar to be delivered (yay!) but I did up my weights on the leg exercises from 10 pounds to 15 pounds. It was definitely a challenge but I met it and embraced it! Staying true to my promise, I am BRINGING IT!
My roommates Janae and Anna tried Ab Ripper X tonight. Loved it! It was definitely fun to share my love of the X with someone else. I'm not sure if they'll ever try it again, but I really hope they do. It was very entertaining- especially when Janae started laughing hysterically during the sit-up v-ups and Anna just laughed and shouted through the whole thing. It was amazing and a great time!
Can't wait to bring it during Kenpo X tomorrow- should be fabulous!
Today was Legs & Back. Still waiting on my pull up bar to be delivered (yay!) but I did up my weights on the leg exercises from 10 pounds to 15 pounds. It was definitely a challenge but I met it and embraced it! Staying true to my promise, I am BRINGING IT!
My roommates Janae and Anna tried Ab Ripper X tonight. Loved it! It was definitely fun to share my love of the X with someone else. I'm not sure if they'll ever try it again, but I really hope they do. It was very entertaining- especially when Janae started laughing hysterically during the sit-up v-ups and Anna just laughed and shouted through the whole thing. It was amazing and a great time!
Can't wait to bring it during Kenpo X tomorrow- should be fabulous!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Round 2- Days 47-48
Totally brought it for the last two days! I'm really trying here. I pushed really hard during back and biceps yesterday and I'm still feeling the burn from that as well as from plyo and chest shoulders triceps. I'm walking around feeling sore all over and it feels fantastic- I love it! I told my roommate Anna and she said that being sore is an aphrodisiac. I don't know if that's true but if it is, I'm totally loving it! ;)
Yoga tonight. I always struggle with doing the chaturangas full out all the way through, so I focused on maintaining proper form in plank and following the chaturanga all the way through. It was hard, and it hurt, but I did it and it feels great.
I think I need to apply this same theory to my Weight Watchers. I've been counting points but sometimes I take a random bite of something here or there and I think it's sabotaging me. I have hit a plateau in my weight loss and I think this might be why. I'm not giving up - NO WAY. But I am going to have to be much more hard core about it. I need to buckle down and get back to where I was at the very beginning. OCD and completely focused on the goal!
I can see it and I can feel it. It's right in front of me- I just need to buckle down and get to it. I KNOW I can!
Yoga tonight. I always struggle with doing the chaturangas full out all the way through, so I focused on maintaining proper form in plank and following the chaturanga all the way through. It was hard, and it hurt, but I did it and it feels great.
I think I need to apply this same theory to my Weight Watchers. I've been counting points but sometimes I take a random bite of something here or there and I think it's sabotaging me. I have hit a plateau in my weight loss and I think this might be why. I'm not giving up - NO WAY. But I am going to have to be much more hard core about it. I need to buckle down and get back to where I was at the very beginning. OCD and completely focused on the goal!
I can see it and I can feel it. It's right in front of me- I just need to buckle down and get to it. I KNOW I can!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Round 2- Days 32-46
So. I haven't updated in a while (story of my life) and I'm way off of where I should be. For the record, I DID get sick again for three days and I moved back out to school. Life has thrown me a few busy busy busy days in the past few weeks but I'm back on course and bringin' it hard core! I guess being busy isn't really an excuse, but a girl's gotta get some sleep in there somewhere! The important thing is that the past is in the past- all I can do now is change today.
I've started week three of phase 2 as of yesterday, and it feels great. While I was doing plyo today, I had sort of a revelation. See, as my blogs progressed and as I progressed through the program, I kept saying how much easier it was getting. Well, that's not really a good thing, is it? It just means that I wasn't pushing myself as hard as I should have been. I wasn't pushing it to the point where it wasn't easy. It shouldn't ever have been easy.
I was so proud of myself because I gained the ability to do more reps and more moves, and that IS something to be proud of, but not if I just stopped working hard after that. Yes, I was working, and working hard, but not hard enough. Not hard enough to where I was dead by the end. Not hard enough to where I was sore all day every day. I wasn't bringing it. I let myself plateau.
So, I BROUGHT IT today. And I'll be bringing it EVERY DAY for as long as I can- which hopefully will be a very long time. I just ordered P90X+ and I am more than pumped! It's going to be epic. I can feel it in my sore sore muscles.
I've started week three of phase 2 as of yesterday, and it feels great. While I was doing plyo today, I had sort of a revelation. See, as my blogs progressed and as I progressed through the program, I kept saying how much easier it was getting. Well, that's not really a good thing, is it? It just means that I wasn't pushing myself as hard as I should have been. I wasn't pushing it to the point where it wasn't easy. It shouldn't ever have been easy.
I was so proud of myself because I gained the ability to do more reps and more moves, and that IS something to be proud of, but not if I just stopped working hard after that. Yes, I was working, and working hard, but not hard enough. Not hard enough to where I was dead by the end. Not hard enough to where I was sore all day every day. I wasn't bringing it. I let myself plateau.
So, I BROUGHT IT today. And I'll be bringing it EVERY DAY for as long as I can- which hopefully will be a very long time. I just ordered P90X+ and I am more than pumped! It's going to be epic. I can feel it in my sore sore muscles.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Round 2- Days 17-31
For those of you closely following my journey to changing my physical condition (ha!), you will realize that 1. I haven't blogged my progress in a long time and 2. I am a few days off of where I should be. I am a little ashamed, but the past is in the past and all I can do now is move forward with my head held high, my eyes fixed on the goal.
Last week was the fair, and I was there all day every day, eating fair food (which surprisingly got very old very quickly, and was nowhere near as satisfying as usual) and not having an ounce of energy to work out at the end of the day. I missed two days total from that, one day because I was sick (lack of gall bladder+fair food= no good) and the other because I was flat out exhausted. I them proceeded to miss one more day because life got busy and I was still recovering from fair week. Excuses, excuses. I'm back on track now, though. I gained a pound and a half from fair week and only have .4 of it left to lose to be back where I was. Yay!
Speaking of tracking... this whole "writing down what you do" thing really is God-sent. I'm finding that it's crucial to not only write down what I'm eating, but also what I'm lifting, my reps, etc. Writing down how I'm exercising is really helping me to push myself every single day. And comparing different workouts helps, too. For instance, chair dips can be found in more than one workout, so if I look at how many I did during one, I can find out how many I should be doing for another. Very useful stuff!!!!
I love being sore. I really do. It's like a constant reminder of how hard I'm working. In the beginning I was sore all day every day, but now it's usually just a slight discomfort after working out and then the next day I feel totally healthy. BUT today I'm really feeling it! I had Chest, Shoulders, Triceps yesterday and I really killed myself doing it. My arms are sore but it feels great!
I'm a little nervous to be going back to school in two weeks. School really caused a lot of problems for me in the weight area and I'm afraid of returning to where I was. It's going to be a constant challenge to keep up the good habits I've built over the summer. Lots of work, but I know that it's not impossible.
Keep going, guys!
Last week was the fair, and I was there all day every day, eating fair food (which surprisingly got very old very quickly, and was nowhere near as satisfying as usual) and not having an ounce of energy to work out at the end of the day. I missed two days total from that, one day because I was sick (lack of gall bladder+fair food= no good) and the other because I was flat out exhausted. I them proceeded to miss one more day because life got busy and I was still recovering from fair week. Excuses, excuses. I'm back on track now, though. I gained a pound and a half from fair week and only have .4 of it left to lose to be back where I was. Yay!
Speaking of tracking... this whole "writing down what you do" thing really is God-sent. I'm finding that it's crucial to not only write down what I'm eating, but also what I'm lifting, my reps, etc. Writing down how I'm exercising is really helping me to push myself every single day. And comparing different workouts helps, too. For instance, chair dips can be found in more than one workout, so if I look at how many I did during one, I can find out how many I should be doing for another. Very useful stuff!!!!
I love being sore. I really do. It's like a constant reminder of how hard I'm working. In the beginning I was sore all day every day, but now it's usually just a slight discomfort after working out and then the next day I feel totally healthy. BUT today I'm really feeling it! I had Chest, Shoulders, Triceps yesterday and I really killed myself doing it. My arms are sore but it feels great!
I'm a little nervous to be going back to school in two weeks. School really caused a lot of problems for me in the weight area and I'm afraid of returning to where I was. It's going to be a constant challenge to keep up the good habits I've built over the summer. Lots of work, but I know that it's not impossible.
Keep going, guys!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Round 2- Day 17
Days like today make me really appreciate my dance background. Plyo certainly calls for a certain caliber of jump, and I'm grateful that I have such a strong dance foundation that taught me how to jump and land properly. It makes my body so much happier.
I can't get over how great I feel after doing plyo. It KILLS during the process, but right afterward... best feeling ever. Mix that with a hot shower, some great lotion and comfy pj's and you're good to go! Just lay back and enjoy the ride. Best high ever. Much better than eating a cheeseburger and fries ever made me feel. Of course, with the best highs, there is always sacrifice that has to come along with it. Don't get me wrong. It takes a lot of hard work, but it's all worth it in the end. It's something I have to remind myself every day. When those donuts at work are staring me in the face, I have to consistently think about how I'd feel AFTER eating that donut, and not how I'd feel WHILE eating that donut, because those are two very different feelings. Like I said- sacrifice must be made.
I don't want anyone getting the idea that I don't battle the same demons I've always fought. I still fight them every single day, and I'm not always perfect. But if I make a mistake, the best thing I can do for myself is to not give up. Just brush it off and keep going. Start making the right choices from there on out. No need to sabotage myself further. No need to dig that hole any deeper.
I still have to drag myself off my butt to exercise everyday. I still put it off slightly. There are some days when I'm totally pumped, and other days that I'm not. Some days I have to really convince myself that, yes, skipping one day IS going to affect me. Skipping one day IS going to hurt my progress. If I'm not going to totally commit, then what would be the point? The best way to handle this is to just think of the end results. Where to I want to be at the end of today? The end of the week? How do I envision myself a month down the road? A year? These are the things that keep me going.
A new little motivator that I've taken to using on occasion is to write down my starting weight on my hand, the weight I was at on December 12, 2008. The highest weight I've ever been, the weight I never plan on returning to. I got back to school on January 5th, 2009 and changed every thing from there on out. Yes, there were times when I fell out of the good habits I started creating, but the point is that I got away from that number. I started to move away from those old nasty habits. (You know, ordering Pizza Hut and never exercising. You know, never eating enough fruits and vegetables but eating way too many Cheez-Itz.)
That number was 199. One pound away from the big 2-0-0. No, I won't put them together. It makes it a whole lot scarier. Anyways... one pound away from being the same weight as Oprah (at the time). It was scary, but the looks on the faces of family members were even scarier. I was much worse than I had let myself realize. So on days when I am struggling to make proper decisions about eating and exercising, I write down 199 on my hand. Tiny, but big enough for me to see if I go to the fridge and reach for something nasty to eat. It's a good reminder of where I was, and where I will never be again. I'm now down to 174. 25 pounds. I have a long way to go still, but it sure as heck is a lot farther away from 2-0-0 than 199 is. I have nothing to be ashamed of anymore.
So what do you use to motivate you on the hard days? How do you suck it up and get going?
I can't get over how great I feel after doing plyo. It KILLS during the process, but right afterward... best feeling ever. Mix that with a hot shower, some great lotion and comfy pj's and you're good to go! Just lay back and enjoy the ride. Best high ever. Much better than eating a cheeseburger and fries ever made me feel. Of course, with the best highs, there is always sacrifice that has to come along with it. Don't get me wrong. It takes a lot of hard work, but it's all worth it in the end. It's something I have to remind myself every day. When those donuts at work are staring me in the face, I have to consistently think about how I'd feel AFTER eating that donut, and not how I'd feel WHILE eating that donut, because those are two very different feelings. Like I said- sacrifice must be made.
I don't want anyone getting the idea that I don't battle the same demons I've always fought. I still fight them every single day, and I'm not always perfect. But if I make a mistake, the best thing I can do for myself is to not give up. Just brush it off and keep going. Start making the right choices from there on out. No need to sabotage myself further. No need to dig that hole any deeper.
I still have to drag myself off my butt to exercise everyday. I still put it off slightly. There are some days when I'm totally pumped, and other days that I'm not. Some days I have to really convince myself that, yes, skipping one day IS going to affect me. Skipping one day IS going to hurt my progress. If I'm not going to totally commit, then what would be the point? The best way to handle this is to just think of the end results. Where to I want to be at the end of today? The end of the week? How do I envision myself a month down the road? A year? These are the things that keep me going.
A new little motivator that I've taken to using on occasion is to write down my starting weight on my hand, the weight I was at on December 12, 2008. The highest weight I've ever been, the weight I never plan on returning to. I got back to school on January 5th, 2009 and changed every thing from there on out. Yes, there were times when I fell out of the good habits I started creating, but the point is that I got away from that number. I started to move away from those old nasty habits. (You know, ordering Pizza Hut and never exercising. You know, never eating enough fruits and vegetables but eating way too many Cheez-Itz.)
That number was 199. One pound away from the big 2-0-0. No, I won't put them together. It makes it a whole lot scarier. Anyways... one pound away from being the same weight as Oprah (at the time). It was scary, but the looks on the faces of family members were even scarier. I was much worse than I had let myself realize. So on days when I am struggling to make proper decisions about eating and exercising, I write down 199 on my hand. Tiny, but big enough for me to see if I go to the fridge and reach for something nasty to eat. It's a good reminder of where I was, and where I will never be again. I'm now down to 174. 25 pounds. I have a long way to go still, but it sure as heck is a lot farther away from 2-0-0 than 199 is. I have nothing to be ashamed of anymore.
So what do you use to motivate you on the hard days? How do you suck it up and get going?
Round 2- Days 6-16
Phew! Just started week three of phase 1 in round 2. Can't believe it! It's going by SO quickly. Definitely making strides. I bought heavier bands two days ago to up the difficulty of the pull-ups (or fake pull-ups I guess, but I'll get to the real ones. One step at a time, friends.) I keep going to Wal-Mart to get 20 pounders, but they're out! It's such a drag, because I really want them. I'm not sure I'm QUITE ready, but I know that in a couple moves I could really use them. I'm still progressing with the 15's, though.
As you know, I'm now doing the "classic" version instead of lean. I've also moved on to doing the 8-10 reps instead of 11-15 because I decided that I'd like a little size. :) I'm definitely getting more results more quickly this way. And I've finally started using the worksheets... should have started 106 days ago, but all well. It is what it is. I've started using them now and it's definitely helping me see where to progress and by how much. USE YOUR WORKSHEETS!!!
Weight Watchers is still going great- I haven't been as hardcore about tracking over the last couple weeks and it's definitely affecting my progress. This week has been much better, though. It's starting to feel more natural, more a part of my life. It's really becoming a life-change. It's just the way I am now. I'm happy to be this way!
Proud moment. I am officially able to do plyometrics all the way through, no additional breaks, with the bonus round. LOVING it. I have to say, I think plyo and legs & back are my two favorite workouts. They really bring on the pain, but even better, the gain! Sometimes I miss that incredibly debilitating pain I used to feel every day in the first month and a half of p90x. I know I'm still working hard, but I'm in better shape now so my body isn't killing itself like it used to. It's something I should be happy about, I know, but that sore feeling was such a reminder of all the hard work I was doing. It was something to be proud of, a constant little reminder of the strides I was making. Today I feel sore, and it makes me happy.
I think after I finish round 2, I'm going to order p90x+! I feel ready for it now, but I want to make sure. Also, I'd like to give Insanity a try as well. I'm already setting goals for the next year! There's a part of me that still can't believe it. I've never been such a workout-aholic before, and I've certainly never looked forward to killing myself doing push-ups every day. But now... I just can't get enough. It's the best feeling in the world! Again, proud moment.
While I definitely don't feel like I have the cardio vascular strength for Insanity, I know I'll get there. I'm so far away from where I was 106 days ago. I know that if I am diligent and that if I continue to bring it, I'll keep progressing. It's a challenge every day. It's HARD. It's TOUGH. But it's not something that I can't do. In fact, it's something that's very within my reach!
So today I woke up and my abs were KILLING me. (Awesome feeling! Totally living it up.) But I was slightly confused because yesterday I just did chest & back. No ab work... didn't make much sense, but I'm not complaining. I know that push-ups can cause your abs to be sore from maintaining form, but so far throughout the program I haven't had that problem. Or rather, that GIFT. It's a beautiful thing! Plyo and Ab Ripper X today. Can't wait!!!!
Got my P90X shirt in the mail last week. Wearing it with pride!
As you know, I'm now doing the "classic" version instead of lean. I've also moved on to doing the 8-10 reps instead of 11-15 because I decided that I'd like a little size. :) I'm definitely getting more results more quickly this way. And I've finally started using the worksheets... should have started 106 days ago, but all well. It is what it is. I've started using them now and it's definitely helping me see where to progress and by how much. USE YOUR WORKSHEETS!!!
Weight Watchers is still going great- I haven't been as hardcore about tracking over the last couple weeks and it's definitely affecting my progress. This week has been much better, though. It's starting to feel more natural, more a part of my life. It's really becoming a life-change. It's just the way I am now. I'm happy to be this way!
Proud moment. I am officially able to do plyometrics all the way through, no additional breaks, with the bonus round. LOVING it. I have to say, I think plyo and legs & back are my two favorite workouts. They really bring on the pain, but even better, the gain! Sometimes I miss that incredibly debilitating pain I used to feel every day in the first month and a half of p90x. I know I'm still working hard, but I'm in better shape now so my body isn't killing itself like it used to. It's something I should be happy about, I know, but that sore feeling was such a reminder of all the hard work I was doing. It was something to be proud of, a constant little reminder of the strides I was making. Today I feel sore, and it makes me happy.
I think after I finish round 2, I'm going to order p90x+! I feel ready for it now, but I want to make sure. Also, I'd like to give Insanity a try as well. I'm already setting goals for the next year! There's a part of me that still can't believe it. I've never been such a workout-aholic before, and I've certainly never looked forward to killing myself doing push-ups every day. But now... I just can't get enough. It's the best feeling in the world! Again, proud moment.
While I definitely don't feel like I have the cardio vascular strength for Insanity, I know I'll get there. I'm so far away from where I was 106 days ago. I know that if I am diligent and that if I continue to bring it, I'll keep progressing. It's a challenge every day. It's HARD. It's TOUGH. But it's not something that I can't do. In fact, it's something that's very within my reach!
So today I woke up and my abs were KILLING me. (Awesome feeling! Totally living it up.) But I was slightly confused because yesterday I just did chest & back. No ab work... didn't make much sense, but I'm not complaining. I know that push-ups can cause your abs to be sore from maintaining form, but so far throughout the program I haven't had that problem. Or rather, that GIFT. It's a beautiful thing! Plyo and Ab Ripper X today. Can't wait!!!!
Got my P90X shirt in the mail last week. Wearing it with pride!
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