Round 2- Days 76-90, P90X+ Days 1-4

It's been a while... I know. I'm such a slacker! Luckily, I'm not as big of a slacker when it comes to actually doing P90X. And I finally finished round 2! It was somewhat difficult to get motivated towards the end because I got a little bored, but it was worth it. I always stick to what I start. I combined the program with dance classes three days a week and walking around Rexburg everyday. I'm exercising more than I ever have in my life, and it feels absolutely wonderful.

I've also stuck to Weight Watchers during my term here at school. I was really terrified of what would happen, but luckily I've been able to lose a few pounds while I've been here. That's all I really wanted- losing weight would have been more than I could have asked for. With such a crazy lifestyle, I would have been grateful with just maintaining the weight that I lost this summer.

I started P90X+ this week and have been consistent with it all week! It's super intense- I feel like I do that first week of P90X. Crazy exhausted, can barely walk around my apartment, but I feel GREAT. So accomplished! Having the new challenge is exciting! It's just what I needed. I really needed the change to get me going at my best again. It's a great confidence booster- I feel like I'm accomplishing something again. I started this whole P90X journey back in April, and looking back, I never would have dreamed that I could do something like this. It's truly amazing what the human body is capable of and what you can do when you commit to something fully.

Total Body + was extremely intense... I could barely do the entire video! The workouts for + are shorter (roughly 40 mins each) but there's a reason- any longer than that and no one would be able to handle it! Tony just blows through each set and each move so quickly... you really need to have good cardio vascular strength and good endurance to keep up.

Intervals + was the same way. It's comparable to Plyometrics, but the theory behind it is a little different. Tony blasts you through two sets of interval work, and each move you do at three levels of intensity. I found this to be more difficult than Plyo, even though the workouts were shorter and I (seemingly) wasn't exterting as much energy as consistently. What I found to be the truth, however, was that when the third level of intensity came around- the hardest one- I could really bring it, and I ended up burning myself out much quicker and much harder than ever before. I remember that I had to take lots of breaks during my first attempt at Plyo, and while I did have to take an extra break during Intervals, it was only one extra break instead of six. I can't believe how much I've improved!

Kenpo Cardio + was yesterday, and it was FANTASTIC! Probably one of my favorite videos in the X and the + series. It really blows through the moves, and there's lots more variety. I was working my butt off, but I barely noticed because of how much FUN I was having! I can't wait to do it next week.

Upper Body + was today (Thanksgiving- yes, I still worked out on a holiday!) and while it's far from being one of my favorites, I enjoyed the challenge. I especially like Spider-Man push-ups. They're so much fun! I don't, however, have the Power Stands that Tony Recommends, so one of the push-up moves was somewhat difficult. Other than that, they're not really necessary unless you need the extra challenge. Tony does plug the Bow-Flex weights a lot in these workouts. Somewhat annoying, but I've always wanted some anyways! I miss the good old fashioned P90X upper body workouts- I felt like I had accomplished more in those. I only used 8's and 10's today for Upper Body + though. I think upping my weight next week might change my mind on that.

In the + workouts, just as a side note, it's difficult to modify the moves if needed, especially if you're still more comfortable doing push-ups on your knees like me. (But who said working out was supposed to be about comfort?) There really isn't the existence of the "8-10" and "12-15" rules, either. It's basically just max reps on everything, which seems to me the goal here is more about tone than about gaining muscles mass. Not bad, just a different approach. We'll see how much I like it as time progresses.

All in all, I really enjoy +. It's going well so far! Can't wait to totally smash this one, too!

Round 2- Days 53-75

So the last month has been pretty crazy. I started my classes and the stress has been throwing me off my groove! I'm about six days off of where I should be, but I'm really close to being completely done! This week I've been on track so far, both with P90X and Weight Watchers. I've been up and down with WW, staying roughly the same weight. I've been doing a lot of extra snacking that's hindering my progress, so right now I'm focusing on getting a handle on that.

For about a week and a half I was trading in my dance class for the cardio workouts in P90X, thinking that it was about the same. It really wasn't, and I'm back to doing both the entire P90X program and my dance class three days a week. I really love it and I feel great! I feel very proud at the end of the day. Now, if only I could be that hardcore about WW... I need to get back in the groove.

I did plyo yesterday and ROCKED it! I also did back and biceps after dance today and really knocked it out of the park. I worked hard and I'm already feeling the results. I'm now taking the "Animal Pak" supplements, which I love. They smell and taste nasty but I know I'm getting all the necessary nutrients for my demanding lifestyle. I also started drinking a Whey Protein shake after every strength training workout. It's really helping my muscles recover faster and enabling me to do more. I'm walking around campus and at work as well as taking dance three days a week on top of P90X. It can be quite demanding but I find that I am much more able to do it all when I'm taking care of myself. That is the goal- not just to be skinny, but to be HEALTHY! I'm getting there. I'm really trying.

How are you guys all doing this week? Any major ups and downs? Accomplishments? Improvements? Promise it won't be another month before my next update!

Oh... ps...

I got P90X+ in the mail a few weeks ago. Can't wait to bring it PLUS style!!!

Round 2- Days 50-52

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?

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!

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!

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.

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!