Times are Changing....

I haven't given up on my journey....far from it. Life has been complicated....going through a divorce, selling the home, figuring out what my future holds. I didn't even have a DVD player until yesterday, and I no longer have the P90X or Insanity programs. I will have to purchase them again in the future. What I do have are my treadmill, weights, and a slew of other workout DVD's, including a lot of the Biggest Loser ones, that I never even got around to trying because I started P90X. I have been spending some time on my treadmill, and will just wing it from here on out until my journey with Beachbody can continue.....In the meantime....I appreciate all your prayers for my family as we adjust to what the future holds.

Cardio Abs

Thinking I had to work both jobs today, I decide to do a shorter workout and stick with Cardio Abs, about 25 minutes. 25 minutes of HELL! LOL

Then I get called out of work. Should have done a longer workout!

Pure Cardio

I was hoping to do Cardio Abs today and round it out with a run. However, this intense rain put a damper (literally!) on that plan. So because I feel like I really need to work out lots of frustration, I opt to do Pure Cardio.
As usual, I'm on the floor panting after the final exercise, a full minute of Push Up Jacks. But so are all the other people in the video, so don't feel too bad.
And thankfully, my mind is clear and I can move on with this day :)

Cardio Power and Resistance

Cardio Power and Resistance today, I would have to say of all the Insanity workouts, this is my favorite, with the exception of rest day...hehe

The only change I have to make is in the floor sprints. Something about working out on hardwood floors makes my shoes slip, and I just feel like this move is not effective at all. So instead, jump up and just do regular sprints instead, and sprint my little heart out!

One of the reasons I love this workout is because in the second round of the last series, Shaun T does his trademark "C'mon Y'all....lets GOOOOO!!" and something about it just powers me through the rest. This confirms what I have always thought, I work out the best if someone is screaming at me! I wish I could hire a personal trainer, Jillian style, to kick my butt every day!

Pure Cardio

I decided to do Pure Cardio today, wondering how well it would go with the time off.

I was pleasantly surprised. Though the last time I did it, I hardly had to take any breaks, and this time, well I had to take a few more. But overall, a great sweat pouring workout!

Back on Track

So with three weeks and no blogging, time to get back in the bloglight. I was sick for a good 10 days with NO workout, and since then just sporadic stuff, no good!

I've decided to forgo following an actual "program" I have enough workouts now that I feel I can tailor my own program. Also, I am hoping to start RevAbs soon, at which point I may jump back on the calendar style program....but I don't have it yet, so that will have to wait. I also hope to add some running again.

I'm going to stick mostly with high intensity cardio stuff, but throw in some muscle workouts here and there, since my goal is still to lose these last few stubborn pounds. I had a nice long chat with a personal trainer friend of mine the other day, and on her advice I will also tweak my eating program a bit so that I eat the most of my carbs during the day when I need the energy and will burn them off, and try and stick with mostly protein at night. Should be fairly easy for me because I'm a protein girl anyway, but I do love that snack at night, and yes its usually a Mousse Temptation cup or a 100 calorie pack, all carbs. And alcohol only one day per week.

So for today I chose to do Insanity's Plyometric Cardio Circuit. It kicks my ass as usual, and I flipping HATE the basketball drills! Actually in the second set I forgo the side to side ski abs and just sprint in place as fast as I can. This is because of my wrists. Seems to work fine and keep my heart rate soaring.

Happy Sweating All!

Sick sick sick

I have been sick as a dog for days now. Barely getting through work, let alone working out. I should count my blessings, because I haven't been sick in a while.

So yeah, I have not felt up to working out at all! I am taking one more rest day today, the cough is finally productive and I feel like by tomorrow I will have the energy to tackle an Insanity workout.

Yet another wrench in my plan! GRRRR!!!

Insanity.....Day 10

Day 10 is Pure Cardio.

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about my complete lack of energy and feeling blah and depressed. She was telling me that her D.O. has started her on 10,000 IU's per day of Vitamin D. The thought being that many Americans are depleted in Vitamin D, and that by supercharging it for about a month it can help with depression. So I started that today.

My workout today is amazing! I actually almost get through every exercise without stopping. Chalk it up to the placebo effect or maybe its working already, but this workout goes better than any have in a while and I feel strong and powerful. Yay!

Insanity.....Day 9

Day 9 is Cardio Power and Balance.

I like this workout a lot, and part of that is because there are no mummy kicks in the warm-up and I hate those mummy kicks!

I have noticed that my push ups are getting really strong! In P90X I always did girl pushups, but Shaun T doesn't give you that option. I'm amazed at how many push ups I can bang out now in perfect position. When I started, they were a real struggle!

Insanity.....Day 8

Day 8 will be my rest day for week 2 of Insanity. I am spending the morning in my son's classroom as I do every Monday, and then I have a bunch of errands to run. The tonight is the maiden voyage of the Trivia Night I will be running at a local pub. I have some finishing touches to put on that. Should be fun!

Insanity.....Day 7

Day 7 is Plyo Cardio Circuit.

The workout goes well, and I am loving how good I am feeling and how much more energy I have with this cleanse! Week 1 is done...Hooray!

Insanity.....Day 6

Day 6 will be my rest day, as I have a fun day planned with some high school girlfriends, and then have to work tonight.

Insanity.....Day 5

Day 5 is Pure Cardio. One hell of a workout.

I'm finding the cleanse I posted about a few days earlier seems to be upping my energy, which is great. Added to that my son actually slept through the night last night, and well....the workout goes great!!

Insanity.....Day 4

Day 4 is Cardio Recovery. About 35 minutes of Yoga type exercise, with some DEEP muscle stretching. In the end, I work up a light sweat, and the stretching feels great. And is doubly good because I am pretty sore today, my back is a mess, and I have an appointment with the Chiropractor in about 2 hours. Now I will be nice and loose for him to adjust.

I'm starting to wonder if my five year old will ever sleep through the night again!! Part of the reason my back is so sore is because he ended up in our bed again last night (after waking, requesting I turn the bathroom light on for him, and getting him a drink) By the time he got back to sleep, I barely had any room on the bed, and I tossed and turned all night. Grrrr....as a baby, he was my GREAT sleeper, as a young child, not so much!

Insanity.....Day 3

Day 3 is Cardio Core and Balance.

The workout goes REALLY well! I am actually able to complete everything with no rests, save a small 5 second break during the Tricep series. I feel great.

I decided a cleanse might be in order, so I went out and bought Whole Body Cleanse
which I started today.

Hoping this helps my body and mind feel like its a fresh start!

Insanity.....Day 2

So Day 2...Max Plyo Circuit.

I am not going to bother reposting the content of the workouts. This workout is a killer, and I STILL struggle with the series where you do Level 1 drills, Ski Abs, and then In and Outs, one right after the other, the basketball drill series. My wrists just can't take it. I do my best, but by the final circuit, I end up standing up and sprinting when they do In and Outs, just to keep the cardio going.

Maybe by the end of THIS month I will be able to complete it!!

And the good news, my father in law was released from the hospital today. The bad news.....he went right back to smoking. I was so hoping that 6 days in the hospital with no smoking would be a good start, but oh well. I have given up trying to figure out how you can continue with something that has almost killed you three times. And I say this as an ex smoker, I KNOW how hard it is to quit!! But I wonder, how many second chances do you get.

This news made me cry :(

Insanity....The recommitment

So quite honestly, after my last post, all hell broke loose, in many different ways.

Thursday morning, I woke up and could not move my head. Probably the worst neck pain I have ever had. I couldn't turn my head left or right, nor could I tilt it forward or back. I did some icing and headed to the chiropractor. He was not even able to adjust my neck because it was too painful and tight. So obviously, I didn't work out.

Friday I woke up and it was slightly better, I ended up going to work, thinking I would attempt the workout when I got home, figuring by then maybe I would have warmed up the muscles enough to make it possible. While at work, I received a phone call that my father in law had been rushed to the hospital with chest pain (he had a massive heart attack 3 years ago that almost killed him, he died three times on the table, etc.) So I rushed home to pick up my son and the following two days were stressful as my FIL remained in the cardiac ICU after having a stent put in.

This stress added to the stress that my father, my rock, received a cancer diagnosis, and on the same Friday my FIL was rushed to the hospital, my father was in Boston at Dana Farber getting examined to determine treatment.

To round it out, one more family stress that I can not talk about publicly, and the continuing stress at home due the economyand my husband's lack of work and myself the sole breadwinner working two jobs, I SNAPPED! So yeah, for five days I did nothing but work, eat, and drank two much at least two of the nights. Hello Depression! I made a vow on Sunday night to rededicate myself to my workouts, and for me this means I must start Insanity over again. I cannot in good faith start where I left off after two weeks of restarting and then 5 days of no workouts. So tomorrow, I restart Insanity. Today would be the Fit Test. I'm not redoing the Fit tests (the first two anyway).

For those of you I am close with, thank you for the continued support. I honestly couldn't get through without the AMAZING support and love I have in my life. And for those I don't really know, your continued prayers are appreciated :)

Insanity.....Day 37

So today is Max Plyo Circuit, a killer workout (like any of them aren't!)

This one is especially hard on my knees, and I noticed last week they were sore for about two days after the workout. I may need to get a plyo mat to use during the power jumps.

Hot damn there are a lot of push ups in this workout, didn't notice as much the first time, probably just trying to keep up! The only one I have a problem with are the jump up push ups (I think that is what they are called, where you do a push up, and from the down position then jump up to your feet, really hard. I do a few, and then just do regular push ups as Shaun recommends if your form is not perfect.

Insanity.....Day 36

Well, due to sickness and other annoyances, I miss three days of working out. Damn it!
So in all fairness, even though that is only 2 workouts lost, I decide to go ahead and restart the first week of Month 2.

Which means today is Max Interval Circuit. The workout goes well, better than the first time. I do however tumble a bit and almost really hurt myself on the Side Suicide Jumps. My shoes just slip a lot working out on the hardwood floor. Does anybody know of ANY product out there that helps with sneaker slippage on a hardwood floor. Its a annoying because I slip in lots of plank style exercises.

Day 39

Day 39 is Max Recovery.....and is my body ready for it. I am so sore!!!!!

About 45 minutes of lower impact exercises and lots of stretching. Feels good.....

Insanity.....Day 38

Day 38 is Max Cardio Conditioning, another new workout.....here ya go....

Max Cardio Conditioning (48 Minutes): Shaun T will push you to the outer limits with the ultimate cardio and abs workout.

This was fairly similar to Pure Cardio in the first month, warm up, stretch, and then a chunk of time where you do one move right after the other for a minute at a time. The exception is in Pure Cardio, that chunk of minute intervals is about 16-18 minutes, and in Max Cardio, its more like 30 minutes.

The workout goes pretty well, though I will admit I do take several breaks, but always return to the exercise. There are actually quite a few where I can get through the whole minute, but also quite a few I can't.

I have found a great blog that reviews in detail each workout for any who are interested in finding out exactly what they consist of. Here is a link....
Review of Insanity

At the bottom of this page, you can click on links that will bring you to the page reviews for each workout.

Insanity.....Day 37

I don't suffer from Insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

Today is Max Interval Plyo....another new workout.

So here is the blurb

Max Interval Plyo (56 Minutes): Push your legs 'til they beg for mercy with power and plyo, all at your MAX.

I'm a bit sore from yesterday, but have slept really well for the last two nights so I go in to the workout feeling great. Good thing because this workout is KILLER!! Holy Crap. I get through it pretty well, LOT of push up and plank stuff which is difficult because my right shoulder is what really hurts, but overall I really like the workout (in a masochistic punish myself sort of way!)

I do have trouble with the push ups where you jump up from the floor, not sure what its called and hard to explain, so I just do regular wide fly push ups during this.

So far....feeling good in Phase 2!!

Insanity.....Day 36

Day 36 is Max Interval Circuit. This is a new workout for me, so here is a blurb....

Max Interval Circuit: (60 Minutes) The Interval workout that is more intense than any workout you've ever done before.

Huh....that's the description? Thanks!

MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY!! So I have figured out that the major difference between phase 1 and phase 2 is that the workouts are longer, and the warm up and stretch are a bit shorter, meaning the intense holy crap kill me now part of the workout is much LOOONNNGGGER! I get through the workout ok, I admittedly take more breaks then I have had to in phase 1, but I imagine that will get better in time, just as it did before. I had a big problem with the floor suicide jumps, and fell on my wrist at one point which scared me because my hands are my livelihood. So I will have to be careful on those.....

I take a look at myself in the mirror after, and let me tell you, I almost took a picture just to amuse every one. My hair was sweat plastered every which way and my skin tone resembled a cooked lobster. A soaking wet cooked lobster.

My theory is correct, I now know Shaun T. is trying to kill me. Bring it!

Insanity.....Day 35

So today starts Phase 2, and the workout should be a Fit Test and Max Interval Circuit. However, I can only make time for the Fit Test, and have decided I just won't do a rest day this week, so will do the Max Interval Workout on my rest day. Makes sense....

So, the fit test! YAY YAY YAY the fit test!!! All numbers are up except for swich kicks, and I think I figured that out. Switch kicks is the first one you do, and I think I tried to start off a little slow thinking I would tire out, and actually I didn't tire out and about halfway through realized I should have started stronger. Oh well, next time.

Again, I go in to the fit test without looking at any of my numbers from the last fit test, which I like because I feel like than its a real true test of my fitness and not just striving to beat a number.

So as for numbers and comparisons, I will post my number for today, and then the two numbers following will be results from the first test and the second test....

Switch Kicks : 57 (56, 62)

Power Jacks: 59 (50, 55)

Power Knees: 102 (89, 89)

Power Jumps: 29 (20, 24)

Globe Jumps: 11 (8, 10)

Suicide Jumps: 16 (14, 14)

Push-Up Jacks: 25 (12, 20)

Low Plank Oblique: 62 (42,56)

So YAY! Obviously the program is working. I'm a bit scared about phase 2, but off I go!!

Insanity.....Day 33 and 34

Yes, I'm combining two days, because in case you didn't catch my tone in the last few posts, this is the end of recovery week which means the same workout.

Both days of this workout are not wonderful. My son has had some sleeping issues of late, combined with my own insomnia trouble, and lets just say I'm exhausted. I'm praying for a good night tomorrow to start phase 2!

Insanity.....Day 32

Day 32 is *gasp* Cardio Core and Balance.

So again, I am up most of the night last night. Luckily, I don't have to be in to work super early today, so as soon as my boy gets off to school, I am able to lay back down and sleep for two hours. I get up feeling better and start the workout.

It goes well. I finish every exercise with no rests, even the hip flexor and shoulder burner series. Two more times with this workout and then I get to start new ones....HOORAY~

Insanity.....Day 31

Day 31 is...surprise! Cardio Core and Balance.

Don't have a lot to say today. Haven't been sleeping well, insomnia is awful. I would welcome any suggestions to help me sleep, BESIDES Melatonin. It makes me drowsy the next day.....

Insanity.....Day 30

Day 30, and once again, Core Cardio and Abs As I mentioned, this recovery week is the same workout every day.

The workout goes better than the first time, and I am able to almost finish the hip flexor burners, just short rests. I finish all the shoulder burners with only coming out of the squat stance briefly once or twice.

Interesting, I have noticed my core strength is better on the left side than the right, which is strange because it was always the scar tissue issue on the left side that caused me to struggle during P90X. I guess I have worked through that.

Insanity.....Day 29

Day 29 is supposed to be Cardio Core and Abs.

But my five year old and a visit from my evil nemisis Insomnia had a different plan for me.

I could NOT get to sleep last night. I finally did around 2am, and at 2:45 my five year old woke up and just decided it was time to get up. I would put him back in his bed, get him settled, and just drift off and hear him get up again. This want on til about 5am. By the time the alarm went off at 6:40, I had had less than an hour of sleep.

So after he got on the bus, I went back to sleep for 2 hours before facing a very long day massaging.

Today will be my rest day for the week....

Insanity.....Day 28

Day 28 starts my recovery week, and as I stated yesterday, it means six days of the exact same workout in a row.

The workout is Cardio Core and Balance (42 Minutes): Take a break after month 1 and gear up for month 2 with this workout.

So this workout starts with a shorter warm up and stretch, followed by some intervals. Shaun T. talks the whole time about how he wants you to kind of start off slow and build up to the end of the workout, and says he doesn't want you feeling tired at the end, just worked out.

So I do have to say, I am able to do all reps of every single exercise with no breaks. Which tells me the program is working. Also tells me I may turn it up a bit tomorrow.

The exception for me is the hip flexor burn series near the end. I've always had trouble with my quad muscles, and about midway through the burner set, I have to take a break, not because I don't have the endurance, but because I feel like my quad is about ready to cramp up big time (Both sides) and a very small break makes this go away. So bonus, maybe this week will help me overcome that quad issue..

It's nice that it's a new workout and all, but that will probably get old for me by Day 3. I may add some treadmill running this week....

Side note, got my Monroe piercing today and LOVE IT!!!!!

Insanity.....Day 27

Day 27 is Plyo Cardio Circuit.

But it is also my last day the first phase of Insanity. Tomorrow, I start recovery week which is the same workout for six days straight. I am not too pleased about this because I get bored easily, one of the reasons I do Beachbody programs. I loathe doing the same workout two days in a row. The workout is called Cardio Core and Balance. I haven't done it yet, and I haven't previewed it, so we will see how it goes.

Today's workout goes well. I am however glad its the last time for now, because I still struggle with my wrists in the Basketball drills.

I've also decided to reward myself for reaching the halfway point, I am going tomorrow to get a Monroe piercing, something I have always wanted. Can't wait!

Insanity.....Day 26

Day 26 is Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs.

Huge snowstorm today, so stuck inside all day. Now normally, I would split up these two workouts up and do Pure in the morning and Abs at night. But today, I finish Pure Cardio and decide since I'm already dripping with sweat and half dead, I might as well just get it over with.
And it goes surprisingly well! I am able to complete ALL the power jumps....woohoo!

Really pleased with my workout today!

Insanity.....Day 25

Well it's the first day of 2010. In Insanity world, I have decided to make today my rest day. With a big snowstorm coming, we expect to be snowed in Saturday and Sunday, so both good days to work out. Also, my five year old is at his grandparents for the day and night, so hubby and I decide to chill out, run some errands, and catch up on some movies. Perfect day!

So let's talk resolutions. Did any of you make any? I take some time to evaluate my diet and weight loss goals, and here are some thoughts. I use SparkPeople.com to track my calorie intake. I keep my daily intake at 1500 calories per day. Despite this and my commitment since August to hard core working out, my weight has not changed much. Yes, some great body changes, and I'm super proud of my arms and legs, but I still can't seem to lose this middle! I get frustrated thinking about this a lot, so here is my plan. There are two changes I can make to my diet that I think might help.

The first is cut back on Carbs, so I will focus on that. I love that Sparkpeople tracks carb/protein/fat ratios.

And the second. I have decided that I will cut out alcohol for the most part. I have noticed that my occasional glass or two of wine has pretty much become a daily thing. This is adding countless calories to my diet per day that I am not tracking, and I don't need them. So, I will allow myself to have a drink or two once a week or just on special occasions. I have also read that alcohol consumption causes fat to store around your middle, so we will see if this helps. I actually stopped on Monday, but did have some Champagne last night of course to toast the new year!

I will continue allowing myself a once a week meal splurge, and today it was for a Reuben sandwich! In 34 years of life I have never had a Reuben til recently, and I can't believe I denied myself that long! It was delicious, but will be good now for the rest of the week!