Life is starting to slow down a little right now, enough that I can at least think clearly. This is a change from earlier in the week, where I was so busy I could hardly see straight. I'm very happy that it's a little more calm, especially for this Friday when Yoga comes around again. Maybe this time I can actually enjoy it!
Today I did Cardio, and as usual, it felt great. My abs are still sore from Core yesterday, which made today's Superman-Banana pretty tough and my form definitely wasn't as good as yesterday. As far as the Kenpo kicks go, I must look like a total goof because I can NOT kick well and keep my form; I don't know how those guys do it. (Chris also makes fun of my punches, but I tell him it's because I'm a lover, not a fighter.) I managed to finish both sets of swing kicks at the same pace as Tony, which is very fast, I assure you. I'm kind of sad that I never get to do Plyo, but I'm thinking that one of these weeks I'll switch my Cardio with a Plyo and do it with Chris. I'm conveniently never home when Chris does his Plyo workouts, so I've never seen how intense they are. I'll have to spy on him during his next Plyo day and feel it out.
I have some great news: my sister and her fiance have just started P90X! They're getting married in March or April (still waiting on a date!), so their goal is to get more lean in time for their wedding. They're both in good shape and they both eat well, a lot like Chris and me. My sister said that her first Core workout felt like it worked everything but her core, and I remember that because I was walking around like I had been horseback riding for four days after my first Core workout. I'm REALLY excited that they're doing the program.
Well, another early morning tomorrow, so off to bed I go!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Day 15 - Best workout yet!
After a long day of exam-writing and studying, I came home and had the BEST workout yet! I did Core Synergistics, and I can finally do a proper banana! I know how weird that sounds. Banana is when you lay on your back with your legs straight out and off the ground, and your arms above your head. Basically, you look like a banana. Then Tony gets you to roll and hold it on your right side, then belly, then left side, and so on. And I rocked it! I'm so proud.
I love this workout because I'm completely into it. I enjoyed running, but it got boring and I really plateaued after a while. That was frustrating, because I was working at something that I wasn't seeing any results from. Mind you, I wasn't following this strict diet plan either. I'm not ruling out running entirely, but I'm glad to be done with it for a little while. It was getting tiring.
As busy as I am, I love coming home to do these workouts. I look forward to them throughout the day as a chance to blow off some steam, and I always feel so much better afterward. After tonight's workout, I ate supper, then sat down and studied for two hours. I usually have a hard time focusing this late in the day, but I had a really clear mind and I attribute that to the exercise. And - the best part! - I'm thisclose to putting my palms flat on the ground during my hamstring stretches. I couldn't even touch the ground when I first started! Yaayyyy!
Tomorrow's a 10-hour day, and I'm already looking forward to my one hour of solace: Cardio. Can't wait!
I love this workout because I'm completely into it. I enjoyed running, but it got boring and I really plateaued after a while. That was frustrating, because I was working at something that I wasn't seeing any results from. Mind you, I wasn't following this strict diet plan either. I'm not ruling out running entirely, but I'm glad to be done with it for a little while. It was getting tiring.
As busy as I am, I love coming home to do these workouts. I look forward to them throughout the day as a chance to blow off some steam, and I always feel so much better afterward. After tonight's workout, I ate supper, then sat down and studied for two hours. I usually have a hard time focusing this late in the day, but I had a really clear mind and I attribute that to the exercise. And - the best part! - I'm thisclose to putting my palms flat on the ground during my hamstring stretches. I couldn't even touch the ground when I first started! Yaayyyy!
Tomorrow's a 10-hour day, and I'm already looking forward to my one hour of solace: Cardio. Can't wait!
Banana!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Day 14 - Two weeks in!
It's hard to believe it's been two weeks already! I can honestly say that I've improved over the last two weeks, definitely physically, as well as having better form during the workouts. It's been hard at times to find the time for the workouts, but it means a lot to me, so I squeeze it in every night before bed. Being in school, the time constraint is the hardest part for me. The workouts are fine, the diet is easy, but it's the time that the workouts take that is the challenging part.
Today was rest/stretch day, and I would feel guilty not doing anything, so we did Stretch X. I have scoliosis, and just tonight I discovered that there are some stretches that I can't do because of my back, like plough. I really have to be careful, so I plan to swap those ones out for easy ones like cat stretches. I don't think Tony will mind!
That's all for tonight. Not much to say, I know! Thanks for reading.
Today was rest/stretch day, and I would feel guilty not doing anything, so we did Stretch X. I have scoliosis, and just tonight I discovered that there are some stretches that I can't do because of my back, like plough. I really have to be careful, so I plan to swap those ones out for easy ones like cat stretches. I don't think Tony will mind!
That's all for tonight. Not much to say, I know! Thanks for reading.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Day 13 - Working out with a (very!) full belly
Tonight, we had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with family. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, cranberries, gravy, pumpkin pie, pecan tarts and tea. It was absolutely delicious, and I feel no remorse for breaking the diet today because a) it's Thanksgiving and b) I planned for this. Once we got home, we started right in with Kenpo. Seriously, how many people stuff themselves with Thanksgiving dinner, then go home and work out for an hour? Some people think we're crazy (and I think so too, sometimes) but I feel really great right now. There are still beads of sweat running down my back, because I just had to blog before I showered. Niiice!
I can't decide what I think about Kenpo. It's a great workout, IF I maintain my form and really push it. If I slack in the least, or don't give it my all, I'm just punching the air and looking foolish. Versus, for example, Ab Ripper, which leaves no room for slacking. So you can see how it would be easy to say "oh yeah, I did Kenpo tonight" and to not have done much of anything.
But! I'm not a slacker and I really do push myself to my limit. I see no point in maintaining the diet and scheduling the time to exercise, then doing a half-assed workout. No results will come of that.
I weighed myself this morning. Again, another disclaimer: I'm not doing this to lose weight, I'm doing it to become more fit. Starting out, I weighed 124 lbs. This morning I weighed 123 lbs (at the same time of day and on the same scale). Then - get this - I weighed myself after Thanksgiving dinner, and I clocked in at 128 lbs! I actually gained 5 lbs throughout the day, and after my massive meal. This gave a little insight as to why some people get so upset with numbers - consistency is key. Like my grandmother used to say, weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after you empty your bladder and your bowels, and once you're stripped completely naked. Only then will you get your true weight. I think she was onto something there.
So don't fret about numbers. Monitor how you feel, physically and mentally. And remember: muscle is heavier by volume than fat!
I found this quote online: "A woman weighing 150 pounds with 19% fat will look much smaller (and be much healthier) than a woman at 150 pounds with 35% fat. They weigh the same, yet the composition is different. Because muscle is more dense than fat the person with less fat and more muscle will look smaller." Gaining 5 lbs in a month doesn't mean your exercise isn't working; it likely means that you've lost fat and gained muscle. I bet you look and feel better, so forget the numbers! Those muscles have to grow before they start showing.
I can't decide what I think about Kenpo. It's a great workout, IF I maintain my form and really push it. If I slack in the least, or don't give it my all, I'm just punching the air and looking foolish. Versus, for example, Ab Ripper, which leaves no room for slacking. So you can see how it would be easy to say "oh yeah, I did Kenpo tonight" and to not have done much of anything.
But! I'm not a slacker and I really do push myself to my limit. I see no point in maintaining the diet and scheduling the time to exercise, then doing a half-assed workout. No results will come of that.
I weighed myself this morning. Again, another disclaimer: I'm not doing this to lose weight, I'm doing it to become more fit. Starting out, I weighed 124 lbs. This morning I weighed 123 lbs (at the same time of day and on the same scale). Then - get this - I weighed myself after Thanksgiving dinner, and I clocked in at 128 lbs! I actually gained 5 lbs throughout the day, and after my massive meal. This gave a little insight as to why some people get so upset with numbers - consistency is key. Like my grandmother used to say, weigh yourself first thing in the morning, after you empty your bladder and your bowels, and once you're stripped completely naked. Only then will you get your true weight. I think she was onto something there.
So don't fret about numbers. Monitor how you feel, physically and mentally. And remember: muscle is heavier by volume than fat!
I found this quote online: "A woman weighing 150 pounds with 19% fat will look much smaller (and be much healthier) than a woman at 150 pounds with 35% fat. They weigh the same, yet the composition is different. Because muscle is more dense than fat the person with less fat and more muscle will look smaller." Gaining 5 lbs in a month doesn't mean your exercise isn't working; it likely means that you've lost fat and gained muscle. I bet you look and feel better, so forget the numbers! Those muscles have to grow before they start showing.
Doesn't the muscle look so much more appealing?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Day 12 - Playing catch-up
Yesterday, I had no time to do my workout. I tried to squeeze it in anyway, so I started the Yoga (which I had been looking forward to) and I got about 1/3 of the way through when I realized that my mind was racing and I wasn't into it at all. All I kept thinking about was that I didn't have enough time. And it was true, I didn't. So I stopped, got ready and left, and had two glasses of wine and a couple appetizers. First time I broke the diet! I'm really quite proud of myself for that. Not for breaking it, but for going so long without breaking it.. You know what I mean.
So today I did Legs & Back and Ab Ripper, and I got into it. I did every move as best as I could, and really pushed past my comfort zone to make up for yesterday. And right now, I feel pretty damn good! I'm starting to kick ass at Ab Ripper, perfecting my form and keeping up with Tony. Physically, there's a noticeable difference in my stomach (which makes me happy!!), and my calves are getting more noticeable, too. We're almost two weeks in, and I read somewhere that results start to show between two and three weeks. VERY exciting!
Tomorrow is Kenpo. Coincidentally, it's also Thanksgiving weekend here, and we're having our turkey dinner tomorrow night. Starting P90X, we gave ourselves three exceptions to the diet: Thanksgiving dinner, one night out, and Christmas dinner. All other breaks to the diet (i.e. last night) go on the "naughty" list, to nag at your conscience and force you to work harder. So, because we set aside these allowances, I can't wait to have a delicious turkey dinner with stuffing and potatoes and pumpkin pie!! Oh, the carbs.. Sweet, sweet carbs!
That's all for tonight. It's almost midnight and we just finished our workout.. Talk about tired! Thanks for reading :)
Ooohhhh yum
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Day 10 - 9% done! (That makes it sound pitiful..)
As a result of school, I'm still ridiculously stressed out. Today though, instead of not wanting to work out, I REALLY wanted to work out. I think I learned from my mistakes yesterday.
And so, I worked out. Our programs aligned again, so Chris and I did Arms & Shoulders and Ab Ripper together. This is a really great workout. They'll do three exercises in a row, for example, curls, shoulder flys and tricep kickbacks, then they do those three over again. I like this because I know what's coming so I can be ready, and also because I know how many reps I did the first time, and I can try to match that number the second time. Plus, there were no exercises in Arms & Shoulders that I couldn't do - yippee!
The diet was good today as well, I still haven't faltered with that one. I made Island Pork Tenderloin for supper again, because it's absolutely delicious. We had it with mixed sauteed veggies, and Chris had a salad too. Really great supper. I used to think we ate pretty well, but at night time, we would snack and munch on junk. That's been the biggest change, but like I've said before, I never go to bed hungry. In fact, I can't even sleep if I'm hungry, so I really can't go to bed hungry. I've been known to get up and get something to eat before I could fall asleep.
Speaking of sleep, I have to get to bed. Another early morning tomorrow. We have a social event that we're going to tomorrow night, which will be my first time "breaking" the diet. I'm going to have a few hors-d'oeuvres, but I'm certainly not going to use it as an excuse to pig out! There will also be (free) wine, which means I'll be helping myself to a glass or two. I'm not worried in the least, because I want these results more than I want that glass of wine. I'm still extremely motivated, and one little night out certainly won't deter me!
And so, I worked out. Our programs aligned again, so Chris and I did Arms & Shoulders and Ab Ripper together. This is a really great workout. They'll do three exercises in a row, for example, curls, shoulder flys and tricep kickbacks, then they do those three over again. I like this because I know what's coming so I can be ready, and also because I know how many reps I did the first time, and I can try to match that number the second time. Plus, there were no exercises in Arms & Shoulders that I couldn't do - yippee!
The diet was good today as well, I still haven't faltered with that one. I made Island Pork Tenderloin for supper again, because it's absolutely delicious. We had it with mixed sauteed veggies, and Chris had a salad too. Really great supper. I used to think we ate pretty well, but at night time, we would snack and munch on junk. That's been the biggest change, but like I've said before, I never go to bed hungry. In fact, I can't even sleep if I'm hungry, so I really can't go to bed hungry. I've been known to get up and get something to eat before I could fall asleep.
Speaking of sleep, I have to get to bed. Another early morning tomorrow. We have a social event that we're going to tomorrow night, which will be my first time "breaking" the diet. I'm going to have a few hors-d'oeuvres, but I'm certainly not going to use it as an excuse to pig out! There will also be (free) wine, which means I'll be helping myself to a glass or two. I'm not worried in the least, because I want these results more than I want that glass of wine. I'm still extremely motivated, and one little night out certainly won't deter me!
Yes, please!
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