Day 11, 12 & 13!

Well, we have completed week 2 of P90X! I've heard that once you get past this point, it only gets easier and the results get better! It was weird doing yoga by myself on Wednesday, but I managed to make it through the entire hour and a half without stopping! On Thursday I definitely did a lot better with ab ripper. It seems like every time I do it now I seem to do better.

Today was definitely interesting. Since Ryan's parents arrived today and are staying for the weekend we decided to get up early before work to do Kenpo. We got up at 6:30am (It was still dark out!) and trudged up to the gym (I don't think our apartment neighbors would appreciate us doing jumping jacks that early in the morning). I thought it was a lot easier this time, now that I have all the punching and kicking moves down. I think Kenpo is one of my favorite workouts. It really is fun and makes the time go by so fast but you can definitely tell you are getting a good workout.

Tomorrow we are going to Disney World with Ryan's parents so we will be getting plenty of extra cardio from walking around all day! Sunday we are going to the beach and I can't wait to show off my new muscles :) Everyone has been so impressed when we show them our results and they can't believe we have stuck with it even though we are both very busy people already!

Can't wait for week three! Bring It!!!!

Day 9 and 10 - Plyometrics and Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper X

I was dreading doing Plyometrics again, as it is by far my least favorite workout. We actually did a little better this time around and only took 2 very short breaks. I think if I had made the effort to spend an extra $30 on a heart rate monitor it would have been reading 'what the f*ck are you doing, you're about to have a heart attack!' lol. I get soo dizzy doing all those squats and jumps and lunges. I definitely did better on the chair leg swings, I didn't hit the chair once! Go me! I was soo tired after working out that I passed out in bed with my sweaty gym clothes still on. Ryan had to wake me up and remind me to get my sweaty butt in the shower before I fell asleep for the night, lol.

WE ARE NOW ON DAY 10! I am so excited that we are now a 10th of the way done! I am pleased to say that muscles soreness is at a minimum now. This time last week I felt like a semi truck had run me over, but I guess my muscles are now accustomed to being drained every day. Today we did shoulders and arms which I also felt I did a little better at. I even felt good enough to go straight into Ab Ripper and I completed a lot more reps this time than normal, and some I didn't even need to take any breaks in between! THAT'S an accomplishment!

Tomorrow is yoga and I have to go it alone because Ryan will be working late tomorrow night. Boo. For anyone who is in their first week or two of P90X, keep it up, it DOES get easier!


DAY 10 RESULTS!
We knew we'd been seeing and feeling results, but it's definitely gratifying seeing the comparison photos! You can see some minor changes in both of our bodies. I see some changes in my abs and definitely in my back. Ryan's chest is gaining more definition and his back muscles are also more defined. I can't wait to see day 20! Click to zoom in!

Day 7 and Day 8 - X Stretch and Chest & Back + Ab Ripper

We made it through our first week! Happiness! Yesterday I got up and had to do some cleaning around the house. I popped in X Stretch and intermittently did some stretches in between cleaning. I had to scrub our dirty shower/tub which I am pretty sure counts as an extra cardio workout.

We went to our Halloween party and I did have a few fistfulls of sugary and chocolatey goodness, but I only had one beer which I thought was pretty good will power. Ryan on the other hand fell completely off the wagon. He had about 5 beers and some liquor drinks and the candy too. Oh well, I don't think one night of debauchery will ruin our results.

Today we did chest and back again and I had forgotten how much this one kicks your ass...err..arms. I still had to do most of the push ups on my knees, and I started out on the bars but switched to bands half way through. I just don't think I'm quite strong enough for the bar yet and I need to build some more upper body strength first. Ab ripper was a bitch as usual. I hate hate hate it!

We have both started seeing some small improvements in our bodies. The fat is shrinking and some muscle definition is popping up all over the place. We keep saying 'If this is only after one week, imagine what we will look like 12 weeks from now!'. We are both super excited!

Having some steak and steamed veggies tonight for dinner to celebrate our 1 week accomplishments!

We snapped a couple of pictures after getting all sweaty after our workout for your enjoyment! :)

Day 6 - Kenpo

Kenpo is a fast-paced assortment of kicks and punches that will make you SWEAT! There are no real breaks in this hour long routine and it definitely kicks your heart rate into high gear. It starts off with a lot of good stretching and then it's right into non-stop fist jabbing, jumping, and what feels like imaginary sword fighting. I sweated more during this DVD than any of the others! I usually don't sweat much but this one had sweat dripping down my stomach. This is a GREAT cardio workout. I felt awesome afterwards. It releases a lot of tension and makes you feel like you just opened a can of whoop-ass on someone.

Tomorrow is our first rest day and then we start the week all over again. We are attending a Halloween party tomorrow night which will be chock full of fat food and alcohol. Will we be strong enough to resist the temptation? Tune in next time to find out!

The Shorts

So I have these cute Roxy jean shorts that I bought years and years ago and realized that they were a little short and showed a little too much of the cottage cheese on the back of my thighs, they got worn maybe once or twice. So they got tossed into a drawer and forgotten about. Until I was getting ready to move and was going through my clothes. I found them and tried them on and couldn't even button them. My hip fat bulged out over the top. Apparently I had gained a few pounds since their purchase because I didn't remember them being that tight before. I was tempted to give them away to Goodwill and just calling it a lost cause, but something in me said "NO! I will fit these shorts again one day, AND I will look GOOD in them!"

Without any real plans of accomplishing this goal (as happens to many people with a closet full of "maybe one day they will fit again" clothes), my adorable Roxy jean shorts sat in the drawer for yet another couple of years. I never even bothered trying them on since I knew it would just make me feel bad about myself. For about 3 years they sat at the bottom of the drawer again, waiting to be worn.

Then I started working out again. I felt great and knew I had lost some weight. I remembered my skinny shorts and I dug them out of the drawer and put them on. I could button them again! I was still not quite to the point of wearing them in public though. The legs were still tight and it made the flabby stuff on my inner thighs stick out more than normal. I still had the cottage cheese on the back of my thighs which was the reason for their original banishment to the drawer. I didn't want to give up hope though, so back in the drawer they went. Until today.

I pulled them out again to see how they fit now that I have started P90X. and they did fit better than ever, I even wore them to the grocery store for a test run! They still seemed a bit too short for me to wear comfortably without feeling self-conscious about my fat though. I noticed myself trying to adjust them and pulling them lower to cover the flab every so often. So I came home and took them off and decided that this was my goal and what a perfect way to gauge my results!

So now my goal is to not only fit into my skinny jeans, but to look AWESOME in them! Lose the flabby stuff and the cottage cheese forever and be able to wear booty shorts to my heart's content and not feel self-conscious about it! What do you think?!

Day 5 - Legs, Back & Abs

Today was legs, back and abs and I forgot how much I HATED doing squats. My fat legs hate it when I make them do work. The wall squats are now my arch nemesis. There was also lots of other squatting and lunging mixed with pull ups/chin ups. I got a pretty good sweat going with the leg stuff. That has definitely been my weak spot so far, which I expected. I was excited to feel the burn in my butt and hamstrings though, since that's definitely the part that needs the most work.

I think we will be doing this one in the gym next time. Our little apartment made the lunging exercises a bit difficult, especially when Ryan and I were out of sync and practically bumping into each other. I used the bands this time for the pull ups by putting them over the door, and it worked well. I was afraid at first that it would snap and smack me square in the face, but luckily they seem to be able to withstand all my pulling and stretching.

Tomorrow Ryan might have to work late so he is thinking of doing Kenpo in the morning after I leave for work. I am not excited to have to do it on my own, I really enjoy having him there to push me and make sure I am doing it the right way. I guess this is something I'll have to get used to though since his schedule is always different. There will probably be a lot of times where we won't get to work out together. 

I am excited that it's almost the weekend, and then we get to start it all over again on Sunday! Woo hoo!

Day 4 - Yoga X!

So today was the first time I have ever tried yoga. EVER. I was a little nervous at first because I am not known for my balance and grace, lol. The first moves had my sore muscles straining and stretching, then the more advanced moves pushed me pretty hard. There were times when my legs just gave out on me and I tumbled. It was challenging but definitely enjoyable. Then we went into the balance poses and my muscles were finally warmed up and not aching anymore. I was AMAZED to see the flexibility that I never knew I had! I was more flexible than Ryan who had some trouble touching his feet. I was even able to do a few seconds of the crane! I honestly did not think I was going to be able to do it, but with some focus, good breathing and a pillow (just incase!) I was able to do it!

I feel sooo much better after getting all my muscles stretched and pulled. I was walking around at work today like an old lady with fake hip earlier, and now I feel so limber and relaxed. Definitely an awesome part of P90X! I will be looking forward to yoga day from now on!

Here are some photos of Ryan and I doing crane pose, and one of me testing my flexibility after our workout. My dog and cat even decided to join me :) We are having lean ground turkey chili with kidney beans for diner tonight! Tomorrow is legs, back and *dun dun dun* ab ripper!

 

Fat Pics!

Because there isn't a better motivator than seeing yourself at your worst, I am posting some of the most unflattering photos of me from recent times. These were all taken at different points sometime last year. I guess seeing myself looking like this made me start eating better, which helped me get to the point I am at now. I was never really to the point where I would consider myself fat, but I definitely knew I was NOT at my optimal weight. I like to think of these as my BEFORE before P90X photos. lol. Enjoy...

My P90X Goals!

P90X is all about setting goals and reaching them. So I thought I'd take a few minutes to go over what my goals are for the next 87 days.

1. My number one goal is to just get into better shape. I want to feel like I am making a conscious effort to live healthy and be more active. I am not as concerned about how I look as much as how I treat my body. I want to stay fit well into old age, so I have to start taking care of it.

Before P90X I got ZERO exercise besides walking to and from my car and walking around the grocery store. Working in an office environment, it was easy to let myself become lazy and out of shape. Every once in a while (like once every couple months) I would try going to the gym and running on a treadmill but I had no goals and was really lacking the motivation to keep going.

2. I would REALLY like to see some changes in my lower body. I have always been a bit pear shaped. All my fat goes straight to my butt and thighs and I feel like I am out of proportion. I have always had a slim upper half, and I want to stop blaming my shape on genetics and actually DO something about it.

I would like to see some of the jiggliness (is that a word?) disappear from my butt and hamstring area. I do have a bit of cellulite there that I would LOVE to get rid of. I really would like those areas to become firmer and more toned. I would like my outer thighs to shrink a bit too, hopefully maybe losing one or 2 pant sizes.

3. More defined muscles in the rest of my body. I would love to be able to see some ab definition and more toned arm muscles. I feel like I would look a lot better if I was toned up top instead of just 'skinny' looking.

4. Better eating habits. I am hoping this program will help me live a better eating lifestyle. I have always just eaten whatever was available and never gave too much thought to nutrition. Skipping breakfast was common and even forgetting to eat dinner  (or replacing it with junk food) happened occasionally. I want to make sure I am giving my body the nutrition it needs to stay healthy for a long long time!

I think that's pretty much it! I am really excited to see if I can meet some of these goals, and now that I have it in writing I will definitely push myself to stick with it!

Day 3 - Shoulders, Arms & Ab Ripper X

So I was pleasantly surprised that shoulders and arms wasn't as intense as the plyometrics yesterday. It's a lot of curling and lifting but at what I thought was a reasonable pace. I had to take a couple of quick breaks because Ryan's high resistance band was too tough for some of the moves and I had to pause the DVD so he could get his reps in on my medium resistance band. Then there was the dreaded Ab Ripper from hell. My abs are still insanely sore from the first day of ab ripper and I couldn't even get myself to sit up from a laying down position with my legs out straight it hurt SO BAD. I really hope the soreness dies down soon so I can really push it. I snapped a couple photos. One of ryan on his hard green band, and some post-workout shots. Here you can see me with my ever delicious chocolate milk / protein mix. Yummm! It makes it worth it when I get to drink this stuff at the end!

So tomorrow we start yoga! I am actually excited for this one, I've never tried yoga before. Ryan took some yoga classes in college so he might have a better grasp on it than me at first. I am thinking about buying some yoga blocks to help me since I am a beginner. I saw some pretty cheap at Wal-Mart in the fitness section. Speaking of Wal-Mart we are getting ready to head out now for some more food stuffs that we have already run out of like salad, string cheese and veggies. I am going to make tilapia and a steamed asparagus//cauliflower/squash/other veggies stir fry mix for dinner I think :)

Hope I don't feel like a train wreck again tomorow like I did today! It seemed like the longer the day went the more sore I got! Luckily working out has seemed to help stretch me out and reduce the pain. Well, Off to the store!

Inspiration for the perspiration

I have been checking out this P90X forum that I wanted to share with everyone. It's a wealth of info from people going through the same challenges. I especially like these before and after photos. It makes me feel good that these are ACTUAL people with average results. It's definitely been a big motivator to see where this program could take me. If you have a few minutes browse through a few threads and check out some amazing results! Clicky the link!

Day 2 - Plyometrics

Plyometrics is a very intense cardio routine that involves lots of jumping, squatting, and moving in place. It sounds easy, but it is NOT. You only get a couple of 30 second or 1 minute breaks which isn't long enough for your heart rate to slow down. You are basically pushing your heart to pump at full speed for an hour. It's an awesome calorie burner and definitely gives you that 'omg I am going to pass out, I am getting so dizzy and sick, oh please make this go faster!' feeling.

You know it's working because you can feel it in all your muscles. I definitely felt it in my calves, hamstrings, thighs and lower abdomen. We did have to pause it 2 or 3 times for a couple of minutes and catch our breath. I got pretty dizzy at one point and had to support myself on a chair and take a few deep breaths. As long as you keep moving and push yourself, I think anyone can make it through this as long as they go at a pace they are comfortable with.

One of favorite moves I liked was (sorry I can't recall the real names, I was too busy sweating my ass off) was the leg swing over the chair. This is one you can't half-ass or you will find yourself face first on the floor. And the basketball catch and throws. Ryan said he likes the imaginary tires, and the frog jump. It was fun and challenging just to complete each move which only lasts 30 seconds to 1 minute each. We managed to make it through the entire DVD though which I thought was a major accomplishment seeing as it's our first time.

Tonight I am making a salad with romaine lettuce, taco seasoned lean ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, and low fat pepper jack cheese. It's going to be rough when Ryan gets home later. Today he got home at 7pm and now it's almost 9pm and we are just now making dinner. Hopefully most nights he can be done sooner so we can get it out of the way early and have some down time before bed.

Well, that's all for now!

THE DAY AFTER!

Well yesterday I was feeling pretty good. A little tightness in the muscles, but nothing major. I did work up a small sweat during the workout and Ryan kept pushing me to do more which is definitely what I need. We went to the hot tub after our workout which felt AMAZING on our tired muscles...That will definitely be a good motivator to finish each day.

We went out to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner and we had a ton of salad and veggies and some soup. We both did good and stayed away from the carbs, except for a small peice of whole wheat bread. This diet thing is a lot easier than I thought it was going to be..so far.

This morning I woke up to some sore muscles. My triceps, shoulders, chest, shoulder blades and lower abs were pretty achey. If I had to measure the soreness on a scale from 1 to 10, I think it would be around a 7. Not too bad that I can't function, but it's definitely made normal activity a lot harder. Putting on pants and opening doors don't seem so effortless anymore, lol. I really hope there isn't too much with arms or abs in Plyo tonight because I am going to be completely useless in that department.

I've been trying to eat as much protein as I can. I gulped down a protein shake and a banana for breakfast and I'm having beef and barley soup with some leftover beans mixed in. An apple, yogurt and low fat cheese stick for snacks. Tonight I think we will make something with lean ground beef for dinner. I'll write again and let you know how Plyometrics goes!

Scheduling...

So I sat down and printed out a calendar for each month we will be doing P90X so we can see what DVDs to do on what days. I told Ryan we were not allowed to miss ANY days since that would throw my entire calendar out of whack. I'm not sure how easy it's going to be when he is working long days or I have school assignments due, but I am gonna do everything I can to make sure I get the exercises done on time.

I was filling out the calendars and found out that we at least get Christmas and New Years Day as rest days. Thanksgiving didn't escape the grasp of P90X, so it looks like we will be burning off some turkey with a legs and back routine. Our completion date is January 14!!!!  I can't wait!

Day 1 is in the books...

Just completed our first team workout with Chest and Back and Ab Ripper X and I am finding it a little hard to type right now. This workout is INTENSE. I was able to do about 95% of the exercises but some of them are crazy hard (like laying on the floor and lifting my big ol' butt and legs straight up into the air). I feel like I did my best without hurting myself in the process. I kept telling myself this is only my first day so if I can't do all the reps yet not to stress over it. Hopefully as I progress I will be able to get better and have more endurance. This DVD involved a lot of pull ups, chin ups, push ups, sit ups...and a lot more other types of ups. It also involved a lot of grunting, which means I know I was actually pushing myself.

After my workout I got to have my delicious recovery drink of chocolate milk! The gallon of milk felt a lot heavier than I remembered after doing this workout. I can definitely feel the tightness and fatigue in my muscles which I am hoping means I did it right! Now I just have to wait until tomorrow to see how sore I am...ugh. Tomorrow we start plyometrics.

Heather begins day 1

So I decided to wait until Sunday to start since I want Saturday to be my rest day and it didn't make sense to me to do one day and then stop. I wanted to do the whole 6 days straight through. Maybe I am just procrastinating though, lol. So today we woke up and had some yummy egg whites with low fat cheese and turkey for breakfast and then Ryan took my before pictures. We are drinking this stuff before our workouts called "Pre-Workout Ignition" that Ryan picked up in the nutrition aisle at Wal-Mart. It claims to 'build muscle and get you pumped'. So we will see how that goes. I am getting ready to begin my first DVD as we type this....so here goes nothing...eep :-\

Ryan starts day 1

Well, Ryan was too impatient to wait until the weekend to start P90X. I told him I wanted him to wait so we could both start together and be on the same schedule. He told me he would just do the same DVD again whenever I was ready to start, how thoughtful, lol. So while I was at work Ryan was at home mounting the chin up bar to the door frame (we had to take the door off for it to fit, can you believe there wasn't a single door in our apartment it would fit on? sheesh!). I was actually able to do one pullup and one chin up, so I guess I am not THAT weak, lol. So then Ryan did the chest and arms DVD and when I got home I asked him how it went. He told me it was hard, and that he came pretty close to throwing up when he was done. That was definitely not what I wanted to hear before I started!

We had a good dinner of baked tilapia, squash and beans. Lots of protein for building muscles! I had some non-fat cottage cheese for dessert too! Looove that stuff! I am so glad it just happens to be perfect diet food too. So I am planning on starting tomorrow, so I should have my before pictures up here at some point this weekend. I am still in a nervous/excited state of mind, but I am hoping after i get going I will be more confident and get into the swing of things.

So it begins...

Today I went and picked up all 12 DVDs, Nutrition Plan, Fitness Guide, a chin-up bar and resistance band. It finally dawned on me that we might actually be doing this thing! I am both nervous and excited. Nervous that I won't be able to do half the stuff in these DVDs, and excited to see how far I can push myself to get into better shape. This day marks the beginning of a 3 month long journey in fitness. I know it will test our bodies as well as our will power. I am really excited to start the program and get things going! We went grocery shopping last night and bought lots of great foods for Phase 1. I know the diet part will be especially trying since this 3 months happens to fall over some very major holidays in which food is a very big temptation. Hopefully we can stick with it and come out looking awesome!

Here are Ryan's before pics, mine will be posted soon!