Day 11-I've got to workout more than once a week!

Ok, so it is Friday, the 8th of January, and I am moving on with my workouts. I really just need to get back into it and stop letting my brain tell me that I am too tired/sore/lazy to workout. I need to take control of my body, darn it! So, this morning, with a huge plateful of stuff that needs to get done today, I decided to wake up and workout first. That's right. I have so much to do on the house, but I need to put myself first! I guess I was lucky-the workout was pretty easy. It was Cardio Recovery day, which means pretty much just take it easy. In 30 minutes, I burned 200 calories. Not terribly exciting, but more than I would have if I had just been sitting around. And my muscles feel all kinds of loose right now. Lets see if I can make it 2 days in a row tomorrow :) Maybe Matt and I can do it together, since he doesn't have work. That would be fun-I like working out with him, and he hasn't had a chance or felt well enough since before Christmas.

Anyways, off to cross some stuff off the list---I've got a lot to do, and a short time to do it. California, here I come, right back where we started from, California!!!! :)

~Pam

Day 10 {FINALLY}

So, today, I woke up a little later than usual (730am). Matt had duty yesterday, but no watch, so he came home and slept in his own bed. He's feeling a bit under the weather, so he needed the rest. Well, he let me sleep in this morning, and when I woke up I made a decision. It has been too long since I've worked out. First injury {mine}, then illness {Matt's} has prevented me from continuing with this program. And I really want to finish the program. I need to lose body fat percent. That's my goal. With P90X, I was able to go from about 33% down to 25%, but I would really like to see it more in the 20% range. So, that is going to mean working out on my own if need be. I hope Matt doesn't mind, but I think he'll be ok. He'll just have to do the workouts with me when he can. I don't mind working out early in the mornings when he's here. But we just need to get back into a routine and get back at it!

Today was the Plyo Cardio Circuit. I feel like I did pretty well. In fact, I burned 419 calories! The gel that Matt got me for my heart rate monitor works like a champ. My HRM was getting a signal from the moment I put it on. I've had a lot of trouble in the past with that. Also, I used some sweat bands today, and boy did I need them! I got them for Matt for Christmas, and I got enough for the two of us. They work pretty well; I'm impressed.

Anyways, the breakfast this morning was a little different for me. I have never eaten cottage cheese before. When we would get it in school, they would pile it on top of a slice of pineapple. I always thought it was a waste of a perfectly good pineapple, and scrape it off :) But, I have decided to be adventurous. Not only have I {gasp} pierced my ears (I did that on Sunday) but I'm eating cottage cheese for breakfast. What is the world coming to? :) Just kidding. But seriously, I think it is time for me to leave some of my childish misgivings about food behind. Who knows? Maybe next I'll try.....mushrooms? Nah! Maybe not!

Days 7, 8, and 9

Ok, so day 7 was a much needed rest, which fell on Sunday. Monday, we were back at it, with Cardio Power and Resistance. It ended up being a good workout. A nice way to start the week. Tuesday, day 9, we woke up early to workout before Matt's duty. The workout was Pure Cardio, and let me tell you, that workout is a BEAST! You don't get a break, for about 40 minutes. Of course, I took breaks, but I HAD to. The intensity is insane. Well, today, when Matt got off duty, we should have done day 10, but he's tired, and I think it will be good to take a break, so we can BRING IT tomorrow. If we don't give 100% today, we won't be able to tomorrow, either. I'm starting to see some changes in my body. My abs are getting tighter. Still have a pooch, but that's ok. It will be gone, and then....belly button piercing? I dunno, we'll see. :)

Day 10 tomorrow, Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to all!

~Pam

Day 6-Cardio Plyo Circuit

Just got done doing the workout today. It kicked my butt. Sweat pouring down my face. I kept with it, even though I had to take a few breaks. This is the third time doing this workout (b/c we had to restart and do it over again) and it doesn't get any easier, let me tell you. But I think I'm doing better, getting stronger. That's all I can ask. I suck at the ski abs and the in and out abs. The level 1 drills kick my butt, too, especially that third round of them. I like how it finishes off with jabs and punches and stuff like that. It is a good way to end. Well, need to shower, and let my muscles recover.

Peace out.
Pam

PS. Tomorrow = Rest Day. So excited! :)

Day 4-Cardio Recovery

And boy did I need a recovery. I don't think I'm eating enough. I was zonked at the end of the workout. I even took a little nap. Might have had something to do with the fact that I went to bed late and we woke up at 4am to workout. But that 30 minute workout was something else. A lot of stretching, but still challenging. I think my body is changing, but it is too soon to tell. Tomorrow, when Matt gets off work, and before we go to the Christmas party, we'll to Pure Cardio (which sounds like it will be challenging) and then another round of Plyometric Cardio Circuit on Friday. Saturday will be a glorious rest day-and my graduation day. I can't believe I'm graduating. It has come so fast. I got my grade for Student Teaching. It finally posted. After I caved in and submitted my portfolio on LiveText like I said I wasn't going to. Not like it was any good or anything. But, I don't think there is anything to hold me back now!

Anyways, this is more about the workouts than my real life. Feeling good, sore. Ready for another toughy tomorrow!

~Pam

Day 2 and 3 Again

So, I guess I pushed it a little too hard last week. My foot was killing me after the third workout. So, Matt and I decided to take a break and give my foot a rest. That was a good idea. I also got some new shoes; some cross trainers. I highly recommend the right pair of shoes for these workouts. There's a lot of jumping and running in place, quick direction changes. That kind of thing.

Let me tell you about the workouts. Yesterday, Monday, December 14, we did workout 2 again (remember that workout 1 is the fit test). This workout was crazy! We did it at about 4pm, after Matt got home from work. It is all about Plyometrics and Cardio. Lots of jumping and running. These workouts are very difficult! I try to push myself through the workouts, but I still have to take breaks. I'm ok with that, though. I know I'll just get better. Today, Tuesday, December 15, Matt and I woke up at 4:30am and did workout 3. This workout was just as challenging and crazy as workout 2. Cardio Power and Resistance. Lots of running, jumping, power squats, pushups. I already feel stronger; I didn't have to take as many breaks as the first time I did it. Once the warm-up was done, my body was on FIRE! Fun workout; I am glad Matt and I woke up for it.

Things I need to look out for:
Eating enough-I need to probably eat more, just to maintain my weight and have enough energy for the workouts.
My foot-I need to be on the lookout for injury.
My heart-rate- I need to stay in the zone so I'm getting the most bang for my buck.
Water-I need to drink a LOT more of it.

Well, I think I might go take a little nap. Because I can! :)

Another workout tomorrow morning. I can't wait!

~Pam

Day 2

Matt gave me the best Christmas gift ever...Insanity. A 60 day workout routine that is just ridiculous. And by ridiculous, I mean hard. Difficult. Insane. Yesterday, we took measurements and did the fit test. The fit test was hard! Then, this morning, we woke up and did the first official workout. I think it is called Plyometrics and Cardio (or something like that). Well, it was really, really challenging. I had to keep taking breaks. I think that might be mainly b/c my cardio is so bad right now. But I'm really glad we're getting back into it. I feel good, albeit sore as all hell. My calves, lower back, abs, arms, all sore. I have never sweated that much in a 41 minute workout! I'll try to get Matt to post some before pictures, so we can track some progress. Best thing about this? We take pics and measurements every 2 weeks, instead of 4 like P90X.

Anyways, I think I also want to start blogging on this again, so we'll see what happens. Did I mention that I'm glad I'm doing this?

~Pam

The End

Well, I think I've officially decided to end Round 2. Tomorrow morning Matthew will take pictures and measurements. I think that I didn't let my body rest enough between rounds, and I'm just now starting to see some real results. The best numbers I can give you right now are: 122.6 pounds and 23% body fat. Also, my metabolic age has plummeted from 49ish to 16 years old! That's a big decrease!

I'm really sorry that I didn't keep up with the blog. I did really well the first two months of this phase, and then I just haven't really wanted to go on the computer for the last month. I think I was sort of boycotting it. Or something like that. I think it also had to do with my schoolwork that was almost overwhelming.

So, what is next? Well, Matt and I are going to workout in our brand-spanking-new gym we have put together in our spare bedroom. It is AWESOME! Matt has figured out the workouts for us, and we're going to see about putting on some serious muscle. I can always fall back to P90X if I need to, but I am super excited about trying something new.

Well, I'll write more tomorrow, when I get my measurements in.

~Pam

Day 53-Stretch

Just what the doctor ordered-Stretch. I feel a gazillion times better. Yesterday Matt and I rode with the Penn. cyclists down to the bike shop in Chesapeake. Round trip-about 30 miles. !! So, needless to say, I am a little sore this morning. Or was. NOw, I feel much better. Matt is in the other room doing Back and Biceps and Abs. I feel sort of guilty, just doing stretch, but this is MY rest week, so I shouldn't feel guilty. I think I might have eaten too much yesterday....I hope I can work it out!

~Pam

Day 52-Kenpo

Ok, so I woke up this morning at 6:30, jumped out of bed, and was ready for some butt kicking Kenpo. SO much fun! I had a great workout and was done before Matt got home. Right before he got home from duty! Worked out nicely.

I love Kenpo. Have I mentioned that?

Pam

Day 51-Core Synergistics

When I woke up in the morning on Friday, I wasn't feeling it. I had planned to work out, but I ended up waiting until about 9:00pm to do it. Done by ten, and then shower and to bed. COre is so hard! It challenges all my muscles. I didn't end up doing the bonus at the end, but I still feel like I got an extremely good workout. :)

Day 50-Day one of rest week for phase 2

Wow. Am I already on rest week? I can't believe it. I had to pump myself up and get excited about Yoga this morning. Matt is not doing a rest week, he's doing some strength training this week. So I waited until he was gone to work to start my workout. I really pushed myself during the yoga, much more than I normally do. I tried to go deeper into the poses. I was SWEATING! I usually don't sweat that much during Yoga, but holy cow, some of those poses are really challenging when you go deep into them. I did the whole thing, ommss and all. I feel pretty darn good today.

Next week, I'm going to Penny's and I'm excited to bring my workouts and FORCE her to workout with me in the mornings. I already warned her that I was going to work out every morning, and she was going to do them with me. :)

Thank goodness for rest weeks...

Day 49-Rest

I was thinking about doing some stretch on my rest day, but I didn't end up doing it. It's ok, since I really needed the rest, anyways. :)

I feel pretty good....

Day 48-Kenpo X

So, I was in the worst, most horrible mood on Tuesday morning. I don't know why, but I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Well, instead of letting it ruin my whole day, I just kicked my butt in Kenpo. I had sweat dripping down my face, arms, and legs. Holy cow! It felt great! No more bad mood! Then, later that night, Matt and I took a long walk after dinner. That was awesome, too! How lucky am I to have a supportive husband?

Day 47-Memorial Day-Legs And Back

Holy cow. Matt and I wanted to work out together, but Matt had duty, so we had to be up EARLY. Like 330am early. CRAZY! But it was fun working out together. He definitely pushes me. I think I would probably be having even better results if he were there to push me to my limits every workout. Right now, I'm having OK results. My BF% keeps going down, and I need to remind myself that that is enough. It is hard when you place so much emphasis on what the scale says, you know? It is hard to get away from that mindset.

At least I feel results in my body, and by feel I mean strength. It is amazing how much stronger I am. Matt and I went for a bike ride Sunday night, and we rode really FAST down one particular street. I mean, we were doing almost 20mph for over a mile! It was great! But that's just one example of my increasing strength. Yesterday I picked up both Parker and Preston, one on my back, the other on my front, and boy were they HEAVY. But I still was able to hold them both, even if it was just for a little bit.

Chancy called last night. She's doing the fit test for P90X. :) I'm so excited for her. I hope she sticks with it and sees the results she's looking for. I think she's the perfect candidate for P90X. She's already in a little bit of shape and can definitely take it to the next level. Honestly, I think I was borderline when I started. As far as my beginning fitness goes, anyways.

Ok, well, I've gotta go, and think about when I'm going to do Kenpo this morning. I already ate breakfast, so it will probably be in a little bit....

~Pam

Day 46-Yoga

Matt didn't do Yoga with me, and I didn't feel like doing it, so he said, "Why don't you do just up to Yoga Belly 7". I was like, OK, but by the time I got there, I felt like I should just finish up. I even did the Oms. Yoga feels so good, it really does feel like it fills in the gaps. And it has been a little while since I've done it, so it felt REALLY good. I felt 100 times more flexible at the end, which was NICE!

Day 45-Back and Biceps

Woohoo! Today I got to work out with Matt. That was a lot of fun. We got up early enough, but not too early, and really enjoyed the workout. Lots of bicep curls, that's for sure. Plus a couple sets of pullups, and you can't go wrong. I worked on either heavying up my weight, or increasing reps on every exercise. My biceps were BULGING afterwards :)
Abs was hard, especially doing it with Matt. He pushes me so hard, I think I overdid it a little bit *shrug* It was WORTH it, though.

Day 44-Cardio X

I decided to do Cardio X today instead of Plyo, just because I didn't have the time I needed to get Plyo done. But still, Cardio X was awesome. And then, I was able to eat breakfast and head over to Kate's for a little bit of walking around the block with the kids. Fun, fun.

Day 43--Chest, Shoulders, Triceps +Abs

Ok, so now it is almost a week later and I don't really remember this workout. Sorry! I'll try to remember to blog more often, so I don't run into this problem...

Day 42-Rest/Stretch X

Ok, today (Wednesday) is my rest day. I haven't decided if I'm going to stretch or not. I probably will, it will be in the afternoon, though. I actually like the stretch in the afternoon. It is very relaxing, and energizing at the same time. Plus, my body THINKS I'm taking the day off, so it is happy. I just trick it by delaying the workout :)

Boy do I need a rest. My whole body is sore from my head down to my toes. All of my major muscle groups got a workout this last week. :)