An Update: Its Been Awhile.

So life got really busy...
things kinda just blew up at the hair salon where I work. And when I say "blew up" I mean it in a good way. For the past three weeks now we've had a TON of new clients and things have just been nonstop. One week I was here EVERY day working crazy hours and just getting very tired.
Did I stop working out since I finished the 30 Day Shred?
No! NO I did not!

I started the Ripped in 30 and I am on Day 3 of Week 2.

Ripped in 30 is a little different then the shred because it goes by Week 1-4 instead of Levels. I didn't like Week 1 very much and it took me about a week and a half to do it just because I didn't have time. And when I did, I needed to sleep and not workout.

This week I wanted to do it EVERY day but my body had other ideas again. It decided to rebel against me since I"ve been pushing it so hard and I got sick =/ I did it Saturday, Sunday and Monday but skipped Tuesday and I don't know if I'll be able to do it today either. Its so discouraging to miss days in a row. It makes me mad at myself. But I know I need to listen to my body. And right now its telling me "please let me sleep".

I'll just keep plugging along and even if I don't get to finish this one in 30 days I WILL finish it.

I'm enjoying Week Two much more then Week One.
I didn't really like alot of the moves in week one but week two has some cool ones and I can do most of them and they're pretty fun even! I'll be sad when I have to move up to Week Three. But who knows, maybe I"ll like those even more!

I'm down to 125 pounds so its those last ten that take the longest to come off. I'm still staying around 1200 cals a day but I've noticed I go over my sugar and carb intake often. I think thats why I still have a bit of a muffin top instead of a six pack, haha.

I know I need to clean up my diet even more and I think I want to add on a ab workout to target those lower abs.
That and hit the gym more often. I've only gone three times in the past two weeks. Thats not good enough!

First...I need to get better tho. Until then!

Ripped In 30: Level One. Day One.

Okay, so everyone who said this workout was like the 30 Day Shred was wrong. This was way harder. It was comparable to Level Three in the Shred. And this is just Level ONE!
I know the first few days are always the hardest but man, this workout sure kicked my butt.

It was a hot hot day and I didn't work out in AC so I think I may have overheated a bit. I also made the mistake of drinking iced coffee like ten mins beforehand. Bad bad idea. I won't be doing that again.

So yeah. Level One Day One happened. It was tough and it was hard to power through. But I think tomorrow will be a bit better because I'll be more careful about feeding my body the correct thing beforehand. I'll do a more indepth post tomorrow!

Thirty Day Shred Challenge:Conquered!

I DID IT!!!!

Thirty Days DONE!

I thought once I finished this workout I would never want to work out again but I'm already planning my next thirty days.

Now the results weren't as amazing as I had hoped but as my finacee reminded me today, they are pretty awesome for just thirty days.

Sooooo here are the results. And also these will be my starting stats for the Ripped In 30 DVD which I am starting today. I think I'll blog that also, just cuz it really helps keep me accountable.

These stats are after completing Day Two and also after starting to work out at the gym and eat healthier for about a month. My starting weight at the very beginning of starting to work out was about 138-140.

Feb-18-12

Starting Weight: 132

Arms: 11

Thighs: 24

Stomach (belly button): 35

Hips: 37

Bust: 36.5

Waist(smallest part): 29.5

Butt: 39

Love handles(widest part): 36

And now for the AFTERS! 

March-19-12

Weight: 128-129

Arms: 11 (no change there, buuuut they are MUCH more definded and no fat)

Thighs: 21 -3

Stomach (belly button): 32 -3

Hips: 34 -3

Bust: 35 -1.5

Waist(smallest part): 27.5 -2

Butt: 38 -1

Love handles(widest part): 35 -1

Grand Totals: 14.5 inches and 3 pounds!

After Pictures: 

and that is me flexing, this is how I wished I looked all the time, without flexing. Buuut maybe I'll get a little closer to looking like this all the time after another 30 days!!!

Some side by sides:

 

 

 

So there ya have it. Now onto the next 30 days...One thing I really want to do is DRINK MORE WATER in these next 30 Days. I feel like I would have lost more weight if I had been able to drink more water. So I'm going to also blog how much water I drink every day to help me drink more.

That and I'm going to make sure to take at least one rest day every week because the only day I took off was ONE wednesday during the Shred and I've been reading alot about how its really much better for your body to have some rest days.

I'm very proud of myself for completing the program and only missing one day and I can't wait to start up this new one.

Ripped in 30 here I Come!

 

Days 27, 28 and 29: They All Happened.

So I haven't had a chance to blog these past few days but I DID do my workout! I've just been so busy. Which is good, but tiring.

Today is my very last day on the 30 Day Shred. I'm super proud of myself for making it 30 Days. I bought the Ripped in 30 DVD today so I'll have something to start when I finish up this one. I really love the way this workout has made me feel and I'm liking the results altho they aren't as GREAT as I'd hoped for, they are REALLY REALLY good.

I'll take final measurements/pics tomorrow. My plan is to either go to the gym or do the Ripped in 30 every day for the next month. So that way I'm getting my workout in but not feeling like I have to do both.

So, as far as the last few days, I've really been trying to engage my core, because thats where I need the most work. I've been pushing myself to do all the advanced moves and I'm FEELIN' it.

The best news is that I can now do REAL sit-ups. I can only do them while doing the workout because at the point she has you do them you're really warmed up, but I'm sure proud I can! I don't think I've ever done a real sit-up in my whole life, so I'm happy about that.

This has really motavted me to do even better. How far I've come is not enough, I must do better! So...here I go...to do my last day of the 30. WOOHOO!

Day 26: MUCH BETTER!

Day 26 happened after an eleven hour day of work. But I wasn't too tired and I brought it and I brought it hard! I did as many of the advanced moves as I could. The only ones I can't do are the jumping lunges, the pushups and the traveling pushups.
I'm realizing there are parts of this workout I really hate and others that I don't mind as much.
I like the dumbbell cleans, they are easy for me and they make me feel good. I HATE the Supermans. Breathing helps, but I really just don't like those ones. I go alot slower then the girls on the DVD. I also struggle with the flutterbys. I can do them all the way thru it just REALLY hurts me.
I was able to do all the cardio moves with the weights today. That is a hard hard interval so I feel good when I'm able to complete it.
The plank move where you pull the dumbbells then lift your leg still kills me. I struggle with keeping a good plank form with that one.

The next day I woke up sore, but a good kind of sore.
The other good thing that's been happening is while I am tired at the end of the workout, I'm not totally dead. I don't have to just lay down and recover, I can move around and do things. My endurance just keeps going up and I love that.

I only have FOUR more days left. Wow. I cannot believe I've been able to do this and I'm pretty proud of myself. I'm actually blogging yesterdays workout right now and I'm about to go do todays. Pinterest is a great motivator. I always look at "Fitness" boards to get pumped up to workout.

I've decided on doing Jillian's Ripped In 30 DVD next. It had four levels and you stay on each Level for one week. I'm going to pick that up on Sunday cuz Sunday will be my last Shred day. I'm going to take at least one day a week off this time, I've been reading alot about how your body needs a rest day. Either that or do it every other day, depending on my schedule.

Alrighty, lets go shred!

Day 25: Not My Best Day.

So after blogging yesterday about how I really wanted to bang out this workout and push myself and do my best I feel like I totally failed todays workout. Starting last night my stomach really just hurt. I didn't really feel like throwing up or anything just ugh, yuck. I woke up three times during the night with stomach pains and it still hurt in the morning. I also had a terrible headache. I tried drinking some ginger ale to settle things down...eating an apple, but that didnt work. I just took it easy all morning, watched a movie and just relaxed. Still, didn't feel good. I decided I'd try to get the workout in before heading off to work cuz I wouldnt be home again til about nine.

I made it thru but I didn't push myself. I took a few breaks and didn't do as many reps as I usually could. By the last cardio interval I was barely moving. I did keep myself moving but I wasn't jumping very high. I knew I was just doing all the movements half way but I just didn't feel good. My head was still pounding and my tummy hurt and I was overheating. It was no fun.

I don't know if I"ll have a chance to do my workout tomorrow. It may have to be my second day skipped in these 30 days, it all depends on what time I get home cuz I have a 9-8 day of work on Wednesday. Then I have a class on Thursday from 9-4 and then out to celebrate 11 months with my fiancee, but I WILL get my workout in and I WILL DO BETTER.

There's only five more days of this and I'm actually really glad. I don't like Level 3 very much to be honest. I don't know if I'll continue to do this DVD after the 30 days. I"m thinking of getting a different one to do cuz I am kinda sick of this one honestly. I also miss going to the gym because alot of times I don't have enough time to do both so I end up just doing the shred.

Well, next week will be the finishing point, I'll take my final pics and measurements! Woohoo! That will be a good day. Then onto the next workout-this must not end here!

Days 23 and 24! Done and Done. Only a week left?

Day 23:
Me and the fiancee took a four mile walk today! A month ago I probally wouldnt have had the stamina and would have wanted to quit halfway through but I did it no problem and even got in my workout later that night. I've been trying to do as many of the non modified moves as I can. The only ones I have to modify are the traveling pushups, the situps and the jumping lunges. Other then that I can do all the moves the whole way through.

I must say the Supermans are VERY hard for me. I really have to concentrate on my breathing and I don't go as fast as the girls on the DVD. I can make it through the whole cardio part where you have to hold the dumbbells so I'm happy about that.

Sweat POURS off me now. Its not the same kind of sweat as before, like just my body heating up so I sweat its like WORKOUT sweat. During the last strength segment sweat is literally dripping out onto the floor EVERY SINGLE TIME. It makes me feel like I'm a real working out pro...even tho I'm not, it just seems like it because I really have come so far!

I measured again today and I've lost more inches and am down to 128 pounds! Eight more to go for my first goal and then another five to ten, we'll see.

Day 24:
Another walk because it was an amazing day out, this one three miles with some jogging also. We also played some football, soccer and golf in the backyard.
I really am having trouble pushing myself in my workouts now. I feel myself getting sore or tired and I don't bring it as hard as I should. I'm still sweating and hurting and grunting and groaning and feeling like I'm going to die, but I just feel like I could do better. Sometimes I wish Jillain would come through the TV and tell me if I'm doing a good job or if I have to push myself harder.
I hate the part where she says, "you should be seeing your abs coming in about now" Cuz I don't see any abs...everythings smaller but my tummy is def still there.

I've been working out regularly and eating right for about two months now and lost quite a bit of weight and inches I just have to remind myself to keep up with it and not expect awesome results right awhile. The first ten pounds are the easiest and then its more of maintaining and toning. I had alot of work to do to get the weight off and now within this next month or so I want to get another eight pounds off and start to see some tone on my body. I've done really well so far, I can keep it up.

First- gotta finish this 30 Day Shred and then move on to an every other day thing or maybe the Ripped in 30 DVD, I've heard good things about that one, as well as Jillians Yoga. I like Yoga alot so maybe that.

Jeremy said to me that we should do the Insanity DVD's or P90X and I was like "yeah right! ask me that next year, if I keep working out like this then MAYBE I'll be ready for one of those." Those things are WAYYY INTENSE. I'll stick with my 30 Day Shred for now.

Day 22: THIS WORKOUT IS MADNESS!

Wow. I thought Level Two was tough. I take it back. Level 3 kicks my butt then tells me to do rockstar jumps. What are rockstar jumps you ask? Well after non-stop moving for about fifteen mins Jillian would like you to jump as high as you can while flinging your legs backwards and almost hitting yourself in the butt, do that for thirty seconds, then some squat jumps for 30, then REPEAT. Seriously? I don't even think I'll be able to make it all the way through this workout if I did it for the rest of my life! I can't keep up with the amount of reps they do on the TV. Its just way to fast. I did better on getting the form down on some of the moves.
The two toughest ones on this, no wait, make that THREE toughest ones areeee:
1. Walking planks. You get into a plank pose on your elbows instead of all the way up. Then you straighten your arms one at a time, then back down. I think you do that for a min straight. Its intense.
2. Superman. Most people know this move. You lay down and lift your legs and arms at the same time. But doing it for a min straight is NOT A GOOD TIME.
3. Plank lift thingys. I forget the real name. You get a plank pose with dumbbells in your hands. Then, staying in a plank pose you lift one dumbbell, put it down and then lift the opposite leg straight up. Then switch, and do that for a min. OUCH!
Oh and I might as well throw in those stupid scissor moves. Where you lay on your back and scissor your legs back and forth.

Theres ALOT of jumping moves here too. All the cardio moves include some kind of strength or jumping move. I am staying on the beginner ones on those for now.

All in all, I do still feel VERY strong when I finish a workout. Yesterday I worked out then went to the gym and did 20 mins on the elliptical. I feel sore today, but its a good sore. The day before I felt like a tired sore. That was a bad sore and showed me that I had overdone it.

One of the biggest things I"m learning from doing this is to LISTEN to my body. I'm much more in tune with whats going on with it and thats a good thing. Nine more days to go...then we will take measurements and pics and hopefully see some HUGE progress. Then I will be switching to an every other day format. I think I'll switch between levels one and two and maybe throw in three when I"m feeling very daring.

Day 20: A Fail. Day 21: A Success!!-

Day 20:
I worked a ten hour day, didn't pack enough food, was starving and in a grumpy mood by the time I got home. So I had some dinner and went right to bed. No workout =/ My first day missed. I figured it would do more harm then good tho cuz I was just wiped.

Day 21: LEVEL THREE!!!
So Level Three is sure intense. I actually said outloud a few times "Are you serious?" to the TV. All the cardio moves are also strength moves...for example she has you do jumping jacks WITH FIVE POUND WEIGHTS IN YOUR HANDS! Crazyyyy. During one of the plank moves my shoulder literally gave out. Like I was doing the move and then all of a sudden I was on the ground, my shoulder was just like, nope, not doing this anymore.
I always feel like I don't bring it very hard the first time I try a new level because I'm so busy trying to figure out how to do the moves so I'm sure tomorrow will be more difficult.
I'll do a more in depth post tomorrow all about Level Three!

Day 18: I Forgot to Post because I don't really remember.

Day 18 did happen. I didn't skip it. I just don't really remember much from it.
But I promise it happened.
I know I also went on a two mile walk and didn't even get winded! That means my endurance is up! And that is GOOD NEWS!

Day Nineteen!! Success!!!

THE SCALE SAID 129 TWO DAYS IN A ROW! It must be true! Finally!!!

Yesterday I think I pulled something in my stomach doing an ab move so it was a little sensitive today. I had to do just planks on the walking pushups instead of full pushups. I also did take one five second break during the chair squats with the vflies just because that move makes me so freakin' tired and sore. I have been using the five pound weights the whole time and I know thats why it hurts so much but I CAN do it so I'm going to keep using those five pounders.

Tomorrow will be my last day on Level Two. I'm really bored of it and I know my body is getting lazy. It like gets itself into these positions where it won't hurt as much but then that means its also not working itself out as much, so I know its time to move on but I'm so freakin' scared for Level Three.

I took pics again today and I am noticing a HUGE difference from Day One. YAY! 

The one thing I'm mad at myself about is not making it to the gym very often anymore. I was going four times a week before I started the Shred and now I only go like two. I think once I'm finished I"m going to do an every other day Shred and hopefully hit the gym more often. I think that will help to maintain the results I've already gotten and hopefully even improve them.

So yeah, I feel like I don't have much to report cuz its kinda just the same old same old but I'm sure once I hit up Level Three I'll have ALOT to say....

Days 16 and 17: Gettin' Stronger!

Day 16- I waited til about eight o'clock to do my workout. It went well, nothing much to report. I was able to take a shower and head to bed right after. I like doing it at that time cuz I know I can go right to bed after, haha.
Day sixteen was now three days ago so thats why I don't really remember much of it. I know I was really sweaty as useal afterwards.

Day 17- I was in Glouster visiting my finacee and we were making some sushi for dinner! yum yum. He said he would finish making it so I could do my workout, how kind of him. It was a little weird doing it in a different place. I only had five pound weights with me so I used them the whole time. Let me tell you, I am getting a little sick of Level Two. I'm glad I only have three more days on it. I always put on workout music instead of listening to the DVD and its a good thing cuz I think I'd be driven crazy otherwise.
I'm able to do all the moves, for the whole time now. I still do the modified plank cardio moves but those are the only ones I do modified. So Thursday I will be trying Level Three! Yes!
Oh, and the scale here tells me I am finally 129. I think the scale at my house is broken because it keeps saying Low battery and telling me I am still 131. I need to buy a new scale....

Until later today...Day 18!

Day Fifteen - OHHHHH WE'RE HALFWAY THEEEERE!

...Ohhh ohhh, livin' on a prayer.
So. Halfway point. Go me!
I did this for fifteen days and I can do it for fifteen more! I can I can! I will I will!!!!

I ended up not getting a chance to do my workout until about 9 30 at night and I thought it was going to be really tough cuz I'd be tired but nooo, I think nightime is my best time to workout. I powered thru it with no breaks, using five pound weights for most of it. I didn't need to lay in my bed afterwards, I hit the shower and then went to bed and fell right asleep.

Don't be fooled and think that I thought this was easy this time. No no no, interestingly enough, sweat flew off me today. That has never happened to me but it literally just like flew off my face. Cuz I was sweating so much and working out so hard. It was like those workout motivation pics where the person is all sweaty and the sweat flies everywhere. That happened to me. I know- I'm kickin butt.

I also got in forty mins of cardio at the gym. I was able to RUN for five mins STRAIGHT. This is a huge! I used to struggle to run just two mins straight and I did five no problem. My body is changing and I like it. I also feel like I'm getting back and arm muscles. I haven't weighed myself in awhile, I'm kinda scared too. But I've really been feelin good lately. I am getting a little sick of Level Two and I have one more week left of it...well, five more days of it. So by Wednesday I can switch to Level Three. Scary.

I'm trying to do the non modified version of the plank cardio moves. I can do them for a few times and then my form gets messed up so I switch back to the modified version. I feel like thats more important, the form. And trust me, even the modified versions are crazy intense.

So that about covers Day Fifteen. It was a good good day.

Day Fourteen- Two Weeks Strong.

This workout is killing me, have I said that yet? I feel like such a wimp. I think I'm just hitting a bump in the road here, tomorrow will mark the halfway point and I need to keep reminding myself if I got this far, I can do it one more time and finish strong.

I think the biggest thing thats bothering me is the lack of major results. I know it takes time but man, I'm workin hard here.

Today the only five second break I had to take was during the squats with a v-fly. That move is all kinds of crazy. My arms are strengthening up really well-when I do the plank moves I can really use them to hold myself up and feel them being strong. I do the modified moves for the two plank moves during cardio and for the vflies with the squat but other then that I do the non modified moves. I use the five pound weights for half and the 2.5 for the other half. I use the 5 pound ones for the static lunges with the arm pull things and the pendulum lunges with the bicep curls. And also for the ab workout, you can either hold the weighs to make it harder or just put your arms on the ground and I hold the five pound ones like a boss!

I think what I have to remember is yes, alot of other people could do this way better then me, alot of other people are much stronger then me, and alot of other people wouldn't be sweating and so tired like I am. I may have been alot smaller a few years ago, I may have had a nice flat tummy and no flab a few years ago but this is now. and this is me now. and for who I am right now- this is really really good. Working out for Fourteen Days in a row, doing my very best, doing all the moves and not doing them halfway. I have lost inches and I will lose more. I look MUCH better then I did fourteen days ago and I CAN be proud of myself. Now.

And that is all I have to say =]

Feelin' Down =/

So this isn't a "I did my shred today and here are the results" post. This is just a bit of a rant. So I found these old pics on a CD I had when I used to workout and eat well and I was down to like 120 pounds. I compared those with my pics that I took yesterday and felt really discouraged. I've been working out harder then I ever had and while I am getting results they aren't the results that I got before. I'm wondering if I'm eating to much because I kept a food diary when I used to go to the gym every day and I really didn't eat much at all. I do feel like I eat more now, but I'm also more active and working out harder.
I'm so sore today and I just don't want to go do this workout again when I'm not getting the results I really want. I know it took time to get to this point so its going to take alot of time to lose the weight I've gained and I need to just be patient. I also made the mistake of weighing myself this morning and I was stilllllllll at 130. arughhh.

Well I'm going to look at pintrest to give me some motavation to go do my workout in a few...I'll be blogging later saying that I did it even tho I DONT WANT TOOOO! =/

Day Thirteen - Not Feeling Like Death?

I made it all the way through this workout! I didn't need any breaks and I didn't pass out on the floor afterwards. I didn't even need to lay in bed for ten mins after to recover!! Could it be true? Am I really getting stronger?

The only thing that did happen was I was interrupted after the first circuit by my future sister in law letting me know what we were having for dinner but that was MAYBE a ten second interruption, so I don't think it counts ;) Or maybe it does and thats how I was able to power thru the rest of the workout? I don't know but either way I felt GOOD when I had finished. I have to remember to celebrate finishing every day like I used to at the beginning. Now I'm just like, good another day over instead of cheering myself on.

I also worked out in front of the mirror and listened to my own music this time, both good distractions. I need to up my weights to five for a few of the moves, I can feel myself getting lazy on the arms. I have been using the five pounds for one of the ab moves for awhile now, so thats good.

The second round of cardio still kills me, I tried to time my moves with the girls on the DVD and realized I go alot faster then they do so maybe I just need to slow it down.

I also realized today that I am babying my body all day long. Like I wont suck my tummy in or use my arms very much cuz they are soooooore. So I need to keep using all these muscles that are being hurt over and over again every day. I do think this DVD may work better doing it every other day to let your muscles heal inbetween days but I'll stick with every day til I'm finished this first 30 days.

I also took pictures again, I figured 13 days in there should be noticeable changes right? I think I see changes but I can't tell if its just me WISHING there were changes or if there really is. I'll have to show someone the "before" and "After" pictures and have them guess which are which. If they guess correctly I'll know this is working!! Good test huh?

Well, until tomorrow!  Day Fourteen, and then one more day after that and I'm HALFWAY DONE!!! Now, that is cause for celebration.

Day 12: So Tired...

So yesterday I got up at about eight oclock and started right on my shred. My body didn't like that too much. I had done this one other time with Level One, doing it first thing in the morning and it went ok. Not so much this time. My body needs some food before hitting this workout, it just had nothing left to give.
I had to stop for five seconds THREE times. and what is this? Day Five of Level Two? I think so, I should be getting BETTER not getting worse. When I finished I tried to eat some food but my body just wouldnt have it. So I sat for a bit, drank some water and then had a nice breakfast sandwich made from egg whites, turkey meat, pepperjack cheese and oatmeal bread. It was delicious and just what my body needed. I'm learning more and more about what to eat and when. I need to eat something atleast a half hour before and a half hour after I exercise.

So, onto the workout.
Its the second round of cardio that really kills me I think. Everything after that I feel like I'm going to die while doing, just because my body is so tired. I keep telling it "you can do this, sweat is fat burning." I worked out in front of the mirror again to give me extra motivation. I think my next workout I'm going to try to put the DVD on low volume and listen to some workout music. That might give me the extra boost I need.

I pushed myself and made it thru the whole thing. Like I said, I did take a few breaks but they were only for five seconds and I didn't quit.

Today I was going to try to wake up early but I had to leave for work at eight which means I had to get up at 7:15 anyways and would have had to get up at like six to be able to eat, then workout, then get ready, then go. So I AM GOING TO TRY MY VERY BEST to do it tonight. I've read alot about how you should do this every other day to give your body a rest but I'm afraid if I miss just one day I"ll just stop doing it all together. Plus, then its gonna take me sixty days to finish instead of just thirty. I think after I finish this round I might give myself a week off then just do it every other day. We'll see...

I've also stopped weighing myself every day because it was too discouraging. I think I"ll shoot for once a week from now on. So probably I will on Sunday. Fingers crossed for results.

Its possible that I've convinced my fiancee to give this workout a try too...

Well, until tonight! Twelve days down, Eighteen more to go.

Day 11: Why Is This So Hard?

First the good news...altho the scale has literally NOT moved at all in ELEVEN DAYS...I have proudly lost two inches on my stomach and both thighs and one inch off my hips! I was very very happy to find that out and let me tell you that was the only thing that motavated me to work out today. That, and knowing that if I DIDN'T workout then I'd have to blog that I didn't do it.

So I've been on Level Two for four days now and today was the worst of the four. I don't know if its because I'm doing a better job on the moves or trying to do the harder versions or if I just didn't drink enough water today but I was just dying thru the whole thing. I did take two five second breaks just because I couldn't stand it. My body was shaking and I felt like throwing up but I made it all the way thru, I did I did.

And I felt the worst I ever have after a workout. I am really really hoping that tomorrow will be better, five days in.

The good news is I only have nine more days on this workout and 19 more days total. Oh, and the inches off, that's greeeat news.

and that, that is why I will hit it hard again tomorrow and tell my body that it CAN workout and it CAN workout hard.
No. Giving. Up.

Day Ten- 20 More To Go

Day Ten...I was so tired today...I worked all day Saturday, managed to hit up the gym then slept for a bit, got up at 6 45 and was at church from seven to 12 30. After that my long lost friend from VT was coming over and we were going to go see a movie. I NEEDED to get my workout in. And I did!

At the end I literally just layed on the floor for a few mins cuz I was so wiped out. But I did it! I did it!

We also played ALOT of Just Dance. Yay for fun cardio.
My endurance is way way up. I'm getting the hang of most of the moves. And I do have more energy still. My legs are in good shape and again, less back fat. But my biggest problem area, stomach and love handles is not going away. Like I can feel that its getting firmer underneath but theres still that layer of fat that I really just want gone.
I worked out in front of the mirror again and that really helps as far as motavation and form. I think I'll do that again today.

The very last plank move kills me cuz normally the ab moves you can just lay on the ground but this one you go into plank and do "plank twists" I felt like I was going to die again, so good job Jillian.

Honestly I am getting tired of doing this...and kinda annoyed the results aren't better. I was at 130 and today I was back to 131. I'm staying under my calorie goals but the weighs not budging. I might need to change my diet plan. I don't know.

I'm going to do my measurements again later today to see if theres been ANY change. That will help if I can see a difference there. I need motavation!!!

Nine Days of Shreddin- finished!

TOMMORROW WILL BE DAY TEN! AHH!! Yay! only 21 more days of this torture.
And today was TORTURE!
Level Two is so freakin hard. Stupid Jillian is like "I want you to feel like you're going to die." Oh thats wonderful, thats just what I'd like to hear from my 'personal trainer'.

This Level involves alot of plank moves. We're planking for abs, we're planking for cardio, we're just planking up and down and side to side. Geez. I felt like I was going to throw up again and I was just so shaky at the end. I had to yell at myself towards the end cuz my eyes wanted to cry I was so tired and sore but I wouldn't let them. I pushed thru it without stopping. Like she says "if you only wanna work out for 20 mins you have to really WORK OUT the whole time."

I really felt the oblique twists and then the very last plank move where you do a twisting plank. These moves hurt alot and they're so hard to do but I do feel like they'll help with those side pooches I have and hate. I was concerned there wasn't enough ab moves on the other level but level two more then makes up for it.

I'm still concentrating on getting the form down correctly on these moves. Only using 2 1/2 pound weights for now. On a few moves it takes me a little while to get the form down, I have to keep looking back at the TV to figure out exactly how I"m supposed to be doing these crazy moves.

Now I'm off to the gym to get some cardio in...

Day Eight. Level Two. Death.

Soooo I had been on Level One for a week exactly. I wasn't using the five pound weights like I wanted to yet but I could do all the moves and I felt like some of the moves weren't really doing much anymore. I didn't feel sore day to day and I felt like I needed more a of a challenge.

Don't ever ask Jillian for more of a challenge...
That workout was seriously the best/worst of my life. My butt was officially kicked. I felt like I was going to throw up and/or die. I even got cramps for the first time. But that may have been cuz I tried to work out too so after eating. I waited about an hour but maybe my body needs longer.

There are ALOT of plank moves in this Level. I'm glad I had been practicing my plank beforehand. I did all the modified moves for sure, the advanced ones were just CRAZY!
Strangely enough once I finished the workout I kinda wanted to do it again so I could do a better job. But waiting til the next day was a better idea.

At the end I was sweating so much sweat was dripping in my face! Crazyyyness.
The scale is now reading 130 so thats better! I just really wanna see a two after that one instead of that stupid three.

The one thing I"m kinda mad at myself for is not going to the gym these past few days. Out of the last seven days I've only made it to the gym three times. I'll go today after work so that'll be better.
Life has just been crazy and so busy lately.
Til later today when I attack Level Two once again....

A WEEK IS DONE!

Day Seven.
Marks one week since I started this crazy workout.

I am def doing the strength moves correctly cuz they are hurting me alot. I'm doing them tho! All the reps all the way thru.

I can make it thru the cardio alot better too. I'm still sweating and tired but I can push thru it without any breaks.

Finishing the workout feels good still, but its dragging a little more since I've done the same thing seven days in a row. I can predicate what Jillians going to say next and which move is next which makes the workout a little boring. I thought about switching to Level Two early but I think I'll stick with this level for three more days and just try to really make each move count.

I took pictures again today to see if there were ANY changes because that STUPID FREAKIN' SCALE still hasn't moved!!!! I know for sure my back has less fat on it, the rest of my body looks a little smaller but that could just be my imagination.

Anyway, I did this workout for seven days I can do it for 23 more!

I had planned on hitting up the gym tonight but got in an accident so that plan went out the window. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get some elliptical in along with of course, the shred again!

Day Six- Early Morning Shreddin'

My alarm woke me up out of a sound sleep at seven this morning. I literally jumped when it went off, it startled me!! Did I hop right out of bed into my exercise clothes and start my workout? Well...no...
I layed there for a good ten mins, debating on if I was going to go back to sleep for a half hour or power thru my workout. After skimming facebook and waking up a little more I hit it! and I hit it hard!
The one mistake I made was to drink green tea instead of water during the workout. It gave me a bit of a sour stomach, I won't do that again. It was the only thing I had to drink in my room and I didn't want to stop the workout to go get some water. Note to self: have a WATER handy.

My endurance is WAY up from day one. I can bang thru the cardio without stopping. Sure, I'm still tired and the first set of jumping jacks, jump rope, jumping jacks, jump rope still kills my legs but I can do it. And by the end I'm not wiped, I'm actually energized. The last set of cardio is always the easiest for me.

Still doing the modified pushups. I'm being careful on my wrists cuz I don't want to hurt them. That and I'm being extra careful with my knees. Watching my form is key.

I moved up to five pound weights on the chest flies! YES!
The dumbbell press with squat I hate and also the side ludge with the bicep curl. Oh and the static lunge and bicep curl. Basically I hate all the strength moves. But I did all the reps all the way thru. I'm burning in all the right places towards the end of each rep so I know I'm doing them right.

I wasn't AS proud of myself when I finished as I have been, just because it wasn't as hard. I was still sweating alot but not as much. I think that means I'm getting ready for Level Two. Four more days on One first...

The stupid scale is still not moving. 131 today. I know I know, muscle weighs more then fat but I DONT CARE! I don't want to be a 130 lb girl! I want 120-115!

I tried to measure myself but that didn't work out so well, its hard to measure yourself. I'll have Jeremy do it this weekend to see if theres been any changes. I'm hoping there has, it will inspire me to keep going!

Until Day Seven....tommorrow! It'll be one whole week! YAY motavation!

Day 4 and 5- Check and Check!

Day 4-
Day four was a good day as far as working out goes! I played some Wii Just Dance with the finacee for a half hour or so, we hit up the gym. Did the elliptical for 17 mins, the circut and 10 mins on the treadmill. I even jogged for 3 mins straight which is good for me! We came home and did a little longboarding cuz it was BEAUTIFUL outside.

I was FEELING it today. My poor arms hurt so much. sore sore sore.

That night I completed day four of the 30 day shred! I used my weights the whole time. I felt much stronger for sure, the cardio wasn't nearly as hard. There were a few times I could feel my whole arms shaking but it was close to the end of each rep. I like how Jillian says that when it hurts, those are the ones that count the most.
I also worked out in front of a mirror today to check my form. And I'd give myself an A for form. It also helped to see my flabby stomach bouncing around during jumping jacks cuz it gave my motivation to keep going. I want that thing GONE.

I must've really brought it hard today cuz I was sweating SO MUCH. Like dripping sweat. It felt good tho. Really good.

Day FIVE:

I woke up and hit the gym right away. 20 mins on the elliptical, six on the circuit and ten on the bike. Then I came home and went straight into the shred. That was a bad idea. My endurance was lower, my legs hurt so much and during the first round of cardio I had to stop and take a five second break for the first time.
I worked thru it tho and finished strong. I felt much better towards the end. I know I'm stronger already. I know my endurance is higher and I know inches have come off. However THE SCALE IS MY ENEMY!! I want to see a 2 on there so bad...but I'm still 132 or 131 every day. The day I start seeing 2's will be a happy day.

My clothes are fitting better, things I haven't been able to wear in ages actually fit now. Strangely I know my boobs have shrunk but in a good way. They were kinda busting out of my bras and now they fit perfect. I also think they feel firmer. My butt is for sure firmer and I can see calf muscles coming in!! My back seems to have less fat back there and my stomach is smaller, but theres still that bulge I want gone. I can feel it getting firmer underneath I just need to get rid of that fat thats in the way.

I was so glad to finish the workout today. I don't think I'll go straight from the gym to shred again anytime soon. My body didn't like it.

I have alot more energy but man oh man am I sore. I was worried at first cuz I wasn't too sore but now is making up for it.

Tomorrow is my ten hour day at work but I'm going to TRY to get up at like 6:45 and bang out the workout before I head to work. We'll see if that actually happens but I"M HALFWAY DONE LEVEL ONE!!! and I wanna get to Level Two ASAP, even tho I'm a little scared of it. I'm excited for the results.

Day Three- DONE!

Okay, so part of me feels a little silly for celebrating after I finish every workout but part of me is just so proud of myself for pushing all the way thru it that  I can't help but celebrate!

After a busy day...church, out to lunch with the fiancee and a friend, dinner and hanging with the fam I was actaully really ready to workout. My body wanted to feel the burn! I think the thing I like the best about this DVD is that its only 27 minutes. It really only takes me a half hour from the time I decide I'm going to do it to being finished.

Sweat was POURING off me today. I got some 2 1/2 pound weighs and those were perfect. I did the modified pushups and couldn't complete as many as they did on the DVD but I did them for the full time.
I also had trouble on Circut 3-strength. The bicep curl with the side squat thing...I didn't use the weights for the full time because first of all, my arms felt like Jello and second, I don't think I have the form down correctly. Its hard to make sure your knee doesn't go over the toe, so I put the weights down and concentrated on form only. I'm hoping to work up to perfect form and five pound weights.

I really pushed myself at the end of the workout, determined to finish strong. I felt good when I finished.

Day Numba Two- CONQUERED!

After working from nine to five...coming home and hosting a Lia Sophia party then, seeing my finace for the first time this week and wanting really bad to just chill with him you'd think the LAST thing I'd want to do would be exercise right? WRONG. I was actaully pretty detirmand to rock this workout. And I did!

It was def harder then it was yesterday, partly cuz I was already sore from the day before and partly cuz I decided to break out the five pound wieghs. I def need to switch to three pounds, five was too much to start with.

But I did the WHOLE workout and finished strong. I felt like I was going to die, but I did it.

Tommorrow I will bring it even harder and bang this out...28 more days to go!!

This blog will be a short one seeing as how its now 9:44 and I still havent spent time with the love of my life....byyyye!

Day One- Level One- Completed

Day One:Level One:

Today I started the 30 Day Shred DVD. I'm going to try my very best to do this EVERY day for the next 30 days. Well, every day but Wenesdays cuz I work a ten hour day...and that would be a little crazy to try to do this also.

I was pretty excited to try this DVD out cuz I'd been reading online and heard good things about it. I was also a little nervous because everyone said it was HARD.

Exercise clothes- check.
Water- check.
DVD in the player- check.
Remote to skip to the correct Level- ughhh where was my remote!? After searching for it for awhile I finally found it and started the DVD.

We started with a warm up. My heart rate went up and I def warmed up.

Then into the 3 mins of strength....2 of cardio and then 1 of abs. There's three different sets of each of these with no breaks. It was good tho, everytime I thought I was going to die she switched it up...after saying just three more, two more, one more and your done...now onto...etc.
The cardio was a little tough a few times, I felt really tired at the beginning but pushed myself and got more energy towards the end. People said they thought Jillian was annoying but I actaully liked her alot. She was realistic and encouraging without being like too upbeat and like we were having fun. Cuz we weren't. But we were getting stronger and fit.

I think my favorite part was the punching during the cardio. It made me feel STRONG!

I felt so proud of myself when I finished the first day so imgaine how much prouder I'll be when I complete all 30!

I also kept under my 1200 calories and worked out on the eliptical for 12 mins and the circut at Planet Fitness for 10.

More tommorrow! I'm excited to get better at the moves. The pushups at the beginning were the hardest for me so I can't wait to be able to actaully keep up with the girls on the DVD.

I took "before" pictures and I'll take my measurements tommorrow also to be able to track my progress. Gots to get in shape for this wedding. I figured this blog will help keep me accoutable. I don't wait to have to write "I did nothing". That would be a sad day.