Monday, March 19, 2012

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!
 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

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!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

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!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

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!

Monday, March 12, 2012

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.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

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.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

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!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

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!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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....

Monday, March 5, 2012

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!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

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.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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! =/