Core Syn is BRUTAL

Because we want to ratchet our workouts up a notch, we have decided for the last month (that begins next Monday) of our first 90 days we are going to switch around yoga one week and core synergestics (sp?) the other week.

Tonight we are doing Kenpo rather than Yoga X because we simply want more cardio.  We have missed a spattering of days here and there and need to feel we have also pushed ourselves this week.

I am thrilled to feel better about my body, but am so far away from where I want to be still, sometimes I feel frustrated.

The weather is beautiful, I had more energy and clarity today walking outside in the sunshine with Madison then I have had in a few years.  I know that all of this is due to our workouts.  I do hate to admit, that I am not getting enough sleep at nights.  I feel I'm burning with energy at least mental energy for hours after the workout.

Kenpo should be fun this evening.  I have missed it!

Back and Biceps, my Fav workout!

Last night's Back and Biceps is my favorite!  I was finally able to grab the 25's and do at least 40 curls with them.  I remember when I was working out with Valeo Boot Camp back in the spring and my 5's seemed to wear me out after awhile.  :)
Dan and I are looking for more weights, we need a larger variety for our workouts now that we have increased strength.  I think he is going to add Ab Ripper X and Push Ups to his week and I a going to add Bicep Curls and Negative Pull Ups.
I think it's time we can push ourselves even harder for month 3.  After this week, and our recovery week next week, it's time to hit month 30.  I for one am very motivated to make the biggest changes occur during that 30 days of our progress so fadr.  Then we start round 2.  We both are excited to see where we are at by 1/1/11, but we will continue to finish out that 30 day cycle that will be left, really being done with our first two sets on 2/1/11.  I still complain about evening workouts.  It makes it so I am awake and full of energy until 2 in the morning usually.  Then I am up with the baby to feed her around 7, and she goes back down to sleep until usually about 8:30.  We are both then up for the day.  I am usually worn out/tired...muscles ache and exhausted simply wanting to sleep.  When she naps between 11 and 12, I try to nap with her.  But I feel like I am not giving her the best of me because I am so tired while she is awake. I am often crabby during the day. 
Hmm...that's not fun for me or Madison.  Maybe next week, during recovery week, we can once and for all try the morning workouts and see if we can adjust together to a different schedule.Otherwise, well, I guess I'll just have to try and sacrifice for 4 more months. 
Maybe it will get easier? 

Week THREE of Month TWO

Wow.

It is hard to believe we are as far along as we are, our first 90 day round is in site. 

I am so excited by some of the results that I have seen just in the last few weeks.  I can do push ups, negative pull ups are helping a lot...my biceps are rocks.  No more flab that appeared after I had Madison when I wave my arm, it's all firm again. 

My hips are slimmer, the lines have changed through my waist, everything is smaller, firmer...stronger. 

We feel healthier, are eating better than I can remember that we ever have.  We look forward to going even further with this and seeing where this over haul of a healthy lifestyle will take us.

Some days the workouts kill us, other days we feel like we really accomplished each set with less of a challenge therefore we could push ourselves even harder.

I can say that I would recommend P90X to anyone who is serious about fitness, about lifestyle change and has some pretty focused motivation.  Finding the time to workout together means I sacrifice often.  I still am thankful that we do workout together because we push each other and it's easier for me to have a partner.  Not everyone needs that, so if you are not one who does, don't hesitate, dive ride in and be prepared for the ride of your life.

Our 90 day pictures may not be the end result of where we WILL be, but they will show improvement, improvement we can be proud of!!!

So busy, but still working on P90X!!

Tonight was Plyo.  Plyo keeps me awake  FFFOORREEEVVVERRRR!

One of these days, I really hope we try to switch things around and workout in the AM.  For now, it hasn't happened.  Having a 16 month old and a 10 year old stepson, there is always something going on.  That of course and focusing on the new business, photography and school, I am amazed I have any time.  So, sad to say, at 1:19 in the morning the house is quiet, all is asleep but me and I finally have a moment. 

I am physically tired, but my brain is wired.

This has been a rough stretch recently.  I have not felt as strong, I have felt a little under the weather.  I want instant results and I think that simply because I have SEEN results and I am getting stronger, I suddenly feel like I should just "be fit" again.  :)  Sorry Dana.  It doesn't work like that.  But boy how I want it to.  Nah, I'm not impatient...  

I know that each day, each week that passes I am better, stronger, healthier and leaner.  I know that I am treating my body better, other than the sleep.  I am napping during the day with my daughter which I do not prefer, but is working with the late night workouts for me.  If I cant' sleep, I nap with her when she goes down and I manage to have the energy to do the workout at 6:30.  Tomorrow evening it will be even later because Dan has a dental appointment at 7.  Well, actually, I just may do tomorrow's workout during the day and Dan can workout alone in the late evening.  He has no problem falling right to sleep after a workout and it is hard on me.  If I do it on my own earlier in the day, maybe I can get some rest tomorrow night.

Push ups are getting easier.  I can feel my calves when I stretch and shave.  :)  My arms are sore after yesterdays workout.

Tomorrow is one of my favorites.  Biceps.  I love to lift.  One of my favorite things/days.  That and Kenpo are definitely the most enjoyable for me.

Sweet dreams all.

Can anyone say "Stronger?!"

So, I can officially say....getting stronger!

Ab Ripper X is getting easier to do each time.  To clarify, it is by no means "easy" but I can now actually do it all and not have to quit at different points through the workout. 

Legs tonight was tough.  We missed Yoga X yesterday.  Dan was exhausted and crashed around 7:30 pm and slept through the night so we are going to pick up Yoga X tomorrow and do Kenpo on our Rest Day Sunday. 

Each day I glance in the mirror, check out side views and so on.  It's hilarious.  Some days I am frustrated and annoyed by the lack of progress...I suppose I am impatient.  I remember being fit, and now that I am working so hard again, I just want to BE fit already.  :)  But, other days I wake up and catch a glimpse of a muscle that surprises me or notice a change here and there.  Today I lifted my arms above my head to stretch out a sore muscle while standing in front of the mirror getting ready and I noticed immediately my top two abdominals showing.  Well what do you know.....after having a baby, revealing those suckers in ANY way is happy times!  I was not even trying to accomplish this, it was pure coincidence.  YAY and YAY YAY.

It is so encouraging to feel stronger.  I know that month 60 and month 90 bring greater results than the first 30 days visually because your body has been prepped and muscles have strengthened and they begin to show.  It's great to think that by Halloween we will have been through the first 90 days and have totally changed our bodies in 3 months.  Then, by Christmas we will just about be finished with round two.  And Christmas simply does not seem that far off.

...I have two people to shoot this Sunday and Monday and I am very excited about that as well.  It's great to have things that inspire, motivate and push you to be a better you.

I am trying to remember to keep God first in my life.  Focusing on His purpose for me, for my family, and His desire for how I touch and reach others.  Sometimes I feel like the simple 'busy' in life gets in the way of a closer walk with Him.

I don't want to let that happen ever again.  Some of the toughest struggles in my life, the biggest mistakes and the hardest let downs ALL came when God was not center of my universe. 

My simple prayer this Sabbath evening is "Lord, make me healthy, fit and strong.  Let the desire to be these things not become about the visual, but about being the best me I can be for You.  Make me the best Mother to my child and stepchild and the best partner/potential wife that I can be.  But most of all Father, make me the best daughter to YOU."  Amen.

And Goodnight.

Well in to week 1 of month 2

This week has been a challenge, and a good one.  Both days of weight lifting are new, and harder in progression then last month.  I loved yesterday's workout.  I really enjoy lifting, have a decent amount of strength and endurance when it comes to that.  I like to see my arms beginning to develop again.  Push ups are another thing.  Why is it I can lift weights but struggle pounding out push ups?  And these are military style, one handed, clapping and so on.  NICE.  Ugh.

Still using bands, cannot do a pull up.  I'm not beating myself up over this.  Even when I was in the best shape I've ever been in, weight lifting for months before Maddie was born, I could not do a pull up.  Yet this time around, I'd like to get there.  Maybe round two, and before our big reveal at Christmas. 

It's fun, surprisingly enough to wake up in the morning and feel your sore muscles all over your body.  Each day a new muscle group.  Thrilled that my Tuesday workout is still showing it's reward by my sore glutes and quads. 

Tonight is 90 minute yoga, tomorrow legs.  I need the yoga this evening.  The deep stretching sounds great.  I'm also finally able to get through ALL the Ab Ripper X without stopping.  Dan and I both made it through that fully.  That felt good. 

I still do not like working out at night, and I hope that on Monday of next week, we try to switch over to morning workouts.  Night workouts keep me up later than I want to be, and not getting enough rest at night.  But I simply do better working out with a partner, I work harder and go longer.  I dig the team work aspect of it. 

The photography is going well.  My online classes, learning the lenses, the f stops, aperture...now practice practice practice, continuing to study, buying the .com and choosing a website and so on....it's all wonderfully busy.

Stresses still remain, Maddie's scary breath holding spells, stress that is hard in other areas and so on...but I'm loving P90X and I am SO thrilled to be on the program coming close to the 1/2 way mark of our first round.

RESULTS SO FAR:

1. Looser fitting clothing.  Since I will not get on a scale, I can't say how much, but definitely weight loss in inches
2. Arm/Back definition
3. Increased endurance
4. Amped motivation for life in general.