Workout Update

I got those jeans! Hooray!

This time around, I'll be honest, I have half-assed some of the workouts and have skipped days. Hell, I skipped all of last week (thank you, influenza!). But I'm still seeing results on my physique, if not necessarily the scale. I need to add cardio and cut a few calories to truly see the results I want to see.

I did the math and I officially have 42 days until my first beach trip of the year and then the week we get back, I'll have 13 weeks exactly until the next trip. I'm going to work my ass off between now and spring break, but I won't be able to complete the program.

I worked it out that I have *just* enough time to actually complete all 13 weeks start to finish if I start it up the day after we get back from Mexico.

Folks, that is a lot of working out.

Just sayin'!

This Blog is Dusty!

Wow. My last post on here is from October of 2009! That is terrible.

Since then, I've *almost* completed P90X once. I came really close. Week 11 of the 13-week program came the week before we left for a trip to Mexico, and I could never get back into the groove once we returned. I tried to do week 11 over twice and then gave up. Summer, after all, was almost over.

So. Um. Yeah. Then came fall and birthdays and Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the ensuing highly caloric and fattening foods I simply had to make and taste and eat.

And with that, came squishiness where I definitely do NOT want it and about 5-10 pounds I absolutely hate.

Where I have issues with working out and eating right is the actual motivation and willpower to do the right thing for my body. I have this inner dialogue that is literally always running and most of the time, it is running on and on about food. And whether or not I should do that workout. Most of the time lately, I have been listening to the lazy side of the argument.

And then, my husband and I went shopping together after Christmas. I needed new jeans. I tried many pairs of jeans on and was disgusted by myself and the way they looked (and NO, moving up a size is simply NOT an option). Dr Pop was in the dressing room with me and he is nothing if not honest about how clothes look on me.

Boom!

Motivation!

The next day, I began P90X again. My goal is to complete two weeks and then go back and buy the jeans that *almost* fit.

I haven't been perfect in my workouts (skipping one or two here and there), but I am definitely already seeing results both physically and on the scale.

On Saturday, those jeans will be mine!

Of course, that means that I will only have completed two weeks out of a thirteen week training regimen. So I need more motivation.

Aside from the fact that we will be going to the beach mid-March and again in mid-June, I need something to help me stick with it. I don't think dropping $200 on a pair of jeans every two weeks as a reward for my hard work will be very well-received. ;)

What motivates you?

Stuck

I'm stuck. My body is stuck. I have no willpower to resist bad foods.

I think I might be a little depressed about it. I do not for the life of me understand how, after working out 3 - 4 days a week, cutting back on the bad stuff (but no, not cutting it completely out), and trying to live a healthier life, I am STILL stuck at this same number.

Look, I normally walk around anywhere between 127 and 132, depending on the time of month, extra indulgences, what have you. I've been stuck between 133 and 136 for about two months or more (since I started weighing myself regularly again). It's really irksome.

I know what I need to do. But I cannot bring myself to do it. I need to kick start with South Beach or something similar. I have exactly 30 days before I board a plane to Mexico. If I spend the next 14 eating lean protein, low fat, lots of veggies, and very few carbs, plus exercise 4 to 5 days out of each seven, I should be there.

[insert whiney voice]BUT IT'S SO HARD![/insert whiney voice]

Three Steps Forward...

Three Steps Back...

This AM, I was right back at 134.0.

I worked out. I ate well (mostly). I'm at a loss.

38 days until I'll be donning a bikini.

Cleansing

Update...

So, in my quest for better health and a tighter body by November 20th (the day we leave for our Playa Thanksgiving adventure), I have committed to only weighing myself once a week. On Mondays. Before I get in the shower in the AM.

When I updated two weeks ago, I weighed 133.4.
Last Monday, I weighed 132.2.
Today, I weighed 131.2.

So everything is going in the right direction, right? My goal is 122. I think it's reasonable.

I'm a results-oriented person and I also like instant gratification. The past 12 months have been a yo-yo of working out, eating right, being a slug, eating like crap, starting over, getting discouraged, and a complete yo-yo! I took a couple of months off from working out, and when I would go back to it, I'd run for a couple of days and then take four weeks off. Not good.

I leave for Playa in 45 days. In an effort to jump start things in my body last week, I decided to do a cleanse.

I'm not going to say which one, other than to say it wasn't a starvation cleanse, but more of a "move things along" cleanse. I stuck with it for 6 days, finally giving up yesterday.

I'm not a proponent of "cleanses." I've always railed loud and long about the negative health effects of them. And after last week? I haven't changed my mind. Cleanses are dangerous. When you take what amounts to a handful of laxatives (under the guise of "herbal" and "root" and blah, blah, healthy, blah) twice a day for a week, you are going to lose weight. In my case, I lost a pound, but I coupled the "cleanse" with four days of exercise and one or two better food choices. If I'd coupled the exercise with good, healthy eating, my results would probably had been better cleanse or no cleanse.

The good news from last week? I worked out Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. For that, I'm proud of myself.

Man, this thing is dusty!

Does the fact that I haven't updated since February mean I haven't been working out?

No.

In fact, I had several spurts of intense workouts during the months of May, June, and July, mainly around a couple of trips to Mazatlan.

Problem is, I have been a slug ever since and in between those intense bursts.

The result?

I weigh 133.4 pounds. There. I put it out there. This morning, I got on the scale, and I weighed 133.4 pounds.

While that is not "heavy" by any stretch of the imagination, and that is a healthy weight, and blah, blah, blah... To put it into perspective, in May of 2007, I weighed in at a svelte, cut, smokin' hot 121 right before leaving for a week in Playa. Before I left for Playa in 2008, I weighed about 123/124. Before I left for my friends' wedding in Cancun, back in February, I weighed about 125. All of those times, I had a flat, ripped stomach and my clothes fit like a dream.

Because of this, I bought more clothes in those new, smaller sizes. And now? These clothes DO. NOT. FIT.

Time is of the essence. My family will be trekking to the beach one more time in 2009 (for Thanksgiving!), and it is damn time I get with it! Again!

So today (and every day between now and then), I am going to exercise. I am going to eat right (with the exception of the bag of cheetos and cupcake I just ate). I am going to get back to my former self.

I have no excuse for what happened. I just ate more and moved less instead of the opposite.

Ugh.

So Hi!

Well, since I last sat down to compose a post about working out, I've worked out every single day but one (this past Thursday, don't ask).

I'm in a bit of a funk about it, though, to tell you the truth. Do you know that I have not lost ONE. SINGLE. POUND! since ramping up my regime? I think my ass and my tummy still look squishy and I'm not even close to being ready for a beach.

And that is really too bad because three weeks from now, I'll be on a beach. Hmm...

So if I'm working my ass off (figuratively, so not literally at this point), what the Hell is the problem?

Food. As in I cannot stop eating it. As in I had two fast food cheeseburgers this weekend. With french fries and tater tots.

ARGH!

Wish me luck! I'm going to weigh in every Monday (maybe) and post what I've been eating and how much I've exercised. Maybe the blog can hold me accountable.

On the Train

The workout train, that is...

Last week I went Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. This week, I've worked out (either at home with Turbo Jam or at the gym) every single day. Monday - Thursday. Yeppers!

I also tentatively started South Beach to kick-start my metablolism. HA! I lasted two days!!!

I think as long as I work the cardio, add some weights for definition in my arms and weighted squats and lunges, and continue the intensity for the next three weeks, I will be in decent enough shape for my friends' Mexico beach wedding.

I just have to say no to the cookies!

More Turbo

Two weeks in a row, people! Two weeks in a row! Go me!

And in other good news, my friend has returned my original Turbo Jam, so I can get back to Turbo Sculpt, Ab Jam, and Cardio Party Mix 1.

I have to say, though, that being limited to the workouts of Maximum Results has been an eye-opener. I've had these DVDs for close to two years and had barely touched any of them. I'm glad to know that I can make it through some of these workouts that had been intimidating to me.

I think I'm going to have to work out six days a week until we leave for Mexico, though, to get back into last year's shape. Oh well.

Maximum Results

So... If you've even read one post on this blog, you are well aware that I am a huge fan of Turbo Jam. I cannot say enough positive things about it. Chalene Johnson's workouts are intense and produce results.

I purchased Turbo Jam in 2006 after watching an infomercial and have been using it ever since. In 2007, somewhat bored with the current routine of 5 workouts (of which I did 3 on a regular basis), I ordered Turbo Jam "Maximum Results." And it kicked my ass. I thought it was so hard, that I really only utilized two of the workouts (Fat Blaster and Totally Tubular Turbo). Then I got a gym membership for my birthday last year and really stopped the Turbo.

Fast forward to about a month ago. I did the unthinkable and loaned out my original Turbo Jam workouts to a neighbor. She still has them. And I'm going to Mexico in 7 weeks. I used the whole "I only have Maximum Results and I hate it" bit as an excuse to not get off my ass and work out, until I could no longer ignore the "squishyness" of my body.*

*Cue my friends who will immediately jump in and say, "You're not fat!" Duh. I know that I'm a healthy weight. But all that lovely muscle and those flat-ish abs have gone away in a whirlwind of TV-watching, chip and queso-eating, fast food and holiday binge.

Tuesday, I finally got my lazy butt off the couch and popped in Fat Blaster. 30 minutes later, I was drenched in sweat, breathing laboriously, and generally feeling like I was going to die. Wednesday, I pulled out "Cardio Party, Mix 3," my nemesis. The workout that I couldn't get even 1/3 of the way through the first three times I attempted. 50 minutes later, my legs were shaking like they were made of jello and my hip flexor and oblique muscles burned... In a good way. Even better? The feeling of accomplishment I felt in that I had done every rep, every exercise, every minute of the workout! For the first time EVER! Thursday, though? I was hurting. But I sucked it up and did the Totally Tubular Turbo (this is a 30-minute resistance band routine for muscle/strength/toning). It wasn't as intense of a cardio workout, but it worked all my muscles.

Hooray! I'm feeling the pain today, and I won't workout today. But I have got to keep up with the workouts because I WILL once again rock the Riviera Maya!

Didn't Do Turbo Last Night

Instead, Dr Pop and I went to the gym where I...

• Spent 25 minutes running on the treadmill
• Worked my abs on two ab machines
• Worked on my shoulders
• Worked on my arms
• Spent 5 minutes on the elliptical

I can hardly move today.

Turb-OHMYGOD!

I returned to my Turbo Jam roots last night. I did the "Fat Blaster" 30-minute workout. Today, my legs and arms feel like jello.

This tells me that for all the elliptical, stair master, and treadmill work I've done (granted, not much over the past month), nothing will work me out better than Turbo Jam.

I'm hoping to have enough in me this evening to do a Turbo Sculpt DVD.

One good side effect of the working out, though, is that I absolutely hate to undo the hard work with bad food. Last night I made Tilapia with an orzo salad for dinner. Yummy! Well, except for the orzo. I've never made it before, but didn't like all of the ingredients called for in the www.food.com recipe, so I modified it. Shouldn't have done that.

Motivation

I have to say that I have not been doing very well with the working out. Don't get me wrong, I've actually worked out on a somewhat regular basis all summer long. I've taken a week or two off here and there, but I've gone to the gym or exercised at least two days per week most weeks since June.

Where I've completely fallen off the wagon is with food. I've not been making good choices. So between the small amount of physical activity and the large amounts of really bad for me food, I'm back at my pre-vacation weight.

Here we go again. If I'm not focusing on it and blogging about it, I don't do it. Ugh.

So my motivation is now to get in stronger cardiovasuclar shape for an upcoming ski trip before Christmas. Then, my goal is to not overdo the holidays with the eating, and continue to exercise regularly, so that I will look good for a February Mexico trip.

I guess it takes the threat of bikini pictures to really get me moving.

Exercising in the Summer

It is so hard to work out in the summertime! For one thing, it is way too hot! For another, there are many more activities I'd rather do in the extended daylight hours that include, but are not limited to:

• Floating on a raft in the pool
• Sitting on my couch in the air-conditioned living room with the blinds closed
• Eating ice cream

Oops.

I have been doing some sporadic swimming here and there. But to be perfectly frank here, I've been mostly a lazy bum. It should be no surprise then that my laziness is noticable on, well, my bum!

I returned to the gym yesterday.

Go me!

Still Working Out and Abs Stuff...

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to be motivated to work out and start living a healthy life for more than the two or three months leading up to our annual trek to Mexico.

Last year was a total bust in that regard.

I'm pleased to report that we've gone to the gym twice this week! That's two times more than I went in the two MONTHS post-Mexico last year!!

A commenter on my main blog asked what I do as far as working my abs out. I have to say that the main thing I did was to turn my hips and suck in for photos. ;-)

Seriously, though, my workouts consist of three main components when I go to the gym:
Cardio for 30 minutes (and I mean running or going hard on the elliptical)
Arms and shoulders (3 or 4 set circuit of low-weights and high reps)
Ab machines (3 sets of obliques, crunch machine, upright leg lifts)

When I'm at home, I use the Turbo Jam DVDs. The intro set comes with a killer 20-minute ab routine, but the entire workout is geared toward building your core, so even the cardio parts are ab-intensive.

I also have a DVD that came free with my first Turbo Jam called Ab Ripper 200. It is part of the Tony Horton Power 90 set, but I don't know how to get just that little 6-minute video. You might try ebay.

I'm all about the shortcut and getting the maximum results with the least amount of effort, but because your ab muscles don't really start to show until you burn the fat on top, there is no easy way out.

Hi! I suck!

Where do I begin?

I have to get over the fact that this year is not the same as last year and that I did not work out like a crazy woman 6 days a week for three solid months and also during that time period gave up virtually all "bad" foods.

It did not happen this year.

So while I am a bit disappointed in myself and the fact that I'm not as toned as I'd like to be, I'm happy with myself.

Here's why...

• I now have a gym membership and a workout buddy (Hi Dr Pop!)
• I have not burned out with the being healthy
• Because of that, I am more likely to stick with a healthier lifestyle
• I now have a Wii Fit and can't wait to really start playing with it
• I don't look terrible in a bikini

So there you have it! I'll be removing the countdown ticker when I get back and will really go to town with this blog. I need all the motivation I can get once the beach vacation is over.

An Open Letter to My Belly

Dear Belly,

You and I have been through quite a lot together. We've suffered through stomach flus. We lived through workouts. We survived a pregnancy. I want to thank you for not producing stretch marks as my son grew inside you, by the way. You really rocked that one! And the way you went back to normal? It may have taken a while, but hot damn! You rocked that as well! I would like to think that you and I have a mutual respect for one another. After all, I feed you well (most of the time); I make sure you get plenty of exercise via lots of cardio and abdominal crunches; I take care of you when you are sick.

Today, however, I feel we are at a crossroads. I know I have a genetic predisposition to a certain condition we'll call "bloat." Because of this, I do pay close attention to the times when you are a little swollen and uncomfortable and try to treat accordingly. In the past, all I would have to do is take a little medicine or exercise a little more and our "bloat" would be gone in an instant!

Are you on strike or something???

Look. You and I are getting on a plane next Friday to go to the beach for 9 days. I have two brand new adorable bikinis this year (plus those from last year) and YOU are not cooperating with me. What gives?

In an effort to return to our old, good relationship of yore, I'm calling a truce. For the next seven days, I'm going to not stress out about your, um, tendency to swell. I'm going to continue to exercise like I have been. I'm going to give up the Benefiber in an effort to give you a rest. I'm going to give you plenty of water. I'm going to drink lots of tea. Maybe, just maybe, we will be on friendly terms by next Friday.

Love,
Mrs. Pop

P.S. Could ya stop craving those cookies and chips???

Neglectful

Hoo-boy! Yesterday, I was a bad, bad girl... I did not exercise at all and mainly ate to soothe my hangover.

Saturday was not much better than Sunday, either.

Too much drinking, too much eating to ease the after-effects of the demon drink, and not enough movement.

I've been bad.

I need to turn it around and get back on the wagon today! And be good, super-good, really, really good for the next three weeks and four days (25 days total)!

I must do crunches every day!
I must eat right every day!
I must do cardio every day!

Aaaaaaaaaccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!

Down to a Month

Well, I've hit one goal in my quest to get ready for the beach. But, as I noticed on Saturday at the pool, I'm not nearly as toned as I want to be.

With 30 days left, my focus is on building lean muscle and toning my abs, ass, and arms. The three A's if you will.

I've made a commitment to do my ab program every day. So far, I've gone three days in a row (Sunday and Monday were my Ab Ripper 200 DVD and yesterday, I did the ab machines at the gym).

I've done cardio... LOTS of cardio. I think tonight I'll focus on strength and body toning and give the running a break.

My only problem this year is with food. I've been drinking the sludge. I've been adding protein. I have been saying "no" to fast food and most unhealthy choices. But I'm so hungry! I've been really bad in the evening hours... Last night I took a tortilla and spread shredded cheese on it and nuked it for 15 seconds, rolled it up, and devoured it. The night before, I had a peanut butter sandwich. Both of these things were after dinner. Ugh.

I'm in a weird place right now with the whole food thing. If I want to meet my goals, I need to eat right. But it is so darn boring! And I don't want to give up the bad stuff forever. But every time I indulge in something I know I shouldn't be eating, it seems I take a step backwards, even with the working out.

Yeah. I'm frustrated. But I'm frustrated for the future, not today. Once this trip is over, how am I going to handle life? Will I go back to my old ways? Will I stay on this path? One thing I do know for sure is that working out and meeting goals is a lot harder this year than it was last year. I'm not sure I can make any other choice than to continue and not turn into a slug for 8 months.

38 days until we leave

Despite being completely harried and crazy last week, I did manage to work out on Tuesday and Friday. I kicked my ass, if I do say so myself!

There was no working out over the weekend, but I logged three miles on the treadmill yesterday.

Today, I plan to either do Turbo Sculpt at home or work out with the weights at the gym with very little cardio. My knees need the break!