P90X Week 7

Today is our 7th week {day 44} of P90X!! 

The good:

*  Total of 4lbs lost {that's 1 more lb since last time I posted}
*  More inches lost
*  Fit in a new pair of jeans that have been hanging in my closet

The bad:

*  We missed three workouts last week
*  Over the weekend I ate more junk food than expected

I was nervous about stepping on the scale this morning because of all the junk food I ate over the weekend.  Stunned {and excited} to see one more pound lost!

Last night we tried the P90X Cardio dvd for the first time.  It is a mixture of moves from many of the other dvds and incorporates core, yoga, and cardio.  It started slow with yoga {can I just say right now how much I don't like yoga} but ended strong with some hard cardio! 

So, today Valentine's Day, and I'm sure at some point this week I will consume chocolate and other goodies, but our plan is to just keep going. 

I'll post another update in two weeks so I hope you will join me.  If you are working on getting fit, I would love to hear about what you are doing.

P90X Week 5

Today is our 5th week {day 30} of P90X!!  I seriously can't believe that we have made it this far!  Below are some of my highlights.

*  Total of 3lbs lost
*  1/2 inch to 2 inches lost from each area
*  Can fit better in my clothes
*  Feel better

Here's what I need to work on

*  Eat more protein, less starchy carbs, and less fat

Overall I think we have done well.  We have only missed a couple workouts, and for the most part our eating is good.  We need to add more protein to our meals and reduce the fat intake a little.  After looking at our meals, we adjusted three of our dinners this week.

Dinner 1:  We added shrimp to our spaghetti for protein
Dinner 2:  Pork chops and sweet potato instead of burgers
Dinner 3:  Tofu stir fry instead of steak stir fry

Last week was a "recovery week" in our workouts.  We focused on stretching, yoga, and core.  I'm not sure how much we actually "recovered" because these workouts were just as hard.  Working our core was especially hard...and between that and the yoga, I have bruised something in my middle back.  At least it feels like a bruise, to the left of the middle part of my spine.  Hoping it will fade over time.

This week we are back to lifting weights and cardio.  Yesterday we completed a new workout which included...um... one-arm push ups...lol!  Yeah, that didn't quite happen for me.  ;)  It was HARD and we are both back to being very sore...but it's a good sore.

I'll post another update in two weeks so I hope you will join me.  If you are working on getting fit, I would love to hear about what you are doing.

 

P90X

I had mentioned a couple weeks ago that hubby got us something for Christmas to help us keep our New Year Resolution of getting fit.  I had gone back and forth on what I wanted for Christmas.  At first I wanted a Ninja Kitchen System...you know, the blender that does everything?!  But after thinking a while, I changed my mind.  Then one afternoon I was walking by the TV and the P90X infomercial was running.  "That's what I want!!!" 

So Christmas came and went and I finally opened up the package, read the two books inside {the Fitness Guide and Nutrition Guide}, and was a little worried...lol!  I started with the Fit Test.  Below is a list of things I should be able to do {as a female} before I start the program {hold your laughter until the end}.

1.  1 pull-up - I have NEVER been able to do a pull-up :(

2.  3-in vertical leap - Yes, I can do this :)

3.  3 push ups {or 15 on my knees} - 15 on my knees, yes! :)

4.  Come within 6 in of touching my toes - I'm pretty close :)

5.  Hold a wall squat for at least 1 min - Really?  That hurts!! :(

6.  At least 10 curls with 8 lbs - Good to go! :)

7.  At least 25 in & outs - What's an in & out?? :(

8.  2 mins of jumping jacks - Hellooo, I've given birth people!! :(

Ok, so half is good, right??!!  Well, apparently not because the manual is now telling me that if I can't complete these items, maybe I should try one of their easier programs...hahahaha!  Really, we didn't just pay all this $$$ to buy something else. 

So, against our better judgement, hubby and I set out to start the program on Monday, January 2nd.  The only time we can work out together is from 7-8pm.  We get started with Funny Bunny distracting us cheering us on in the background. 

The WHOLE first dvd is PULL-UPS and PUSH-UPS!!!!  Akkk!  And each of the 12 dvds is about an HOUR long!  Well, I still didn't do any pull-ups...we have a pull-down bar that I used instead {yeah, I'm cheating}.  I could also used bands but we don't have any.  But, we did finish the dvd.  :)

We continued with a different dvd each day that week...and the soreness ensued.  Tue = super sore, Wed = couldn't walk at all, Thur = less sore, etc. 

I'm happy to say that we are now over 2 weeks into the program and we are both enjoying it.  I still have soreness somewhere on my body each day but it is a "good" sore {I can still walk, at least}.  We are both feeling better and have lost some weight.  Of course hubby lost 10 lbs after 5 minutes of working out, but I have lost about 1 1/2 lbs in two weeks, along with 1/4 inch here and there. 

Now, the question is, will we be "ripped" after 90 days??  Well, I'll keep you posted...only 75 more to go.  ;)

 

The Stair Climber

I've been blogging about my experience for the past several weeks on the YMCA's cardio classes.  Today I thought I would talk about one of the machines I tried out for the first time last week.  The Stair Climber.  Well, I guess it is called a stair climber.  It's that machine with the stairs that you climb.  ;)  

I never used it before so I thought I would try it out.  I was only on it for about 3 minutes before I started huffing and puffing.  I seriously didn't think I would make it to 10 minutes.  All you have to do is *think* about climbing stairs for a few minutes to know what I'm talking about.  I was out of breath quick!  Somehow I made it to 20 minutes though, which was about 70 flights of stairs!!  

Between the stair climber, treadmill, and elliptical, I would have to say the stair climber is the hardest.  And no way did I only burn as many calories as the elliptical (like it said).  It said I only burned around 200 but I was sweating way more and completely out of breath.  I'm not sure how those machines calculate calories burned but I would have to disagree. 

Today I jogged/ran on the treadmill for 23 minutes and tomorrow I'll be back in the Body Pump class. 

Next time I plan to talk about diet...because apparently diet and exercise need to go hand in hand.  Who would have thought?!

     

Body Pump

Last week I told you a little about the fitness classes I have been taking at the YMCA.  I started out with a Bosu Circuit class and then took a short Cardio Blast class.

The next day I took another class called Body Pump.  Body Pump is basically an hour long class that works out every muscle in your body.  You grab a bar, various size weights, and a step.  By the end of the class you end up working out your biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, and back, along with your calves, thighs, hamstrings, and stomach.

About half way through class your legs and arms feel like mush and and you are trembling all over.  Sounds fun, huh?  ;) 

I personally like the Bosu Circuit better because it adds cardio with weights.  {And by the end of class I've probably lost 5lbs just in sweat.} 

So my schedule through the end of July is: 

Monday: Bosu Circuit (45 min)
Tuesday: Elliptical, Treadmill, or Stair Climber (20-30 min)
Wednesday: Body Pump (60 min)
Thursday: Elliptical, Treadmill, or Stair Climber (20-30 min)

Now if I could just get my diet under control I'll be set.

I'm linking this post up with The Legacy of Home: Healthy Home.

Cardio Blast

Today I continued my cardio class experiment at the YMCA.  I wrote yesterday how my daughter has swim practice an hour a day, four days a week, so I am trying some new fitness classes at the same time. 

Today was Cardio Blast.  It was only 15 minutes long and what I would call the warm up to the hour long Body Pump class after it.  The instructor didn't mind that I couldn't stay so I just ducked out at the end.

It was basically a condensed Step Class to get the heart pumping.  There were a few combo moves that I have not done in a while and I was happy to not be the only one lost and confused at times...lol! 

It wasn't a terribly difficult class, but I am pretty sore from yesterday so I couldn't move like I wanted to. 

Tomorrow the hour long Body Pump class is at the perfect time so I am hoping to get there early and set up my "station" before I drop my daughter off.  This is another class that requires a lot of equipment. 

I'll write about that one tomorrow!

     

New Summer Schedule

Today was the first day that summer swim started in the morning.  It will run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. for the next two months.

Today is also the first day I started working out during swim.  And I decided to try a class.  I've taken Step and Zumba before but this morning the only thing available was Bosu Circuit.  As I reached for the schedule and dropped my daughter off, I wondered what exactly Bosu Circuit was??  {silly me} 

I walked by the room about 5 minutes to class and noticed people getting out several items from around the room to work with.  I got a little nervous and almost made my way to the good ol' treadmill, but turned around and came back.  OK, I could do this.  I walked in and asked the first person I saw about the class.  She was new too.  I was not alone ~ so I just grabbed what everyone else grabbed.  Here's the list:

Bosu (it's a ball that is cut in half and flat on one side)
Step
Mat
5lb Weights
Jump Rope
Two Washcloths (not for what I thought they would be for)

I still was not convinced I was in trouble.  I can handle this!  First task was to run 6 laps around the room.  Next...small steps (like marching) ON the Bosu!!  Then jumping and turning in all four directions ON the Bosu!  Before today I thought I had good balance.  ;)

Then, and in no particular order, we moved back and forth from squatting against the wall, jump roping, using the step, high kicks with a partner, push ups, lunges, and on and on...  I should have paid attention to the word Circuit in the title of the class.  ;)

It was HARD and I admit that after it was done, and I had full use of my legs again, I felt good.  But I am pretty sure that at some point between now and Wednesday I will not be able to walk.

Tomorrow there is a Cardio Blast class and it looks like it may only be for 15 min.  I'll either try that one or, if my legs are a mess, I may just ride the bike.  We'll see.

As I take new classes and continue to work out over the summer, I'd like to write about my experience with them.  I hope you will come back and read along, or maybe feel *inspired* to take a class too.  :)

For now, I'm going to go and colapse on the couch make lunches.

     

Body for Life

I mentioned in my previous post that I received all of my recipe ideas from the book  Eating for Life, which is part of the Body for Life diet.  I heard about this diet several years ago and was actually very successful on it (probably the only diet I have been successful on).  If you are looking for something to help you along with your weight loss goals, this may be it.  Below I've listed some details.


Things I Like:
There is no calorie counting.  Sure I could calorie count and weigh every piece of food that enters my mouth, but I don't have time for it.  If you are in a hurry or at a restaurant, follow these guidelines:  Meat should be lean and the size of your palm, carbs should be complex (you know, the good ones) and the size of your fist, and fats should be limited.

There is plenty of variety.  Each meal should be balanced and have a protein, carb, and a little fat.  Protein for muscle, carb for energy, and a little fat because your body needs it.

There are no meals to buy and no supplements to take.  I've tasted some of those frozen and packaged meals and some are really nasty!  These are just regular foods you make yourself.  They do suggest you buy their shakes and bars, but you don't have to use them (I don't because I have never liked protein shakes and bars).

You can find most of the information online for free at the Body for Life website so you really don't have to buy a thing (this may be what attracted me to this diet).  The library tab has a ton of info!  There are also many online forums and groups for support and recipes.  Oh, and the transformations some of those people have gone through are amazing!!!

Considerations:
Although you can do this diet if you are a vegetarian, it is a bit harder.  There has to be a protein at each meal.  Of course if you like protein shakes and cottage cheese, then it is much easier.  Both make me gag...lol!  Beans are a great protein, they just throw off your carbs if you don't watch how much you are eating.  I was trying for a while to limit my meat intake, but now I just try to make sure it is organic and/or hormone free.  :o)

So, that is it.  My goals for the year is to stick to this eating plan and follow their exercise routine (which I'll outline later)

Disclosure: This product was NOT given to Our Homeschool Reviews for review purposes. I bought this product on my own and LOVE it so I want to share it with you! I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.