I'm writing this blog on location in beautiful Vallejo, California. Our hotel is conveniently located right across the street from Marine World or whatever six flags satellite theme park it is that they have here. After much deliberation we decided not to bring Insanity with us on this vacation...actually, Jerry suggested it and I quickly agreed, tennis shoes take up lots of space in your suitcase and this is the first vacation day Jerry's taken since August 2008, why ruin it with exercise. I feel pretty pleased with our progress so I don't feel too guilty about missing one day, even though it's only the 2nd week. I'm not worried, I'm not gonna make a habit of skipping workouts and I'm not gonna let it mess up my momentum...we'll pick it up again on Sunday and Monday will be a big day: fit test and weigh-in! Then I'll really be able to see how I'm doing! I have a feeling I'm not losing too much weight, but I think I'm losing inches...too bad I didn't take all my measurements before I started.
And in case you were wondering...in Twilight news, I took advantage of the flight and read the first part of Breaking Dawn...a big thanks to Sarah for sacrificing your reputation and borrowing the book for me. Jerry was sitting next to me on the flight and almost lost his dinner, he was not impressed and visibly pained by my interest in the story. What can I say, we all need our harmless guilty pleasures.
Now I'm off to get some rest so I can cut a rug at the wedding tonight! Congratulations to Mary & Gary!!!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Day 10
Hello readers (Jerry, Sarah). Hopefully you weren't concerned about my failure to post since Sunday. Have no fear: I'm still doing the workouts, still doing this blog.
The workout this morning was good. I still felt like I was going to die at certain points but I also feel myself improving a bit with some of moves, so that's nice. I also have a new Insanity inspiration/girl crush...I don't know what her name is but in today's video she was wearing red shorts. She is really pretty and has a smokin body, she kinda looks like Rashida Jones (my celebrity girl crush). I need to get myself some red shorts.
I'm going out of town this Friday & Saturday for a wedding and I'm totally pumped to get some R&R and celebrate Mary & Gary's blessed union...but I'm not so sure how I'm going to fit Insanity into our getaway. I can do the Saturday workout on Sunday which is our rest day, but I'm not sure what we're going to do about Friday. The hotel where we're staying doesn't have a DVD player in the room so we'll either have to do skip it or bring a laptop to play the DVD. I feel kinda proud of myself for even considering doing a workout on vacation...vacations were originally intended for eating, sleeping and not working out. So maybe I can just give myself the points for thinking about working out, not actually working out. Sounds reasonable to me.
The workout this morning was good. I still felt like I was going to die at certain points but I also feel myself improving a bit with some of moves, so that's nice. I also have a new Insanity inspiration/girl crush...I don't know what her name is but in today's video she was wearing red shorts. She is really pretty and has a smokin body, she kinda looks like Rashida Jones (my celebrity girl crush). I need to get myself some red shorts.
I'm going out of town this Friday & Saturday for a wedding and I'm totally pumped to get some R&R and celebrate Mary & Gary's blessed union...but I'm not so sure how I'm going to fit Insanity into our getaway. I can do the Saturday workout on Sunday which is our rest day, but I'm not sure what we're going to do about Friday. The hotel where we're staying doesn't have a DVD player in the room so we'll either have to do skip it or bring a laptop to play the DVD. I feel kinda proud of myself for even considering doing a workout on vacation...vacations were originally intended for eating, sleeping and not working out. So maybe I can just give myself the points for thinking about working out, not actually working out. Sounds reasonable to me.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
I made it to Week 2!!
This is a victory already...I'm done with 15% of the program! I feel like I've already worked out more than I did in all of the times I started and quit P90X.
Monday's workout was Power Cardio something. It's the 2nd time I've done this workout and it was still really tough. I kinda feel like every day I'm doing the exact same video because each one ends with me being really tired and Shaun T wearing no shirt. But I found a new inspiration in this video...this blond girl named Ariel, she is the bomb. Her form is always spot on and I don't think she took any breaks. She may be a professional worker-outer like Tanya but I'm going to pretend that she's not and tell myself that I can look like her by the end of this program.
It was VERY difficult for me to wake up and work out this morning. Today was "Pure Cardio", this is the one where you have to do 15 minutes of cardio with no breaks, it's brutal. It doesn't help that during the warm up Shaun T tells us that even he's nervous for the workout...not very comforting. I had to hit my own personal pause button a few times when I thought I was going to collapse. As weird as it might be, I feel like in a lot of these moves it totally helps to grunt...I really don't think I can complete one suicide drill without grunting. This morning the suicide drills were the 2nd to last exercise of the workout so you're super tired and then you have to get down and jump into a plank, jump your feet back between your hands, then jump in the air...jumping back into the plank is impossible without a grunt.
And in relation to my guilty pleasure Twilight, I watched New Moon on Sunday. I feel embarassed for myself saying that I thought it was great, so I'll just say that it was a lot better than the Twilight movie. I still claim Team Edward, but after watching the movie I can totally see why there are so many members of Team Jacob...werewolf muscles are no joke and Edward is so skinny and frail, he looks like he would play Jesus in the Easter play. Of course, a Jesus played by Robert Pattinson would not be nearly as cute as Jesus, as interpreted by Jerry Gonzales in the 1996 St. Norbert's Easter program.
Monday's workout was Power Cardio something. It's the 2nd time I've done this workout and it was still really tough. I kinda feel like every day I'm doing the exact same video because each one ends with me being really tired and Shaun T wearing no shirt. But I found a new inspiration in this video...this blond girl named Ariel, she is the bomb. Her form is always spot on and I don't think she took any breaks. She may be a professional worker-outer like Tanya but I'm going to pretend that she's not and tell myself that I can look like her by the end of this program.
It was VERY difficult for me to wake up and work out this morning. Today was "Pure Cardio", this is the one where you have to do 15 minutes of cardio with no breaks, it's brutal. It doesn't help that during the warm up Shaun T tells us that even he's nervous for the workout...not very comforting. I had to hit my own personal pause button a few times when I thought I was going to collapse. As weird as it might be, I feel like in a lot of these moves it totally helps to grunt...I really don't think I can complete one suicide drill without grunting. This morning the suicide drills were the 2nd to last exercise of the workout so you're super tired and then you have to get down and jump into a plank, jump your feet back between your hands, then jump in the air...jumping back into the plank is impossible without a grunt.
And in relation to my guilty pleasure Twilight, I watched New Moon on Sunday. I feel embarassed for myself saying that I thought it was great, so I'll just say that it was a lot better than the Twilight movie. I still claim Team Edward, but after watching the movie I can totally see why there are so many members of Team Jacob...werewolf muscles are no joke and Edward is so skinny and frail, he looks like he would play Jesus in the Easter play. Of course, a Jesus played by Robert Pattinson would not be nearly as cute as Jesus, as interpreted by Jerry Gonzales in the 1996 St. Norbert's Easter program.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 6-7: Plyo Cardio Circuit & Rest
After a very stressful work week, this weekend was a much needed break. My sister and brother-in-law and their troupe of little ones came down to San Diego for an impromtu getaway and a very pleasant surprise! Saturday morning I woke up and did my workout with my 4-year-old niece Sophia. Sophie did a great job and kept up nicely...2 minutes into the warm-up I hear her say "I'm tired" and then she went to go color. I considered joining her but I decided to push through. So I did it, one week on Insanity done!!!
Yesterday afternoon Jerry and I made some good progress on the wedding front. It was really nice to spend that time together and I think Jerry's going to look very handsome with a wedding ring. :) We also got to eat lots of cake and then come home to hang out with the kiddos last night, so all in all...it was a very good day. Today was an Insanity rest day so we were able to relax, which was lovely, and I got some more wedding planning taken care of. I got my hair did by this kooky lady who was was very nice but also a little weird. After she randomly threw around my curls a little, with the help of my mom and Sarah, I was able to communicate to her what I wanted and we settled on a very nice wedding day 'do! So a big thanks to my 2 "followers"! I've been having fun with these last few things, but I still can't believe how much stuff there is to do to prepare for one day.
On a separate and totally pathetic note, I'm pumped because I rented New Moon and I'm going to watch it as soon as the Laker game is over (or once I get bored with basketball) and I might be able to borrow a copy of Breaking Dawn instead of buying it before it comes out in paperback. Go ahead, judge me.
Yesterday afternoon Jerry and I made some good progress on the wedding front. It was really nice to spend that time together and I think Jerry's going to look very handsome with a wedding ring. :) We also got to eat lots of cake and then come home to hang out with the kiddos last night, so all in all...it was a very good day. Today was an Insanity rest day so we were able to relax, which was lovely, and I got some more wedding planning taken care of. I got my hair did by this kooky lady who was was very nice but also a little weird. After she randomly threw around my curls a little, with the help of my mom and Sarah, I was able to communicate to her what I wanted and we settled on a very nice wedding day 'do! So a big thanks to my 2 "followers"! I've been having fun with these last few things, but I still can't believe how much stuff there is to do to prepare for one day.
On a separate and totally pathetic note, I'm pumped because I rented New Moon and I'm going to watch it as soon as the Laker game is over (or once I get bored with basketball) and I might be able to borrow a copy of Breaking Dawn instead of buying it before it comes out in paperback. Go ahead, judge me.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 5 - Pure Cardio
Last night I stayed up late again to finish reading Eclipse, it was great! I can't wait to see the movie! I have to see New Moon first though...maybe I can convince Jerry to watch it tonight...eh??? I also have to get the last book...I wanted to wait till it comes out on paperback but I don't think I can wait until August. Again, please don't judge me. When I start buying tons of Robert Pattinson paraphernalia then you can start judging.
So the workout this morning was absolutely nuts! Instead of doing intervals with 30 second breaks in between it just went straight through for about 20 minutes..all kinds of jumps and sprints and squats. So tiring, even Shaun T was tired!! He kept taking little breaks to go around and encourage people and when he saw that people were dying he made them go take breaks too. The black girl who looked like she wanted to give up in one of the other videos was in this video too...again, not enjoying herself too much. At one point Shaun T asks her how she is feeling, she says "I want to leave." Kinda funny...it took him a minute to realize what she said and when he figured it out he immediately made her go take a break. Tanya on the other hand, did not take breaks. But I must admit that I'm a little disappointed because I'm starting to think she's a professional worker-outer, so it's almost like it's not an accurate gauge of what is possible for normal people.
On the bridal front...this week I've been trying to get some more wedding planning items checked off the list. Jerry and I are gearing up for a big wedding-planning day tomorrow...we are supposed to take care of wedding rings, DJ, cakes, Tuxes and whatever else we can fit in. Sunday I am going to do my trial hair & makeup for the big day. I'm praying that everything goes well and that we get some good deals!! This whole process totally blows my mind...this week I found out that there are some brides who spend upwards of $4,000 on invitations. Yes, $4,000. Retarded.
So the workout this morning was absolutely nuts! Instead of doing intervals with 30 second breaks in between it just went straight through for about 20 minutes..all kinds of jumps and sprints and squats. So tiring, even Shaun T was tired!! He kept taking little breaks to go around and encourage people and when he saw that people were dying he made them go take breaks too. The black girl who looked like she wanted to give up in one of the other videos was in this video too...again, not enjoying herself too much. At one point Shaun T asks her how she is feeling, she says "I want to leave." Kinda funny...it took him a minute to realize what she said and when he figured it out he immediately made her go take a break. Tanya on the other hand, did not take breaks. But I must admit that I'm a little disappointed because I'm starting to think she's a professional worker-outer, so it's almost like it's not an accurate gauge of what is possible for normal people.
On the bridal front...this week I've been trying to get some more wedding planning items checked off the list. Jerry and I are gearing up for a big wedding-planning day tomorrow...we are supposed to take care of wedding rings, DJ, cakes, Tuxes and whatever else we can fit in. Sunday I am going to do my trial hair & makeup for the big day. I'm praying that everything goes well and that we get some good deals!! This whole process totally blows my mind...this week I found out that there are some brides who spend upwards of $4,000 on invitations. Yes, $4,000. Retarded.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 4 - Cardio Recovery
Today it was particularly difficult to get up and work out...I knew it was going to be a recovery day and estimated that it wouldn't be as long of a workout, so it didn't take much to convince myself to hit the snooze button a few extra times. I would say that I was tired due to the intense calorie-melting workouts, but I was mostly tired because I stayed up past midnight reading Eclipse. That's right, I've become a Twi-hard...Team Edward, to be precise. I don't know who coined the term "Twi-hard" or if I'm using it correctly, but I do know that I took careful attention to be sure that last week's Oprah with the cast of the movie will not be deleted from the DVR and that the book kept me up well after my bedtime...I'm near the end and I want to know what happens!! Don't judge me.
As far as the workout was concerned, it was much lower impact today but still challenging. We had to do some really tough squats and leg lift things. I know this doesn't make much sense, but whenever I start a streak of eating healthy or working out regularly and I start seeing results (or after about 4 days, whichever comes first) I feel like its a good time to stop. Like right now, I'm pleased with what I'm seeing...I'm sore, I feel like I'm getting toned, my stomach feels a little flatter...and I feel like that's enough, or I feel like I can work out half as much and I'll be satisfied. So today since I was tired and somewhat pleased with my progress, I thought about quitting. Pretty lame, huh. Good thing I have this blog to keep me going. In any event, I'm interested to see what happens if I actually stick it out. Onward!
As far as the workout was concerned, it was much lower impact today but still challenging. We had to do some really tough squats and leg lift things. I know this doesn't make much sense, but whenever I start a streak of eating healthy or working out regularly and I start seeing results (or after about 4 days, whichever comes first) I feel like its a good time to stop. Like right now, I'm pleased with what I'm seeing...I'm sore, I feel like I'm getting toned, my stomach feels a little flatter...and I feel like that's enough, or I feel like I can work out half as much and I'll be satisfied. So today since I was tired and somewhat pleased with my progress, I thought about quitting. Pretty lame, huh. Good thing I have this blog to keep me going. In any event, I'm interested to see what happens if I actually stick it out. Onward!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 3 - Cardio Power & Resistance
OUCH. Everything hurts. I feel like every part of my body is sore...the worst of it is my backside. Everything from my shoulders down to the top of my booty hurts! But it is a good kind of pain I suppose.
The workout this morning was good, intense, sweaty, tiring. There is so much jumping and changing direction in this workout, it's kinda rough on my feet. I think I may need different shoes...maybe cross trainers? How much do cross trainers cost? I'll have to look into that.
This video includes my good friend Tanya and this girl that has long curly hair that she is wearing down. I just kept thinking that she must be so uncomfortable, why would you wear your hair down during an Insanity workout? At one point during the one-legged tricep dips Shaun T asks this girl how she's feeling, probably expecting her to say something totally positive and pumped, instead she yells, "I feel like sh*t!" Duh. Pull your hair back, you'll feel a million times better.
The workout this morning was good, intense, sweaty, tiring. There is so much jumping and changing direction in this workout, it's kinda rough on my feet. I think I may need different shoes...maybe cross trainers? How much do cross trainers cost? I'll have to look into that.
This video includes my good friend Tanya and this girl that has long curly hair that she is wearing down. I just kept thinking that she must be so uncomfortable, why would you wear your hair down during an Insanity workout? At one point during the one-legged tricep dips Shaun T asks this girl how she's feeling, probably expecting her to say something totally positive and pumped, instead she yells, "I feel like sh*t!" Duh. Pull your hair back, you'll feel a million times better.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Day 2 - Plyo Cardio Circuit
Even though it's only been two days (one day really) my body is starting to feel the effects of Insanity. These workouts target your core so hard, I'm sore in weird places...when I walk my ribs and back are sore and my calves are sore from all the jumping.
Today's workout was pretty tough but I was pleasantly surprised with how I kept up...and by "kept up", I mean I didn't throw up or have a seat on the couch to watch the people in the video work out. Even though you don't get much of a break between circuits (30 seconds is NOTHING), I like how Shaun T goes through the moves...it's just enough time to get a rythym, get tired, think you're going to die but then force yourself to do just a few more as the seconds are running out.
During the video I was watching Tanya and her perfect form and trying keep up with her...of course, I failed, but there were brief moments when we were on the same rythym and I got excited. Tanya is super intense, but there are others without her level of enthusiasm. There was a black girl in the front row in this workout who was struggling, she looked like she was gonna walk out of the gym or punch the cameraman...I think I kept tempo with her.
Since I'm investing so much into this program, I'm also trying to get my eating on track. No major changes, but I'm trying to steer clear of junk food, drink lots of water and not snack...but snacking brings me a lot of joy so we'll see how that part goes. My mom's BFF told me about these Green Tea Extract pills from Costco that helped her and her husband lose weight, so I bought them last night to see what happens if I supplement my workouts with these things. I took two this morning with breakfast and ummm...the jury is still out...I don't particularly like having diarrhea so we'll see if I'll keep taking them. Also, I think they have a lot of caffeine in them, my legs were bouncing all morning! Oh man, I sound like a crazy lady who is taking diet pills...I promise I'm not a nut job.
Today's workout was pretty tough but I was pleasantly surprised with how I kept up...and by "kept up", I mean I didn't throw up or have a seat on the couch to watch the people in the video work out. Even though you don't get much of a break between circuits (30 seconds is NOTHING), I like how Shaun T goes through the moves...it's just enough time to get a rythym, get tired, think you're going to die but then force yourself to do just a few more as the seconds are running out.
During the video I was watching Tanya and her perfect form and trying keep up with her...of course, I failed, but there were brief moments when we were on the same rythym and I got excited. Tanya is super intense, but there are others without her level of enthusiasm. There was a black girl in the front row in this workout who was struggling, she looked like she was gonna walk out of the gym or punch the cameraman...I think I kept tempo with her.
Since I'm investing so much into this program, I'm also trying to get my eating on track. No major changes, but I'm trying to steer clear of junk food, drink lots of water and not snack...but snacking brings me a lot of joy so we'll see how that part goes. My mom's BFF told me about these Green Tea Extract pills from Costco that helped her and her husband lose weight, so I bought them last night to see what happens if I supplement my workouts with these things. I took two this morning with breakfast and ummm...the jury is still out...I don't particularly like having diarrhea so we'll see if I'll keep taking them. Also, I think they have a lot of caffeine in them, my legs were bouncing all morning! Oh man, I sound like a crazy lady who is taking diet pills...I promise I'm not a nut job.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Day 1 - Fit Test
Small victory #1: I woke up and worked out.
Small victory #2: I didn't throw up.
The Fit Test this morning gave me a glimpse of how difficult this thing is going to be. There were a few times when I totally thought I was going to pass out, but luckily I stuck it out and finished. Shaun T makes you do 8 moves for one minute each, and all of the moves are so hard I don't even know how he thought of them. The power jumps are nuts...you have to squat and then leap into the air and slap your knees, I felt so awkward but somehow I managed to knock out 20. My numbers are kinda pathetic, but not so terrible that I'm discouraged enough to send back the DVDs and pick up the Chili Cheese Fritos again, no sir. It actually really made me want to get better and be like Tanya (aka "the Machine"), this crazy asian girl who looks like she never gets tired or sad. I'm definitely not there yet, but here is where I'm starting:
Switch Kicks: 53
Power Jack: 48
Power Knees: 72
Power Jumps: 20
Globe Jumps: 6
Suicide Jumps: 8
Push-up Jacks: 15
Low Plank Oblique: 19
Weight: 145.0
I'll have to do this fit test again in 2 weeks...hopefully there will be some improvement!
Small victory #2: I didn't throw up.
The Fit Test this morning gave me a glimpse of how difficult this thing is going to be. There were a few times when I totally thought I was going to pass out, but luckily I stuck it out and finished. Shaun T makes you do 8 moves for one minute each, and all of the moves are so hard I don't even know how he thought of them. The power jumps are nuts...you have to squat and then leap into the air and slap your knees, I felt so awkward but somehow I managed to knock out 20. My numbers are kinda pathetic, but not so terrible that I'm discouraged enough to send back the DVDs and pick up the Chili Cheese Fritos again, no sir. It actually really made me want to get better and be like Tanya (aka "the Machine"), this crazy asian girl who looks like she never gets tired or sad. I'm definitely not there yet, but here is where I'm starting:
Switch Kicks: 53
Power Jack: 48
Power Knees: 72
Power Jumps: 20
Globe Jumps: 6
Suicide Jumps: 8
Push-up Jacks: 15
Low Plank Oblique: 19
Weight: 145.0
I'll have to do this fit test again in 2 weeks...hopefully there will be some improvement!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Twas the night before Day 1...
So a few days ago I caught myself reading this ridiculously pretentious and self-indulgent blog written by this girl who is trying to make herself seem really selfless and pure. I really don't want this blog to sound like that. This is purely an experiment in accountability. So I thought I should start with this disclaimer: I know that no one cares about what I'm writing.
I just really want to lose some pounds for my wedding dress and I'm desperate for something to keep me from quitting. So the purpose of this blog is to document my journey on the road to Buff City via Insanity, with the hopes that I'll feel obligated to work out in order to have a complete chronicle of my transformation. If you're not familiar with Insanity, Insanity is a 60-day workout program that will make me sweat, cry, and probably vomit...but hopefully it will also get me in the best shape of my life before the most important day of my life.
So here we are on the eve of Day 1. I'm all set to go with my Insanity DVDs, in fact, I previewed them this morning (while I finished off a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos) and man...I got tired just watching! It looks really tough, I hope I can make it through! The biggest challenge of all may just be waking up in the morning to do the workout, so I'm off to bed to rest and dream about being skinny and buff.
I just really want to lose some pounds for my wedding dress and I'm desperate for something to keep me from quitting. So the purpose of this blog is to document my journey on the road to Buff City via Insanity, with the hopes that I'll feel obligated to work out in order to have a complete chronicle of my transformation. If you're not familiar with Insanity, Insanity is a 60-day workout program that will make me sweat, cry, and probably vomit...but hopefully it will also get me in the best shape of my life before the most important day of my life.
So here we are on the eve of Day 1. I'm all set to go with my Insanity DVDs, in fact, I previewed them this morning (while I finished off a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos) and man...I got tired just watching! It looks really tough, I hope I can make it through! The biggest challenge of all may just be waking up in the morning to do the workout, so I'm off to bed to rest and dream about being skinny and buff.
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