The title of this blog entry sounds like a children's book that I would read to one of my nieces. But today is indeed a very big day! Thanks to one of the lovely members of our small group tonight I will be attending an advance screening of....ECLIPSE! That's right, today Kelley-O will be accompanying me as we cut out early from our big-girl jobs and act like giddy tweens for an afternoon. I can hardly wait!!!
In wedding news, as I came on to the blog page a few moments ago and saw the wedding ticker I may have had a mild heartattack....I can't believe the wedding is just 2 and 1/2 months away. I feel like there are so many things to do, but I'm not sure what they are. Luckily I'm meeting with the wedding planner on Friday, hopefully she'll help me organize my thoughts and then I'll be able to create a comprehensive plan of attack. Oh man, I'm starting to panic just writing about it...better get back to work!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday Afternoon Confession, part deux
Friday, you're here!!! You really couldn't come soon enough!!
I had a semi-early meeting yesterday morning so I made sure I got up with enough time to do Max Recovery and get to work with time to spare. Recovery days are supposed to give your muscles a rest and in my mind that means some nice stretching, low impact relaxing...I wasn't too pleased with what Shaun T was offering me, so after 20 minutes or so, I decided I'd had enough and did my own workout for the rest of the time. I engaged in my own personal yoga session and got into savasana and stayed there for another 20 minutes. That makes it sound so much more responsible. I actually just laid down and took a nap on my yoga mat while the video continued. Savasana is known as "corpse pose" so I laid down like I was dead and sleep shortly followed. About 10 minutes into the nap my mom even brought me a blankie. It was lovely.
Yesterday after lunch I started to feel kinda funky so I went home early and tried to rest the funk out of me. This morning I decided that I still needed some rest so I slept in and didn't attempt the workout. That's right...2 days in a row I've chosen sleep over Insanity. That's my confession, please proceed to judge me.
In other news, the Rational Groom got another guilty verdict today!!! This means that Bonita Road is a little bit safer now and that my husband-to-be may never be without a goatee again. He grew a full goatee a few weeks ago and he hasn't lost a case since!! I can't complain, I think he rocks the goatee quite well and it seems that juries tend to think so too....bring on the facial hair!
I had a semi-early meeting yesterday morning so I made sure I got up with enough time to do Max Recovery and get to work with time to spare. Recovery days are supposed to give your muscles a rest and in my mind that means some nice stretching, low impact relaxing...I wasn't too pleased with what Shaun T was offering me, so after 20 minutes or so, I decided I'd had enough and did my own workout for the rest of the time. I engaged in my own personal yoga session and got into savasana and stayed there for another 20 minutes. That makes it sound so much more responsible. I actually just laid down and took a nap on my yoga mat while the video continued. Savasana is known as "corpse pose" so I laid down like I was dead and sleep shortly followed. About 10 minutes into the nap my mom even brought me a blankie. It was lovely.
Yesterday after lunch I started to feel kinda funky so I went home early and tried to rest the funk out of me. This morning I decided that I still needed some rest so I slept in and didn't attempt the workout. That's right...2 days in a row I've chosen sleep over Insanity. That's my confession, please proceed to judge me.
In other news, the Rational Groom got another guilty verdict today!!! This means that Bonita Road is a little bit safer now and that my husband-to-be may never be without a goatee again. He grew a full goatee a few weeks ago and he hasn't lost a case since!! I can't complain, I think he rocks the goatee quite well and it seems that juries tend to think so too....bring on the facial hair!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
I am in it
So far this week's workouts have been crazy intense, almost shocking, and Shaun T cannot stop telling me I am "in it". I'm serious, I almost wanted to count the number of times he yelled that someone was In It during the workout Monday and Tuesday, but I could barely get my body to work, much less my brain.
As I mentioned before, Month 2 really kicks it up a notch...the workouts are longer and everything is called MAX something. Even the warm-up was shocking...switch kicks (which are one of the most difficult elements of the fit test) are part of the warmup. They also added this weird side to side kicking ab thing to the warm up...it's like you're in downward dog, but your feet are on one side and then you have to jump to get your feet on the other side. It's almost impossible because, first of all, I'm not coordinated enough to do it, but once I figured out how I was supposed do it I couldn't get my abs to work hard enough to lift my legs. I think if I concentrate enough, maybe in 4 weeks I'll be able to make it through the warmup without stopping.
The Monday workout was Tanya-free and contained one of the funniest moments in the Insanity series to date. Throughout this video, Jeff, who is the guy with the Jersey Shore blowout and is apparently also a breakdancer, is placed in the front row next to Ariel, who is the bomb and is so intense that she always looks kinda scared. At the end of the workout when everyone is tired and sweaty and delirious, there are some people laying flat on the ground others trying to catch their breath..and then there is Jeff who decides that it is a good time to do one of those turtle spins on his back (I don't know breakdancer lingo, but if he was a turtle he would have been spinning on his shell). As he slows down he gets himself out of the spin by doing one of those breakdancer kicks, and in the process of doing his kick he miscalculates his area and nearly kicks Ariel right in the face...the look on her face is priceless!! She looks so shocked and as Jeff walks away Ariel slowly reaches up to her face to make sure that her nose is still there. Hilarious. Maybe this isn't funny to anyone else, but it was pretty funny to me, especially since the spin was so totally unnecessary. It's the little things that make these workouts bearable at 6:00 a.m. day after day.
Tanya came back for the Tuesday and Wednesday workouts and thankfully, she's not quite as annoying this time around. She takes breaks from time to time, so it makes me feel like she's not faking as much anymore. Or maybe it's just that I'm struggling so hard with everything that I don't have the opportunity to notice her as much. Sadly, the girl with the red shorts isn't in the videos this week...I was really starting to like her, hopefully she'll come back in something else.
Now it's time to balance all this exercising with a great dinner and lots of dessert to celebrate my mommy's birthday!!! Happy Birthday Mom!!!
As I mentioned before, Month 2 really kicks it up a notch...the workouts are longer and everything is called MAX something. Even the warm-up was shocking...switch kicks (which are one of the most difficult elements of the fit test) are part of the warmup. They also added this weird side to side kicking ab thing to the warm up...it's like you're in downward dog, but your feet are on one side and then you have to jump to get your feet on the other side. It's almost impossible because, first of all, I'm not coordinated enough to do it, but once I figured out how I was supposed do it I couldn't get my abs to work hard enough to lift my legs. I think if I concentrate enough, maybe in 4 weeks I'll be able to make it through the warmup without stopping.
The Monday workout was Tanya-free and contained one of the funniest moments in the Insanity series to date. Throughout this video, Jeff, who is the guy with the Jersey Shore blowout and is apparently also a breakdancer, is placed in the front row next to Ariel, who is the bomb and is so intense that she always looks kinda scared. At the end of the workout when everyone is tired and sweaty and delirious, there are some people laying flat on the ground others trying to catch their breath..and then there is Jeff who decides that it is a good time to do one of those turtle spins on his back (I don't know breakdancer lingo, but if he was a turtle he would have been spinning on his shell). As he slows down he gets himself out of the spin by doing one of those breakdancer kicks, and in the process of doing his kick he miscalculates his area and nearly kicks Ariel right in the face...the look on her face is priceless!! She looks so shocked and as Jeff walks away Ariel slowly reaches up to her face to make sure that her nose is still there. Hilarious. Maybe this isn't funny to anyone else, but it was pretty funny to me, especially since the spin was so totally unnecessary. It's the little things that make these workouts bearable at 6:00 a.m. day after day.
Tanya came back for the Tuesday and Wednesday workouts and thankfully, she's not quite as annoying this time around. She takes breaks from time to time, so it makes me feel like she's not faking as much anymore. Or maybe it's just that I'm struggling so hard with everything that I don't have the opportunity to notice her as much. Sadly, the girl with the red shorts isn't in the videos this week...I was really starting to like her, hopefully she'll come back in something else.
Now it's time to balance all this exercising with a great dinner and lots of dessert to celebrate my mommy's birthday!!! Happy Birthday Mom!!!
Friday, June 18, 2010
A Friday Afternoon Confession
Hello Readers. I have a confession. I didn't work out yesterday. What happened, you ask? Wednesday night I had a dream that Prince William relinquished his crown and then I woke up and cleaned my room. No, my room still doesn't look clean, but now there isn't a huge pile of clothes blocking the path from the door to my bed. I decided to give myself a break from yet another day of Cardio Core & Balance...doing the same thing every day is starting to wear me down. I didn't want to hang out with Tanya and her cornball faces, I didn't even want to hang out with Shaun T. (Note to Estephanie: you're going to be slightly disappointed with this video - Shaun T doesn't take off his shirt, but you do get a gratuitous shot of his washboard abs at the very end...at least you'll have that to look forward to!) I intended to do the workout after work last night, but the Rational Groom gave me an alternative and the notion of working out quickly faded...so I met up with him and his coworkers for a margarita and a burrito and then watched the Lakers emerge victorious over the Celtics...it was a lovely ending to an exercise-free day.
Today I faced the music and did the workout, this time noticing everyone in the video even more. I really need to find some redeeming qualities in Tanya, otherwise I think I'm going to hate the next month with her. Hopefully there will be some other cool stuff to distract me, based on the thread I posted I think there's a point where someone almost gets kicked in the face, that should be entertaining. Anyway, in this video there is a guy in the back that totally has a Jersey Shore blow out, hilarious. And of course, there is Frankie who always looks like he needs a good shower and shave even before the workout starts...Frankie definitely hams it up sometimes but I find it endearing with him, I think he's just trying to look buff, not like Tanya who looks like she's trying to land a spot on the Britney Spears comeback tour. Ariel also makes an appearance in this one and she totally kills it! Her abs look amazing, form is always spot on and she is so focused throughout the whole thing. Shaun T spends a lot of time using Ariel as an example in this video...in my mind this makes Tanya resent Ariel. I only have one more day of this workout, then I have to figure out how I'm going to manage to wake up early enough to do an hour long Insanity workout every day for the next month. For now, I can look forward to a weekend with family and food. I don't think he reads this, but....
Today I faced the music and did the workout, this time noticing everyone in the video even more. I really need to find some redeeming qualities in Tanya, otherwise I think I'm going to hate the next month with her. Hopefully there will be some other cool stuff to distract me, based on the thread I posted I think there's a point where someone almost gets kicked in the face, that should be entertaining. Anyway, in this video there is a guy in the back that totally has a Jersey Shore blow out, hilarious. And of course, there is Frankie who always looks like he needs a good shower and shave even before the workout starts...Frankie definitely hams it up sometimes but I find it endearing with him, I think he's just trying to look buff, not like Tanya who looks like she's trying to land a spot on the Britney Spears comeback tour. Ariel also makes an appearance in this one and she totally kills it! Her abs look amazing, form is always spot on and she is so focused throughout the whole thing. Shaun T spends a lot of time using Ariel as an example in this video...in my mind this makes Tanya resent Ariel. I only have one more day of this workout, then I have to figure out how I'm going to manage to wake up early enough to do an hour long Insanity workout every day for the next month. For now, I can look forward to a weekend with family and food. I don't think he reads this, but....
Happy Father's Day, Dad!!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Welcome to Recovery Week!
The workout this morning was interesting, tough but not crazy tough. I think it's gonna be a good week! I also think that I'm going to be bored after doing the same workout for 6 days. It's all good...I'm sure that next week I'll be wishing I was still in recovery. Next week we start the more intense Month 2 which means longer workouts and everything is labeled "MAX". Yikes.
As you know, I initially swooned over Tanya...but now I'm starting to get super annoyed with her. I'm pretty convinced that she's a professional worker-outer and maybe an actress too, but not a good one. Or maybe she's just one of those really peppy people that seem fake all the time... or maybe she's actually in her 50s and that's why she is pumped about being there, but I really think she's just hamming it up for no reason. Here's an example of what I'm talking about...today Shaun T takes extra time between moves so that he can explain form and we can rest, and while Shaun T is explaining Tanya is constantly nodding her head and making faces that combine the emotions of fear (like she's thinking to herself...oh this is gonna be tough!) and excitement, a-la Tony the Tiger on the Frosted Flakes box. She's always smiling when a smile is not appropriate, like she is trying to show me that the workout is easy to master and that she's pumped...but Tanya, the workout is not easy, it's hard and it makes me want to crawl back into bed, stop faking. Sometimes Tanya can still pump me up...but only when she doesn't have those stupid goofy expressions. Most of the other people are focused and have genuine and appropriate expressions for most of the workout...so Tanya: quit hamming it up and do the damn thing! At least I'm not alone, thanks Beach Body people...threads like these make these workouts so much more enjoyable =)
As you know, I initially swooned over Tanya...but now I'm starting to get super annoyed with her. I'm pretty convinced that she's a professional worker-outer and maybe an actress too, but not a good one. Or maybe she's just one of those really peppy people that seem fake all the time... or maybe she's actually in her 50s and that's why she is pumped about being there, but I really think she's just hamming it up for no reason. Here's an example of what I'm talking about...today Shaun T takes extra time between moves so that he can explain form and we can rest, and while Shaun T is explaining Tanya is constantly nodding her head and making faces that combine the emotions of fear (like she's thinking to herself...oh this is gonna be tough!) and excitement, a-la Tony the Tiger on the Frosted Flakes box. She's always smiling when a smile is not appropriate, like she is trying to show me that the workout is easy to master and that she's pumped...but Tanya, the workout is not easy, it's hard and it makes me want to crawl back into bed, stop faking. Sometimes Tanya can still pump me up...but only when she doesn't have those stupid goofy expressions. Most of the other people are focused and have genuine and appropriate expressions for most of the workout...so Tanya: quit hamming it up and do the damn thing! At least I'm not alone, thanks Beach Body people...threads like these make these workouts so much more enjoyable =)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
100 days!!
100 days till the big day!! Weird!! But exciting!!
A big CONGRATS to my man who got a guilty verdict today!!! Great job babe!!!
A big CONGRATS to my man who got a guilty verdict today!!! Great job babe!!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I'm nuts too
Just to clarify, by no means do I exclude myself from the potential of being psychotic amidst wedding planning (hence, the name of the blog). But in all truth, I'd really like to avoid the wedding planning insanity at all costs, and so far I think I'm doing a decent job at not being too crazy...but you'll have to ask the Rational Groom to be sure.
Now, on to the more important things at hand...I've made it to week 4 of Insanity!! I'm pretty sure this is the longest I've ever stuck with a workout program, and I can totally feel it! I haven't lost any weight at all, but I'm starting to see some definition and now I can wear pants that would normally cut off my circulation. Victory! This week I'm finally starting to get my eating in order...hearty breakfast followed by a healthy 300 calorie meal every 3 hours or so...and so far, no Sour Patch Kids. Of course, I do realize that it's only Tuesday, we'll see how long this lasts (i.e., how long until I run out of groceries, or until I get a hankering for Sour Patch Kids).
Yesterday I woke up late so I had to do pure cardio + cardio abs in the evening after I met some friends for dinner. I do not recommend this. Multiple times I had to eye the trash can to make sure that I would be able to make it there if my dinner came back up. That discomfort was subsequently compounded by the fact that today I have stuff to do right after work so there's no way I could have worked out tonight, so I had to will myself to wake up early and do another Insane workout less than 12 hours after doing yesterday's workout. I do not recommend this. I had a pretty pathetic showing this morning. Last year when I tried P90X sometimes I would be too tired in the morning so between moves I would lay down and nap while Tony Horton would continue leading the workout. The only thing that kept me from collapsing face first into the floor this morning was my unwillingness to get sweat everywhere (just vacuumed the carpet)...I was dripping in sweat by the middle of the warm-up.
With regards to other important business...I finished reading Breaking Dawn and I'm totally pumped to see Eclipse! The Rational Groom will definitely be sitting this one out, so umm...who's with me? Anyone? No? It's all good. I'll go alone...because thats what a twihard would do.
Now, on to the more important things at hand...I've made it to week 4 of Insanity!! I'm pretty sure this is the longest I've ever stuck with a workout program, and I can totally feel it! I haven't lost any weight at all, but I'm starting to see some definition and now I can wear pants that would normally cut off my circulation. Victory! This week I'm finally starting to get my eating in order...hearty breakfast followed by a healthy 300 calorie meal every 3 hours or so...and so far, no Sour Patch Kids. Of course, I do realize that it's only Tuesday, we'll see how long this lasts (i.e., how long until I run out of groceries, or until I get a hankering for Sour Patch Kids).
Yesterday I woke up late so I had to do pure cardio + cardio abs in the evening after I met some friends for dinner. I do not recommend this. Multiple times I had to eye the trash can to make sure that I would be able to make it there if my dinner came back up. That discomfort was subsequently compounded by the fact that today I have stuff to do right after work so there's no way I could have worked out tonight, so I had to will myself to wake up early and do another Insane workout less than 12 hours after doing yesterday's workout. I do not recommend this. I had a pretty pathetic showing this morning. Last year when I tried P90X sometimes I would be too tired in the morning so between moves I would lay down and nap while Tony Horton would continue leading the workout. The only thing that kept me from collapsing face first into the floor this morning was my unwillingness to get sweat everywhere (just vacuumed the carpet)...I was dripping in sweat by the middle of the warm-up.
With regards to other important business...I finished reading Breaking Dawn and I'm totally pumped to see Eclipse! The Rational Groom will definitely be sitting this one out, so umm...who's with me? Anyone? No? It's all good. I'll go alone...because thats what a twihard would do.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Brides are nuts
Like most women that have gotten engaged in the 21st century, once Jerrbear and I got engaged, I too created an account on TheKnot.com so that I could count down the days to our big day, get ideas, be girly...you know what I'm talking about. In the last 6 months I have grown to loath this website for several reasons. Although it has cool pictures to check out, it is totally overwhelming...the website bombards you with stuff. I used to have the impression that it was user-friendly, budget savvy, realistic...but it's actually just a bunch of vendors trying to sell me stuff that I don't need. But the worst part of it by far is the ridiculous "community" message boards that allow these crazy women to post the most retarded questions ever and excessively use unnecessary acronyms like "FI" for fiance. Some of the comments are so caddy and judgmental, I just don't understand it. This one girl posted something asking about doing a dollar dance...I understand that a dollar dance is not as popular in some regions/cultures but who cares, its your wedding do whatever you want, right? Wrong. This girl who was just looking for some advice got immediately attacked by psycho brides across the country who were judging her for even contemplating carrying out such an atrocity. Brides are scary.
Now that I'm done ranting...workout today was good! I had a dream that I slept through my alarm and had to skip the workout (again) but then the alarm went off at 6:00 like normal, and like normal I got up at 6:30 and had enough time to do Core Power Resistance. As always, the workout was super intense and it ended with me sweating profusely and a shirtless Shaun T. After I ate breakfast, took a shower and got ready for work I was still sweating....kinda annoying when you're trying to put on makeup. But I felt victorious when I was trying to find something to wear...I picked out a dress that normally makes breathing difficult but when I put it on I had room to spare!! Hooray!!
Now that I'm done ranting...workout today was good! I had a dream that I slept through my alarm and had to skip the workout (again) but then the alarm went off at 6:00 like normal, and like normal I got up at 6:30 and had enough time to do Core Power Resistance. As always, the workout was super intense and it ended with me sweating profusely and a shirtless Shaun T. After I ate breakfast, took a shower and got ready for work I was still sweating....kinda annoying when you're trying to put on makeup. But I felt victorious when I was trying to find something to wear...I picked out a dress that normally makes breathing difficult but when I put it on I had room to spare!! Hooray!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Week 3 Rundown
So I totally intended to be much more diligent in my blogging...but that whole work thing can get in the way from time to time. Nevertheless, fear not! In my blogging absence my better half has entered the blogosphere and is also providing an account of our journey on the road to Buff City. Check him out HERE!
Our trip last weekend was so much fun!! A beautiful wedding, good friends, good food, good wine, good times all around! Check us out...this was at the reception:
After slacking with the workouts and stuffing my face with copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids, it took a while for my body to get back into the groove of things this week. I did the Fit Test (results below) and I weighed myself. Wine, food, airplanes, and Sour Patch Kids did not do me any favors on the scale. I also have had trouble waking up in the morning to work out so this week I've had to do the workouts at night after work. Doing that is actually not so bad...but you run the risk of finding something cooler to do. At 6:00 (ok 6:30am) there really isn't much else to do besides sleep.
Anyway, I'm still chugging along and Wednesday was the first time we had to do the cardio ab workout in addition to the normal workout. When the workout started and I realized that there was a warm-up I wanted to punch Shaun T in the face. The Insanity warm-ups are SO hard! Luckily this warm-up was truncated so I didn't have to cause harm to anything or anyone, other than myself. OH and the girl who wears her curly hair down in the power core resistance video made an appearance in the cardio ab video too! She looked a lot different with her hair back and it was kinda shocking to see how high she jumps. I wonder if I'll be able to jump that high one day.
Here are my Fit Test #2 results:
Switch Kicks: 60 (+6 since Fit Test #1)
Power Jacks: 45 (-3 since Fit Test #1...my bad)
Power Knees: 82 (+10)
Power Jumps: 26 (+6)
Globe Jumps: 8 (+2)
Suicide Jumps: 12 (+4)
Push-up Jacks: 20 (+5...this was SO hard!)
Low Plank Obligque: 32 (+13...heck yeah!)
Our trip last weekend was so much fun!! A beautiful wedding, good friends, good food, good wine, good times all around! Check us out...this was at the reception:
After slacking with the workouts and stuffing my face with copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids, it took a while for my body to get back into the groove of things this week. I did the Fit Test (results below) and I weighed myself. Wine, food, airplanes, and Sour Patch Kids did not do me any favors on the scale. I also have had trouble waking up in the morning to work out so this week I've had to do the workouts at night after work. Doing that is actually not so bad...but you run the risk of finding something cooler to do. At 6:00 (ok 6:30am) there really isn't much else to do besides sleep.
Anyway, I'm still chugging along and Wednesday was the first time we had to do the cardio ab workout in addition to the normal workout. When the workout started and I realized that there was a warm-up I wanted to punch Shaun T in the face. The Insanity warm-ups are SO hard! Luckily this warm-up was truncated so I didn't have to cause harm to anything or anyone, other than myself. OH and the girl who wears her curly hair down in the power core resistance video made an appearance in the cardio ab video too! She looked a lot different with her hair back and it was kinda shocking to see how high she jumps. I wonder if I'll be able to jump that high one day.
Here are my Fit Test #2 results:
Switch Kicks: 60 (+6 since Fit Test #1)
Power Jacks: 45 (-3 since Fit Test #1...my bad)
Power Knees: 82 (+10)
Power Jumps: 26 (+6)
Globe Jumps: 8 (+2)
Suicide Jumps: 12 (+4)
Push-up Jacks: 20 (+5...this was SO hard!)
Low Plank Obligque: 32 (+13...heck yeah!)
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