Fitspiration

Insanity Week 2, fit test 2, and Abs oh my!

2012-04-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

Insanity: Week 2

I was going to try to post every day, but I think I may have bitten off a little more than I can chew, so until month two (when I get new workouts) I'll post once or twice a week.

This past week I actually felt weaker than I did at the start of week one. I think that's because my muscles only got one real day of rest, and even on that day we went to the zoo and did a lot of walking.

On Monday and Tuesday I could barely even finish the workouts, but on Wednesday I felt really good and strong. I could tell the moves were getting easier, and I could do them faster and better. Thursday was recovery day (which is still hard when your muscles are sore), and by Friday and Saturday I saw a big improvement in my form and endurance.

The one discouraging thing is that even though I'm not getting that sore, I have HORRIBLE lactic acid build up in my quads. So much so that my quads can't keep up with the rest of my body. I have the endurance to push farther, but my dang legs burn SO badly that they feel like they're going to fall off. I remember when I first started running (back when I used to run) this happened, but I didn't quit and one day the burn never showed up. From then on I could run as long as I wanted, until I got tired, not until my legs felt like they were on fire. I'm really hoping that's the case here.

Fit test 2

                                 Test 1/Test 2

Switch Kicks                46/60
Power Jacks                  45/55
Power Knees                 65/85
Power Jumps               24/33
Globe Jumps                 8/10
Suicide Jumps              18/18
Push-up Jacks               12/22
Low Plank Oblique,    skipped because of the diastasis of my abs.

Over all I'm really happy with my results. I pushed myself to my max (and beyond) during the power jumps and I actually had to pause the DVD to stick my head between my literally shaking legs, so by the time I got to the suicide jumps, my quads had checked out. They said no more, nada, that's it we're though and they pooped out on me. Hmmmm, kind of sounds like an excuse, shame on me! ::slaps self on wrist:: Well, at least I know where I need to improve, and it's fun to see where I've already improved!

I decided not to do a photo progress report since it's kind of unrealistic to expect huge visible results in two weeks. Insanity suggests taking photos every 30 days, so that's what I'll do.

Solution to my ab workout problem.

Since I haven't been able to do a lot of the ab exercises in Insanity, I ordered Hip Hop Abs (by the same guy) because it's all standing (which I can do with the diastasis), plus it looks like a lot of fun! When it gets here, I'll be doing it along side Insanity, maybe every day depending on how long the DVDs are.

Fitspiration

Just beautiful.

Yep, I'm doing it too.

Buttspiration:).

Insanity and Diet, Day 6

2012-04-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

Insanity, Day 6 (Sat)

Plyometric Cardio Circuit

This was a repeat workout, same as Tuesday. I found it just as exhausting, but a little easier to get through (it did help that my husband was sitting on the couch in the same room, I HAD to be awesome for him).

Week one is done!!! Wow, that really was an insane week of workouts! Yes, I know it's cliche to say that the Insanity workouts are insane, but what I kept thinking while I was doing them is, "This is freaking CRAZY!" so it fits.

Diet, Day 6

Breakfast:
2 slices turkey bacon
2 eggs
1 slice whole wheat toast
1/2 Tbsp Soy Free Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Snack:
Canned tuna (in water) drained
Chopped spinach cooked from frozen
2 Tbsp Hummus (made without the olive oil)
1 slice whole wheat bread
it was a tuna/spinach salad sandwich made with hummus instead of mayo, it was pretty tasty. I mixed it all together, and split it between a couple of snacks.

Lunch:
Chicken on a salad
1 rotisserie chicken thigh, skin removed
2 cups fresh spinach
2 Tbsp toasted sliced almonds
8-10 black olives
Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

Snack:
Sweet potato chips

Dinner:
1 bun length hot dot
1 hot dog bun
1/2 Baked beans (Bush's Original)
Dill pickle relish
Mustard
Baked potato chips (1 serving)
1 Landshark

I came in 42 calories under my budget for the day, but my fat grams were WAY too high, so no more hot dogs for me. I also discovered that two slices of Hormel Natural Choice ham has a lot less fat than the turkey bacon I've been eating, so I'm switching to that for breakfast.

Fitspiration

Hot women lift weights

No excuses

Strong > skinny

Stay healthy!

Insanity and Diet, Day 5

2012-04-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

Insanity Day 5

Pure Cardio

Holy cow, this was the toughest workout yet. It's actually about 10 minutes shorter than the other ones and for a good reason. This one has you do the normal warm up and stretch session, then you do about 15 minutes of insane cardio, solid, no breaks. "15 minutes of cardio, pssshh, I can do that!" you say?! Um, well, you've never done Insanity and if you can get through the entire thing (with good form) without taking a break or passing out, then I will give you a million dollars*.

Diet Day 5

This day I knew that we were going to go out to eat for dinner, plus I was super busy with the kids, so I didn't eat my normal snacks (I don't really recommend skipping snacks, since they help keep your metabolism revved up, but that's just what happened for me).

Breakfast:
2 scrambled eggs
2 slices of turkey bacon
1 slice of whole wheat toast
1 tsp Soy Free Earth Balance

Lunch:
Chicken salad
about 1/2 cup chopped chicken from leftover rotisserie chicken (I used the thigh)
2 cups fresh spinach
2 Tbsp toasted almond slivers
8-10 mandarin orange slices
9-10 black olives
Honey balsamic vinaigrette

Dinner:
On The Border
1/4 order of guacamole
Chicken fajitas, no dairy or sauce (I made 1 fajita with guacamole, peppers, onions, and chicken, then ate a few extra chicken slices)
1/3 of the re-fried beans and rice that came with the fajitas
1 Herradura Grande Margarita**

After we got home and put the kids to bed, I ate the rest of the chicken, peppers, and onions from my fajitas. I probably went over my 1800 calories since I could never find nutritional information for the margarita.

*Just kidding, I don't have that kind of money (in other words, not an actual promise of any money at all), but if you can do it, I'm IMPRESSED.

**I'm over the legal drinking age. If you are under age, please don't drink.

Fitspiration for the day

She's 70 years old, a dance choreographer, and starts every day with a 2 hour workout. WOW.

I don't think any captions are necessary here.

Strong girls are hot.

Insanity, Day 4 and Diet

2012-04-21T20:51:00.002-07:00

Insanity Day 4

Today's workout was Cardio Recovery. Never has the word recovery ever sounded so sweet. I was soooo sore and tired today, I was so grateful to get a semi break. The workout was still tough, but it was very chill and slow paced with lots of yoga poses and stretching. Compared to the previous days, it didn't seem like much of a workout at all, my muscles were very grateful.

Diet, Day 4

Breakfast:
1 Scrambled egg
2 pieces turkey bacon
1 piece whole wheat toast
.5 Tbsp Soy Free Earth Balance

Before workout snack:
1/2 recipe chicken spinach hummus salad (2/3 cup chopped chicken thigh/leg, 1/4 cup leftover spinach cooked from frozen from the night before, 1/4 cup hummus (made without olive oil))*
1 Apple

Lunch:
Other half of the chicken spinach hummus salad
1 piece whole wheat bread
6 Ritz-style wheat crackers
2 Tbsp almond butter

Dinner:
2 cups fresh spinach
1 chicken thigh chopped
2 Tbsp toasted almonds
8-10 mandarin orange slices (from a jar, in juice)
8-10 black olives
Honey-balsamic vinaigrette (so yummy)
1 Landshark beer

After dinner snack:
Almond milk
Cinnamon toast crunch (oh yes I did)

I've been using a calorie tracking app called loose it, and it had me eating over 2000 calories a day because of the workout and breast feeding (this day reflects that), I've now bumped it down to 1800 a day.

*entire recipe

Fitspiration for the day

Stay healthy!

Day 3 INSANITY and Diet

2012-04-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

INSANITY Day 3

Well, the third day has been the hardest of Insanity so far. The workout wasn't actually much harder if at all, but my soreness really showed itself during the workout and all of my limbs felt like led. I did it though, even with my daughter waking up early from her nap, and AF showing right in the middle of it, I did finish it!

The layout of day 3's workout is pretty much exactly the same as day 2, just with different exercises. It seemed to go by much faster since I knew when the breaks were coming.

I have to admit though, I am doing the girly on my knees pushups for now (instead of the traveling pushup, I did do the V-pushups the way they show them). They do so many that there is NO way I could do regular ones, so until I build up a bit more strength, I'll continue doing them on my knees.

Today my butt is pretty sore, the first time it's been sore since I started. Other areas that are sore are my triceps, shoulders, calves, and hamstrings. Something's working:). In fact, today I'm the sorest I've been so far which makes me VERY glad that today's workout is cardio recovery.

Diet Day 3

Breakfast:
1 egg scrambled in Soy Free Earth Balance
2 pieces of turkey bacon
1 piece of 100% whole wheat bread toasted
.5 Tbsp Soy Free Earth Balance

Mid morning snack:
1 piece of 100% whole wheat bread
2 Tbsp hummus
2 pieces Hormel Naturals smoked turkey
1/2 orange (shared the other half with my daugher)

Lunch: (took kids to play at the mall)
Chick-fil-a spicy chicken sandwich, no butter on bun, with a little squirt of mayo (sometimes you HAVE to have Chick-fil-a, am I right?)

After workout snack:
1 piece of 100% whole wheat bread
2 Tbsp hummus
2 pieces Hormel Naturals smoked ham

Dinner:
Baked chicken leg and thigh with BBQ sauce (took the skin off after cooking, then added the BBQ)
Baked sweet potato fries
Spinach cooked from frozen

Note to self, eat more fruits and veggies!

Fitspiration for the day!

You can't get curves like this by starving yourself.

You are beautiful!

Day 2 of Insanity

2012-04-18T12:31:00.001-07:00

INSANITY Day 2

I did day two of INSANITY yesterday and I can confirm that it is in fact insane. GOOD GRIEF is it INTENSE! I thought I was going to pass out from the warm up alone! But I finished the whole thing, subbing in my specific ab exercises when needed and I felt really awesome afterward. I have never actually dripped sweat on the floor before, but there's a first time for everything!

The warm up is about 10 minutes long, if you can get to the 30 minute mark then you get a nice 6 minute stretch session, then it's time to push yourself to the max with awesome cardio plyo circuits. Each circuit is about 5-6 exercises for one minute each, then you get a 30 second water break. You repeat that 4-5 times then move onto another circuit until the last three minutes of the workout when you get a cool down stretch.

I have to say that I'm really impressed with this so far, I feel encouraged to push myself to my max thanks to Shawn T (he's really motivating even though he's inside my TV), but I also like the fact that it's okay for me to take a short rest if I NEED it. Another thing that helps me make it through is the timer at the bottom of the screen. If you feel like stopping for a rest, but you see there's only 10 more seconds left, chances are you'll push yourself which will make you stronger.

My Diet Day 2*

Breakfast:
1 egg scrambled in some soy free Earth Balance (my favorite butter substitute, tastes better than butter IMO)
1 piece of Nature's Own 100% whole wheat toast with about .5 Tbsp soy free Earth Balance
2 pieces of Oscar Meyer turkey bacon

Snack before workout:
1 Apple
2 Tbsp all natural peanut butter

Lunch right after workout:
Turkey hummus wrap...
1 large flour tortilla
3 pieces Hormel Natural Smoked Turkey
1 Roma tomato
7-8 fresh spinach leaves
2-3 Tbsp homemade hummus (made without olive oil, and I knock the tahini down to 1/4 cup)

Mid afternoon snack:
Roma tomato hollowed out with hummus inside
1/4 cup crunchy sesame snack thingies
1 apple

Dinner:
Non dairy stuffed shells (I add 1 pound of browned lean ground turkey and 1 Tbsp lemon juice to the stuffing mix).

Now before you turn your nose up to these tofu stuffed shells, let me just tell you that these things are AMAZING. So lick your fingers good in fact, that my husband who hates all things healthy, cleaned his plate and went back for seconds and was none the wiser until I told him ::he he he::. Now, even though he knows these are full of tofu, he still eats them up!

After dinner snack (oops:)):
1 bowl of cinnamon toast crunch with Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk

*I am breastfeeding my 14 month old about 3 times a day still, so my calorie intake is a little higher than it normally would be.

And here I leave you with some motivational "fitspiration" photos. Please remember, your goal should be healthy not skinny!!!

Strong

Remember, muscle weighs more than fat!

Perfect image of fitness, love Jessica Biel.

Before photos and Insanity fit test #1 results.

2012-04-17T07:48:00.001-07:00

Here are my dreaded before photos. Just FYI, I know these shorts are way too small for me, I just wanted to wear something that showed my body without being in my underwear.

This is me as of yesterday.

Stats

Weight: 133

Right thigh: 23"

Left thigh: 23"

Hips: 39"

Waist at belly button: 29"

Natural waistline: 27"

Rib cage right under bust line: 28.5"

Bust 37"

I would just like to say that I look WAY better with regular clothes on:).

Insanity fit test results (how many of each exercise completed within one minute)

Switch Kick (2 kicks = 1 rep): 46

Power Jack: 45

Power Knee: 65*

Power Jump (this one kicked my butt): 24

Globe Jump: 8

Suicide Jump: 18

Push up Jacks: 12

Low Plank Oblique: Skipped**

I'll post progress updates to the fit test and photos every two weeks!

* I edited this number from 85 down to 65 because when I wrote it on my card I couldn't tell which number it was, and after listening to what the fitness pros were getting, I realize it was way too high.

**I have a separation of the abdominal muscles called diastasis recti from being pregnant. I am currently wearing a brace and can only do certain abdominal exercises until it is healed.

So, what's this all about anyway?

2012-04-17T06:22:00.002-07:00

I am a 31 year old mother of two (ages 1 and 2.5) trying to get back to the strong, fit, hot woman I used to be. I'm actually within my healthy weight range right now, but I'm a little too soft and jiggly for my taste. Honestly, the number on the scale doesn't really mean much to me, at my healthiest and strongest I only weighed 5 pounds less than I do now. I'll be focusing more on measurements and the way my clothes fit. I'll also be getting a caliper to tell me what my true BMI is (those BMI calculators where you plug in your age, weight, height, and gender online are full of crap).

Here's the old me, 128 pounds and a BMI of 17%

To jump start things, as of today I am 100% dairy free. That means reading every single food label looking for milk, cheese, butter, lactic acid, lactose, lactate, casein, and whey. I would go into a long explanation of why, but I'll spare you the boring details and just say that my body doesn't like dairy (I'm not lactose intolerant). I was dairy free for about 8 months and was down to a good weight, but since adding it back into my diet I've gained about 14 pounds.

I'm also doing the Insanity workout program. I did the fit test yesterday and took before pictures which I'll post in a bit.