T25 "Results"

Apparently time passes even when one is not prepared for it to do so or acting as if it is.

Monday morning I logged on to Beachbody to see what T25 workout was in store for me and learned that I was done! No workout was scheduled. T25 was done. But what about the results? Where were my abs? It turns out one has to also eat healthy. And preferably be healthy, thereby not stopping mid-workout to cough or catch one’s breath. Come to think of it, I can probably blame my lingering cold to my complete lack of nutrition. Case in point: even my kids are sick of pizza right now. They’re 2 and 3; if they don’t want to eat any more pizza we’ve clearly been eating it too much.

I’ve been craving “as God made them” foods lately. You know, that unprocessed stuff that comes without labels or ingredient lists. These past two days I’ve done pretty good and I know I can do better. The grocery list I made today reads like a garden catalog. Let’s do this!

Here’s what else I’m going to do: I’m going to continue T25 Beta this week, picking the workouts I found hardest and trying to nail them. Next week I’m going to start T25 Gamma. Gamma is the “so I’ve finished T25 and want a new challenge” phase. Not required to say you’ve done T25, but there for the challenge. I’m going to accept that challenge.

One of the things I’ve learned about myself is that it’s hard for me to keep going for more results. I’ll have awesome results with a program and then slowly fall away to where I forgot how it feels to feel good. What if I kept going? What if I said, “I feel great when I eat healthy and I love how my clothes fit; let’s do more of this!”

One of my challenges for the last year or so has been a sore shoulder. I’ve had two cortisone shots in it and reality is that I will probably need surgery this year. My range of motion is compromise, at least when lifting anything (like say, my 2 and 3 year olds), and I know I don’t want to live the rest of my life not being able to do a push-up or cringing when I reach into the back seat.

Surgery will require “4 to 6 months” total recovery depending on the type of surgery. At least 6 weeks will consist of little to no movement. Healthy eating habits are going to be essential during that time.

In the meantime I’ll work on my eating, I’ll workout with Gamma phase, and I’ll run a time or two before the Lincoln Half Marathon. (Kidding: I’m actually planning on training for the marathon this year. I want to get a time I can be proud of. I also want it to be warmer.)

Tomorrow is day 5.

One week down already (after tomorrow’s workout, of course).

Also, tomorrow is double day… so I’ll have to get up a little earlier and keep at it for 50 minutes instead of 25. Last time I enjoyed most of these days, though they did wear me out. It makes for an interesting workout because every time Shaun T says “it’s only 25 minutes of your day” you think “not today.” On the other hand, 50 minutes is still shorter than many Insanity or P90X workouts.

Anyhow, with nearly one week of T25 completed I’ve been contemplating the pros and cons of working out. I mean, why do this? Is it worth it to wake up early and get all sweaty? Is it worth it to pant for breath and have sore muscles?

Spoiler alert: my conclusion is YES!

It’s been one week, so it’s not like my pants are starting to fit again. I don’t suddenly have a six pack of abs. And really, my pros and cons are each different sides of the same coin.

PROS	CONS
The house has a quiet about it at 5am.	I hate the sound of the alarm at 5am.
It’s nice to be up before the kids. I feel more ready for them when they get up.	Sometimes I have to pause my workouts to help a kid with potty stuff, cereal, and getting situated on the couch.
I have more energy all day.	No excuse for morning coffee.
I’m more aware of my muscles, body positioning, posture, etc.	Sore muscles! Especially my calves, glutes, abs, and triceps.
I’ve got the positive attitude that I am doing something to change. This makes me more aware of other choices I make. So I’m walking the stairs more, walking further, walking faster, and thinking more about what I am putting in my body.	Change takes time.
I will get stronger. I will get faster. I will get fitter.	Change takes time.
I will be healthier and that will allow me more time, money, and energy to spend on the things that matter.	Change takes time.

The image in the mirror isn’t any different today than a week ago. But the person inside is. And that makes it worth it!

T25 Take 2, Day 1

Let’s start with yesterday: Measurements and scale. Ack! The scale wasn’t actually as bad as I imagined, but the measurements were worse. And this, my friends, is why the scale doesn’t tell the whole story.

This morning I took “before” pictures… I will show those only alongside the “after” ones in a few months. Bleck. I’d rather not show them at all. Ever. But, this is the price of not working out and eating like garbage. It really didn’t help to have the Halloween season fall during the “not working out” season.

As much as I was dreading it, waking to the alarm this morning to a silent house was refreshing. And everyone was still tucked in their beds with their bedroom doors closed when I finished my workout. I really couldn’t have asked for a better morning to get back to routine.

I am SO GLAD that I decided to restart this program. The first Alpha workout did me in. I stopped to catch my breath several times and was pretty happy that I never felt the urge to puke. I’m ready to feel the sore muscles tomorrow!

And I’m really really ready to see changes.

Let's get Real. Real real.

Humanity. I’ve fallen. Off the blog. Off the working out. Fallen hard.

I had one week left of T25. I loved the program. I plan on loving it again. I was feeling great and seeing improvement. Then I got a head cold. And the kids stopped sleeping good at night. And my back hurt from yard work. And then over a month passed without a workout.

And then I was tired all the time. And pants became too tight. And I grew apathetic.

Now I’m tired of being tired. I’m tired of the two pairs of pants I can comfortably wear. I’m tired of excuses.

Monday morning I begin T25 again. I don’t know that I can call it “round two.”  I think I’ll call it “redo.” Only this time I’ll finish. This is the first time I’ve stopped a program before finishing. I’ve had hiccups in programs before, but I always pushed through. I don’t like how quitting feels.

And as if I need more motivation, I’ll be taking “before” pictures and measurements over the weekend. I know I’m not going to like what I see. I want to change it.

Will you join me? Start a program of your own. Dedicate yourself to something bigger than yourself.

Alpha Phase Complete

T25 is broken into two phases, much like the other Beachbody workouts. Only, Shaun T names them: Alpha and Beta.

Friday completed the Alpha phase of T25. Unfortunately I was sick for the beginning of the last week, so I didn't push the final five workouts as much as I'd have liked to. I completed them, but can't say that I "nailed it."

I'm excited for the Beta phase. I'm up for the challenge and excited to see improvements... as well has just how much sweat I can produce in a mere 25 minutes. So far it's been a pretty impressive amount and I expect it to increase.

Now if I can get back to any sort of "healthy eating" I can start seeing some results!

Focus T25

Only on day 2 of this adventure and already blogging!

I'm excited to see how this goes. So far I love the 25 minute workouts. Nice to be done that quickly. Not to say that it's easy. Both days I've been amazed at how much sweat is dripping when I'm done.

I enjoy Shaun T as an instructor, so that's a bonus. I also enjoyed how today's workout incorporated crazy amounts of cardio (the workout is called Speed 1.0) with 30 second increments of balance/stretching. It's hard to balance after going all out!

LesMills Combat - DONE!!

I loved this workout! The punching. The kicking. And especially the HITT (high intensity interval training). Being a 60 day program there was less variety than some of the longer workouts, but the HIIT workouts were vastly different from the more combat style workouts and that added a feeling of variety.

The instructors used a lot of catch phrases and clichés. So, much so that my husband said that he liked to think about them brainstorming phrases and betting who could say the most. That being said, most of them were pretty encouraging. There's a reason the clichés exist.

I also have to give props to Rach, as my favorite female instructor with Beachbody. No overly enthusiastic "fitness instructor I'd hate at a gym" vibes from her. That was appreciated. This was also tied to my happiness of not having to string together moves or exhibit coordination.

Results weren't as good as I'd hoped for. But with the shoulder problem (see previous blog) I did a decent amount of modifying. Hard to work the arms when certain punches hurt and push ups are impossible. Partially due to the shoulder frustrations I let myself find comfort in poor eating habits I had previously eliminated. So, I'm happy to come out of the 60 days as well as I did.

Next up Focus T25. Looking forward to only working out 25 mins a day for 5 days a week. Also looking forward to trying the 5 ingredient recipes. Hooray for a workout designed for busy people who still want results!

Every time I try to upload my picture the internet stops working, so apparently I'm not meant to share it.