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.

LesMills Combat

Holy cow! I'm on Day 58 of this journey and realize that I haven't blogged once. Whoops!

Sadly, this journey is reminding me a little of the P90X "ineffective" time when I ate like a pig and managed to gain weight. It hasn't been that bad, but it hasn't been the overwhelming success it could have been. Let's face it, the food we eat is a daily choice and one that is easy to stumble on. And once one stumbles it's easy to slide and tumble.

My other stumbling block has been my shoulder. It's been bothering me for months. I was near the point of seeing a doctor when I took 3 weeks off of working out to do the Ultimate Reset. I reasoned that 3 weeks without working out would heal me. It did not. In hindsight, choosing to do Combat with a sore shoulder was not the best choice. But, I knew I couldn't do P90X2 (my favorite) with all of its push-ups and balance. And I wanted to try something new. I broke down and saw a specialist for my shoulder last week and learned that it's my rotator cuff, as I suspected. They gave me a shot and told me to only do lower body for 2 days. Now I'm back to my usual routine plus some rehab exercises. It still hurts but it's not excruciating. In September we'll decide if surgery is needed.

Anyhow, What is LesMills Combat?
A. A lot of fun
B. A lot of work
C. ALL OF THE ABOVE

And "C" it is. For someone already in good shape, it leans more toward fun. But it's one of those workouts that how hard you push yourself determines how much you sweat and how much you succeed. (Really, aren't all workouts like that?) It's another (RevAbs being the other) workout that would be a great pre-curser to Insanity. It won't kill you, unless you want it to. Workouts range from 30-60 minutes, though the "60 minute" ones actually start the countdown with about 52 minutes.

LesMills Combat has two energetic leaders and a fun cast. I specifically like the blond who does a lot of "smiling uncomfortably though pain." Like all Beachbody workouts, there is a modifier. She does a less intense version. Unfortunately she didn't help me modify for my shoulder; of course the disclaimer at the beginning makes it clear that this isn't a workout for someone with shoulder injuries. But, I only have 2 days left and "rest" was not a doctor recommendation.

Next up, T25. Looking forward to having to workout only 25 minutes a day for 5 days a week! On the other hand, I'm sure Shaun T will make it crazy hard. I'll try to update this more regularly. After all, T25 is another 60 day journey.

After the Ultimate Reset

My Ultimate Reset journey ended rather abruptly, as I knew it would. I made some attempt to still eat minimal meat and carbs, but still found myself literally sick to my stomach due to the change. Eye opening how much better the body functions when nourished properly. And how quickly toxins upset that balance.

I've been surprised that when I get lured by junk I actually find myself wanting the Alkalize supplement as a cleanser.

We've also mixed more vegan dishes into our regular meal planning; recently getting a vegan slow cooker book. Eating more tempeh, which we learned that we liked during the last Reset. Finding additional ways to prepare it. I always felt that I couldn't be a vegan due to the lack of cheese and dairy in general. However, we rarely eat dairy anymore. I've become a fan of various other "milks" from soy to almond (my favorite) to coconut to rice. I still enjoy cheese, but more as an accent or treat than a dietary staple. What I really can't handle about the vegan diet is the lack of eggs and honey. This is especially true since I get farm fresh eggs from a guy at work. Nothing beats local fresh eggs and local fresh honey!

Nutrition remains a journey. The Ultimate Reset is a good travel guide.

Oh yeah, the AFTER picture:

Ultimate Reset – week 3

The final week! I’m a little unsure how this week will pan out, as the official final three days will be two days of a road trip followed by a day on the beach. I’m toying with the idea of hitting “pause” and doing the final three days upon returning home. I could certainly take the supplements those three days but am unsure that I have the will or desire to do the meals as planned. As it is, we’re doing a lot more salads and finishing up leftover Reset ingredients before we leave, as many of them won’t hold. (Isn’t that a great thing about real food? It doesn’t stay in the cupboard for weeks at a time.)

Regardless of how or when the journey ends, it has been a good experience. I would guess that vacation will lead to some food splurges but I have no desire to return to how I was eating prior to the Reset. And I have some great recipes I plan on making while on vacation.

There have been some other awesome benefits: I am sleeping great and waking with energy. My complexion is clearer than when I began. I’m at a weight I’m happy with.

The one thing I won’t miss is the Alkanize wheat grass.

Ultimate Reset – week 2

Week 2 is officially over. So far I’ve already lost about 5 lbs and feel like I have more energy, except for at night when I’m exhausted and head to bed early. I’m also sleeping really deeply. Pants that were uncomfortably snug are now my go-to pants.

I have discovered that weekends are the hardest. I’m not able to control meal time as exactly and timing supplements isn’t as exact. I also don’t drink as much water on the weekends, but I’ve always known this. I did better this weekend than last, so I didn’t have the emotional instability of last weekend. Gah, I’d forgotten that that could be one of the things the body needs to cleanse. Anyhow, it’s Monday now and in my first three hours at work I drank 80 oz of water. The pace never really slowed and my body feels better for it.

I said I’d talk about the supplements:  

There are four that are taken throughout the 21 days. These are Mineralize (dissolved in water 4 times per day), Optimize (2 capsules 3 times per day), Soothe (2 capsules once a day), and Alkalinize (mixed with water once a day). I won’t get into the science of what they do; I’ve read it and won’t be able to relay that accurately. These are all taken 30 mins before meal times, with an extra Mineralize in the afternoon 30 mins before snack. I was pretty unhappy about Mineralize at first, as I’m not a fan of drinking salt. But, I’ve come around. I won’t be sad when I’m done with this one, but I don’t dread it. What I do dread is Alkalinize. Every day. I know some people take wheatgrass shots and enjoy it; I do not. I will never choose wheatgrass. I have found that using a shaker cup and the least amount of water possible makes it bearable; I don’t have to smell it and can swallow it in one gulp.

Week 1 (Reclaim week) doesn’t add any additional supplements. It is very much a transition week, in supplementation and food.

Week 2 (Release week) adds Detox three times a day, 30 mins before meals. I’ve seen that many people don’t seem to like this one. I actually really enjoy it (as does my husband). The texture is a little odd but it has a really sweet (but not overly so) taste that I enjoy. I keep thinking that it reminds me of something, but I’ve no idea what that might be. And it does what it claims to, flushing the system.

Week 3 (Restore week) takes Detox out and adds Revitalize three times a day, 30 mins before meals. This is another capsule.

In a couple of days I’ll talk more about food and the overall experience.

Ultimate Reset – week 1

I’ve been posting a lot of food pictures to Facebook. More than usual. Why? The Ultimate Reset.

So, what is this? Short answer: it’s a 21 day program to cleanse the inside of your body. Lots of water, specific meals, and natural supplements.

Why do it? It’ll change the way you think about food and health. It’ll break your body’s addictions to food and the chemicals found within (caffeine, for one). It’ll give you renewed energy. It can improve weight, cholesterol, and other “blood test numbers.” (Hey, this isn’t a scientific review!)

Today is my day 13, so let’s talk about how week 1 went:

This is the first time I’ve officially done the program; though I ate the meals and drank the water the last time my husband did it. (At the time I was breastfeeding and didn’t want to mess with the supplements. I also ate the larger “men portions” that time since I was eating for two.) Actually doing the program has been different. It has been more of a challenge but also more rewarding. I’m really looking forward to seeing, and feeling, the end results.

This journey started the day after running a half marathon. Unfortunately, said marathon was run in 42F weather and I woke up the first day of the Reset with a head cold. I’ll admit that I cheated and took some cold medicine, and lots of honey, for the first week. But I’ve never had a cold pass that quickly. I moved from sore throat and earache, to sinus pressure, to a cough, back to health in less than a week!

What about the food? There are a handful of meals I’m not a fan of, but I don’t recall running across any of these in the first week. Some things seem odd at first, like eating spinach with breakfast, but end up going with the other food really well. Some things are simply wonderful; like black beans and rice or quinoa salad. The biggest thing with the food is that some of it takes time to prepare. I’ve found that since I’m not working out during the program (it’s recommended to not overexert), that leaves me extra time to prep food. Most of the meals can be made ahead of time and eaten cold or reheated. There are many meals that we still make from the first time my husband did the Ultimate Reset. And I think we’ll add some additional meals to our regular food after this.

I’ll talk about the supplements when I review week 2.

Body Gospel

Donna Richardson Joyner leads this workout as a gospel version of Chalene Johnson. I’m not sure I was always comfortable with the use of God, but I know that some people want to proclaim Him in all they do, and Donna seems to be one of those people.

I did find the gospel music to be more uplifting than the typical dance songs used in Turbo Fire. However, my problem with this program was the same one I had with Turbo Fire: Lack of Coordination! I really could’ve used a HIIT workout. This program is only 30 days in length and I’ve been returning to it for five months to try to finish it. There are two routines that I enjoy; but these are not on the schedule frequently. Donna clearly enjoys her dancing!

Core Revelations is the routine I return to most. It works as a nice supplement to other workouts. At around 20 minutes long, it is reminiscent of pilates, but uses resistance bands to further strengthen the core.

The other routine which I enjoyed used the resistance bands while doing standing moves. Since the bands restricted movement, there were no complicated dance moves or long sequences that I was expected to learn. And the bands added more arm tension than I expected.

For someone just starting out, Body Gospel offers many modified moves. I could see someone doing this program to prepare for the higher intensity of a Chalene Johnson program.

RevAbs

Brett Hobel is a fun trainer. His affirmation statement came off as cheesy at first, but I learned that trying to say it was a pretty good way to judge if I was going hard enough or pushing it too hard. Plus my three year old son heard it enough to start saying “I’m strong, committed, and ready to go!”

This would be a great starter program for anyone interested in Insanity, but afraid of its intensity, or anyone who has given up on Insanity. RevAbs uses interval training and nearly all the moves work the core. Workouts are 30-45 minutes in length, so it takes less time than some of the other 90 day programs. This admittedly spoiled me, and after 90 days it was difficult to go back to 45-60 minute routines. But, for someone starting out, I know that 30 minutes can feel like a long time. Once these 90 days have been completed one should be ready to step it up to the next level.

My only complaint was that all the routines are pretty similar. They have different moves but are all cardio circuits and kind of blurred together for me. Lots of lunges, squats, and plank. There were some pretty fun martial arts moves and variations on plank that kept me interested and challenged.

Will this program give someone ‘ripped abs’ in 90 days?  It’s possible, though following the meal planner would likely be the key determining factor. It will strengthen the core and allow further development. I’ll likely revisit some of these routines, specifically the 15 minute ab supplement.

Turbo Fire

I know many people who love Chalene Johnson and her workouts (Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, and Extreme Chalene). I’ve previously done Turbo Jam routines and knew that Turbo Fire would be more of a challenge.

Anyone who enjoys dance-based cardio should give it a try. I do not fit into this category.

I can handle the bubbly, borderline cheesy persona that one would expect. I cannot handle the choreography; I just physically cannot do much of it. It’s physically possible, but not at the pace required to work up a sweat. I’ll just get a move down and then Chalene will say something like, “let’s add the arms” and I completely forget what my legs were supposed to be doing. Or, I’ll magically be doing a move correctly and she’ll say, “Let’s start from the top” and I’m lost as to what the last three moves were and how they are supposed to fit together. At some point I became a very uncoordinated person. I often found myself substituting Insanity moves to keep myself going, rather than allowing myself to dumbfoundly stare at the TV trying to figure out what to do.

The workouts I did enjoy from this program were HIIT (high intensity interval training). During these routines Chalene does one move at a time then moves on to the next and moves are learned as a whole motion. Every 3^rd or 4^th move is a faster, more intense action. But, when I want intense action I’ll push play on Insanity.

Update

Hard to believe I haven’t put anything on this blog for nearly 6 months. After completing my last round of P90X I dabbled in several other Beachbody programs and completed one of them.

Sunday I ran a half marathon and today I’m excited to start the Ultimate Reset.

Over the next few days I’ll update the blog with summaries of the programs I tried; then return to where I am now and talk about this Reset. Please check back!

See you soon.