Today was killer. Plyometrics. The goal is to keep your body in as much pain as possible. It was effective in that regard.
But it still was enjoyable. It is really helping me to have someone there next to me who is actually pretty good at the exercises. I always feel like I am doing every move wrong, or not doing it as effectively as it should be done. And so, I ask her and she always manages to figure out what is wrong and fixes it! It's wonderful! Personal trainer workout partner!
The stretching is always the best part, both at the beginning and the end. I am very inflexible. I cannot touch my toes and my hamstrings are ridiculously tight. So tonight, Candice helped stretch me out and held my leg up as I pushed against her hand to really work out the tightness. Then, she would push my leg a little but further up and repeat the cycle. I think that this will actually make me a normal limber person, instead of my tight stiff body that I live in now.
I did not make it to the store to get the rest of the exercise equipment, nor have the pictures to show how I look now. But that is because it takes us soooo long to get through the workouts! We started at roughly 5:45 and ended at 7:45. Yes, I know that these are hour long videos, but we hit pause, work on our form, stretch for as long as we need. And that takes time.
I will have more time tomorrow to get my workout essentials because tomorrow is recovery day. And I am so looking forward to it! Lots of stretching and working out all of the sore areas we have. Lovely!
Now time for some dinner at 8:21 at night. Yikes!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Today was the first day of the next 100 days (at least). Yes, I know that it is called P-90-X, as in you have 90 days to complete it, but my friend has to go to graduate school every Monday, so it will take at leastttt 97 days. :)
I have some great news though! It went fabulously today!!! Part of me has been dreading this first day to arrive, part of me excited to get started, and the good overcame the bad! The workout was not what I thought it would be- it was actually fun! Especially with my friend Candice right next to me, helping me with my form, pausing the tape to complete the reps, and being so encouraging.
A small part of my apprehension to begin the workouts was the drive into downtown Phoenix to my friend's apartment at rush hour. And to my surprise, the highways were fast- never dropping below 60 mph- and I found her beautiful apartment right on time. Candice made me copies of the exercise log and workout guide, and she is even giving me the nutrition guide! Then, we dove into the first tape of P90X- Part 2!
My expectations of this program were a little misguided... I thought it would be intense, boot-camp style from the very first minute of the tape, but was instead surprised to find a chill (and ripped) host with a quirky sense of humor that I found endearing and encouraging! We began with a warm up that involved stretching and working out the tension in our muscles using the rolling pin thing (which i am going to buy immediately bc the thing is so fantastic!). We spent a good 15-20 minutes warming up- and that made me happy. I didn't feel the pressure of 60 minutes of working out weighing on me. I could tell this would be manageable bc the trainer has a good understanding of how to pump us up, to be excited for the workout, ease into the intensity. If it was brutal and in my face, I would not be doing it.
We kept a log of each exercise, which I have never done before. I always thought it was kind of a waste of time/pointless.My viewpoint was "I went to the gym, doesn't that just count- who cares what every single exercise it was that I did." But now, my mind has changed. Candice and I wrote down everything we did, including type, reps, what we did wrong, what we liked- and it gave us a nice breather between exercises! Some of the exercises were hard- we nicknamed one the Hard Banana ;) But, I know that every day I will get stronger, and though it will not get easier, that is only because I will be pushing myself harder to do better than I did the previous day, AND I will actually be able to quantify the improvements!!!
The only thing I still have concerns about is being sore. I was not sore today. That is because it was Day 1. I could do almost all of the exercises, but I feel like that is because I wasn't feeling the pain of tired, aching muscles. I knew the pain would be a part of this journey, and I know it will pass, but it really just sucks and there is no way of getting around it, so I am going to complain about it. Most likely tomorrow the complaints will start. Tonight, I feel great! I have that feeling of accomplishment~ I actually started and am putting my all into it! I have a long way to go, but it's not a scary thing at this point. It's day by day, and each day will be different, but if I keep a positive attitude, each day will be good!
So, tomorrow, I will get copies of the nutrition guide, perform day 2 exercises with my sore body, go to the store and buy a tape measurer, medicine ball, cushy mat, and roller pin thingy. I will also take photos and measurements of my body. Luckily, Candice has a scale which i weighed in on after the workout... yeah i know that doesn't make sense and its not my true weight..... but i was surprised and pleased to find my self weighing in at 135.4 lbs. I thought I was at least 5 pounds heavier. So, I am definitely starting out on a good note and am truly looking forward to these next 100 or so days!
I have some great news though! It went fabulously today!!! Part of me has been dreading this first day to arrive, part of me excited to get started, and the good overcame the bad! The workout was not what I thought it would be- it was actually fun! Especially with my friend Candice right next to me, helping me with my form, pausing the tape to complete the reps, and being so encouraging.
A small part of my apprehension to begin the workouts was the drive into downtown Phoenix to my friend's apartment at rush hour. And to my surprise, the highways were fast- never dropping below 60 mph- and I found her beautiful apartment right on time. Candice made me copies of the exercise log and workout guide, and she is even giving me the nutrition guide! Then, we dove into the first tape of P90X- Part 2!
My expectations of this program were a little misguided... I thought it would be intense, boot-camp style from the very first minute of the tape, but was instead surprised to find a chill (and ripped) host with a quirky sense of humor that I found endearing and encouraging! We began with a warm up that involved stretching and working out the tension in our muscles using the rolling pin thing (which i am going to buy immediately bc the thing is so fantastic!). We spent a good 15-20 minutes warming up- and that made me happy. I didn't feel the pressure of 60 minutes of working out weighing on me. I could tell this would be manageable bc the trainer has a good understanding of how to pump us up, to be excited for the workout, ease into the intensity. If it was brutal and in my face, I would not be doing it.
We kept a log of each exercise, which I have never done before. I always thought it was kind of a waste of time/pointless.My viewpoint was "I went to the gym, doesn't that just count- who cares what every single exercise it was that I did." But now, my mind has changed. Candice and I wrote down everything we did, including type, reps, what we did wrong, what we liked- and it gave us a nice breather between exercises! Some of the exercises were hard- we nicknamed one the Hard Banana ;) But, I know that every day I will get stronger, and though it will not get easier, that is only because I will be pushing myself harder to do better than I did the previous day, AND I will actually be able to quantify the improvements!!!
The only thing I still have concerns about is being sore. I was not sore today. That is because it was Day 1. I could do almost all of the exercises, but I feel like that is because I wasn't feeling the pain of tired, aching muscles. I knew the pain would be a part of this journey, and I know it will pass, but it really just sucks and there is no way of getting around it, so I am going to complain about it. Most likely tomorrow the complaints will start. Tonight, I feel great! I have that feeling of accomplishment~ I actually started and am putting my all into it! I have a long way to go, but it's not a scary thing at this point. It's day by day, and each day will be different, but if I keep a positive attitude, each day will be good!
So, tomorrow, I will get copies of the nutrition guide, perform day 2 exercises with my sore body, go to the store and buy a tape measurer, medicine ball, cushy mat, and roller pin thingy. I will also take photos and measurements of my body. Luckily, Candice has a scale which i weighed in on after the workout... yeah i know that doesn't make sense and its not my true weight..... but i was surprised and pleased to find my self weighing in at 135.4 lbs. I thought I was at least 5 pounds heavier. So, I am definitely starting out on a good note and am truly looking forward to these next 100 or so days!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Hello World! I'm Chrissy!
I am starting this
Diary/Blog/Auto-Biography
to help keep me committed to a new lifestyle.
A life that includes a balance of health, fitness and happiness.
Tomorrow, I am beginning the all too popular and effective P90X Workouts! How invested am I in this endeavor? You would think GREATLY invested as you just dropped a ton of $$$ for an exerciseeeeee programmmm..... might as well just throw your money away with a gym membership. But I was not that idiotic! No~ I am doing this program with a friend who already has it! SCORE!
In fact, I am about $17.39 invested in this as I just bought a yoga mat and resistance bands tonight. The last night of freedom, the last night of a pain free body, the last night of... No, I will not, CANNOT, have this attitude before embarking upon my journey of Lifestyle Reformation!
I have several reasons why I NEED and WANT an overhaul.
1) I'm bored. Though workouts are not my first choice to fill the void, I feel that it is the best choice. I am well aware of all the benefits of being active and feeling healthy, and for years I have been too lazy to go after the healthy way of life. Time to stop that and start living! Which brings me to my next point....
2) I am in a new city!!! As a recent graduate in 2012 from my alma mater U of IL, I have left the frozen plains for the warm and sunny sands of Phoenix, AZ and I love it! Being in a new place, I feel that I owe it to myself to do something new, something that I have never tried before and start living! Since my budget for skydiving and horseback riding is sparse, I will elect to be FIT! And I will be the fittest of them all! And that's saying something for AZ, these sun worshiping health nuts!
3) I have not actually been H-E-A-L-T-H-Y since... I dunno...... freshman year.................. of high school.. *shame*... And by healthy, I mean, eating pretty decently, running a mile and not feeling like dying, and being a part of a group effort.
The last time I looked my best was in 2010 when I entered the Hooters Bikini Contest---->. During that time, I looked great, but did not feel great. I felt cold and ill, and just did not feel comfortable in my own skin. I had just come off of my sophomore year of college and had a diet consisting of booze, morsel of hangover food, dinner, booze.... not the best diet, but it got me into bikini ready shape with just 2 weeks of sit-ups! This time, I have a full time job, eat 3 meals a day and am a real person, so let's try this whole look and feel amazing in a bikini thing again.4) As I was saying ^above^~ I want to look good again!!! After graduating, hell- after 2010, I have not looked my best. It's not bad, but it's not the best, and I feel that I owe it to myself at this time, this place, this moment in my life to give it everything I have! I don't know where it will take me, but I know it can only be good for me. What else am I doing? Nothing! Who else am I living for? No one. Who do I have to answer to? Myself! And now you guys.
I am starting this blog to keep myself accountable. I will diary my daily progress, my changes, my goals, my lows, my highs and hopefully my happiness because that is truly what I want to get out of this program- a happy life!
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