Sunday - A Day of Rest!

Ahhh....I made it through week 2!!!!! I'm so proud of me!

Yesterday was VERY HARD! I had a cardio kickboxing class to teach. It was supposed to help boost my regular class for Wednesday night. NO ONE showed up. It was very depressing. It just took the wind out of my sails. So I came home and did Pure Cardio + Cardio Abs. The depression made it difficult to do a good job. I did persevere though. It was pretty difficult to do the Cardio Abs after Pure Cardio because the first few exercises were very high intensity...I found myself longing for crunches, but alas that was not to be.

The ab exercises he did are really excellent and I think I might do them on some other days too. Because they are still cardio but just require a lot of ab engagement. I also think they focus alot on the obliques and lower abs. While I'm not too concerned with my obliques, I do like the lower ab part.

I did struggle alot with it though and I can see that I will need to strengthen a lot. I also felt it a lot in my back, but not my lower back, it was more my mid to upper back. I'm not sure if that is due to weak abs, weak back or both...probably both...haha!

While the first set of exercises were done standing (jumping), the next set was done sitting in the "C" position. Doing leg lifts in and out and oblique twists...then twists with the legs lifted. We also did planks, but not just holding. NO. We had to alternate drawing one knee into our elbow while in the plank position. Finally, we did that again while alternating between planks on our elbows and hands. It was quite a workout!

Anyway, I'm glad for a day off. There is a fall festival in town today and I think we are going to go. If I get some pics, I'll post them later.

Hope you all have a great Sunday.

Cardio Power & Resistance + Job? Part 2!

First, the workout!

Well, I think missing the Wed workout really took something from me. I didn't feel as empowered today. I think I did well in my workout, but I had to take more breaks and I can't help but wonder if it was due me replacing my workout with my kickboxing...hmmmm

One thing I have started to notice is the increase in strength and firmness of my stomach. This is pretty surprising to me because I haven't done one sit-up or crunch yet! I have done some plank work, but not every day or even every other day. I think the workouts automatically cause you to engage your abs. He (Shawn) is always yelling at us to do so, but I didn't think it was so effective.

I was also worried about the lack of weights in this workout, but that is becoming less and less as I do more pushups, squats, lunges and tricep dips! My own body weight seems to be plenty!

I'm coming to the end of my 2nd week and I'm very proud of myself. I hope Monday will show some improvement. That is when I do my 2nd fit test!

Second...the job interview.

it went well, but I am not sure they will higher me. I gave them a number, for my salary, that is out of their range and I don't think they want to take me on only to have me leave if something better comes around. I am supposed to call her on Monday after we both had time to think this over...we'll see how it goes!

Gosh, Monday is a big day...fit test and job....yikes!

Cardio Power & Resistance + Job?

As you will see, I had to substitute Wed with bodycombat (kb). I did this for two reasons.

1) It said "cardio circuit" on the plan and I don't have a dvd with just that name. I guess, based on other posts I saw, I'm supposed to do the plyometric cardio circuit. oops!

2) I teach a kickboxing class on Wed nights and get a great workout there. In addition to that, I'm trying to learn a new routine. So I was kickboxing all day; therefore, I didn't feel like I was slacking. Ok, I kinda felt like I was slacking, but I did still workout! lol

Today is exciting cause I'm going to do my workout, once my breakfast settles, and then get ready for a job interview! It's just a little store in one of our downtown areas called "Old World Olive Press" and they specialize in balsamic vinegar and olive oils from around the world.

In a sense, it is my dream job. The little store is so cool and just makes you feel like you're in the old world. It is also in a location that I LOVE. There are so many unique little stores and people as well as some more famous ones, such as Starbucks.

The only downside may be the pay. While I know they are hiring and they need someone now, I'm not sure what position they need to fill and how much they will pay. Either way, if offered the job, I will take it, since I haven't had any other offers, but if the pay is min wage, I will have to keep looking for something else.

In the meantime, I'm just going to be happy that this opportunity is available. Guess we'll see how it goes later today!

If I get hired, I will go around and take pics so you can see how cute it is :)

On another note...here is a poem that I read today which I thought applied to my situation with working out and searching for a job.

THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN

If you think you are beaten, you are,

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you like to win, but you think you can't,

It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,

For out in the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,

You've got to think high to rise,

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But soon or late the man who wins,

Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN.

Finally, a funny quote I read: "Everything always works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end." haha!

Have a great day!

Pure Cardio - Day 9

Ok, after yesterday's workout, I was feeling strong and successful! Today's took me back down a notch. I don't think we realize how hard it is to be in constant motion, doing some high intensity moves, for 30 minutes...or maybe it was just me.

I made it through though and am looking forward to tomorrow.

Eating hasn't been as well, maybe that is the reason I'm having such a hard time. We haven't gone grocery shopping yet so the food is leftovers and snack food. Nothing really good and healthy.

Hopefully that changes soon. I'm waiting on my sis since she has the money. I offer to go, but she says she has to go, so I just wait.

We'll see what tomorrow holds!

Week 2: Cardio Power & Resistance

Happy Labor Day to all of you!

Well, probably like most of you, I had plans for labor day with the family. I was going to postpone my workout until I got back but decided I better do it before. I AM SO GLAD I DID!

I am soooooo tired right now. I think it is really due to a pill I took for allergies. It makes me incredibly tired and there is no way I would have worked out today! Ok, I would have tried but it wouldn't have been good.

I did feel a little better doing this workout the second time. I was still extremely tired and sweaty, but there was a little power within me. I did much better with the push-ups at the end of the workout, but still needed to take breaks.

My eating went well too. I did have a brownie while at the party, but I didn't overeat or graze so I'm pretty happy with that!

Looking forward to going to bed though. I know tomorrow is going to be a doozy of a workout, it is PURE CARDIO and that is really a killer. Gotta sike myself up for that one!

I'll be up early though, since I'm taking my nephew to school, so I have plenty of time to eat breakfast and let it settle before my workout :)

Here are some pics from today!

My brother flipping into the pool

My brother (diff one) and I. He is moving to CA for a job so this was a labor day/going away party

All the girls :)

Plyometric cardio circuit - Rnd 2!

Sorry for not posting yesterday, but got caught up; however, I did do my workout! It was the same as one I did earlier in the week. You would think that I would have gotten a little better, but no, I was just as wiped out as the first time I did it :) All I could think about was how today is my 'day off' haha!

However, my 'day off' did not turn out that way. I have to learn a new routine (11 songs) for a class I'm teaching. I 'launch' the new material on Saturday, so i'll have to pull double duty on my workouts.

I have been watching what I'm eating but still noticed some snippets of unhealthy things getting in there...a little bite of brownie...a little bit of homemade apple pie and ice cream.

While these are not the end of the world, they aren't helping me toward my end goal. I need to remember that as I start to scoop them onto my plate.

About to start off the week with another full workout and all I can think is....YIKES!!! :)

Pure Cardio - Day 5

Whew! Todays workout was go go GO! Another sweat dripping workout. The other Insanity workouts were rounds within sets and breaks in-between. Today's was all different and constant. Even Shawn T said he was nervous. Now I know why :) There weren't as many plyo moves but there were some jumping moves and the rest were just intense. Combine that with being constant and you have a killer workout!

I look forward to the day when I can actually do all the exercises in good form and consistently. I don't feel bad for taking quick breaks because they do it in the DVD too, so I know it's not just me. however, I don't think I do my movements quite as well as they do, so there is definitely work to be done.

Today though I was plagued by my weight. I got on the scale before I worked out and it was up TWO POUNDS! I know that I should not judge myself by the scale but my clothes are any looser either so it must be correct. This put a damper on everything. I found myself fighting negative self talk the whole workout.

I would start to comment on my legs (biggest problem area) and worthless I am and that's why I probably don't have a bf to saying NO THAT IS NOT TRUE. You do have things to work on but YOU ARE NOT WORTHLESS.

It was quite a battle and to tell you the truth, I'm still battling. I wish I could just look in the mirror and be thankful that I can even do these workouts and don't have a ton of weight to lose. Why am I so hard on myself?

I don't know but I think I need to start committing, to myself, to be a better person to me. I don't judge others like I judge myself.

So, I continue the workouts and look to improve the eating. one step at a time...