Week 1 of Insanity: The Asylum

Well I've officially made it to day 7 with only taking scheduled breaks. There's been quite a few days this last week in which I've attempted to make up some excuse to not work out, I always do. I haven't though, I've come home from work and started dinner and either worked out while it was cooking or waited until we were done eating to workout (huge mistake if you have reflux like I do). There's still a lot of modifying on my end, partly due to living on the second floor and not being able to do a lot of the vertical plyo moves, partly because I simply don't have that kind of endurance yet...all in good time I suppose.
I've set a couple of goals for myself this week, one being working out per the schedule and two being to only step on the scale once a week. I put it away and looked at it many times over the last few days because I've relied on the number so much in the last year that it's gonna be a hard habit to break. But I dragged it out this morning and I'm only down 1 lb, in the past I'd have sat here and been frustrated because all of the work I've put in this week has only moved that scale one measly pound, so I grabbed the measuring tape and wrapped it around my waist (I always measure right at my belly button fyi) and it was down 1.25 inches! that's huge! That means that my efforts this week were not wasted, my body is changing despite the gravitational pull, and I need to continue to trust the process. I'm one of those people who can easily gain muscle, generally the only way I actually lose significant amounts of weight is when I don't workout and just eat low calories, which I HATE! I like food too much to watch my calories and how much I'm eating. I'd much prefer to lose weight slowly, be able to eat, and feel better physically because my muscles are strong enough to support me during every day activities. Another benefit of this week's continual workouts/follow the schedule, is I'm happy. There are days when I'm frustrated with work, the kids, the husband, etc, but working out is the biggest therapy! I can't tell you how much better I feel once I've worked out my frustration(literally) and yelled at ShaunT a few times in 45-50 minutes, seriously! (and sorry ShaunT)
If you've read this post I want you to walk away with two things in your mind, ONE: Don't rely on that scale, if you MUST stand on it, schedule a date in which you do, even if it moves half a pound, its still progress. When you stand on it multiple times a week your weight is going to change, its gonna go up and down depending on water intake, your last bowl movement, and even weather.  TWO: Get it done, you're going to show up every day because your brain tells you it need to, your body is going to ache and hurt and tell you "NO MORE!!" but if you want to make changes to yourself the only way that will happen is if you follow what your head says you want.

Body image

I've gotta say this because it drives me crazy. I've had pretty serious body dimorphism since after my 3rd kid was born. Throughout high school and the couple years after, I was relatively thin. Like wore a size 5 (probably smaller if I didn't have a butt), weighed btwn 115 and 125, and nearly 5'8". A year ago when I started working out I was pushing a size 16!! And weighed about 195lbs! I didn't realize I was gaining so much weight until Christmas when I realized I was clearly bigger than everyone else in photos. I cried a lot about and decided to make a change. While I've lost 15ish lbs(doesn't seem like a lot I know but I've got some muscle to show for it) I still have huge issues with how I look. For example, when I stand you can clearly see that I have some abs and even have a decent set of obliques which I didn't even know what those were for a long long time. However, when my mother of 4 body which had gotten over 230lbs with its last pregnancy, sits down, it looks like I overly indulge in cake, chips, soda...crap. But I don't. I won't lie, I'm not perfect, I enjoy my treats, but I have my limits and I don't pig out. I actually eat relatively well, and eat clean probably 75% of the time. But I tell ya, the sag is just gonna be there. And honestly, even if I lose what I want to I don't foresee it going anywhere. I hate it. Ab and core work does do a lot for you but when I get to 160 like I want, that will be a 70+lb weight loss, I can't imagine things will look better for me when I sit. Maybe I just need to stand for the rest of my life because if I hate how I look in photos I can't imagine what I look like irl....and then again, maybe Im mental and look great to the general population?!

I've posted a couple of pics to give an example. These are post breakfast so I'm a little full but you get the idea.

T25, NAILED IT!

Finished my second Beachbody Workout a couple of weeks ago!! T25 is definitely my kind of work out. It's tough, it builds muscle, has cardio, and it's short! Seriously, 25 minutes! Granted its non-stop, literally, ShaunT never ever says "go get a drink". Insanity, as hard as it is, there were all kind of breaks and people dying out. Not T25. Its tough, not Insanity tough, but it's tough. And I've definitely built my stamina up and have developed a lot of muscle definition. I kind of quit weighing myself though because it just frustrates me to not see the scale move despite smaller measurements and I end up just crying about it even though it doesn't matter.
So here's my results: Starting weight: 187.5 waist:32.5   hips:37  arms: 12.5  thighs: 20.5  calves:15.5 chest: 35"

   

 Final results: I haven't actually weighed myself since my mental break down around week 3 of Beta because J threw out my scale lol. so ending weight: 181.5" waist 31" hips:35.5" arms:11 3/4" thighs(I have 2 measurements here because I realized I was measuring in the wrong spot to begin with):19 and 22.5 calves: 14 3/4" chest 32"

 

SEE!!! I have abs now!! and my legs don't touch as much. I've never had "the gap" but hope to see it soon! My legs have ALWAYS been my least favorite part. I still look in the mirror and have a really hard time seeing any changes, but I suppose thats the way it is for everyone. I keep telling myself that eventually I won't be upset with how I look, but I don't know if there's any woman out there who is completely happy with herself. If there is, well then...more power to her lol.

Anyhow, there's results for the first round of t25, just started my second round which is obviously a crap ton easier. I can't wait to see my results in two months. Now I'm off to go apply for my tshirt (and maybe some money :))

Insanity

I've been sooo busy lately I haven't had time to post anything. I was standing in my kitchen just now making dinner...specifically http://www.mostlyhomemademom.com/2012/02/slow-cooker-salsa-chicken.html...and thinking I needed to blog again (you know, since she blogged the recipe...). so here I am. Kids are out of school now so I should have more time to blog. That makes no sense, I know. But for me it means I'm not on any kind of schedule so I can sit down at the computer while kids are playing and make a nice little post more often than I have been. Get it now? :)

If you know me, you know I've progressively gotten bigger since high school, even more so after kids, and even more so after my father died last September. I've been trying to get in a few work out a week just to make myself feel better I guess, but it wasn't getting me anywhere. I never eat a ton of junk food but I never eat really well either so in March, after many tears, I told my husband "Well I guess I Have to do Insanity in order to lose any weight!" kind of joking because Insanity straight up scared the hell out of me!! But he said he'd do it if I did. The fact that he's never wanted to work out with me in the past gave me the kick in the ass to do it. So the week before Easter we started it up. And I tell ya, I hated it for like 2 weeks straight, I was soooo sore all the time. (before pics below...hubby is gonna shoot me for posting his)

                               


As you can see, I had a lot to change. Keep in mind I have had 4 kids so my belly is obviously not pretty lol.
We never did J's measurements, he didn't care to anyhow so whatever.
After one month, and many additional rest days (some out of just being too busy), we finally had a good flow going, not so sore anymore, and starting to see definite muscle definition through our arms and legs. My clothes fit better and I was down a pant size. The pics below are the first day of month 2 Insanity, J, being a guy, has more noticeable definition than me...wish girls didn't have to work so hard for good lookin bodies!!!

We Finally finished the program up at the end of May. It was probably the longest 2 months of my life!! seriously, I've never worked so hard ever...hell I never worked out other than doing some Zumba or pilates once in awhile, so this was a huge change. I also want to mention that we did not take any supplement, or drink Shakeology, etc. I'm sure if we did we'd notice a bigger change, but we did both change our eating habits quite drastically so that's helped. (side note, J  never tells me one short leg is riding up and the other isn't in pics...sigh)....here's the last day pics. I weight 194.6 when I started and only lost 2lbs. buuuut Muscle is more dense than fat so I'll take it even though I still would like to lose pounds too. Josh on the other hand lost like 4 or 5lbs. (waaah!!).  the only thing I vise ably see a difference in is my arms. Now if I take a pic on my iphone...for whatever reason you can see more definition in my body overall, but not my nice $500 Nikon..sigh. 

So now we're working on Insanity Asylum's Vol. 1, which is sooo much more fun. Can't wait to post results!! 

*side note, I recently started the 24 day challenge with advocare and have lost another 4lbs. I also started a running program last night which I hope helps progress my results a little faster.

side by side comparisons

blah, so much bra strap fat in the first one!!!

Mmm lunch!

Seriously dieting here...well I was then 4th of July hit and beer, good food, aunt flow...I gained a pound. I know it's only 1single pound but it takes a lot for me to lose it. Anyhow back on the bandwagon now. Healthy food, healthy food, healthy food...oooh look cheese balls...healthy food!!!
Today's lunch? Frozen Fajita chicken strips (Market Pantry, cheap and amazingly good) seared in a pan with olive oil, 1/4 cup feta cheese, and 1/2 cup of black grapes on the side! Yum!! This is actually pretty typical of me lately, it's cheap and easy for me. I hate having to think about what I'm going to make and this is pretty good. I switch the fruit out every couple days so I don't get bored.

Changes

I seriously can't work out to Jillian Michaels anymore! She's beefing me up and I don't want to be beefed up!! And I honestly can't look at those other girls muscles anymore, or Jillian for that matter. So this week its pilates, oh my god how I love pilates. I love how tight everything feels when I'm done and my body aches a whole lot less. Who knew I had that kind of balance?! I don't have the flexibility to scissor kick with my knees not bent but I don't care, no one is watching. I love this video http://www.amazon.com/Crunch-Burning-Pilates-Ellen-Barrett/dp/B00009V7QF. There's 3 ladies all doing different levels of exercises, you never have to do all of the same level of course which makes it even better. I was able to skip level 1, did mostly level 2s, and some level 3s (that chick has amazing flexibility!) and since each "routine" is only 10 minutes your 30 minute work out goes super fast. I don't think it burns a ton of calories but it does make you feel better for sure!

Slackin

I haven't had a good workout in almost two weeks. I don't understand why people say its addiction because I hate it. I don't mind doing some things but I'm so damn busy lately working out is the last thing I think about. I wasn't losing weight anyhow so that was discouraging and now I'm dieting, I've lost 3lbs this week. I may pick up working out again this week (in talking myself into it as I sit here). I just don't wanna :( maybe no do Jillian, she's motivating as all hell but I don't want to see her skinny 5'2" ass right now! Good thing Netflix has tons to do or I'd be bored and give up by now.

Week 2

I don't look any different, actually gained 6lbs, then lost it, then gained it again lol. It makes no sense!! Anyhow I'm 2lbs heavier now than when I started which is so discouraging. I don't look much different other than my arms and legs are getting toned. I think I'm going to jump into the second segment. Maybe adding to the intensity will help burn off this additional weight gain.

After workout: OWWW. I thought I was working a lot of muscles already, Jillian seriously knows how to kick butt!! I can power through strength and abs but the cardio needs some serious work!! Tomorrows another day, hopefully it's a little easier. Photo I me completely exhausted. I think my stomach looks less like I'm 5 months pregnant today...

Worrying about the big stuff

I'm up way too late trying to figure out why I'm gaining weight and really stressing considering how hard I'm working out. I'm not changing my diet because a) I don't want to and b) if I do that for 30 days, once 30 day shred is done I'll eat a popsicle and blow up again. Besides that I don't eat bad, I do eat about 1500cal on a daily basis, sometimes more sometimes less so it's not a lot. Anyhow, doing research and seeing people are reducing their body fat percentage and not weight makes me feel good. I don't care about being skinny if I'm still fat. I've seen lots of people who are "skinny" but it's not muscle, when they sit down they are all chub, not the image I want for myself, hence the working out (chub and mommy belly is gross). An I know I have the biggest legs known to man, thoroughbreds would be jealous of the saddlebags lol. Seriously though I already had big legs, now they're big muscley legs, guess that's a good thing. And my arms, oh my arms. I already had broad shoulders, always have, now they have actual muscle in them (not bulky, that's not cute), no cap sleeves for me ever again. Blah, whatever. I'm gonna junk this stupid scale, it pisses me off. I have a couple tape measures and a calculator, I'm gonna concern myself with body fat percentage not BMI or weight because neither of those factors in your actual health.

Day 2

I took yesterday off from working out, my muscles were sore and I'd stayed up too late the night before, the combination seemed to scream "You're gonna hurt yourself!". Today I'm back to it. Feeling better. My legs arent so jiggly and Josh has taken one too many snap shots of my butt on his phone, guess that means its working ;)

Bring it on Jillian

I've been steadily working out for a couple months with no real results because I'm not good at keeping up with it. I've had Jillian Michaels 30 day shred for a while but after 2 days I was in so much pain I just gave up. Now that the muscles have been worked a little from my non-rigorous routine I figured I'd give it another shot. Today is day 1, it was rough, but I got through it and my legs don't feel so stiff, wobbly, but not stiff. Anyhow, this morning after breakfast I was 185, I usually fluctuate between 178-185. I'm hoping to be 165 in 30 days. I'm 5'8" so that's a healthy weight for me and should put me in a size 8/9(I'm a 12 now). We'll see. I'm goin to post weekly on my progress just to keep myself motivated. Below is a picture of me Pre-work out.