Ok, I messed up on the numbering of some of the previous posts, plus having skipped one and doing things out of order really confused me. Anyway, content is more important, but it's nice to be organized. So I'm missing a day somewhere, or I recorded something wrong.. anyway, I'm back on track in terms of numbering and exercise.
Sunday I had a busy day and Monday I was too tired to work out from getting back late on Sunday. Sometimes, life happens, you know?! And what do you do then? One good thing about having a rigorous schedule is that it's just that: it's a schedule. But what happens when..? I was MUCH better about not letting things get in the way of my work outs in Month 1. Month 2, it's not so exciting anymore. I remember one Saturday last month I woke up at 6:30 so I could work out! But on Sunday I woke up at 8 and decided 3 hours wasn't enough time to do a work out AND chores, so I neglected my work out, and then I didn't do it on Monday.
Tuesday I got back on track with 1.5 hours worth of Cardio Conditioning and Insane Abs. I was able to last longer through the Insane Abs portion, which made me feel really good. I only skipped ONE round of the last set (where you start in low plank on your elbows and move your right foot out, left foot out, right arm up, left arm up (so you're in high plank), right foot in, left foot in, right arm down, left arm down. or something like that. the pattern goes like that but I'm not sure if I had the ups and downs and ins and outs in the correct alternating order but you get the idea)!!! But I can't do the thing where you're in high plank and you do one knee to reach across and then same side to your arms. My leg can't reach that far! And OMG I look absolutely pathetic when I'm doing the balance stuff. The thing I'm worst at is the one where you start off in high plank and then lift and straighten your right arm and right leg and back down and then left arm and left leg. I've almost fallen over SO many times, and I don't lift my leg nearly as high as the people on the video. I have no balance. I'm slightly better at the oblique ones where you lift your right elbow and right toe and make your elbow and knee meet. Interestingly, I was MUCH better at it when we did as many as we can for 15 seconds. Or maybe I was good at it because I was moving the whole time and didn't have to "balance" much. Like how it's hard to ride a bicycle slowly, or come to a complete stop on a unicycle.
This morning I did Max Interval Circuit and to me it's one of the easier ones to do but I will say that the side suicide jumps are difficult for me. When I bend down sideways, I -- and I know this is going to sound really gross -- I feel like my ribs are rolling on top of each other. Plus I don't have too much room. Oh yeah, that's something I kept forgetting to mention. Month 2 requires a biiiiiit more space than I have allotted in my bedroom. I also wish I had a mirror on my closet because I can't tell if my butt is sticking up or not when I do planks (namely plank punches).
Speaking of things I forgot to mention, did I mention I have been working out before I eat? So yeah, I changed my schedule so that I get to work around 11 and leave around 8 or 9, and this way I can avoid traffic and also work out in the morning. I've been doing this for about a week or a week and a half? So far I haven't passed out yet, which is in stark contrast to just a few years ago (2007) when, if I worked out before I ate, I would feel dizzy and lightheaded. Banking on the whole "work out before you eat so your body can burn off stored glucose and speed up your metabolism after having slept 7-8 hours" thing.
Thanks to the new schedule I unfortunately have not been eating right. Well, that and I didn't go to the store. I've been eating HORRIBLY. Like, 2 granola bars a day, which is AWFUL for me. I hate eating bars as I think they're bad for my skin and I'd rather eat real food. Not to mention that GIANT piece of chocolate cake (which I completely don't regret, btw. I mean, I wouldn't do it again, but I am proud to have conquered that thing.). I am in awkward eating schedule phase. I should just bring enough food to work -- like, 3 small meals I mean.
However, I have noticed that the layer of fat that previously laid between my skin and my abdominal muscles has -- gasp -- shrunk!!! When I tighten my abs and push with my fingertips the distance between my skin and the muscles is noticeably smaller. No 6-pack yet, or even 4-pack, but my abs are there. My body type is pear-shaped. Wish I were more hourglass. I mean, duh, all women do. But what I mean is, I can see my sternum sometimes, which is.. kind of gross. And my arms aren't fat (thankfully I have little backarm fat to worry about). So not much upper body fat. But I have excess fat in my belly and thighs. Would like to transfer fat. Maybe I can push it up there, gradually, everyday, little by little...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Insanity, Days 50 and 51: Rest Day and Max Interval Circuit
I meant to work out yesterday to be all caught up today but that didn't happen. And it almost didn't happen today either!! I woke up tired again, but I had to force myself to do it tonight and I am SO GLAD I DID!!!! Unfortunately, things are getting a little tedious, I'm getting somewhat burnt out and I am looking forward to its completion.
Today was the Fit Test and Max Interval Circuit, but again I forwent the Fit Test and just did the Max Interval Circuit. Today was not easy to get through. There were so many things wrong. My wrists hurt again from all the stuff we do on the floor; the end of my ponytail kept getting in my way; my nose was slightly runny; my face was getting raw from wiping myself with the towel, so I stopped, but then sweat started dripping and I hate sweat (I know, I know, and I'm exercising!?) and it got in my eyes; I was shedding or something so hair got on my skin and I couldn't just leave it there so I had to pause and remove the strand of hair; there is so much hair on the floor even though I took care of that earlier this week. Alas I made it through the hour somehow. I am getting better at the ones where you put your hands down and jump out sideways to work out what I have figured out are Shaun T's favorite muscles, your obliques. I still suck at the side hops. They are REALLY tiring. and I hardly even attempted the jump kicks on your hands. I did almost all of them without the hop, but near the end I decided to try it with the hop and was surprised about how I did manage to do more than I expected. These work outs are so hard. My towel is soaked halfway through every single workout to the point where I have to seek dry spots to wipe my sweat.
What happened to Tania? She is not in Month 2. But I LOVE Ariel (although she looks like a robot in one of the exercises, can't remember which). I LOVE her. I think she is adorable and I am TOTALLY envious of her legs.
Food-wise, not great. WAY too many carbs. I am going to go shopping tomorrow to get low-carb and high-protein stuff. It feels good to look at the calendar and see that I'm on the second to the last week!!! I can do this!
Today was the Fit Test and Max Interval Circuit, but again I forwent the Fit Test and just did the Max Interval Circuit. Today was not easy to get through. There were so many things wrong. My wrists hurt again from all the stuff we do on the floor; the end of my ponytail kept getting in my way; my nose was slightly runny; my face was getting raw from wiping myself with the towel, so I stopped, but then sweat started dripping and I hate sweat (I know, I know, and I'm exercising!?) and it got in my eyes; I was shedding or something so hair got on my skin and I couldn't just leave it there so I had to pause and remove the strand of hair; there is so much hair on the floor even though I took care of that earlier this week. Alas I made it through the hour somehow. I am getting better at the ones where you put your hands down and jump out sideways to work out what I have figured out are Shaun T's favorite muscles, your obliques. I still suck at the side hops. They are REALLY tiring. and I hardly even attempted the jump kicks on your hands. I did almost all of them without the hop, but near the end I decided to try it with the hop and was surprised about how I did manage to do more than I expected. These work outs are so hard. My towel is soaked halfway through every single workout to the point where I have to seek dry spots to wipe my sweat.
What happened to Tania? She is not in Month 2. But I LOVE Ariel (although she looks like a robot in one of the exercises, can't remember which). I LOVE her. I think she is adorable and I am TOTALLY envious of her legs.
Food-wise, not great. WAY too many carbs. I am going to go shopping tomorrow to get low-carb and high-protein stuff. It feels good to look at the calendar and see that I'm on the second to the last week!!! I can do this!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Insanity, Days 44-49
oh man almost an entire week without blogging!!!
Day 44: Max Interval Plyo
Day 45: Nothing as I went snowboarding, not hard at all though, and was busy for the rest of the day
Day 46: Max Interval Circuit
Day 47: Max Interval Plyo
Day 48: Max Cardio Conditioning + Insane Abs
Day 49: Max Interval Sports Training
So I TOTALLY accidentally skipped Max Cardio Conditioning because my days are all out of whack and the spreadsheet was apparently to the right a little and Max Cardio Conditioning was hidden. Oops. Shrug.
Pretty disappointed that I did not work out on Sunday, but what can you do huh? Can't be too hard on yourself. So, nothing too much new here besides the last two; I can feel myself getting stronger but these work outs are so tough, man. Max Cardio Conditioning + Insane Abs together took almost 1.5 hours. Insane Abs is not easy but I'll admit I like it more than the other ab work out from month 1. These are short bursts of exercises done a couple of times. When you have 0:15 on a clock, once you rest, you've only got a few more seconds left anyway so you might as well power through.
Interval Sports Training was good except I hated the gymnastics stuff. V-push ups are SO uncomfortable. And I'm not very comfortable on my hands, so I felt really stupid during the bronco jumps because I doubt I was getting more than 6" off the ground. I think it's a mix between being afraid of tipping over and having the strength to neither push nor hold myself that high.
I've stopped doing the cool down stretches pretty much. I don't have the patience for them and I blame lack of time as an excuse. I wonder if that's the reason I'm sore today after yesterday's Interval Sports Training work out. That being said, I would rather be sore than do the cool-down.
My calendar looks awesome -- only 2 rows of work outs left! I will be done by the first couple of days in April. So excited to get this finished and to say that I've done it!
Day 44: Max Interval Plyo
Day 45: Nothing as I went snowboarding, not hard at all though, and was busy for the rest of the day
Day 46: Max Interval Circuit
Day 47: Max Interval Plyo
Day 48: Max Cardio Conditioning + Insane Abs
Day 49: Max Interval Sports Training
So I TOTALLY accidentally skipped Max Cardio Conditioning because my days are all out of whack and the spreadsheet was apparently to the right a little and Max Cardio Conditioning was hidden. Oops. Shrug.
Pretty disappointed that I did not work out on Sunday, but what can you do huh? Can't be too hard on yourself. So, nothing too much new here besides the last two; I can feel myself getting stronger but these work outs are so tough, man. Max Cardio Conditioning + Insane Abs together took almost 1.5 hours. Insane Abs is not easy but I'll admit I like it more than the other ab work out from month 1. These are short bursts of exercises done a couple of times. When you have 0:15 on a clock, once you rest, you've only got a few more seconds left anyway so you might as well power through.
Interval Sports Training was good except I hated the gymnastics stuff. V-push ups are SO uncomfortable. And I'm not very comfortable on my hands, so I felt really stupid during the bronco jumps because I doubt I was getting more than 6" off the ground. I think it's a mix between being afraid of tipping over and having the strength to neither push nor hold myself that high.
I've stopped doing the cool down stretches pretty much. I don't have the patience for them and I blame lack of time as an excuse. I wonder if that's the reason I'm sore today after yesterday's Interval Sports Training work out. That being said, I would rather be sore than do the cool-down.
My calendar looks awesome -- only 2 rows of work outs left! I will be done by the first couple of days in April. So excited to get this finished and to say that I've done it!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Insanity, Day 43: Max Recovery
Oh boy, I'm more sore than I was yesterday. I came to the very late realization that Insanity is 2 days of working out, rest, 3 days of working out, recovery. I did recovery today... this is so not in order! lol. Month 1 Recovery is all about staying in place and pulsing and pulsing. I can get through most of those. Month 2 Recovery is way more about balance and the core. I completely skipped a set of some push ups and also the planks from up and down.
Moms asked if I lost weight the other day. I was wearing a slimming outfit though, so that was part of it. I'm not losing any more inches.. Actually, ever since I started, my waist has only shrunk about a quarter of an inch at most and I've gained about 3 lbs (I know I know, it's muscle weight!). Granted, I was small to begin with, with a waist measuring at 26.5" or 26.25" (currently 26.25" or 26"), and my hips are around 36"-36.5", so I don't know how realistic it is to get more than a 10-inch ratio difference. My waist-to-hip ratio is currently .72 or .73, which falls under the category of "excellent" and at the least risk for obesity and cardiovascular disesase, so I'm good health-wise, this was all about looks from the beginning. (But that's not to say I was really hoping to get under 26"...) I can see that my stomach is definitely more toned; my obliques are smaller and I have less flub. My love handles are smaller and muscles are more defined, but I still have this overlying layer of fat covering my awesome 6-pack. My biggest problems are my lower abdomen and the inside of my thighs; here is where I want to lose those the most. I want to keep defining and toning. 3 more weeks of Insanity to go. Oh, and I think I am going to finish 2 days behind schedule, which I'm fine with. I mean, I can't really do anything about it to gain time...
Since this blog has kind of turned into a Chloe fitness blog plus other fitness topics blog, I am going to post something that isn't exactly surprising but it is daunting:
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Moms asked if I lost weight the other day. I was wearing a slimming outfit though, so that was part of it. I'm not losing any more inches.. Actually, ever since I started, my waist has only shrunk about a quarter of an inch at most and I've gained about 3 lbs (I know I know, it's muscle weight!). Granted, I was small to begin with, with a waist measuring at 26.5" or 26.25" (currently 26.25" or 26"), and my hips are around 36"-36.5", so I don't know how realistic it is to get more than a 10-inch ratio difference. My waist-to-hip ratio is currently .72 or .73, which falls under the category of "excellent" and at the least risk for obesity and cardiovascular disesase, so I'm good health-wise, this was all about looks from the beginning. (But that's not to say I was really hoping to get under 26"...) I can see that my stomach is definitely more toned; my obliques are smaller and I have less flub. My love handles are smaller and muscles are more defined, but I still have this overlying layer of fat covering my awesome 6-pack. My biggest problems are my lower abdomen and the inside of my thighs; here is where I want to lose those the most. I want to keep defining and toning. 3 more weeks of Insanity to go. Oh, and I think I am going to finish 2 days behind schedule, which I'm fine with. I mean, I can't really do anything about it to gain time...
Since this blog has kind of turned into a Chloe fitness blog plus other fitness topics blog, I am going to post something that isn't exactly surprising but it is daunting:
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Body Measurements
(Data are for the U.S.)Measured average height, weight, and waist circumference for adults ages 20 years and over
- Men:
Height (inches): 69.4
Weight (pounds): 194.7
Waist circumference (inches): 39.7 - Women:
Height (inches): 63.8
Weight (pounds): 164.7
Waist circumference (inches): 37.0
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Insanity, Day 42: Max Interval Plyometrics
First and foremost, I want to thank all of my friends for reading my blog. That means you, Armando, Keith, Albert, Dennis; and the ones I know who have stopped by here on at least one occasion: Mike, Charmaine and Veronica. The fact that you read this helps push me because I don't want there to be a day when I'm NOT exercising because I want to post about my progress and all the things I do. Social media-ly responsible, I guess. If you do read this, please let me know! It keeps me accountable and pressured in a good way.
Anyway, to the insanity that is Insanity. Last night, thanks to my new schedule, I had 2 hours to chill before I went to sleep so I sat on my bed and surfed the net. When I got up to put the lappy away, I was suddenly sore! When I woke up this morning, my upper back was aching. Right now it's especially that part that's I believe your lats. Like if you traced your arms down to where your side becomes your back in the upper back area. Brian at work was telling me that's probably how they keep you burning calories: change the focus from the lower half of the body (remember how I could not walk in the first couple of days of Insanity?) to the upper half. Been doing a LOT of push ups. I'll admit the squat to the push up is one of my favorite work outs. It's kinda fun. Oh, I also just noticed I haven't done a stupid mountain climber ever since I started Month 2!!! THANK GOODNESS!!! I freakin HATED those. Unfortch the mountain climbers for me got replaced by the jump-and-touch-your-knees exercises. I try really hard not to land too hard, but it's hard to land softly. Plus, again, I have no hops so I land way earlier than everyone else. This morning my muscles were all cold... and the warm up was hard to get through. Plus, during all the exercises, I feel like I tapped out early. I tried to push myself and guess who got nauseated! AGAIN!!! Had to pause the vid til the room stopped spinning. I need to stop doing that, geesh. The diamond jumps are difficult for me -- I have no hops at all, so anything having to do with vertical jumps is difficult. Also hard for me is the thing where you do a push up and then jump up so your feet are at your hands. My feet probably go like 1/2way to where they are supposed to actually go. Where am I supposed to get my power from?!
Anyway, the eensy bit of soreness is surprising to me. Today I had to put my fork down to give my shoulder and lat a rest from shoveling spinach salad into my mouf, can you believe that? 23 days to go...!
Anyway, to the insanity that is Insanity. Last night, thanks to my new schedule, I had 2 hours to chill before I went to sleep so I sat on my bed and surfed the net. When I got up to put the lappy away, I was suddenly sore! When I woke up this morning, my upper back was aching. Right now it's especially that part that's I believe your lats. Like if you traced your arms down to where your side becomes your back in the upper back area. Brian at work was telling me that's probably how they keep you burning calories: change the focus from the lower half of the body (remember how I could not walk in the first couple of days of Insanity?) to the upper half. Been doing a LOT of push ups. I'll admit the squat to the push up is one of my favorite work outs. It's kinda fun. Oh, I also just noticed I haven't done a stupid mountain climber ever since I started Month 2!!! THANK GOODNESS!!! I freakin HATED those. Unfortch the mountain climbers for me got replaced by the jump-and-touch-your-knees exercises. I try really hard not to land too hard, but it's hard to land softly. Plus, again, I have no hops so I land way earlier than everyone else. This morning my muscles were all cold... and the warm up was hard to get through. Plus, during all the exercises, I feel like I tapped out early. I tried to push myself and guess who got nauseated! AGAIN!!! Had to pause the vid til the room stopped spinning. I need to stop doing that, geesh. The diamond jumps are difficult for me -- I have no hops at all, so anything having to do with vertical jumps is difficult. Also hard for me is the thing where you do a push up and then jump up so your feet are at your hands. My feet probably go like 1/2way to where they are supposed to actually go. Where am I supposed to get my power from?!
Anyway, the eensy bit of soreness is surprising to me. Today I had to put my fork down to give my shoulder and lat a rest from shoveling spinach salad into my mouf, can you believe that? 23 days to go...!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Insanity, Days 40 and 41: Max Interval Circuit, Takes I and II
Last night I bombed everything. I was so tired. Again. AGAIN!!! I got through the warm up but was pretty grumpy about it and quit. Felt really horrible and disappointed, and I had MAJORLY carbo-loaded prior. Went to bed around 9, didn't want to get up at 5 for work, slept in until 5:45, emailed my boss and said I'm coming in late and leaving late from now on. Got up around 7 with a new schedule in mind: wake up, eat a little something, work out, shower, make smoothie, make juice, get to work around 10:30, leave around 7:30. This way, I can sleep from 11-7. I realized that this past weekend I wasn't tired the whole day.. granted all the exercise from snowboarding gave me adrenaline to not be tired, but I worked my body hard and was the last to sleep and first to wake twice and wasn't tired throughout the day. (I totally paid for it on Sunday and Monday though, lol.) In addition to the benefit of the the ability to sleep from 11-7, my social life won't be too interrupted by a sleeping pattern of 8:30-4:30 5 nights a week. So here's to hoping this new schedule is something I can be happy with.. oh, and the commute at 10:00 isn't horrible.. it's like it is at 6:15. Took me about 45-50 mins to get to work. I just have to avoid the 1.5 hour commute that takes place around 8 and 9AM.
Anyway, back to the actual work out -- I realized I'm doing the side to side jump hop things wrong (get on your hands and throw your feet up from side to side like you suck at doing cartwheels). I lift one foot up and jump with the other whereas on the vids they do both feet at the same time. I tried doing that, but I only got to 2. That takes so much thigh muscles!!!!!!!!! Also, Shaun T, can I just let you know that I have a prejudice against exercises that contain the word "suicide" in them!? I already hate them from the beginning when I haven't even seen the exercise yet. Switch kicks from the ground are still super hard.. I wonder if I'll ever be able to do them. I really like Ariel. She seems sweet and hard working. And I thought it was super funny when Shaun T referred to Josh or Jeff that he's a b-boy and thinks he can do it all, lols. Interval Circuit COMPLETELY kicked my butt this morning... and I skipped the cool-down stretch because I was afraid I was going to be late for work. Which I was anyway. Sigh.
20 days to go!! My weight hasn't changed, but my physique has. My arms are toned and my abs are kind of sort of starting to show through... I want them to show without me flexing and pushing my hips forward though. In due time...
Anyway, back to the actual work out -- I realized I'm doing the side to side jump hop things wrong (get on your hands and throw your feet up from side to side like you suck at doing cartwheels). I lift one foot up and jump with the other whereas on the vids they do both feet at the same time. I tried doing that, but I only got to 2. That takes so much thigh muscles!!!!!!!!! Also, Shaun T, can I just let you know that I have a prejudice against exercises that contain the word "suicide" in them!? I already hate them from the beginning when I haven't even seen the exercise yet. Switch kicks from the ground are still super hard.. I wonder if I'll ever be able to do them. I really like Ariel. She seems sweet and hard working. And I thought it was super funny when Shaun T referred to Josh or Jeff that he's a b-boy and thinks he can do it all, lols. Interval Circuit COMPLETELY kicked my butt this morning... and I skipped the cool-down stretch because I was afraid I was going to be late for work. Which I was anyway. Sigh.
20 days to go!! My weight hasn't changed, but my physique has. My arms are toned and my abs are kind of sort of starting to show through... I want them to show without me flexing and pushing my hips forward though. In due time...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Insanity, Day 38 & 39: Max Cardio Conditioning, Take I and II
Alrighty, one drawback of Insanity is that.. you need to either own your own house, live on the first floor or have no one under you. Keith, Albert and I got through 20 minutes of Max Cardio Conditioning before our downstairs neighbors in our cabin knocked on their ceiling / our floor so we were forced to stop unfortunately. It sucked because I was so determined to get through it, I almost went outside, but there was no room other than the street. Plus it was around 20-30 degrees outside (but if there was room I would have done it!). Turns out I like working out with other people for the most part. It encourages me to stay in the game and look good.
Sunday I drove home, and I was so pooped from driving that long and boarding for 2 days + some Insanity I decided to give myself a break. Last night I re-did Max Cardio Conditioning, and let me tell you, it's a good thing we stopped when we did! So much more jumping involved, lol. And it was SO difficult. I've lost track of how many times I got nauseated from working out. I think I'm on #4 or #5. I was getting really dizzy and throw uppy during the stuff you have to get up and down for and this was so intense that my previous method of keeping my head down or up wasn't working too well. But I trucked through it somehow, and I'm glad I did. My thighs are sore though which prohibited me from doing some of the workouts. Not sure if they're sore from Insanity or snowboarding.. probably both. Anyway, this means I'm 2 days behind, so I'll skip a rest day and maybe deal with finishing Insanity a day later than planned.
Food-wise, I think I've been pretty good for the past 3 days; had an ice cream cone and a dessert crepe, but that's about it for the bad stuff (SO worth it, btw). Also I had those on days I worked out hard so I don't feel bad at all. I've finally settled on eating whatever I want, just not a ton of it, with emphasis on protein.
Woke up around 4:40 this morning and was able to get out of the house by 6:08. Got to work before 7. Yay! Tired now, though.
Sunday I drove home, and I was so pooped from driving that long and boarding for 2 days + some Insanity I decided to give myself a break. Last night I re-did Max Cardio Conditioning, and let me tell you, it's a good thing we stopped when we did! So much more jumping involved, lol. And it was SO difficult. I've lost track of how many times I got nauseated from working out. I think I'm on #4 or #5. I was getting really dizzy and throw uppy during the stuff you have to get up and down for and this was so intense that my previous method of keeping my head down or up wasn't working too well. But I trucked through it somehow, and I'm glad I did. My thighs are sore though which prohibited me from doing some of the workouts. Not sure if they're sore from Insanity or snowboarding.. probably both. Anyway, this means I'm 2 days behind, so I'll skip a rest day and maybe deal with finishing Insanity a day later than planned.
Food-wise, I think I've been pretty good for the past 3 days; had an ice cream cone and a dessert crepe, but that's about it for the bad stuff (SO worth it, btw). Also I had those on days I worked out hard so I don't feel bad at all. I've finally settled on eating whatever I want, just not a ton of it, with emphasis on protein.
Woke up around 4:40 this morning and was able to get out of the house by 6:08. Got to work before 7. Yay! Tired now, though.
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