Boredom....

Only two days left!!! I am so ready to move onto Insanity and switch things up a bit... I have loved every second of P90X, but after 90 days I need something fresh!

I didn't lose any weight at the weigh in today... This is a bit frustrating considering I know how much work I've put into my workouts this week... I am hopeful that I will see movement in the scale once I start Insanity next week... Reaching my goal weight isn't out of sight! Only 11 more pounds to go!!

Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.

I found some interesting tips in my Women's Health Magazine about stress management... We are all faced with numerous amounts of stress in our daily lives, and sometimes exercising alone isn't enough to get out all the frustrations that come along with that... Here are some helpful tips they provided... :)

Tempted to dig into a bag of chips?
Grab a handful of almonds instead. The omega-3s in nuts may help keep stress hormones such as cortisol in check. Other key: oatmeal (it boosts the calming brain chemical serotonin) and oranges (the vitamin C counters stress hormones).

Tempted to swig an energy drink?
Take a nap. You can't beat stress without shut-eye. A 20 minute siesta is enough to trigger the hormones needed to balance excess cortisol (hmmmm, sounds like a great reason work should allow a 20 minute nap time in the afternoon! HA!)

Tempted to bitch out a coworker?
Pop a multi. That irritation and impatience may be the result of depleted stores of calcium, copper, and zinc that come with stress. Down a multivitamin to raise those levels and mellow out.

Tempted to curl up on the sofa?
Go out with a friend. A study found that simply being around other people may quash stress.

Tempted to reach for the remote?
Spend 15 minutes in silence. This helps because the brain doesn't have to filter out stressful sounds.

Happy Wednesday!!

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

Whew! I feel like I'm at a stand still towards the end of this journey... I know that just because the number on the scale is not dropping, that doesn't mean I'm done for... But I really need to find some motivation to finish these last 4 days with a bang! On a positive note, I am finally able to fit back into my skinny jeans comfortably (skinny as in I have to be skinny to fit in them, not the tight legged ones, ha!)! Even though I may not see much more result wise from P90X in the next four days, I have accomplished so much more than I ever bargained for! I feel amazing, I fit into my skinny jeans, and I can bring it!!
You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers!

Skinny Jeans!!! 

Shake It Up!

I realized that I haven't posted anything in a while about this amazing product! I am beyond thankful that it was introduced to me, and I give part of my weight loss credit to this amazing meal replacement shake... April will be four months that I have been using Shakeology and I don't think there are enough good things I can say about it... First, my energy levels have improved drastically. Secondly, I stay fuller longer from the fuel these shakes provide... Also, my hair and nails are noticeable healthier... That was the craziest part!! Yes, it seems a bit pricey, but I can assure you that it is worth every penny! Especially if you compare it with eating out! I mix mine with peanut butter and a banana, and I look forward to it everyday!!
Shakeology contains more than 70 ingredients that will help you to lose weight, reduce cravings, increase energy and stamina, promote healthy digestion and regularity, lower cholesterol, help decrease inflammation, boost your immune system, keep blood sugar steady, and promote healthy skin, hair, and nails.
Shakeology also has:
Protein and essential amino acids to help build muscles and reduce food cravings. Prebiotics and digestive enzymes aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption. Antioxidants and phytonutrients help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases. A daily dose of 23 vitamins and minerals provides your body what it needs to function for optimal health.
How Does It Work?

Ingredients derived from whole-food sources deliver the daily vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your body needs to curb cravings, allowing it to shed stored fat. More than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke. Fiber, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes help your body gently eliminate the toxins that build up in our body from all those highly processed junk we eat more efficiently and promote better absorption of nutrients.

Where Can You Learn More/Try It?

Shakeology - The Healthiest Meal Of The Day!

5 Days Remain!!!

Wow! I am definitely in the home stretch now! I cannot believe that only 5 days stand in between me and the completetion of P90X! Today was a great day... I went for a mile run and then came home to do Kenpo X... Talk about sweat! Haha! My sweet mom agreed to do the workout with me... She's a trooper! Congrats to her for completing her first P90X workout! :) I'm pooped so it's an early night to bed for this gal... Ready for these next five days... I'm gonna seriously BRING IT!!

“You only ever grow as a human being if you’re outside your comfort zone.” – Percy Cerutty

I went for my first ever run in the rain today... I must say it was a rather enjoyable experience! Especially considering it was on the hot side of Spring... Then I came home to conquer the good ole Shoulders, Arms, and Tricep workout... Ah, the weekends are amazing! :)

Lettuce Wraps for Dinner... YUM!!! 

GRIT.... Do you have it?!

After my Cardio X workout last night, I decided to sit down and read some articles in my Women's Health magazine... Often times I can find some inspiration to dig a little deeper from these articles... One in particular from the latest edition caught my eye... "Determination... How to get what you want" it said... I was intrigued. The article went on to talk about the difference in someone meeting there goals or not is often times grit... What the heck is grit?!? "Grit is the sustained perseverance and passion for long-term goals, and why some people gut out that last series of sit ups in boot camp while others flop on the floor when the burn really kicks in. Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges and maintaining effort and interest despite failure, adversity, and plateaus.While some people cut their losses when faced with boredom or disappointment, those with grit stay the course". Perfection! Just what I needed to read... I've met plenty of failures, adversities, and plateaus in my life, but when I set my mind on a goal I really want to achieve the grit kicks in... I will push myself to make sure I break through that plateau or overcome the feelings of failure... I will BRING IT!

"I just look at a bagel and my ass gets bigger!" - Jillian Michaels

Aint that the truth Jillian! It's a hard knock life for us women. ...lol... 9 days to go!!! Weigh-in this week for the Biggest Loser Work Edition went well... Down 2 pounds since last week! Which is pretty impressive since I've been at a sort-of stand still at the end of this P90X journey! Guess the extra push I've been giving has paid off... So to date I am down 14 pounds since I started back in January! I can't believe it! I am so grateful that I started this program and that I've continued to push play through the blood, sweat, tears, and vomit!

 

Day 80!!!

Only ten days stand between me and my P90X Grad status! Woot Woot! I have been bringing it the last few days like never before because I know the end is near... I also feel that I should start preparing myself for the intensity of Insanity! Yesterday's Back and Biceps was awesome! I think it is one of my favorite workouts... Minus the corncob and towel pull ups of course... :) I feel like I've taken more pictures of my biceps throughout the program than anything else... My calf muscles are pretty impressive, but they just don't photograph well when I'm taking the picture myself... Ha! So... Below is a pic on day 79 of my left arm bicep... Happy Hump Day and Bring It!!!

Does Muscle Weigh More Than Fat?!?

When weighing in for our Biggest Loser Work Competition, the weight keeper said "wow, your muscle must weigh a lot... you don't look like you weigh anywhere near that!".... Hmmmm... I know he meant well, but I've lost pounds with P90X, and this wasn't the low blow I needed... LOL! I have gained a LOT of muscle... muscle in places I'm not sure I've ever had them (triceps!)... But I'm consistently dropping weight and inching towards my goal... So... With that in mind... Does muscle really weigh more than fat?!?!

As you can see, the 5 lbs. of fat is much bulkier than the 5 lbs. of muscle, but five pounds is still five pounds. Muscle does not weigh more than fat.
Fat is bulky and lumpy so if you carry an extra five pounds of fat, you'll be lumpier than with five pounds more muscle. A five pound pile of fat will take up more space (volume) than a five pound pile of muscle; but five pounds is still five pounds, so for those of you that don't "get" English, you cannot say one thing weighing a certain weight weighs more than another thing at that same weight. It's a common joke to play on an 8-year old. The correct way to state the muscle weighs more than fat scenario is, "Muscle is heavier by volume than fat."
A woman weighing 150 pounds with 19% fat will look much smaller (and be much healthier) than a woman at 150 pounds with 35% fat. They weigh the same, yet the composition is different. Because muscle is more dense than fat the person with less fat and more muscle will look smaller.
Stop being so obsessed with body weight and start paying attention to body composition. How much body fat do you have compared to muscle? Simply seeing how much you weigh isn't very helpful.

Nobody Ever Drowned In His Own Sweat. ~Ann Landers

I guess I always thought it was a little strange that people didn't like to sweat.... Probably because I absolutely LOVE it... Under the right circumstances of course... I love it when I know I've worked hard for it... It's proof of my accomplishments... I DO NOT, however, love it under circumstances such as my car AC not working in the 85+ degree heat... That happened to me this weekend... Not a fan of sweating in my car as I make my way to my destination... Sweating from a good workout or a good run is something I don't think many things will top! This quote was just what I needed to hear for my afternoon run in with Plyo... No one ever drowned in their sweat and I plan on doing plenty of it! :)

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."

It's Friday and I'm feeling great! I've had a surplus of energy today, and trust me I have used it all to my benefit... Last night I decided since Insanity was getting close it was time to update my motivational wall... Simply marking an X on the days I have completed a P90X workout just wasn't doing it for me anymore... SO.... I added my Insanity countdown, some inspiring words, and an article from Tony Horton... I am hopeful that this wall will keep me grounded, keep my motivated, and keep my honest! I am striving to become the best me possible and I am ready to BRING IT!

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills

Oh Mylanta, I am tired today! Last night I went for a 30 minute run and then did Core Synergystics when I got home... Talk about pooped!! I also went to bed at 9:30 thinking it would help, but I'm still not convinced that much of anything helps when you have to get up before the sun does! Haha! It is so very hard for me to not start pressing play on Insanity with it sitting there tempting me... But I do not quit things, and I WILL finish 90 days of P90X... Then it's onto the serious business! Thank goodness it comes with a nutritional guide and recipes too because I wasn't really sure how much more I should take in since I'll be burning off a whole lot more! I'm looking forward to sitting down and working on my Insanity meal plan.. I've become a bit bored with my eating choices since they've all but been the same for 74 days! Yikes! BRING IT!!

When friends tell you how awesome you look, drop the "I still have more to go" crap. You worked hard and you deserve the compliment! ~Jillian Michaels

Today was the official weigh-in for the Biggest Loser Office Edition... This is a great way to stay motivated and accountable because no one wants to let their team down... I joined a team of people who already workout regularly in hopes that we might can help each other bring it to that extra degree... Especially with Insanity right around the corner for me, I will need some extra drive to keep going! Fingers crossed this will help me lose my last ten pounds (and then some) to meet my goal weight! Get Fit! Don't Quit!Go Team Skinny Minies!!

X Me Baby!

Only 18 days stand between me and being a P90X Grad!!!!!!!
I can't believe how much I've learned from this program... It truly has changed my life. The excitement of completing it is keeping me on track, and the knowing that Insanity is right there to greet me after P90X makes me even more excited! I'm in the process of writing out a P90X review... It will talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of this program and also will include my thoughts, suggestions, etc... I'm ready to take those day 90 photos too! :)

I am seriously considering purchasing these insane shoes for Insanity!! :)

Inspiration for this Manic Monday!!

Quality Over Quantity

I wonder if I am the only one who has the strangest dreams since starting P90X... I'm sure it's because I am sleeping HARD these days from the ass kicking I've received, but they are bizarre! Last night for example... I was working out in my dream... Pushups, pullups, kicking, punching, the whole nine yards... And then when I finished there was a massive mound of chocolate cake waiting there to try and get me to cave! This must be a reminder in my unconscious state about the battles I fight in real life. Yes, I would love to have my cake and eat it to, but I have found an incredible will power within myself that I never knew existed... A will power that allows me to say "NO" when I should! This is how I know I've been successful with the program... Not only am I down 13 pounds, more toned than before and motivated, but I have the tools and knowledge to stay this way! Carpe Diem!!

“Tip of the day- Don’t smash your face!” - Tony Horton

Well.... I must say that for the past 60-something days Kenpo has kicked my butt once a week... Yesterday was nothing new. Whew! I am feeling it today. It's a good kind of sore though! I am so very excited to add Insanity to my list of things to accomplish this year! I ordered the workout dvd's yesterday, and once I am done with P90X I am going to jump straight into it. Perhaps a hybrid mix of the two is something in the very near future... I can't decide... Decisions, decisions! Regardless, I plan on being one fit woman this summer! :)

Get Fit Or Get Out

Hello Day 65!

Woot Woot! After seeing some clips from the new P90X (MC2, unofficially) last night, I am super pumped to be done with this round of P90 so I can move onto bigger and crazier things! I suppose since I only have 25 more days of P90 left I need to start planning my next move.... After talking with some people and reading up on things, I'm pretty sure that plan will be an Insanity/P90 hybrid mix... At least until Asylum and MC2 come out... I CANNOT WAIT!!! I'm sure I will not be this excited when I am actually doing the workouts and dying! LOL... But for now, I will use all the excitement of something new to BRING IT with my regular routine!

MC2 (Muscle Confusion 2)

Monday Again?!?

I have been one heck of a slacker the past couple of days... I feel full of regret over it today, but at the time it seemed my birthday weekend was some sort-of free pass to eat, drink, and be merry! With that being said, I am starting a fresh new week as a 25 year old, and I am prepared to bring it to the max to make up for my lack of effort over the weekend... Eating bad is definitely something that I do NOT miss! I feel so gross from the cake and other finger foods I consumed on Friday... Friday! It's Monday and I'm still feeling gross from them... I knew better, but people really pressure you to have your cake and eat it too on your birthday! Now that I have confessed my weekend of weakness, I feel much better.... Time to get it together and bring it!!

Since I finally broke down and purchased a heart rate monitor, I realized I have no idea what my zone is.... So I decided to find out!

Simply enter your age and gender below to calculate your target heart rate zones.
Your age: FemaleMale

Your heart rate zones:

Zone name	Target beats per minute
Recovery Zone	to
Temperate Zone	to
Aerobic Zone	to
Threshold Zone	to
Redline Zone	to

Drink Your Water People!

Yes, those are 5 gallon jugs... Apparently we LOVE our water in the office! :)

Legs & Back Routine ='s more Pull-Ups.... I must say that I am not looking forward to those... All I can say is that I will do my best and forget the rest. I'm not certain girls were made to do pull-ups though. I hope that statement doesn't offend anyone... Perhaps I should rephrase and say "I'm not certain this girl was made to do pull-ups"... HAH! Happy Thursday! BRING IT!

"Like a pterodactyl backing out of trouble." -Tony Horton

I always feel bad for cutting corners, but I did the good ole Cardio X today for lack of time... I know, I know... Lack of time is not a good excuse, but it's my birthday week and I am a very busy bee! Tonight I had birthday dinner with my family and I must say there were some interesting conversations.This is usually the case since my family is full of medical people. One story was about about a man who came into the emergency room at a hospital with a screw in hook stuck in his forehead. How did it get there you ask? He decided he would screw the hooks into the ceiling tile and fasten his workout bands through them.... I don't think this was what they had in mind when substituting bands for the pull up bar was mentioned... Needless to say it came crashing down when he started his workout and the hook lodged in his forehead... Nice! LOL! Let's all remember to put safety first and think before we act when it comes to our workouts! :)

"The magic, the money comes in the last three reps!" -Tony Horton

So, I saw something rather alarming at lunch today. A woman ordered a salad, sat down at the lunch table, and then proceeded to dump a bag of Cheetos on top of the salad... Really!??! Is this what our world has come to? We have to add something terrible to something so good for us? I get it... She just wanted to add a little somethin somethin to her salad, but why not a boiled egg, some chicken, or something else beneficial to the body! I don't mean to ramble, but this was extremely frustrating to me... On another note, I'm looking forward to back and biceps this afternoon. That workout made me hurt for 3 days last time! Corncob and Towel pull ups... YIKES! I know that when I'm sore I did some serious work though, so I'm excited.... I'm ready for the magic in those last three reps and I'm ready to BRING IT!

Yeah.... Enough Said...