P90X3 DONE! Before-After Pics

I FINISHED P90X3!

If you haven't read much of my story so far, just know that my husband and I started the original P90X back in 2008. We probably made it about 5 or 6 weeks, then never continued. Then we tried to start again, and I don't think even went a whole week. I tried to do the yoga workout a few times, as well, but it was so long.

Anyway, that being said, in July I became a Beachbody coach and started my journey to getting more fit. I started with the program PiYo, which I think is a great way to get back into working out if you haven't for a while. It really improves your flexibility, too.

PiYo was an 8-week program, so when I finished that, I moved on to P90X3. Let me just tell you, that I LOVED it. And honestly, even though it IS an accomplishment that I finished it, working out everyday (with rest days) has become so second nature, that it almost doesn't feel like the accomplishment that it is.

This would normally be a weight-loss update post, but honestly, I'm still at the same weight that I have been for just over a month. I've lost 23 pounds since July 26. In the last month, I've gone back up a pound, lost it again, and maintained. And I guess, if you look at what most people do, the fact that I made it through Thanksgiving AND Christmas without gaining any weight is pretty great. I did keep working out, but I wasn't so strict on myself with my eating. I pretty much tried to stick to the routine, but I allowed myself more cheats than I normally would. So, I have to say, that I thought my after pic today would be worse than November's, but now that I look at them side-by-side, I don't think it is. I'm not sure what was up with my lighting, though.

P90X3 Before and After Pictures

Progress after completing PiYo, P90X3, healthy eating, and drinking Shakeology

So what's next? After a little bit of figuring things out, I've decided to do a hybrid program of Les Mills' Combat and Les Mills' Pump. Unfortunately, Beachbody will no longer be selling those once their supplies run out. I'm excited to start it. I won't be starting that until Jan. 5. At least that's the plan. Stay tuned for more weight loss, though!

Also, if you are wanting to start your own journey, I'd love to help you through it. Connect with me on facebook or leave a message to let me know, and we can go from there.

Goal Setting

The statistics show that only 8% of people keep their New Year's Resolutions. When I was in college, I did not make New Year's Resolutions. Instead, I would set goals for myself. I always wrote the goals down in my journal right around the end of the year for the upcoming one; then, I would review them at the end of that year. I knew the concept that resolutions did not tend to last very long, which is why I called them goals. But, really, the types of goals I wrote probably didn't last that long either. In fact, they were just glorified resolutions. I actually haven't set goals for a new year in SEVERAL years, which probably says something in itself. Since I became a Beachbody coach in July, I've been reminded more of the importance of goal-setting. As we approach the new year, setting goals is going to be on the minds of most people. Probably, everyone has heard about making SMART goals...making your goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

I want to be more about setting goals now. I need the purpose, the drive that goal-setting brings. I know I need to make it attainable, but I also need it to not be too easy. For one thing, when your goals are more difficult to attain, you are likely going to work harder than you would for a more easily-attained goal. Also, I've recently heard it said that when you're working toward a goal, you're happier. And I guess that makes sense, because it's giving you a purpose, something to work for.

It's important to write your goals down. Obviously, not only does it help you to remember them, but it gives you more accountability. People are more likely to attain their goals when they have written it down. You also don't want to set TOO many goals, because you would just be pulled in too many directions.

If you've been reading this blog, then you know that I'm right in the middle of a goal that I had set back in July (with no real timeline), of losing a total of 35 pounds. I'm currently 23 pounds down, with 12 more to go. But I think that I am going to go for a little bit more. So, I'm now changing my weight loss goal to lose 17 pounds by April 30. I haven't decided for sure what workout program I'm going to be doing. I'll be finishing P90X3 THIS WEEK! I had thought about starting the newest program, Insanity Max 30, but I'm a little bit nervous about that. I also thought about creating a hybrid workout using some of the different Beachbody programs that I have, but there is something about going through a program, with its different phases, that makes me feel more accomplished. Either way, I will be sharing on here as I go through whatever I decide.

I also would like to do a monthly date night with my husband. We do date nights occasionally, but I think it would be good to do them more often. So, I made that a goal, in my role as a wife. I'm still deciding on a goal as a mother. I'm thinking an amount of time each day that is completely devoted to my daughter, distraction-free. I already try to do that, but again, probably not as much as I need to.

Another goal that I want to share is in reading more personal development books. When I say personal development, I consider that different than spiritual development. I try to read a devotional, or from my Bible on an almost-everyday basis, and I have done this for years. So when I say personal development, I'm talking things related to leadership, goal-setting and achieving, and those types of things that demonstrate the development of me as a person. This year, I have read the Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson and I am currently reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. So, I'd like to see myself complete four books in 2015.

What goals do you want to work toward this year? Write them down, share them with someone, and review them often. Remember, those are some of the things that will increase the chances of your meeting those goals.

Food Snob-Weight Loss Update-Week 22

Be a food snob.

I remember reading those words in a fitness magazine many years ago, and I often cheerily shared that mantra with people.

The idea is that you pass up the less-enticing foods for those that you really want, in an effort to "save" your calories.

I realized the other day, now that we are right in the middle of the Christmas season, that I am not really practicing that rule very well. Yes, I've been saying that I was going to let myself enjoy the season, I wasn't going to be too strict, all of that. And that's good. But I think that I've gone too far that way the last couple of weeks. The thing is, it's not showing up in my weight as much as it is in how I feel overall. I feel slightly less energetic, a little more tired, just not quite as good as I was feeling a month or so ago. Then again, maybe some of that is just the time of year it is. I don't know. But I know that I want to realign back to my ultimate goal, which is to be healthy and make more healthy choices than unhealthy ones.

I say this, knowing that I'm about to be on vacation. (I'm off from my job with the school system for 2 weeks, but my husband will be off from Christmas day on.) So that always means getting away from the routine, feeling that "need" to eat decadent desserts, things like that. So what am I going to do? Well, for one, I guess I need to practice my recently remembered mantra...be a food snob. If I know we might be hitting Ghiradelli for a yummy dessert, then maybe I shouldn't get cookies as a snack during the day. Just an example.

But, I'm still maintaining my weight. I know that's better than gaining. My immediate goal is to hold steady for the next couple of weeks and come back stronger in January!

Speaking of January, I want to invite you to join me in your own fitness journey. Starting January 12, I will be hosting an accountability group on Facebook, that will help you get in the best shape of your life. It's not too early to be thinking about the things that you want to accomplish in 2015. Connect with me if you want more details.

Week 21: Weight Loss Update and Holiday Tips

I've said this before, but I am okay letting myself enjoy the holidays, and I wasn't going to stay 100% on my eating plan. I'm finding that at the beginning of the work week, I'm good, but then by the end of the week, I ease up a little bit. If I hadn't already lost 23 pounds, I might be a little harder on myself, but this is my favorite time of year, so I will eat a little treat here and there, or eat some goodies at the work Christmas party. It's OKAY. I know if I were sticking to it better, I'd see a bit more progress through this season, but I'm okay with a little slower progress at the moment.

I'm still getting up everyday for my workouts. Well, I did miss one workout last week. (My FIRST one, aside from the scheduled rest days, since I started PiYo back on August 4!) And again, I was okay with that. I did want to be able to say that I had done every workout, but in the grand scheme of things, I've been consistent enough that it's not a big deal. I'm not going to beat myself up about it. Last Saturday I had to get up pretty early to take Emery to a Christmas activity. I had already decided on Friday night that I probably would just do my workout on Sunday instead. But when Sunday came, I just didn't feel like getting up and working out. I also thought that I'd be working out the same muscle groups two days in a row, and that didn't seem like a good idea, so I talked myself out of it. Anyway, I made sure to get it done this week.

So what's my holiday tip? Aside from the typical things you hear, like drink water prior to going to a party, or not skipping breakfast in order to save calories when you'll be eating a bigger meal later, my guide is just this: Stick with the routine as much as possible, but don't get bent out of shape when you indulge a bit. And LET YOURSELF indulge a bit. In fact, that's really a tip for any time of the year, not just the holidays. But maybe during the holidays, I'll let myself indulge a bit more.

I'm still holding steady this week. I didn't drop another pound. I'm kind of stalling right now, since I got to this weight a month ago. Since that time I've stayed the same, gained a pound, lost that pound, and stayed the same. I guess that's how it goes, though, when you're letting yourself indulge a bit.

More on Contentment

I've been thinking about contentment more lately, which you may know if you saw one of my latest posts. I was tired of not being HAPPY with my life. Not that I was UNhappy, I just was constantly looking ahead to the next thing, or to when I could...[buy a bigger house, get Disney passes, have a higher clothing budget, etc.] And I guess, truthfully (now that I think about it), just thinking those thoughts DID kind of make me unhappy. After all, I wasn't really appreciating what I had. I saw this quote recently, and I really liked it. The gratitude (and contentment) has to come first.

One area that I am seeing a big difference in this is at home with Emery. I used to feel so overwhelmed at the things that I needed or wanted to get done, that I wasn't always enjoying the time with her. When she asked me if I wanted to play with her (in the cutest little way), I would say yes, but I sometimes just wanted to sit down and get my stuff done. But really, I was just not being appreciative of the gift I've been given and enjoying the time I have with her at the age she is NOW. So, now I've been just enjoying that time with her, not worrying about the things that I need to do, knowing that thinking about them when I get to them will be plenty enough thought. Besides, she is more important, and being present with her, for her. That change in mindset has really made a difference. I'm happier because I'm thankful for the gifts I've been given, and I'm focusing on the things that matter.

Weight Loss Update Week 20

I am reading Stephen Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It is really good, and I keep thinking that I wish I had read it several years ago when I first heard about it. But at the same time, I probably wouldn't have taken it in like I am now, so I guess it's meant for me to read right now.

One of the things that I'm reading about right now has to do with time management and priorities. The actual habit is "Put First Things First." He talks about how so many urgent (important or unimportant) things get in the way of the important (but not urgent) things. (And then, there are the unimportant and non-urgent things that are basically time-wasters.) So basically, the important things don't get done because they are not urgent enough to be focused on.)

Now, I have NEVER been great at time management. I have developed that skill more in my professional life, but in my personal life it still can be a struggle. But he talks about taking the time to prioritize those non-urgent, but important, things so that you're being proactive and not having to always deal with the urgent, important crises.

You can certainly apply that to being healthy. How many people put their health on the backburner for most of their lives, only to be faced with a heart attack or some other health crisis later? It's so important to make exercise and healthy eating a priority NOW. Plan your meals ahead, prep them as much as possible, even make them ahead in order to avoid that mid-week I'm-tired-but-I-don't-have-any-meals-so-I'll-just-get-a-pizza. Jason and I have gotten so much better at that. I don't know how many times we did something similar to that, thwarting our attempts at losing weight. But we both think through our upcoming week, get a shopping list together, and then prep our food. It is a lot of work, but it pays off in the end.

Well, after Thanksgiving, I got easily back to my healthy eating. I had never stopped working out, so I was continuing with that. And this week I felt good AND went back down another pound. Yay!

So, now I am asking you...shouldn't you be putting first things first? Making your health a priority? It is almost 2015, and now is the time to plan ahead. You probably will make a New Year's resolution to lose some weight, eat better, exercise more...so why not get ready for that now? I will be doing a 4-week challenge group where the participants commit to working out with a Beachbody program, drink the Shakeology meal replacement shake, eating healthy, and interacting in a closed group on Facebook. Participants get individual coaching, support, accountability, recipes, and meal plans. If this is something that you're ready to commit to, comment below or message me on Facebook. If my journey has been the least bit inspiring, know that YOU can do this, too. You can inspire others to be healthy.

Weight Loss Update Week 19

So, we've made it through Thanksgiving, and we're now in the Christmas season. I didn't worry too much about my calories, because I knew that I would get back on track after that. I forgot to take a picture of my food plate, but I did get my dessert, I'm not ashamed. (That's pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and a pumpkin muffin.) Gotta love pumpkin!

For the most part I've gotten back on track with my eating, although we did get some pizza yesterday for college football rivalry weekend. I've stayed with my workouts, but of course, the eating is more the key to the results. I've said this before, but I'm not out to only eat clean for the rest of my life. That's not realistic. But I AM out to make more healthy than unhealthy choices. So my choice for Thanksgiving was to enjoy the food.

When I weighed yesterday, I had gone back up a pound, but I know it will come back down as I completely get back on track. One of my Beachbody coaches wrote this in her blog, that I really liked, about having a range for your target weight. Of course, I'm still not in the range that I ultimately want to be, but it's the same idea. I know there is going to be some fluctuation along the way. (Although I am a little bummed that my rate of weight loss is decreasing...just a little over a pound a week. But, on the other hand, I'd rather be slow and steady and keep it off than to do the yo-yo diet thing of losing a lot really quickly, but not developing healthy habits.)

Contentment

I say that I am trying to become the best version of me. I don't mean only physically, although that's how this started. I'm also working on my "self"--my emotional, mental, and spiritual self.

I heard an interesting quote about contentment the other day from John Maxwell. He said, "Contentment--the ability to know who you are, accept who you are, appreciate who you are, and value where you are in the journey--is very important to success." Where some people might think that being discontent will spur you on, he said that discontentment keeps you moving, but it doesn't keep you moving well.

That really struck home with me, just because I have had a hard time being content with some of my circumstances for the last several years. I always hear things about appreciating the journey, not the destination. If you're always looking to "arrive," I don't think you'll remain happy once you get there, you'll just look for the next big thing to come. Maxwell also said if you're happy on this part of your journey, that's just fuel to keep going.

I have been trying to write down at least 3 things each week that I am thankful for. Just that focus keeps me more positive, and helps me see even negative situations in a better light.

I also remembered a Bible verse that I have always liked. To me, these verses are the epitome of contentment, and trusting in God. Habakkuk 3:17&18, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." I think that can be applied to modern situations, right? What situations could you put in there? Though I don't live in the house of my dreams, and my debt is really great...though I am still single, and see no prospects in sight...though I have little income coming in, and the market is going down...yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

It's easy to take time on Thanksgiving to be thankful for our blessings, but after that (especially as we face the commercialism that Christmas can bring), let's try to remain content with where we are AT THIS TIME.

Week 18 Weight Loss Update and Progress Pics

Well, the holiday season is upon us. I already have had two Thanksgiving dinners, one at my work and one at our church. Now, I didn't worry too much about clean eating, but I also didn't go crazy, eating EVERYTHING available. And, as a reader, you may know that I am OKAY with that right now. I still have some pounds to lose on my ultimate journey, but I don't want to gain weight (and keep that weight on.) I've heard bigger numbers, but I just looked it up, and the average American gains about 1-2 pounds during this season. (I'm thinking that has to be adjusted for sodium/water gain and all of that, because I think that I could easily gain 3 pounds on the scale from all of that.) The problem is that most people don't ever lose those 1-2 pounds, so in 10 years, you've easily gained 10-20 pounds.

Anyway, I have now completed Block 2 of P90X3. I will talk more about the specifics of that block in another post, but for now, I'll just say that I ultimately liked it, and I'm ready for even better results with Block 3.

This week I actually maintained my weight. Didn't lose, but didn't gain. BUT, I'm pretty pleased with my progress pictures! I still have a little ways to go, but I'm really starting to see that I've come a long ways now!

P90X3 Block 2

I indicated before that P90X3 is a 90-day program that is set up in 3 blocks. The first block is 4 weeks long, with the first 3 weeks being the same, and the 4th week being more of a transition week. There is a mix of routines that focus on your cardio, strength, and flexibility. All of the workouts are 30 minutes. I think Block 2 is a bit tougher than Block 1.

Block 2 Exercises (3 weeks):

Day 1 (usually Monday) is Eccentric Upper. The eccentric move is the negative part of an exercise rep. In other words, when you do a bicep curl, the eccentric move would be the part where you curl your arm back down. So this workout focuses more on the eccentric move, going slower to focus on that move rather than using momentum.

Day 2 is Triometrics. This is lower body work, more of the plyometrics type (explosive moves in short intervals of time). For each move, you do three different levels of intensity, starting with the lower intensity and moving to the highest intensity.

Day 3 is X3 Yoga again. It's also in Block 1, so I already talked about it, but it's your basic yoga moves (from what I know about yoga). It focuses on flexibility and strength. I'm glad it's in both Block 1 and 2.

Day 4 is Eccentric Lower. Same concept as Eccentric Upper, just with exercises that focus on the lower body. This one uses weights.

Day 5 is Incinerator, It's upper body, focusing on chest, back, biceps, and triceps. Just like the name implies, you're burning. We're back to a lot of push-ups and pull-ups, as well as using weights.

Day 6 is MMX, which is a martial arts-based routine. I typically like these types of workouts, too, but this one is pretty tough. Although I did better the last time than I had my first time. There are a lot of sprawls, where you fall on the floor real fast. But, I'm starting to handle that kind of thing a lot better than I did before.

Day 7 is Dynamix, or you can choose to rest. I usually take the rest day, but I'm thinking for Block 3, I may use it. It actually focuses on your abs a little more than I have gotten.

In my post on Block 1, I talked about the fourth week, the Transition week, but I'm including it again in case anyone didn't read that post.

Block 1 Recovery Week (1 week):

Day 1 is Isometrix. This involves holding a lot of the yoga poses for about 45 seconds. It's pretty tough. For some reason I didn't like it as well as I had the first time.

Day 2 is Dynamix. This also involves a lot of stretching to help increase range of motion, flexibility, and stability. I didn't find it to be as tough as I had thought last time. And like I said, it engages the abs a bit more, so I think I might do it on Sundays (my rest days) during Block 3.

Day 3 is Accelerator. Whew, I thought it was tough! It's back to cardio, somewhat similar to Agility X. I will say, I did a bit better on the Donkey Kicks than I did the first time.

Day 4 is Pilates. This is mostly focused on core. I have to say, I didn't like it as much as I thought that I would, but again, it could just be because it's not familiar yet. I'll have to see when I do it again.

Day 5 is CVX, which is in Block 1. Cardio while holding a light weight.

Day 6 is X3 Yoga, which I described above.


.And now on to Block 3.

Week 17 Weight Loss Update

I didn't get my weight loss update post up before today, due to being out of town this weekend. This last week was a little tough to get out of bed to work out each morning, but I'm glad to say, I STILL DID. It's really important to me that when I finish this program I can say that I did all of the workouts and didn't skip any scheduled workouts. It's funny, but back in July when we decided this, I secretly wondered how long we would stick with it. Then, when we DID start the PiYo program in August, I was determined to finish it, which I did. I knew that I would be doing P90X3 in the fall, and I halfway thought that I would probably ease up on myself, especially with the holidays. But NOW, I am just as determined to finish without skipping any workouts.

Not that I'm being extreme, though. I want it to be about making more healthy than unhealthy choices. Especially during this time of year. But I also still want to get to my goal weight, so at this point I will continue to do my best.

But I'm happy to say that I was "back" this week (after gaining back a pound last week), with a 2-pound weight loss.

Weight Loss Update (Week 16): Overeating

I keep reiterating that this is a JOURNEY. It's not a fad or a diet, it's a new way of living. So why do I get so nervous when I choose to eat an item that doesn't align with my "new way of living"? Do I think that I will so easily go back? I think deep down, I am a little worried about that. But if I really believe what I say, then I should be confident that, yeah, I may have overeaten a couple of times today, made some not-so-great choices because it sounded good, but THAT's not my norm, and it WON'T be my norm. I mean, I'm roughly 20 pounds lighter than I was 3 months ago. I can look at pictures and see a definite difference. It's funny, though, because when I was that big and saw pictures of myself, I halfway wondered who I was looking at anyway, because I was never accustomed to being that big. So, now I at least feel like I'm pretty much back to normal, even though I still want to lose another 15ish pounds.

Yesterday Jason and I decided to get some steak. (This was after shopping for new clothes since we've lost some weight.) We hadn't had any in a while, and it sounded good. So we went to a steak restaurant and both got a steak meal, along with an appetizer. I ate pretty much the whole dinner. And I felt pretty full. THEN we decided to get some ice cream. Really? I didn't need it. But it sounded good, so I didn't argue. We took it home, and I started out eating it slowly because I was so full. But I still ended up eating the WHOLE thing. Part of what was running through my mind was if I save it until tomorrow, then that's two days that I'm not eating great. I also was formulating this blog post in my mind, thinking about how much my stomach just HURT because I overate. I thought about talking about how bad the food made me feel, and was it really worth it? And, yeah, my stomach did hurt a little bit overnight, but when I woke up this morning, I really felt okay overall. Now, Sundays are my exercise rest day, so I didn't have to get up and work out, so maybe that would have been tougher. But maybe not.

I have read and experienced weight loss enough to realize that if you treat it like rules that you have to follow, you'll eventually break the rules. And sometimes in an over-the-top binge fashion. I do almost feel like I can't eat ANYTHING that isn't "clean" or I won't lose a pound this week. But that's not normal life. That's not something that I can keep up long-term, and that is just too restrictive. So I really need to rethink my mindset, and make sure that I am overall making healthy choices rather than unhealthy choices. The other thing, I know that the number on the scale can fluctuate based on things like how much water you're retaining due to sodium intake. So I also know not to focus TOO much on the actual number, although that still is a relatively good indicator of progress and what I have chosen as my weekly measure.

Anyway, this week I actually was up a pound from last week. So there it is, But I still am overall feeling good. And I'm really liking my morning workouts! (For the most part. They are a little tough at times and hard to get through.) Guess I'll just go back to those nonscale victories that I wrote about in this post. My clothes fit better, I'm getting better range of motion in my push-ups and squats, my rings are much looser, and I'm definitely proud of myself.

Push Play

With Beachbody, one of the mantras is "Push Play." Of course, in a company who makes workout videos designed to be done at home, the meaning is pretty obvious. Push play on the videos (and do them) and you will see results.

I've thought about that saying applied in other areas of my life. In the past few years, I've noticed that I have a tendency to live more in ideas and planning, and less in actually executing those ideas and plans. In many areas, I've never been one to show a lot of initiative, to be proactive. So, I've thought about pushing play as a good mantra for me, to just DO it, set forth and get that idea implemented.

I also have realized how much I am responsible for, too. I am a big believer in God's sovereignty. I believe that He has total control of things. So, I don't know if my tendency to show little initiative, has been related to that belief, and just sort of waiting for God to bring something about in my life. I'm just realizing more that it has to be both. God is still in control, but I have to push play and DO things as well. I mean, if I keep making bad decisions, I still am going to have consequences from those decisions. Likewise, if I make good decisions, I will have consequences for those. So I really can benefit from taking more initiative and just do it.

What areas in your life are you still sitting in the ideas and planning stages, just waiting for something to happen? Decide now that you're just going to PUSH PLAY.

Weight Loss Update (Week 15)

We are into THAT time of year. People always joke that it is hard to lose weight between Halloween and New Year's with all of the candy, parties, and family gatherings. Well, I've read recently that the average person gains 7 to 12 pounds during this time of year. Wow. I definitely don't want to do that. I'm going to ENJOY the season, but I will not go crazy. And I will be sticking to my exercise routine and eating plan overall. Remember, it's a journey, a lifestyle thing. Not a fad. So I will enjoy, but I will maintain the discipline that I've been working for the last 3 months. Stay diligent, and don't consider the holidays as a food free-for-all.

I have had some candy for Halloween. But definitely not what I typically would have had. I certainly did more of the free-for-all thing before I started this journey to be healthier. But a lot of it is about planning. Jason and I definitely plan all of our meals for the week. I will stop right here to say that HE is the cook in the house, and not me. So he is more of the planner, but I plan too. And that is more than half of what our success is attributed to. We even brought our own homemade meal to Legoland the other day when we took our daughter for the day. Chicken and broccoli quesadillas. They were pretty tasty. And it was a whole lot healthier than the typical meal you get at a theme park. And we spent less money. Which, by the way, we have been finding our grocery bill to be reduced a lot, despite the common thought that eating healthy costs more.

Another thing that I wanted to explain, in case anybody didn't catch it, is I am only exercising once a day, for about 30 minutes. The cleaner eating really HAS been key in my weight loss. Another thing that Jason and I started doing for the last few weeks is eating at lunch what we typically would have eaten at dinner. That means I'm now eating my salad that I would have had at lunch for my dinner now. This way, we're eating the lighter meal last, before our body's metabolism starts to slow down for the night. Jason posted this picture on his fitness page a couple of weeks ago, and I think it's pretty striking. In fact, check out his page on Facebook, here.

I started the second block of P90X3 this week, and you guys, it is tougher, I think! But, I know I'm getting stronger and soon it will be nothing to me. I love feeling more athletic and healthier. But I also want to see others come on this journey with me. There are so many unhealthy people who just don't FEEL good. It's really difficult to fulfill the purpose in your life if you don't even feel like getting up off the couch to do anything. So, while I'm using this blog to share my journey, I also want some people to come along with me.

I lost another pound this week. One pound closer to my goal. Of course, I know the number on the scale isn't everything. And in fact, I saw some pictures from a couple of years ago when I was at a similar weight, and I think I look a little heavier than I do now. Back then I wasn't building muscle like I am now, and we all know that muscle weighs more than fat. So keep your eye out on me during the holiday season, and anyone that wants to join me, let me know!

P90X3 Block 1

I'm still excited about P90X3. It is a 90-day program that is set up in 3 blocks. The first block is 4 weeks long, with the first 3 weeks being the same, and the 4th week being more of a transition week. There is a mix of routines that focus on your cardio, strength, and flexibility. All of the workouts are 30 minutes. As of today, I have finished the first block.

Block 1 Exercises (3 weeks):

Day 1 (usually Monday) is called Total Synergistics. It focuses on the whole body. You're doing squats and lunges while holding weights, you're doing pull-ups and chin-ups (I use a resistance band), and you're doing things to focus on your core.

Day 2 is called Agility X. It is more aerobic/cardio-based. There are a lot of lunges again, but it's a little faster-paced. It also is designed to improve precision, flexibility, balance, and strength. There is more jumping and quick-stepping around. I wouldn't say that it is my favorite.

Day 3 is Yoga X. I really like this one. But I usually like yoga exercises anyway. It's tough, but it isn't cardio, haha! There are several poses that weren't in PiYo. Of course, yoga is great for flexibility. And you get it all done in 30 minutes.

Day 4 is called The Challenge. This is completely upper-body, alternating between pull-ups and push-ups. You do lots of different variations, like staggered push-ups, where you have one arm forward and one arm closer while you do your push-ups. There is also a pull-up where one hand is forward and the other is reversed.

Day 5 is CVX, which is another cardio-based whole body workout. Pretty much everything you do with a light weight in your hands. It's another tough one, but I like it slightly better than Agility X.

Day 6 is The Warrior. This is another one with lots of push-ups. It also focuses on legs and core. It is more focused on increasing strength.

Day 7 is Dynamix, or you can choose to rest. I usually take the rest day.

Block 1 Recovery Week (1 week):

Day 1 is Isometrix. This involves holding a lot of the yoga poses for about 45 seconds. It's pretty tough, but I liked it.

Day 2 is Dynamix. This also involves a lot of stretching to help increase range of motion, flexibility, and stability. I think it's a little tough, too, but I have only done it the one time. Maybe when I get accustomed to it, it will be easier.

Day 3 is Accelerator. Whew, I thought it was tough! It's back to cardio, somewhat similar to Agility X.

Day 4 is Pilates. This is mostly focused on core. I have to say, I didn't like it as much as I thought that I would, but again, it could just be because it's not familiar yet. I'll have to see when I do it again.

Day 5 is CVX and Day 6 is Yoga X, both of which I've already described.

I'm ready to see what Block 2 will bring.

Posting my current progress picture. July 26, 2014, before PiYo. October 26, 2014: After PiYo, and P90X3 Block 1, plus clean eating and drinking Shakeology.

As for my current progress, I lost 2 more pounds this week! I am now at 21 pounds lost, and the lowest weight that I've been at in 2-and-a-half years. I've lost another inch or so in my waist. I definitely see more of a difference in my shoulder and arms than I do anywhere else. But, it'll get there, right?

Now, what about you? Anyone who wants to do this, can, if they're ready to be consistent and give some effort. If you want to join me, let me know! I will be there to offer accountability, encouragement, and motivation.

Family, Photos, and Fitness

I am wanting to post a little more often to this blog, making it more about my other areas of interest, too. I am a wife and a mom, so my family is important to me. And there is definitely a lot to share about what I learn as a mommy to my 3-year-old daughter. I'm also really into photos and memory keeping. The way I most like to do that is through digital scrapbooking and making photo books. So I may share a few photos or scrapbooking tips that I pick up along the way. Or just some of the things that I create. In addition to becoming physically fit, I am working on being emotionally and spiritually fit, too. You have to focus on all of those areas, not just one, in order to be balanced. And I will still post my weekly weight loss update as I continue on my journey.

I mentioned this in another post, but one thing that I was noticing about myself before I started all this, was that I was really easily irritated. With my husband, my daughter, my work, myself. And it could get really ugly, especially in the mornings when I was running late to work. This was something that didn't make me feel that great, but that was me, easily irritated. I didn't want it to be me, though. I've started realizing how much the seemingly little decisions that I make everyday can make a huge impact in my life. It didn't seem like a big deal to eat some peanut M&M's, but over every night that I did it, it certainly added up. It also didn't seem to be that big of a deal to make a negative comment here or there when I was frustrated, but doing that everyday, my husband started to see me as a negative person. Or my daughter started to imitate what she had seen me do when she became frustrated. Hmm. THAT is not a fun realization, to see that your child is mimicking your negative traits.

Not only have I seen more how much those "little" choices matter, but I've also seen MY responsibility in those choices. I don't know if I was just going through life thinking that things were happening to me, but I think that I was living like that. Now granted, things happen to us, but we have choices in those things as well. We've heard all of the adages...when life gives you lemons, make lemonade (or squirt lemon juice in someone's face, as I've recently seen); no one can determine how you feel or act in circumstances, and that sort of thing. But I'm seeing that those things really are true. I can be proactive or reactive. I can take responsibility for my actions or I can blame others and my circumstances. So I've started to practice that. And it is making a difference.

So what decisions do you need to start making? What can you do today to start being more proactive and less reactive?

Week 13 [Oct 12-18] Benefits and Weight Loss Update

I would say that committing to this fitness journey has been hands-down one of the best decisions that I've ever made. There have been so much more than physical changes in me, although those have been great. Aside from the weight loss, I am seeing myself get stronger, my clothes are looking and fitting better, and my legs and arms are becoming more defined.

Like I said, though, this journey is making more than just physical changes. It also has made some emotional changes in me. My confidence has increased, my self-esteem is better, and I get irritated less easily.

Yep, I can tend to get irritated pretty easily. I guess you could say that I was frumpy and grumpy. And I didn't like being that way. But really, when you aren't making healthy choices, you're not going to feel that great, you're going to make other not-great choices, and then you feel pretty lousy about that, and the consequences of those choices. Which makes it more likely that you're going to make another bad choice. And it pretty much is just a downward spiral.

I know that there are a lot of factors that have changed, all of which probably contribute to my decreased irritation. One, I'm exercising, which creates endorphins, so I feel better. Two, I'm seeing some good physical changes in my body, which makes me feel better about myself and how I look, so my base level of irritation is lower. Three, I'm drinking a very healthy meal replacement shake that has helped me in a lot of ways. I'm sleeping better, I crave and eat less sweets, my digestion has improved, and my energy levels are improved. And, I see that I don't get irritated as easily as I used to. (I asked Jason if he sees that, too, and to my delight--and relief--he said he does.) And just like the downward spiral, I'm sure the opposite effect is going on. I feel better, I make better choices, and the consequences of those choices continues to make me feel good, thus increasing the probability that I will continue to make good choices.

No matter the exact reason, it's another reason that I want to continue on this journey. I'm realizing that being "fit" is more than just a physical thing. I didn't realize it when I started, but MY OWN journey to be "Fit After Forty", is more than just my becoming physically fit. It's about being emotionally and spiritually healthy, too.

 Now for this week's update: I lost 2 more pounds! I know that the scale is not the BEST indicator of success, because of normal fluctuations from water retention and things like that. But, weighing once a week helps to even that kind of thing out. Initially, I had chosen Mondays to be my official weigh-in days, but I decided since we often ease up some on the weekends, Friday or Saturday mornings would be a better official weigh-in day. But anyway, I am now officially more than halfway to my goal weight. 

Can't wait to see where I go next!