Good morning all! I had such a great day yesterday... did Fire 30 on my lunch and Plyo last night. I have to say that I am stronger now than I was at the end of my first round of P90x. I was surprised that I was able to pull through with the strength that I did - yeah me! I suppose it was because of Insanity and Turbo Fire and Hip Hop Abs that I was dabbling in while on my break between rounds. Or perhaps it is because I want it more now than I did before? But whatever the reason, the programs or my desire, I was thankful for a good night.
I would love to have some feedback on my food intake for the day, for those who are well versed in the nutritional component that is so important to my success:
B-fast: 2 Six-grain toast with low fat peanut butter
S1: Banana
Lunch: 3 stalks of celery and 9 baby carrots with 1 TBSP of hummus
S2: Apple
Dinner: Broccoli and Steak stir fry (p90x recipe) with 1/2 cup of long grain rice
68 oz of water
Is that ok? I will be adding a protien drink to my lunch starting Saturday (when it arrives in the mail).
On the stats side of my workouts for yesterday:
Fire 30:
Calories: 445
Avg HR:141
Max HR:174
Plyometrics:
Calories: 820
Avg HR: 142
Max HR: 181
Overall a great day!
Make it a great day folks... keep pushing play!!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
As Promised... the gym photos
Sorry for how blurry they are... they are taken with my Blackberry and are not of the best quality
Monday, February 7, 2011
And so it Begins!
Round 2 ... and I couldn't be more excited! Excited about the work that lies ahead of me, excited about the possibilities and excited about doing it with my Mr. Wonderful who will keep me pushing harder. So, yesterday I went shopping so that I may follow the program as closely as possible. I am going to see some great results this round, of that I am certain!
So, since we are scheduled to start today and knowing that we work out at night I needed to figure out a way around my city council meeting. I am a councilor and will be required to attend the meeting tonight so I decided to do my workout last night and when I get home tonight, should Mr. Wonderful still be working out, I will just do a routine on the treadmill and then we will be on to Plyo tomorrow night... so I have my facts to share today:
Chest and Back + Ab Ripper X
Calories: 430
AVG HR: 116
Max HR: 159
Lunch hour workout data:
Hip Hop Fat Burning Cardio:
Calories: 348
Avg HR: 139
Max HR: 168
.............................................................................................................................
Have I mentioned how much I love my home gym?!!! We are all taking our turns and working out... even my teenaged daughter! She has not missed a workout since we installed the equipement and she is feeling GREAT! She even put on Ab Ripper on Saturday night and did really well with it. I think that she may even join us with the X... when she is ready of course (I can't make that girl do anything :P).
I took pictures of the gym completed but left my phone at home. I will bring it in tomorrow and share.
Make it a great day!
So, since we are scheduled to start today and knowing that we work out at night I needed to figure out a way around my city council meeting. I am a councilor and will be required to attend the meeting tonight so I decided to do my workout last night and when I get home tonight, should Mr. Wonderful still be working out, I will just do a routine on the treadmill and then we will be on to Plyo tomorrow night... so I have my facts to share today:
Chest and Back + Ab Ripper X
Calories: 430
AVG HR: 116
Max HR: 159
Lunch hour workout data:
Hip Hop Fat Burning Cardio:
Calories: 348
Avg HR: 139
Max HR: 168
.............................................................................................................................
Have I mentioned how much I love my home gym?!!! We are all taking our turns and working out... even my teenaged daughter! She has not missed a workout since we installed the equipement and she is feeling GREAT! She even put on Ab Ripper on Saturday night and did really well with it. I think that she may even join us with the X... when she is ready of course (I can't make that girl do anything :P).
I took pictures of the gym completed but left my phone at home. I will bring it in tomorrow and share.
Make it a great day!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Are you thinking about starting P90x???
Well, why don't you start with me on MOnday? We can keep one another motivated and accountable... we can share our successes and stresses... we can be workout buddies!
I AM starting, without fail, on Monday, February 7th. My Mr. Wonderful is going to be starting with me and we are going to KNOCK IT OUTTA DA PARK... we will be a team and I am opening up an invitation to YOU to join us.
Update: I did Hip Hop Abs, Total body today at lunch and it was FUN! I was still sore from Wednesday's ab workout so I can imagine that I will be really sore tomorrow from this one. It takes me so long to recover from these workouts... but I am not using that as any kind of excuse... nope, not me!
Here are the stats:
Calories: 448
Avg HR: 143
Max HR: 183
Leave me a comment and let me know that you are IN it with us.
Make it a great day!
I AM starting, without fail, on Monday, February 7th. My Mr. Wonderful is going to be starting with me and we are going to KNOCK IT OUTTA DA PARK... we will be a team and I am opening up an invitation to YOU to join us.
Update: I did Hip Hop Abs, Total body today at lunch and it was FUN! I was still sore from Wednesday's ab workout so I can imagine that I will be really sore tomorrow from this one. It takes me so long to recover from these workouts... but I am not using that as any kind of excuse... nope, not me!
Here are the stats:
Calories: 448
Avg HR: 143
Max HR: 183
Leave me a comment and let me know that you are IN it with us.
Make it a great day!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
And now there is a treadmill...
So, the home gym continues to come together. Our treadmill is assembled and ready for use. I got on it last night for about 20 minutes while we were allowing the grease to lube the rollie-things and it was nice; however, when I got off I felt like I had been aboard a boat!!?! Is that normal? Anyway, I am going to try and get on it again tonight and see if I can't do a full routine without my dear hubby needing my help with more assembly projects.
Besides the treadmill we also assembled the Smith rack... just the outside of the rack. We have successfully completed four steps in a nine step process... but we are getting it! Tonight we will finish the rack and HOPEFULLY put it in its place and then I will take the pictures. If not Friday night for sure we will have it all together.
One last little thing... I did manage to have a lunch workout with SuperWoman, albeit short. We did the Ab workout due to time constraints and I felt it, for sure. I did get my Mom to burn me her copy of Hip Hop Abs that I think that I will bring to work and try to incorporate in our lunch routines so that we can avoid laying on the dirty floor... but that will have to be next week.
Thanks for reading and being patient with me... next week will be the first week that I will be back on track. I will be committed, motivated and SORE -- can't wait!
Make it a great day!!!
Besides the treadmill we also assembled the Smith rack... just the outside of the rack. We have successfully completed four steps in a nine step process... but we are getting it! Tonight we will finish the rack and HOPEFULLY put it in its place and then I will take the pictures. If not Friday night for sure we will have it all together.
One last little thing... I did manage to have a lunch workout with SuperWoman, albeit short. We did the Ab workout due to time constraints and I felt it, for sure. I did get my Mom to burn me her copy of Hip Hop Abs that I think that I will bring to work and try to incorporate in our lunch routines so that we can avoid laying on the dirty floor... but that will have to be next week.
Thanks for reading and being patient with me... next week will be the first week that I will be back on track. I will be committed, motivated and SORE -- can't wait!
Make it a great day!!!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The mirrors are up...
The gym is starting to look like a REAL gym! We have put up the mirrors, have the dumbell rack up and stacked with all our weights and we put the olympic bench together last night... it is starting to come together!! We worked at it until 10:30 and then we crashed. I am doing Turbo Fire today at lunch with Super Woman, it has been too long since I have done anything so I am REALLY looking forward to it!
Stay tuned for pictures ;')
Make it a great day!!
Stay tuned for pictures ;')
Make it a great day!!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Gearing up... getting ready!
So this weekend my Dear Hubby and I went and picked up our workout equipment and mirrors for the home gym. We have both agreed to start the second round of P90X on February 7th. We are also going to be throwing in additional cardio, We are looking forward to making strides again....
in the meantime, this is just a little something that I lifted from another site that I thought was interesting:
10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost
Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it's only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.
For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you're afraid of getting "bulky," then you're missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.
When you're weight training, you shouldn't rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you're losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what's more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?
If you're still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.
Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn't lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.
Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That's not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the "middle-age spread." Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who've completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won't bulk up—women don't have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you'll burn fat.
Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you'll burn all day long.
Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Build strong bones. It's been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they're made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.
Fight depression. You've probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.
Improve sports fitness. You don't have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it's bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.
Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.
Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don't realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your "good" (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don't lift weights.
Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.
Make it a great day!
in the meantime, this is just a little something that I lifted from another site that I thought was interesting:
10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost
Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it's only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.
For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you're afraid of getting "bulky," then you're missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.
When you're weight training, you shouldn't rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you're losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what's more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?
If you're still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.
Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn't lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.
Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That's not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the "middle-age spread." Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who've completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won't bulk up—women don't have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you'll burn fat.
Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you'll burn all day long.
Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.
Build strong bones. It's been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they're made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.
Fight depression. You've probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.
Improve sports fitness. You don't have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it's bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.
Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.
Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don't realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your "good" (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don't lift weights.
Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.
Make it a great day!
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