Sweaty.

I hate being sweaty.. but that's slowly changing! I guess I measure my workouts by amount of sweat produced. This is week 4 of phase 1, and that means a different workout routine. Today I did Core Synergenics and it kicked my butt! Yesterday was Yoga, and of course I did not do Yoga X. Instead, I did Yoga for Health on my Netflix, and it was incredible. I have never ever liked Yoga, but this program was great and it was exactly what my body needed.

This week's workouts are: Yoga, Core, Kenpo, Stretching, Core, Yoga, Rest
I will also be going to Zumba class on Monday with a friend, so it will be Yoga & Zumba that day.

Sounds pretty easy to me. School starts next week, so this is coming at the perfect time as I adjust my schedule. I'm really happy I started this workout plan because by now it is a habit and I don't really have to force myself to do it anymore. Hopefully that habitual attitude will stick with me as I add homework and classes into the mix.

Sleepy

I looked at a lot of motivational sayings and photos today on pinterest and created a Fit board! It was a way to delay my workout, but it's going to benefit me in the long run.

Today was Shoulders and Back + Zumba Abs.

This is my favorite workout! Last year when I first started P90X, I thought this workout was a waste of time because I barely sweat. I soon realized that I needed to up the weight- I am not as weak as I thought I was! Right now I'm doing 12 reps (unless it requires 16) of each with mostly 8lb weights. I use 5lb weights for the two triceps kickback exercises. I will go up to 15 reps of each before I up the weights.

Zumba abs is so much better than Ab Ripper X! It is a 20 minute exercise, and it works all your abdominal muscles and your lower back. The dance moves really target your obliques- and you need strong obliques before you can try to get rid of the fat on your tummy.

Music is extremely important to me during my workouts. I listen to Korn, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, and other high energy songs that make my blood pump. Usually I can cut out 20 or more minutes from the P90X videos because I do them on my own with my phone app. My app tells you what exercise is coming next and allows you to record what you've done, so I can just do the work without watching Tony. I can't do this with the Cardio X and Kenpo X videos though.

If you don't want to pay $150 for the program, you could just get the videos on your phone for $29.99. I'm not sure what the app is called, but I saw it on my droid.

And We Danced

So today was Chest and Back+ Ab Ripper X.

I got through the whole workout just fine. I did 12 reps for most of the exercises so that I can move up from there. Don't worry if you can't do a push up to save your life! I have really weak wrists so push ups are difficult and pull ups are impossible. I do 5 push ups the normal way, then the rest "girl" push ups with my knees down. I think it's really important to do as many as you can without your knees as soon as you start out or else you will not push yourself to that step later on. Instead of pull ups I do the band exercises that are shown.  

Changes I've made to suit my needs: 

I am not going to do Plyometrics just yet. One, because of my foot injuries, and two because I'm just not fit enough. Doing Plyometrics is like subjecting yourself to torture. Not going to happen, at least not in this phase. Instead of Plyometrics, I will be doing Cardio X.

I also do not like Yoga X. I can't even describe my hatred for it. Not only is it the longest, it is soooo incredibly boring. If you're a person who does Yoga and is thinking that Yoga X should be fun, think again! Yoga X is nothing like any other Yoga class. I will be substituting either Zumba or Pilates for Yoga X. 

Also, some people swear by Ab Ripper X, but I'm just not that impressed. One day a week I will be doing Zumba Abs instead of Ab Ripper X. I feel like Zumba works my obliques 100% more. 

Starting video:

Ugh.. I just.. do you have any idea how hard this was to do? I made a video of my starting point. I gritted my teeth and hid my shame showing the entire world my stomach. The only person to see my stomach since high school is my husband and my mother. Really. So, here it is:

Day One

Now I'm fully accountable for what happens next.