TurboFire Update! Week 6

Hello there! Oops, it's been while since I've written about anything my TurboFire progress. I'll update you in a second, but first...

Did you notice anything different? No, it's not my lovely new haircut. Okay, well, I did get a haircut, but that's not it. No, I didn't get a pretty new outfit. Although I did get awesome new sneakers, but that's not it either.

If you said a new blog layout, why, yes, you are correct! Do you like it? I thought it was time for something new. Did I mention this in another post already? Sorry, I just felt like it was worth mentioning again.

So, TurboFire! It's pretty freakin' awesome. It's so much fun, and it makes me feel like a champion when I finish each workout.

Do you remember when I said I had trouble with the Core 20 workout, because of the standing ab moves, and that I didn't feel anything? I've done this workout several times since then, and I've been trying to work on that, and really engage my core and my abs when I do this workout, but I just can't get the hang of it. I'm getting really frustrated because I feel like I'm not getting the most out of this workout, and I could be getting better results and improving even more if I could get this down. Dan has tried to help me out, but I either can't grasp the concept, or my core is too weak to begin with and I can't flex those muscles, or he just not explaining it in a way that makes sense to me. I don't know. Hopefully by the end of this program I can finally do it.

This is the beginning of week 6, and I'm still starting new workouts, which is awesome. I like that the workouts are switched up and it doesn't repeat the same one every day. Some of the music isn't really my style, but when I'm in the middle of a workout and pouring sweat and just focusing on form and getting the best workout I can, the music is one of the last things on my mind and I don't even really pay attention to it that much. Although, I know I would definitely notice if it wasn't there. It helps to get me moving. Otherwise it would be boring.

I actually forgot to take Before pictures at the beginning of starting TurboFire, so I'm comparing to the first ones I took, even though they were taken quite some time ago. I also forgot to take pictures at the 30 day mark, so I'm going to take them at the end of this week instead. Hopefully there will be visible results, because I really want that bikini body this summer, and I'm working hard to get it. One day at a time. Of course, I have to always remember my nutrition and eat as clean as I can, because that's where at least 75% of the results will come from. Thank God for Shakeology! I'm not sure I will be comfortable posting my pics for all the world to see, but I will let you know of the changes.

I really like the HIIT workouts. They're short, but high intensity so I'm still able to get a great workout in a short amount of time. I'm still using the "New to Class" option to learn the moves on most days, so it makes them longer (on non-HIIT days), but hopefully I won't have to do that pretty soon.

I do feel like I'm getting great cardio conditioning, and my legs are probably stronger because of the all the lunging, squatting, and jumping, but I don't feel that my upper body gets much of a workout. I want to do more, so I'm going to invest in some weighted gloves so I'm able to put more into each move.

Well, I think that's all for now! I plan to not be such a slacker about writing, so I will update more often on my TurboFire progress. Thanks for reading!

Epiphany: Okay, I'm Totally Lame

I got my workout in fairly early after work yesterday. I teach part-time, so I leave earlier than the school day is actually over.

I arrived home, settled in, got a few things done, then got my TurboFire on. Yesterday was Low HIIT 25 and Stretch 10. This workout was mostly all HIITs back to back, with short rest periods in between each.

Chalene's favorite motivational phrase to tell us is, "You're not tired!" She tells us we can keep going, we can do it, we're amazing. Somewhere in the middle of this workout, she said, "Tell yourself you can do anything!"

So, I did. I actually said aloud to myself, "I can do anything." Well, it was more like, "Ican (breath) doany (breath) thing."

Do you know what happened after I said that to myself? Well, I'll tell you. I was kind of holding back tears.

I know, I'm totally lame. But you know what? I had a minor epiphany at that moment. Not only that I'm totally lame, but I realized that I almost never talk to myself this way: positively. I almost never tell myself I can do it, or that I can push a little harder, or I can accomplish my goals. Instead, I'm used to listening to that little negative voice that tells me I'm too tired, or it hurts too much, or to take another break.

Chalene basically said that the way we talk to ourselves is the way we are going to perform. Why? Because that's what we'll believe. If I tell myself I'm too tired, then I will be, and I'll stop. If I tell myself I need another break, I'll take it, instead of motivating myself and giving it that little extra push to keep going. And it's absolutely true. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I never told myself, "I can do it; I can do anything." Just saying it once, out loud, ignited a little spark inside me. Repeating it again gave that little spark a flame.

The flame grew a little higher, and a little fiercer. I pushed myself a little harder. I jumped a little higher, I squatted a little lower, and I ran a little faster. And I brought it.

We need to stop putting ourselves down. We need to tell ourselves we are capable of anything. Whatever goal you are after, whatever dream you want to accomplish, you can succeed. You have to tell yourself you can, and you will. Even if you don't believe it yet, it's okay. Keep encouraging yourself. You can do it. And you will believe it. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you speak positively to yourself and believe you have what it takes.

What lies do you tell yourself that hold you back?
Get those negative thoughts out of your head. Turn them into positive ones instead. Then get out there and accomplish those goals and dreams.

I'm too tired. I have tons of energy, and working out gives me energy.
I'm too out of shape. I'm working toward my goals and getting better every day.
I'm stupid. I am intelligent.
I'm ugly. I am beautiful, inside and out.
I'm not talented enough. I am talented, and have so much to give to the world.
I can't do it. I can do anything.

TurboFire: Week 1

Hey there! Of course, once I say that I will try to post every other day, other things get in the way and I get delayed. Sigh. But, here I am! A few days late, sure, but here nonetheless.

As I said in the previous post, Wednesday was supposed to be the rest day, but it felt awkward to have it in the middle of the week, so I planned to postpone it. I say planned to, because it only lasted one more day, and I accidentally ended up taking two rest days in a row; Thursday and Friday. Oops.

So on Saturday I completed what was supposed to be Friday's workout since it was different from the Fire Starter Class I had already done, then continued with the schedule Sunday and Monday. Doing Friday's workout on Saturday, I got my heart rate up to 200 bpm! I hope that's normal.

Sunday was Core 20 and Stretch 40. The Core 20 was all about working the core: abs, torso, and spine. Having a strong core is necessary for all types of workouts, and helps strengthen the rest of your body as well. It started with standing core and ab work, then moved to the floor. This workout also utilizes a resistance band to add difficulty and intensity. I don't think I was doing the standing exercises correctly, because I couldn't really feel any of the moves; it was like I wasn't working them. My form can't be right, so that's something I need to work on with this day.

Afterward, the Stretch 40 was basically a yoga class. Let me just tell you... I hate yoga. Really hate it. I despise it, actually. It's also in the P90X routine, and I couldn't get through it. I know it's necessary. I know I need to work on my flexibility, and I know yoga will help me lean out even more. But for some reason, I can't force myself to stay through an entire yoga workout. It bores me. I don't mind stretching, but I need movement. Some of the moves are just torturous. Plus, I feel like a baby cow trying to stand for the first time. I know, if I do it more and get through it and practice, I'll get better and stronger. But... ugh.

Are you with me? Do you hate yoga too? Or do you love it?

Yesterday, Monday, was crazy! It was Fire 55 EZ Class, but as long as you are working hard, there is nothing "EZ" about it! It can get pretty intense, but TurboFire is probably the most fun workout I've ever done. This one also included two fire drills, which, if you recall from one of my other posts, are minute-long drills of the routine pushing as hard as you can to get your heart rate up and burn more calories -- HIIT workouts. Except that Chalene lies on this one. It's really a minute and 12 seconds.

I was definitely dripping sweat after this one. I think today will be a little less intense, but as always, still fun. I can't wait to see what today has in store!

TurboFire Day 2!

Hey you! Thanks for stopping by!

Yesterday was Day 2 of TurboFire, and I got my first taste of one of the HIIT workouts. It was Low HIIT 20, followed by the same Stretch 10 class like the first day.

During the HIIT 20, Chalene Johnson set up what she calls Fire Drills. She teaches you the moves for each sequence, practice the entire set once, then you do the Fire Drill. For 60 seconds, you do the entire set, only this time, you give it all you've got for those 60 seconds.

There aren't many breaks during these workouts. You get a few seconds after the Fire Drill, but then you get back into the regular routine. It's not as bad as it sounds, because most of the workout is low impact. However, Chalene makes it clear that low impact doesn't mean low intensity.

Today is supposed to be the first rest day, according to the schedule. However, for me, I feel like having a rest day in the middle of the week is awkward and messes up my rhythm. So, instead, I'm moving the rest day to the weekend and continuing today with tomorrow's workout, which is the same as it was on Monday. The Fire Starter class followed by Stretch 10.

I'm actually feeling a little sore from yesterday as well -- there were a lot of squats and lunging, so my lower half is the sore part, which will make today interesting. But that just means it's working!

My favorite part of every workout? Having my delicious Shakeology! After workouts I add my protein powder from Trutein, but if it's for breakfast or lunch, I might add a little peanut butter or something else, depending on what recipe I'm in the mood for. I love it!

Well, I guess that's all for today's report. Thanks for reading! I'll try to post at least every other day during this program, so stay tuned!

It's Time for Something New! TurboFire Day 1

Today, I fired up my fitness routine. I had slacked for much too long, and had planned for much too long to shake things up and start something new. I actually planned to start earlier, but my boyfriend wanted us to do this program together, and he was still finishing up P90X.

So today, I started TurboFire. TurboFire was created by Chalene Johnson, who I wrote a post about once before when I was doing her 30 Day Challenge with her book, PUSH. This program is a cardio conditioning program focusing on HIIT workouts -- High Intensity Interval Training. You have probably heard of HIIT before, but in case you haven't, it is short bursts of intense cardio, giving it everything you've got, followed by a rest period. HIIT workouts keep you burning fat longer, even after your workout is complete. This doesn't mean that the rest of the workout is resting or easy cardio -- far from it. It just means that certain points in the workout are higher intensity than the others.

Well, Day 1 complete! Today was the introduction, called "Get Fired Up," which answered a bunch of commonly asked questions about the program and informed me on what to expect. Then, began the first workout - the Fire Starter Class. Each workout is set up like a class experience. It feels like you are right there with Chalene while she pushes and motivates you to do your best. The Fire Starter Class demonstrates the moves and choreography that will be used in the program. It takes a bit of practice, but once you get used to it, the workout is pretty fun. It has great music, too, that really keeps you pumped up and energized. Also, all of the moves can be modified to fit your own fitness level, whether that be higher or lower than what's going on in the videos.

After Fire Starter, was the Stretch 10 class. It's just like it sounds -- stretching and cooling down the body to prevent injury and to gain flexibility. Stretching is a necessary part of fitness! It keeps you flexible, lean, limber, and prevents injuries.

I knew my cardio had declined big time, because sadly, simple tasks like running up the stairs made me a little out of breath. I had to take a break or two for the first day of the program, but I did better than I thought I would.

Overall, the first day was a success! TurboFire is going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait for tomorrow!

What Happens in Vegas...

Stays in Vegas? I'm telling everyone!

Last weekend, I went to Las Vegas for Beachbody's Coach Summit 2012. That's right, we get to go to Vegas once a year to celebrate. Celebrate successes of our customers, coaches, ourselves, and how far the company has come in achieving its mission to end the trend of obesity. Plus, we get exclusive looks into upcoming products, special training workshops, and meet and greets with the trainers, like Tony Horton of P90X, Shaun T of Insanity, Chalene Johnson of Turbo Fire, and Leandro Carvalho of Brazil Butt Lift. And we can't forget about the huge parties!

We stayed at The Signature at the MGM Grand.

Lobby

We also had a great view of the Vegas skyline with the mountains in the background.

Summit was kicked off with a Birthday Bash on Thursday night. Team Beachbody is now 5 years old (Beachbody itself is much older, but the concept of customers becoming coaches and getting paid to help others is where Team Beachbody comes in). The Birthday Bash was poolside with everyone looking fantastic. I wish I took a picture that night, but of course my absent-minded self didn't think of it. At the end of the night, Beachbody surprised us with an awesome fireworks show!

Friday was filled with live trainer workouts (Hello, Shaun T and Chalene!), training workshops, and trainer signings and pictures.

Workshop with Tommy Mygrant and Barbie Decker

Me and Shaun T! The Man of Hip Hop Abs, Rockin' Body, Insanity, Asylum, and soon to be Asylum Volume 2.

Me and Leandro Carvalho of Brazil Butt Lift

Friday night was the Diamond Reception, which I could not attend -- but will be at next year! -- and the Beachbody's Got Talent show, which was pretty awesome. 

Dancing, singing, guitar playing, rapping, a jump roping gym teacher, a ventriloquist, and even people from the audience showed off their skills:

A fellow coach on my team and friend, Audrey, belting it like nobody's business!

Saturday was the most eventful. First, at 6:30am at the Tropicana parking lot across from the MGM Grand, was the Super Workout. What exactly is that, you ask? It's, well, a SUPER Workout. A 90 minute block of working out with all the coaches who attended Summit, plus the trainers. Each trainer gets 10-15 minutes on the stage, in succession. Nearly 5,000 coaches gathered in the hot early morning sun to get their sweat on.

Super Workout to my left, waiting to start

Super Workout in front of me, facing the stage, waiting to start. Look how many people!

When it was over and we were walking back to the MGM Grand to shower and change, I saw this guy in front of me:

How freaking cool is that?! This guy doesn't let anything limit him, and neither should the rest of us. He still does P90X and did the Super Workout with all of us in his wheelchair. What the heck was your excuse again? ;-)

The day was again filled with training workshops, pictures and signings, and a closing general session. Then, at night, the real party started.

The celebration began on the main stage and included awarding the Beachbody Challenge winners with their giant checks of $100,000, -- Congratulations Kathy and Richard! -- crowning Mr. Wayne Wyatt as Top Coach of the Year with his Top Coach Belt, and even our CEO, Carl Daikeler, serenaded Wayne decked out in Elvis gear with a song written just for him.

Then, it was time for the After Party.

Me in front of the Beachbody Challenge van

Some of our team dancing the night away at the party

Almost all of Team Allegiance who were able to attend Summit.

I love this picture, even though Jason, our team leader and co-founder, is the only one looking away! It shows on all of our faces how connected we are and how much fun we had at this event. 

We share a common passion not only for fitness and health, but for helping others achieve their health and financial goals as well. We are in this together, on the mission to end the trend of obesity, one person at a time. At this event, not only did we learn about upcoming products and announcements and gain knowledge on how to be better coaches to our own coaches and customers, we met our second families, deepened friendships, and had an absolute blast while doing it. Beachbody goes all out for these events, and I am so grateful to be a part of this movement. I can't wait until next year!

Guest Post by David Haas: Cancer and the Benefits of Exercise

Today, we have an important guest post by David Haas, who has been conducting extensive research on cancer patients benefiting from staying physically fit. The article he wrote below is about the benefits exercise and a healthy diet both during and after a diagnosis of cancer of any form.

Cancer and the Benefits of Exercise

It was once a common convention for doctors to instruct cancer patients to simply rest and take it easy while undergoing treatment. However, newer research indicates that for people who have been diagnosed with cancer, maintaining an exercise regimen is not only safe and possible, but doing so may improve physical fitness and overall quality of life.  While getting increased rest is still generally a good idea in cases in which physical activity causes pain, shortness of breath, or rapid heart rate, exercising can have many benefits, such as decreasing the risk of anxiety and depression, lowering the risk of muscular atrophy and osteoporosis, improving balance, lessening nausea, providing a social outlet, and even decreasing symptoms of fatigue.

In addition to taking fitness level, stamina, and strength into consideration, cancer patients should consult with their physician before beginning an exercise program, as stage of cancer and course of treatment should also be considered in determining the appropriate amount of exercise. Also, the type of exercise might differ depending on what cancer someone is going through. Someone who is diagnosed with breast cancer can perform different activities than someone with a respiratory illness such as mesothelioma. The key to maximizing the effectiveness of an exercise regimen is working the heart.  For this reason, it is important to pay attention to heart rate, breathing, and muscle fatigue.  Patients should start off slow, and if he or she feels very tired or notices shortness of breath, the patient should stop and rest, then resume as soon as fatigue symptoms pass.  As the weeks progress, the duration and intensity of physical activity may be increased gradually.  Many of those who are diagnosed with cancer feel the need to decrease the level of intensity upon beginning an exercise program.  This is quite common, and if the patient encounters days on which planned exercise cannot be completed, it is still very beneficial for the patient to participate in all other normal activities as much as possible.

During chemotherapy and radiation, most patients find that their energy level is reduced.  This type of fatigue does not improve with rest, and patients may find that implementing an aerobic training program may be effective in breaking the cycle of fatigue. Furthermore, continuing with a regular exercise program may enable patients to perform daily activities with fewer limitations.

Although those who are diagnosed with cancer may experience reduced energy for a number of reasons, healthcare professionals generally agree that maintaining a regular exercise routine can go far in improving quality of life and enhancing a patient's sense of well-being throughout the treatment process as well as beyond.

Ten Reasons I Love My Job

The title is self-explanatory. I will list ten reasons why I love what I do.


1) This isn't a job. I run my own business. That means no boss to answer to, no stupid corporate rules, no rude, inconsiderate, dirty customers to deal with and clean up after. I am my own boss.
2) My team is absolutely amazing. I am part of one of the fastest growing teams in the company, and it only continues to grow every day. Not only that, but the support from these people is incredible. We are all there for each other every minute of every day, and I couldn't ask for a better group of people to be involved with in this business.
3) I get to help others. I've always felt satisfaction when helping my friends and family get through a rough time, or a great time, whatever the situation may be. Now that I get to pass this along to people even beyond my personal circle, and branch out to help tons of other people get physically and financially fit, it is absolutely worth every second to be a catalyst to their personal successes.
4) I get to use the products. Even if I wasn't a coach, I would still be using Beachbody's products because I LOVE them. They've helped me, and I love sharing them with others to help them reach their goals as well. Plus, I get a nice coaching discount.
5) I can work on my own time. No specific time schedule to follow. No time clocks. No covering shifts. No requesting vacation and days off and being disappointed. I get whatever time off I want, whatever vacation requests and days off I want, and I work when and for however long I want. Which actually turns out to be a better part of my day, just because I love this and am so passionate about it. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, too. But this is an added bonus.
6) The potential for a six-figure income. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. This is a legitimate business that I operate. The more I work at it and nurture it, the more it will grow, the more successful it will become, and the more I can earn.
7) Helping others helps me stay accountable. Coaching my customers reminds me to stick to my health plan and my workouts every day, even if I don't feel like it. We can always find reasons to not work out. Keeping my goals in mind makes me continue to push play, and I always feel better when I'm finished. I've never regretted working out. I've only regretted NOT working out.
8) Giveaways and free stuff. Beachbody is continually rewarding its coaches and customers for their hard work and efforts. I received a free "Insanity: I Earned It" T-shirt for my journey and transformation with Insanity. Webinars occur every week, and sometimes they have giveaways for products like Shakeology. Logging your workouts into Team Beachbody's WOWY Supergym online gives you the chance to earn $500 or $1,000 every single day. And becoming an Emerald coach qualifies you for free customers given to you by Beachbody.
9) Working with people from all over the country. And soon, all over the world. Being an online fitness coach allows me to work with people across the nation, not just here in New York. And Beachbody has plans to launch internationally by the end of this year, which will only increase our connections, growth, and revenues.
10) Beachbody rewards its coaches for their hard work. The more we work and continually reach our goals, Beachbody rewards us with tons of bonuses, including free cash and vacations. What other company does all of this for its coaches and customers? None.


We are always looking for people to join our team. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, please don't hesitate to contact me for more information so we can get started in changing your life.

And The Versatile Blogger Award Goes To!... What? Me?!

The wonderful Lene has nominated lil' ol' me for the Versatile Blogger Award this week, and, aw shucks, I couldn't be more honored. Thank you Lene!

To accept this award, the nominee must do the following things:
1) Thank the person who gave the nomination (check! see above!)
2) List 7 interesting facts about him or herself
3) Pass on the nomination to 15 newly discovered blogs


Here are my seven "interesting" facts about myself (which may actually be boring to other people):
1. I am a Team Beachbody Coach, getting paid to help others get fit and achieve their fitness goals, and I love every minute of it.
2. I literally just made an Insanity Transformation Video after completing the 60-day program, hopefully to inspire others to move and keep pushing play.
3. I know American Sign Language (duh), love using it on a daily basis, and teach ASL privately.
4. I absolutely despise seafood. It sickens me.
5. I've seen every single episode of "Gilmore Girls," and own all seven seasons on DVD (don't judge me). I'm also obsessed with the TV show "Bones."
6. I've recently become infatuated with TOMS shoes. I love their movement, One for One, and their shoes are super comfy!
7. My mom wanted to name me Chloe or Dana, but my dad refused. They finally decided on Kerry because it's Irish (which is what my dad wanted) and it sounds nice (according to Mom). Kerry means "Dark-haired princess."


A bonus fact: It took me about twenty minutes just to think of those things about myself, since my life is so exciting and all.


Now, time to pass the torch. Check out these blogs I love! Do it. My nominees for the Versatile Blogger Award are:


Amanda at Concrete Jane
Daniel at Daniel Meyer Blog
Sarah at Sensibly Sassy
Douglas at Marvinator's Place
Deb Ann and Hannah at Waving With My Deaf Hands
C at Apparently, This is My Life
Jayne at Jayne Watkins
Adam at merry wanderer of the night
Ashley at Perpetually Me
Sarah at that space in between
Sherry at Fit Coach Sherry
Janice at Mommy's Lounge
Amanda at Amanda St. Clair
Leslie at Gleaning Grace
Morgan at Snapshots

Write on Wednesdays: The Fight

Head over to InkPaperPen to see the full prompt for this week. Today is about a personal story, 100% truthful, but not 100% of the truth. The keywords: The Fight.

When I started this blog, I promised myself I would always be honest with everything I wrote. And that has stuck. Everything I have written thus far has been purely genuine in its content. That isn't difficult for me. The difficult part is choosing the content. A few different things popped into my head when reading this week's prompt: My house fire at age 15, struggling through bad relationships and even worse break-ups, ended friendships, the fight through graduate school to get out of retail. But I decided to focus on something meaningful to me at the present, rather than the past. This is my fight.

I had always been a confident person, for as long as I can remember. I never had a problem with worrying what others may think, or checking the mirror every so often to make sure every hair was in place and every wrinkle was smoothed out. That's never been me, and I had always taken pride in that fact. I'm not saying that I never thought my appearance was unattractive, but even when I did, I usually forgot about it and moved on with my day. Besides, it's much too aggravating and time-consuming to be constantly worrying about my looks, my appearance, fiddling with make-up and the perfect outfit for the day. I've always worn what I felt like wearing, which was usually jeans and tank, ran a brush through my hair, hardly ever wore make-up, and ran out the door. And that's how I liked it.

But lately... I haven't been myself. I've gained some weight in the past year or so, and it's done a number on my self-confidence. I've never been stick-thin, but I've never been tremendously overweight, either. I've always just had pretty average weight; right in the middle. A little extra here and there, but I was happy with it, and myself. Now... that's somehow changed. Some of my clothes don't fit the same, and it makes me upset. If I put on a pair of jeans and they are too tight, I immediately call myself "fat" and rip them off, searching for something looser to wear. If a tank top or a T-shirt no longer feels right, I am immediately disgusted with myself and try to find something else that will cover up the spare tire around my waist or the muffin top peeking out over my pants. And I hate it. I hate that I feel this way about myself. Then, I become angry with myself that I do feel this way, because I never used to, and this was never me. My current fight is with myself.

That's why I started the Insanity program by Beachbody. I wanted to get back into shape, lose a little weight and a few inches, and feel confident about myself again. I wanted my self-esteem back. I wanted my cardio to improve, I wanted to feel stronger, and I wanted my clothes to fit better. I wanted to feel like myself again.

I've also been drinking Shakeology, The Healthiest Meal of the Day, and the tastiest! Replacing one meal a day, Shakeology is the healthiest and best-tasting shake you can find. After only a week, I felt improvements in my body. It feels healthier, and has even helped with my digestion. After a month of drinking it every day, my body feels amazing. I wish I could drink it for every meal! That's how excellent it is. You can't find quality like this anywhere else.

Now that my first round with Insanity is coming to a close, I feel better. My cardio has improved, and my numbers on the "Fit Test" have skyrocketed. This is my last week, and I can't wait to see the real end results. Next on my list is P90X!

Now that I feel better, I want to help others feel better and gain their confidence back as well. And that's why I became a Beachbody Coach; so I can help others achieve their health and fitness goals, too. I believe in this company and their products because I've used them, and they work. I want to end the craze of people across the country feeling the way I felt, no matter what the number on the scale reads back. I want to end the fad of people insulting themselves, putting themselves down, and calling themselves derogatory names because they think they are too fat just because their clothes don't fit the same, or they don't look like the models blazoned on every advertisement and flashed on mass broadcast across every TV screen. I want to End The Trend of obesity in this country. That's my new fight. And I love every minute of it.

My Insanity Journey

For those of you who don't know, I started my Insanity Journey about a month ago.  Don't worry, I'm not going crazy or anything, it's a workout program. Then again, I may be crazy for doing it. ;-)

Insanity is insanely hard! It states it is "the hardest workout program ever put on DVD."  As of now, I haven't done P90X or other similar workout programs, but I believe it!  Six days a week, it involves a ton of jumping, squats, sports moves, push ups, crazy drills, and awesome stretching.  Shaun T is a great motivator, and pushes you to move faster, push harder, and dig deeper.  If you are determined, you can make it through.  I'm not trying to sell this product to your anything, just telling you my perspective on it.

Insanity is supposed to give you amazing results in just 60 days. 60 days?! That's it? How is that possible? Two months out of my life and I'll be in great shape? You know what, what's two months? Sign me up!

My first time trying it, I sprained my ankle in the second week.  Crap.  Now I can't workout until it's healed.  Three weeks later, healed, new and better supportive sneakers on and ready to go, I started over.   After every workout, I was exhausted, but felt a sense of accomplishment.  Now, I'm almost done with the first month, or week four, and I've gained four pounds.

Wait, what?! I've gained four pounds? Isn't this supposed to go the opposite way?  What's the deal?  Well, it could be all muscle, since these workouts are super intense and work every part of your body.  Which could very well be part of it.  Or, it could be that I still haven't exactly been eating right.  Ah, there's the culprit!

That's not entirely true.  I have been eating a lot healthier, especially compared to how I used to eat, which was basically whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.  I've cut down on the desserts and snacks (which was the hardest part, especially because ice cream is like crack to me!), I can't remember the last time I had fast food except for Subway, I only drink soda on special occasions, I eat soup or salad as an appetizer if I go out to eat, to cut out the greasy and fried foods, I've always loved fruit, and I drink much more water than I used to.  Sounds pretty darn good, right?  Then, why can't I lose weight?

Firstly, it's not all about numbers on the scale.  Weight is not exactly the best indicator of improvement in this type of program, especially in the beginning. Many other factors weigh in (see what I did there? Ha ha...), like inches lost, how your clothes fit, your strength, your cardio, and results on the Fit Test. While I haven't lost anything on the scale or in measurements just yet, my cardio has improved (I can now get through almost the entire warm-ups without a break, and even those are super hard!), and my Fit Test results get better every time (which are done about every two weeks).  So, there are improvements.

Secondly, thanks to my awesome TeamBeachBody/Insanity coach Sherry, I've realized though I've improved on what I'm eating, I haven't improved on the amount I'm eating.  I'm actually not eating enough throughout the day!  As Sherry explained to me, the Insanity workouts burn around 600 calories each time, and if I don't eat enough throughout the day, my body goes into starvation mode and tries to hang on to every ounce of fat it has.  So for those of you trying to starve yourselves and eat less while working out crazy amounts, that's not the way to go.  It also helps your metabolism to stay higher.  Again, the less you eat, the more your body thinks it needs to hang on to it for nutrients and energy, so your metabolism also slows down, making it harder to lose fat.  I've also started using Shakeology, which helps me gain the nutrients I need, and replaces one meal a day, which definitely helps since I wasn't eating enough to begin with.  You can check out Shakeology on Sherry's coach page or on www.TeamBeachBody.com.

And thirdly, the most results of weight and inches lost comes from month two. I've realized that, at least for me, the first month was about getting myself back into better shape cardiovascularly (is that a word?) first, so that I can continue to handle the rest of the workouts, which get longer and more intense in the second month.  Now that I'm wiser and more informed, I feel better about my results, and am excited to get into month two.

Before Insanity, the most I could run for was about five minutes at a time, which for me is about half a mile.  Now that my cardio has improved, I wonder how much longer I can run for.  I've always wanted to be able to run a mile straight without stopping, and if I can do that, it will be a huge accomplishment for me.

Insanity, let's do this.  Bring it on, Shaun T!