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!

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!