NEW YEARS RESOLUTION ACCOMPLISHED! (and P90x Days 1-2)

Well, as I mentioned in my previous post I signed up for the Beachbody P90x Challenge.

First off, the day before it started I did the fitness test, to see if I was ready for P90x.  Now really, I should have taken this before ordering the challenge pack, but I didn't realize there WAS a test until after placing my order.  I did better than I expected on some things, though I scored below minimum on a couple of things.  However, I knew that I tested late at night, when I was tired. I also knew that my legs were very sore from lots of squats the day before, these things probably affected my results.  In fact, the thing I scored worse on was the wall squat, however, I KNOW I could have done it a lot longer if I hadn't already been so sore when I started the test.  I scored at minimum for most of the other things, except I still can't do a regular pull-up, but the scoring guide said that while it was preferable to be able to do at least one when starting, it wasn't necessary.  What really surprised me was that I managed to do 3 real push-ups from my toes!!!   Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows that my lack of ability to real push-ups has been haunting me, and that being able to do at least one was my New Years resolution. Well, since January 1st I've been doing lots of knee push-ups, but hadn't yet tested myself on the toe push-us, so I didn't realize I'd gotten strong enough until the fitness test.  Anyway, since I knew the wall squat result was affected by my muscle soreness and tiredness the day of the test, and since I actually did acceptable on the rest of the test, I decided to go ahead and start the P90x challenge. This means I committed to doing P90x every day for 90 days, and replacing one meal a day with a Shakeology drink, though the Shakeology doesn't have to be plain, I do like blending it with banana, almond milk, and ice.

Well I've completed days 1 and 2 of the challenge and thought I'd share my thoughts on how it's going so far!

Day 1 was the Chest and Back workout, and also the Ab Ripper X workout.  The Chest and Back workout does a lot of different kinds of push-ups and pull-ups, as well as several weight lifting moves.  I did modified versions of most of the push-ups, doing them from my knees, except decline push-ups, where you are supposed to have your feet raised up on a chair while doing the push-ups, for those I didn't put my legs on a chair, but instead just did regular push-ups from my toes.  I think it will take a while before I'm strong enough to do all of the push-ups just like they do on the video.  As for pull-ups, I did Australian pull-ups, which are demonstrated in the video below, but I was careful to place my hands in all the different variations on the workout DVD, not just keep them in one place like in the video below.

In order to do the Aussie pull-ups, my husband and I have installed the "Perfect Pull-up" bar.

Then when I finished the chest and back workout, I moved on to Ab-Ripper X.  I did my best on that, I could do many of the moves, but not all of them.  Since I've been exercising for a while, I did kind of know what kinds of modifications to make on the ones I couldn't do correctly.  So I made it through okay.

I was very sore the next day, and still am now on the morning of day three!

Day 2 was plyometrics.  I was concerned about this one because I didn't think I'd be able to do all of it.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I only had to modify a couple of things, and was able to do the rest correctly.  My cardio conditioning must be pretty good because, while I got my heart rate up and kept it there for the entire workout, I didn't feel like I was going to die from that one.


On both days I enjoyed the Shakeology for breakfast (vegan tropical flavor), it was surprisingly filling, and on both days I completely forgot about having my morning Chai (my caffeine source) until after lunch.  I'm not sure if its because the Shakeology was so good and full of nutrients, or if it was just because I was focused on getting my workouts done.  What I do know is the Shakeology kept me satisfied much longer than I expected, and it fueled me for my workouts without filling my stomach so much that would get nauseous from working out hard. (That has been a problem I've had before, getting sick because of eating breakfast and then working out.  With the Shakeology that didn't happen.)  As for the new tropical flavor, it was good.  Because the protein in it comes from rice protein rather they whey like the other two flavors, there was a little bit of grittiness, but not nearly as much as I've experienced with other rice protein powders, and the taste was amazing!

Now, I plan to post how I'm doing on this every few days, and I'm doing my best to give an honest review.  Part of that honesty is to admit that I am also signed up as a coach, and therefore am selling these products, along with lots of other Beachbody products.  If anyone wishes to check out my websites, go HERE for the Shakeology website, and HERE for all products, or to join the challenge yourself with me as your coach. 

My P90x Before Pictures (Embarrassing!)

Okay, as I said in my Last Post I am taking part in the Beachbody 90-Day challenge.  I will be doing P90x, as part of the challenge, I am supposed to take 12 "before" photos.  Basically there are 3 poses, arms to side, arms on hips, and biceps pose, then each of those poses are done from four views, front, side, back, and 3/4 turn.  Then, halfway through the challenge I am to take another set, and finally, at the end of the 90 days I take another set.

I am also supposed to take measurements before, during and after.  My measurements are as follows: (All Measurements in inches) Bust = 45.75;  "waist" = 37.25;  hips = 48;  Right Thigh 24, Left thigh 25.5; Calves 18; arms at Biceps 13.75.

Obviously, these are only the "Before" Photos, the others will have to wait until I get there.  I will be starting the challenge on Friday if I get the P90x shipment by then.

A New Kind of Challenge!

I want to post tonight about a new challenge I will be taking part in, but first, I want to express my thoughts behind it and my motivation for participating.

When I re-started my weight loss journey in June of 2011, I started with some pretty firm beliefs about what I was doing and why.  I didn't want to just lose weight.  I wanted to get fit.  I wanted to be healthy.  I wanted to be strong.  I believed firmly that any supplement, diet plan, diet drink, or anything else done without also doing exercise was a mistake because even if it was successful in getting the weight off, it wouldn't really improve my fitness and strength.  I believed also believed firmly that a healthy diet would consist of mostly whole natural foods, with any kind of packaged, preserved, or freeze dried food being rare if allowed at all.  I believed that foods that had lists of ingredients I couldn't identify were bad news, and if I ate them at all, it should be a very rare thing.  These beliefs have heavily influenced how I've approached my journey to health.

As my weight started coming off and I became healthier and happier, a desire began to grow in my heart, a desire to help other people who were struggling with obesity and ill health due to overeating and or sedentary lifestyles.  I wanted to be a health coach, or a weight loss coach.  I was offered the chance to become a health coach with a popular company that sells packaged diet foods, but I couldn't bring myself to sell something I didn't believe in.  Not that I didn't believe that the product would bring result, actually, I do believe it does because I've seen people get results with it.   Only not the results I truly believed to be BEST for the people.  They lost weight and I'm sure they improved their health some, but I truly believed they would have improved their health even more on real whole foods and a well balanced exercise plan.

I looked on the website of the American Council on Exercise, and noticed that they had a self-study program for a certification as a Lifestlye and Weight Management Coach, but that before you could take that course you had to be a Certified Personal Trainer or a Certified Group Fitness Instructor either with ACE or with another NCCA accredited certification.  So I started studying the personal trainer materials because I wanted to help others and I wanted to do it in a way that was legitimate, not tied to just selling a product without really taking into account whether it was really the BEST thing for the person you were selling to.

I figured if it was really a product I believed to be in the best interest of a person's health, something that encouraged them to eat healthy, get plenty of exercise, and improve their overall fitness, I might consider it, but otherwise I didn't want anything to do with it.

Okay, now I am getting to the point.  You see, there was a plan and a product I almost felt I could get behind and not feel like I was selling out or compromising my integrity.  That plan and product was the Beachbody line of exercise plans and the Shakeology supplements.  You see, that company has a lot of different programs, the best know is probably P90x, but it has many others, really they have something that is suited to just about any fitness level, and they encourage healthy eating along with regular exercise.  The Shakeology supplement is a blend of a basic protein drink along with all kinds of super foods, and is promoted only as a supplement, not to replace all the real food a person should be eating.  All in all I felt that it was solid plan that if followed sensibly and with a doctor's clearance, would be very beneficial to a person's health and fitness level.  Now,  I said I could almost get behind them, the only thing that stopped me was that the Shakeology did not come in a vegan option.  I didn't like the idea of promoting something that didn't at least have that option for people like me who believe it to be the healthier choice.  Well, as of this month, Beachbody has come out with a vegan Shakeology.  So the only thing that was stopping me from doing it has been removed.

Now to the thing about the challenge.  In addition to everything I wrote above, I've been on a plateau I can't seem to bust, and I truly believe that P90x will get me off of it and into losing weight again.  So I signed up to take 90 day the Beachbody Challenge, and I've also signed up to be a Beachbody coach.  Now P90x isn't the only program a person can use on the challenge, but its the one I felt was right for me and my goals.  You can also do it with BodyGospel, Turbo Jam, and several others.  So if anyone would like to join me on this challenge, go to My Beachbody Website and click the button that says "join".  That doesn't actually enroll you in the challenge, but it does add me as your personal coach... after which I can tell you more about the challenge itself.  If you decide to join the challenge, you also have the option to become a coach, and if you do that at the same time as you get the challenge pack, you have the fees associated with becoming a coach waived, as well as the first month of your  website maintenance and such.  If you think you might be interested, contact me! Watch the video.  Then finish reading this post below.

Now, I don't want this blog to become nothing but a selling place for Beachbody products.  I will post my progress through the challenge here, but also still plan on other posts and things, and don't want anyone to feel that they aren't welcome here if they aren't buying something.

I'm also still studying to be a personal trainer, but I'm doing the Beachbody stuff in the meantime.  I truly believe that this challenge will get me out of the slump my workouts have been in and get me off this plateau I've hit.

I'm Alive!

Okay, a few people have commented asking where I've been, because I haven't posted accountability updates regularly.  Well, I've been busy.   A lot is going on.  My daughter is going to get married in May, my sister-in-law has been diagnosed with cancer, my kids are working on their homeschool as usual, my younger daughter just celebrated her birthday, you get the idea, just life coming at me constantly giving me things to keep me from blogging.

I haven't been perfect in regards to food, and haven't recorded everything as I should, however, I also haven't gained any weight.  I've maintained.  There have been ups, downs, ups, downs... but all right between 219-221, right about where I left off.

My exercise hasn't been perfect, but not horrible either, I'm still working out, even though I've missed a day here and there.

Overall I've been feeling like I need something to rekindle the fire under me again.  I haven't really stopped taking care of myself, but I haven't been as gung ho as before.  There is something in the works along these lines, and I hoped to blog in detail about it tonight, but the day got away from me and I'm just way to tired to write a long post.  Then tomorrow I work, plus homeschool, and on Saturday I'll be gone at a conference all day... I may get time to blog tomorrow... but if not, I'll be doing it Sunday or Monday.

All I'll say right now is that I'm starting something new, a challenge of sorts that kind of scares me to be quite honest, but which I think will also bust the plateau I'm stuck on and bring back some of the intensity my program used to have, but now lacks.  That's all I'll say for now... but check in again soon, because this is big!  :-D

Accountability Report for January 15-21 (2012 Week 3)

Beginning Weight: 221.8
Ending Weight: 219.6
Weight Change: -2.2
Average Body Fat Reading: 35.75
Average Body Fat Reading Last Week: 36.02
Body Fat Percentage change: -0.27%
Total Calories for the Week: 13,157
Average Calories Per Day: About 1880
Cardio Minutes for the week: 336
Average Cardio Minutes per day: about 48
Average grams of protein per day: about 93

This week has been interesting.  My area was hit with a large snow storm, which disrupted all of our schedules and kept us effectively snowed in because we couldn't make it up the big hill on our road to get out and go anywhere.  I'd like to blame my lack of goal progress on the storm, but that wouldn't be honest.

I made good progress on some goals, but on others I continued to stagnate.

Progress told January-March goals:
1. Begin each day with prayer. I did this some days.  Others I just rolled out of bed and got going.

2. Follow my Bible Reading plan and keep up with it. I missed a few days, but I' will get caught up tonight.

3.  Get on a regular sleep schedule that will have me getting up no later than 5:00 AM, sometimes earlier, and still allow me to get 7-8 hours of sleep most nights. Umm... not doing that great at this one.

4. Set aside at least 4 hours a day to actively help my kids with their homeschool. I think I actually did this most days this week.

5. Work out 6 days a week or more, trying to alternate between workouts that are mostly cardio, and workouts that incorporate more strength and toning.  I worked out every day.  I've been just using the 5 pound weights, and occasionally the 8 pound medicine ball.  I am still considering changing this goal to just include some pure strength training three times a week, and only using light weights for the workout DVDs.  I know that the 5 pound weights and 8 pound medicine ball are not building muscle, just maintaining it, because I'm never sore after using them.  More on this in another post though.  For now I'm maintaining muscle and losing weight.

6. Continue to limit the amount of meat, dairy, and eggs I eat to minimal amounts. I've been almost completely vegan in my food choices, there was one exception, which was when we had dinner at my mother-in-law's house, I had some chicken, but not much.

7.  Limit calories to the amounts suggested by Spark People, trying to stay in the lower end of the allowed range whenever possible. I did stay in the limits.

8. Regardless of whether I am eating animal products that day or not, aim for 90 grams or more of protein per day, this may require the use of supplements.  Some days was under this amount, some over, but I averaged out at 93 grams per day.

9. Study my personal training program for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, with the goal of getting certified as a trainer first, and later a lifestyle and weight management coach.  Total fail here again, it is difficult to get this done while homeschooling the kids and still finding time to work out. However, I know that if I'd stay off of Facebook until I studied for the day, I'd get it done.  That is probably what I am going to have to do.

10. Average at least a 1 pound weight loss per week, which would be 13 pounds by March 31st.  I lost 2.2 pounds this week, for a total so far this month of 6.6 pounds.  (My beginning weight for 2012 was 226.2).  Since this was the third week of the year, I've averaged 2.2 pounds each week.  So I'm on track to this goal, in fact, I'm more than halfway to that 13 pound loss already.

Accountability Report for January 8-14 (2012 Week 2)

Beginning Weight: 222.2
Ending Weight: 221.8
Weight Change: -0.4
Average Body Fat Reading: 36.02
Average Body Fat Reading Last Week: 36.04
Body Fat Percentage change: -0.02%
Total Calories for the Week: 11,773
Average Calories Per Day: About 1682
Cardio Minutes for the week: 328
Average Cardio Minutes per day: about 47

One of New Years Resolutions was that by years end I'll be doing real push-ups, from my toes, with good form.  This may seem like an easy goal to some or a silly goal to others... however for me it has become important.  You see, there is so much that I can do now that I could never do before, and many things that I haven't been able to do in years. I can do things that man people who look more fit than me cannot do.   I can do planks, when I started this journey I couldn't hold a plank for 10 seconds.  I can do squat thrusts.  I can lift weights.  I can do jumping jacks. I can run.  I can ride a bike up hill.  I can do jump burpees. I can do lunges, something I never thought my knees would allow.  I can do crunches, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches, oblique crunches...  and yet I can't do a stinking push-up.  Its as if this one exercise is mocking me... taunting me... laughing at me.  SO I WILL DO IT BEFORE THE YEAR UP!!!!

 I've altered my plan about how I'm working toward it, but I am still working toward it.  I didn't keep count, but today I did a workout DVD that included knee push-ups, planks, and plank switches... all of which work the muscles I need for doing a real push-up.  I also did a few "sort of" push-ups.  I stayed on my toes but didn't go down very far, I went down just a little, so that I could push myself back up.  I plan to do things like that every day, if its not on my workout DVD that day, then I'll do it after, along with doing some incline push-ups.  I'm sure by the end of the year I'll be doing  regular push-ups. I WILL CONQUER YOU PUSH-UPS!!!

Progress told January-March goals:
1. Begin each day with prayer. I did this most days.  The one day I forgot, I did it the moment I remembered.
2. Follow my Bible Reading plan and keep up with it.  I have missed a day or two here and there, but I've also caught up the next day, so that I'm still where I should be.  Also, my husband and I are reading daily with our kids now, so even on the days I forget to do my own reading plan, I'm still getting into the word.
3.  Get on a regular sleep schedule that will have me getting up no later than 5:00 AM, sometimes earlier, and still allow me to get 7-8 hours of sleep most nights. Umm... not doing that great at this one.. but in my defense I was still a little sick at the beginning of the week.   I did much better now.
4. Set aside at least 4 hours a day to actively help my kids with their homeschool. I don't think I've done 4 hours each day, but I have helped them when they needed it.  Still, I need to schedule myself better so I'm available for them for at least 4 hours a day.
5. Work out 6 days a week or more, trying to alternate between workouts that are mostly cardio, and workouts that incorporate more strength and toning.  I did work out 6 days, but the part about alternating the cardio and strength just hasn't been happening.  My cardio workouts DVDs include strength and toning. I am thinking that perhaps I should limit the weight I use in cardio to 5 pounds, and include other strength training every other day with heavier weights.  There are so many reps in the cardio workouts that it is difficult to increase weight, and I am moving around so much that it is difficult to use correct form if I increase the weight.  I'll need to give this a little more thought though before I make up my mind.
6. Continue to limit the amount of meat, dairy, and eggs I eat to minimal amounts. I've been almost completely vegan in my food choices.  The only exceptions have been things like soy sauce that says it may contain traces of fish, eggs, or milk.  I don't think I'll ever get to the point where trace amounts bother me though.
7.  Limit calories to the amounts suggested by Spark People, trying to stay in the lower end of the allowed range whenever possible. Spark people recommends that I eat between 1550-1900 calories a day, and my average per day was 1682, so I'm in range.  However, I exercised more than I told sparkpeople I would, and its telling me I should adjust my fitness settings so it can make new recommendations.  I figure I'm not going hungry.  I'm making sure to meet my protein, calcium, and B12 requirements each day.  All of the food I eat is healthy.  So I'm doing okay.  If I start feeling like I'm hungry all the time, I'll adjust the settings.
8. Regardless of whether I am eating animal products that day or not, aim for 90 grams or more of protein per day, this may require the use of supplements.  Most days I had 90 or more grams, the lowest day was 82.  I didn't figure an average but I would bet that it is at least 90.
9. Study my personal training program for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, with the goal of getting certified as a trainer first, and later a lifestyle and weight management coach.  Total fail here.  However, since I was recovering from being ill and just trying to get my exercise back on track, I won't beat myself up over it.  Next week I'll make sure to do it.
10. Average at least a 1 pound weight loss per week, which would be 13 pounds by March 31st.  Well, I didn't lose one pound this week,  however, this was the second week of the new year, and so far I've lost 4.4 pounds in the new year.  That's an average of 2.2 pounds a week... so I'm on track for this goal.

And the Winner of the Challenge is....

Well today I figured out who was eligible for the drawing in the "Give Yourself  the Best Gift Challenge", and I put all of the names into a little dish, asked my 9 year old daughter to close her eyes and pick take out a paper... she did so and the winner is.....

Deb at Weight Loss and God Whispers, her prize will be a $15 virtual Amazon gift card

For all of those who stuck with the challenge to the end, congratulations!  I wish I could have given all of you a gift card, but I can't afford to do that!  It was great hosting the challenge, I just wish I was adept at computer stuff, so I could have gotten a Mr. Linky up and working.  I look forward to joining other challenges again, but don't plan to host anymore unless I can learn the workings of the more automated link up systems like Mr. Linky.