Adding Goals

So, I was watching "The Biggest Loser" from last Wednesday night. It was essentially a "where are they now" episode catching up with past contestants. Good episode and it shows the importance of finding balance and learning how to live healthy for life.

One segment was with a guy who recently competed the Ironman Triathalon in Kona, Hawaii. While he didn't finish in the required 17 hours to be considered an official finisher, he finished 3 minutes after the cut-off time, he still finished. Watching this had me extremely motivated. Here's a guy who still was a "big guy." He didn't look anything like the rest of the competitors. But, he started the race, and finished it.

It got me thinking. I turn 30 in another couple weeks. In the back of my mind I've thought that I should run a marathon "some day." Well, I'm only getting older, and if I don't go through with it soon, I'll probably never get around to it.

So, I'm officially announcing my goal of running the 2010 Chicago Marathon. I'll need to work back into running shape and build a base up. My goal is to be running 30-35 miles a week by late spring of 2010, then start training for the Marathon in June of next year.

Keep checking back here for updates on how I'm doing.

Week 1 P90X...Good and Bad

So, Last week I started P90X again. Here's a word of caution to those of you that have done P90X and are coming back to it after a long layoff or injury etc.

FORGET WHAT YOU DID BEFORE!!!

I made a vital mistake when I started this last week. I remembered my numbers from my previous workouts. Since I've done 2 rounds of P90X over the last year, I know what my body is capable of. Last fall, I started with a 3 pull up max, and 4-5 months later I was at 18.

So, what did I do wrong this time? I remembered some of the numbers I've hit before. I pushed myself way too hard for essentially starting from scratch. Chest and Back went pretty well. I pushed myself for extra reps here and there. I went into Plyo on Day 2, no issues. My arms were a bit sore. However, on Day 3, my arms were on fire. The tendons around my elbows were throbbing constantly. I never experienced this kind of pain during my previous experiences with P90X.

There's a fine line between working hard and feeling the burn and being injured. I think I was pushing myself past that line. The pain in my elbow joints was terrible. I was choking down Advil just to get through the day on the weekend. So, I did some light cardio.

I'm starting P90X over again this Wednesday. I'm going to hold back a bit here and there. While my mind is strong enough to push through, right now my mind is further along than my body is ready for.

So, there's some of the new challenges of getting back into a workout program as tough as P90X after an extended absence. I'm not saying one should dog it and hold back, but listen to your body. Know the difference between post workout soreness, and "that doesn't feel right."

Take care and Bring It!

John

Where the heck have I been??

Hey everyone. I have to say a big "Sorry" for being out of the loop the last 2 months or so.

Things have been pretty crazy for me. I've taken on a lot of "extra-curricular" activities you could say. Those of you that know me well know that I'm a self described "gun-nut." Well, that hobby led me to start a new program at my gun club. Myself and another member have started up our new Action Shooting department. That's been requiring a lot of my time and passion the last couple months. My workouts have slipped. Well, slip is a forgiving term. They've been almost non-existent.

So, I'm working to get back on track. This Saturday is our club's Zombie Shoot. I've been spending hours and hours organizing this event and its finally coming together.

The big news from me, starting next Tuesday I'll be starting up a round of P90X. It's been a while and I need to get back into the groove with Tony and the kids.

Unfortunately, my lack of activity has caught up with me. I'm back up to 200 lbs. Which means I've put on about 5-6 lbs from my low weight. If you can find a "good" in my lack of activity is now that when I freak out, its because I'm at 200 lbs, where a bit over a year ago, it was because I was at 218 lbs. At least I haven't let myself go that far.

I'll be dusting off the PowerBlocks and the pull up bar and knocking out Ab Ripper with the rest of you all soon.

You'll be hearing from me more!

John

Fit Test Day 1 Results, Day 15 Results

	Day 1	Day 15
1. Switch Kicks 2. Power Jacks 3. Power Knees 4. Power Jumps 5. Globe Jumps 6. Suicide Jumps 7. Push-Up Jacks 8. Low Plank Oblique	42 46 85 29 9 11 13 36 (18x2)	47 52 107 43 11.5 18 22 44 (22x2)

Some of these numbers have completely impressed me and I am so proud of myself for the progress I have made so far. Then there are the switch kicks...they are killer! A Beachbody Facebook Friend told me that if you do them really quick, the momentum helps and you can do more. What I don't get is the one leg is up and as soon as it is down the other is coming up. I always want to do a little hop in between and I think that is what is slowing me down...but there is always Day 36, Day 50 and Day 63!!! Bring it on!

~Monica

Pure Cardio / Cardio Abs

I did this workout last week alone because John had to go to a meeting. He worked out early and I worked out late. Yesterday we did the workout together and I couldn't believe the amount of sweat that was dripping off of us. Are the workouts getting harder or am I working harder to get a better workout?

Until John pointed out the fact that the Pure Cardio part of Pure Cardio lasts fifteen minutes, I just looked at it as a workout with a warm-up, stretch, workout and stretch. Did you realize this? There are fifteen workouts, one minute each. I guess my goal during the workout is to do as much as possible with my eyes closed and just listen to Shaun T. I like when he gives you the seconds left so that you feel like you just HAVE to get those last 3, 5, 10 reps in! The only problem with that is when he turns to a member of his team and says "take a break" and all the sudden I realize I have stopped doing my reps. I have to remind myself that he is not actually talking to me.

I know John wrote a post about how motivating he is, but I just want to reiterate that I completely agree. If I had an entire gym to workout in and knew that I could do my workout without stepping/tripping on a ________ (insert cat, chair, kitchen island, dog, etc. here) during the workout then I would do the workout with my eyes closed so that I wouldn't keep glancing up at the clock and the workout session to see when the next break is!

When that was over we still had Cardio Abs to do. We were feeling pretty good after the Pure Cardio cool down and stretch, but now we were going to work the snot out of our core. I don't love the ab workout like I love Turbo Jam: Ab Jam, but I do enjoy that you do jumps and other original (to me anyway) moves that work the core. The C-sits are killer the further you get and by the time we had made it to the high and low plank alternate knees, our arms were totally giving out. I think I could have worked my abs more than I did if I didn't have to steady myself on my jello arms after they had completed the Level 2 Drills, 8 Push ups and Push up Jacks in the Pure Cardio workout.

All in all, it was a tough workout, but we got through it. It felt good after and as I have noticed so far with INSANITY, no matter how hard I push during...I always wish I had pushed harder after!

~Monica

Week 1 INSANITY Report

"COME ON Y'ALLLLLLLL!!!!"

Sorry, that phrase is stuck in my head this week as I've finished up the first week of INSANITY with Shaun T. This is the first program I've done with Shaun T and I have to say I'm starting to become a fan. "Hip Hop" abs never really sounded appealing to me because a.) I don't like Hip Hop, and b.) I don't dance.

However, I've been really happy with INSANITY. The program on day 1 started with the Fit Test. Day 2 was Plyometric Cardio, which as you can tell from Monica's previous post tore us both up. The rest of the week has gone with a nice flow. However, everything has Cardio in the title. This is a program designed to shred you. If you've been struggling with those last 5 lbs like I have, I'm reasonably sure that this program will give you an amazing opportunity to get out the chisel and show off the abs.

The one thing about this program that has me totally pumped is that the cast isn't perfect. In most workout videos, its obvious that they went through the workout 2 or 3 times, and edited together a seamless workout where no one misses a beat. I remember seeing one workout program on Fit TV where the camera cut between two angles of someone doing some bicep curls. In one angle she had a 10lb weight, the other angle she had a 15lb weight. It was hilarious.

Well, you don't get that in INSANITY. It's obvious that the cast in the video were giving their all and leaving it out on the floor. Sometimes, they don't have enough, just like you will at home. It's refreshing to see someone in a fitness video, face down on the floor, pounding the floor in frustration that they can't get in another rep. Shaun T will come over and if he sees that someones form is in the crapper, he'll kick them out and tell them to go get some water and come back. To me, this shows me a genuine workout that really does the trick.

Week 2 starts today with some Cardio Power and Resistance. I'll be there ready to go. Can't wait to crank out some push-up jacks!

John

Day 2 Ouch!

When I walked in the door today after a busy day at work, John was walking down the stairs. "Did you just finish your workout?" I asked him. He had on workout shorts, no shirt and was drenched in sweat with a towel over his shoulders. "No, I've been done for a half hour" he answered. "Really? You look beat!" I replied. "I don't know, maybe it's been fifteen minutes..."

John, I now understand. After he answered my question he continued to tell me how killer this workout was going to be. When he was done, he decided maybe he shouldn't have said anything. I don't know what look I had on my face, but I am sure it was close to sheer fear.

So when I started the video an hour later, I was prepared for anything. Day 2 is called Plyometric Cardio Circuit. It's plyometrics the entire way through the workout using circuits to keep you moving from one action to the next. Even the warm-up is a circuit. So you begin by doing a move at a reasonable pace, such as high kicks. Then you do the next move also at a reasonable pace. Once you have done all of the moves you begin again...but you go faster!

The music is great, Shaun T is very motivating...and the best part? These people are not actors (not that any of the Beachbody programs use actors), but these people are sweating, cursing under their breath and shouting out in pain! I know its tough...take a break if you need it...you can do it! Then the camera pans around the room towards the end of the workout showing close-ups of these people...and they are smiling! I kid you not, I smiled right back at them!

This is going to be hard and painful, but man is it going to be AWESOME!
~Monica