Fourteen Weeks Down!

Blogdate: 10/24

Workout: 5 Mile Run

Well, I didn't get my workout in yesterday as planned, but I went for a run this morning at our hotel in Orlando. I was pleasantly surprised at how my Turbo conditioning translated into running- I felt really strong!

I had my final weigh in yesterday- 153! Wow! 18 lbs! I feel amazing about all that I have been able to accomplish. I love how strong I feel and how I look when I catch a look at myself in a window.

I'm not going to stop. I am going to workout every day on this cruise. I'll let you know how things went when I get back.

Have a great week!

Riptoberfest Week 4 Day 5!

Blogdate: 10/22

Workout: 20 Minute Workout & Lower Body Jam

I re-arranged the schedule, again, to relieve some of the pressure off today. I've got so much to do, with packing and all, that I needed shorter cardio this morning.

The 20 Minute workout- still one of my favorites! "The Roof Is On Fire" finale is a blast! The energy is fantastic. It just zips past.

I can hardly believe I am here at the end- 14 weeks and 75 workouts! I am very pleased with the results. Can't wait for the weigh-in tomorrow!

Riptoberfest- Week Four Day 4!

Blogdate: 10/21

Workout: Cardio Party 3 + Yoga

I'm dividing my workouts up again today- CP3 in the morning, yoga when I get home from work.

CP3 was tough this morning- and I didn't even use the gloves! I think working out in the am takes some getting used to for your body. I can really bring it at night after an entire day's calories, but it is tougher in the morning with a cold body and no calories (I get sick if I eat immediately before cardio).

2 more days!

Riptoberfest Week 4 Day 3!

Blogdate: 10/20

Workout: Cardio Party 1 + Turbo Sculpt

I had to break up my workouts today- I got up early and did Cardio Party 1, then when I got off work I came home and did Turbo Sculpt. It was just too daunting to have all that to do tonight with all that I am doing to get ready for our trip.

I used the gloves today up until the Turbo- but I had to take them off. Serious fatigue! Cardio Party 1 has that killer punching section that just does not give your upper body a break. Usually it is not a big deal, but with the gloves? Oh, man!

Three days to go!

Riptoberfest Week 4 Day 2!

Blogdate: 10/19

Workout: Cardio Party 2

So much of Cardio Party 2 is in Cardio Party Remix it felt like I did the same workout 2 days in a row. I think I could have won a sweaty contest tonight!

70 Workouts Down!

Blogdate: 10/18

Workout: Cardio Party Remix + 3T

Yesterday I was kinda feeling like, what is the point of this last week- it's not like I can lose much weight in 6 days. But then I realized that this week has the opportunity to be the 'Exclamation Point' on this whole process, the entire 14 weeks. So this week is the 'Exclamation Point'!

Week 14 Schedule (Or, as Chalene says, This is how we're going out!):
Cardio Party Remix + 3T
Cardio Party 2
Cardio Party + Turbo Sculpt (ouch, that's a long one)
Cardio Party 3 + Yoga
Punch, Kick & Jam + Lower Body Jam
20 Minute Workout (we're ending where we started!)

Week 13 Down!

Blogdate: 10/17

Workout: Fat Blaster + Lower Body Jam

Man, Lower Body Jam is a killer. Fat Blaster however... I don't know. I must not be doing it right. It is just really easy for me, I don't feel like I am burning as many calories as I do in the Cardio Parties. But some people on Turbo Jam's Facebook page do this workout all the time and swear by it. Even with the gloves, it just seems too easy.

Today it was like I was deliberately sabotaging myself from the moment we got home from church. I've had about 12 graham crackers. BUT I haven't had any soda at all (and no caffeine for the last THREE days!).

Riptoberfest- Week 3 Day Five!

Blogdate: 10/16

Workout: Cardio Party 3 + Yoga

Cardio Party 3 really is the best workout of the bunch. Every song is motivating, every combination is fun to do. I paired it with 30 minutes of Ten Minute Solution Yoga off Netflix streaming. There are tons of workouts on there!

... Need to win the freaking lottery or something...

... but that would mean I'd actually have to play it.

I am loving the Define Jacket in static plum, and I love love love the Heart Tank in plum also. Sigh.

I do have a meager amount in Lululemon gift cards saved up, but not enough for both. And I really wouldn't wear either all that often- I almost never wear the fitness jackets I have, and I would be unable to wear a bra under this tank which would make it a no-go for cardio. So for this much $$ I should get something I'm going to get a lot of wear out of- Groove Crops or a Cool Racer Back or something.

Riptoberfest Week 3 Day 4!

Blogdate: 10/15

Workout: Turbo Sculpt + Ab Jam

Good workout today, really pushed myself in Turbo Sculpt. Ab Jam is Ab Jam. On Turbo Jam's Facebook page there is some discussion about Ab Jam being difficult to get through initially. I have been doing this for so long I cannot even remember that far back. I do remember the first couple of times trying to do Cardio Party being difficult. I remember having to take a couple of breaks to get through the whole thing.

There are some things I really love about Beachbody:

They are very realistic about what it takes to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

They offer products for a wide range of conditioning- newbies to hard-core veterans.

They have good production values and the little timer at the bottom- awesome.

What I don't love so much:

Anytime someone starts pushing supplements I get suspicious. Things like 'slimming formula' just set off alarms in my head. They might even work- I don't know, but the whole realm of supplements is just so shady that I feel like it cheapens their image.

Shipping is outrageous (15-25$ and two weeks- even with "free express shipping"- are you kidding me?)

Riptoberfest- Week 3 Day Three!

Blogdate: 10/13

Workout: Cardio Party Remix + Fat Blaster

My DVR ran out last night before The Biggest Loser finished recording. I went on the Message Boards to find out what happened and there are a lot of angry people at there about how these elimination challenges are favoring the men. What challenge wouldn't favor the men? Perhaps something balance based? But other than that- muscular strength or endurance- it is going to favor the men, but that has never stopped women from winning in the past. Remember when Tara pulled that car? Even after everyone gave her all their extra weight? And how did digging in the sand last week favor the men? And now that I think about it, there weren't even any men in the race that first week!

Riptoberfest- Week 3 Day Two!

Blogdate: 10/12

Workout: Punch, Kick and Jam + Booty Sculpt

Last night I did PKJ with the gloves- man, that was a tough workout! I was relieved when Turbo came, because that was the biggest break my arms got!

The squats at the beginning of Booty Sculpt are killer- every time it just about kills me!

OK, this is me being stupid. Today I went to buy some diet soda, and I decided to get a big liter of caffeine free diet pepsi. So I buy it, pour myself a glass and I'm drinking it at work thinking, wow, this tastes really good, whatever sweetener they are using is fantastic! After my second big old glass I notice that I didn't buy diet. I bought full sugar, caffeine free soda. Yeah, 10 points later. So this week has been fairly points-intensive so far.

Riptoberfest- Week 3 Day One!

Blogdate: 10/11

Workout: Cardio Party 1

Just having to do a Cardio Party for my workout was a breeze! It felt like it has been a long time since I've done it- it felt fresh and fun and fast- all good things!

This Week's Schedule:
Cardio Party 1
Punch, Kick & Jam + Booty Sculpt
CPR + Fat Blaster
Turbo Sculpt + Ab Jam
Cardio Party 3
Fat Blaster + Lower Body Jam
Yoga

12 Weeks Down!

Blogdate: 10/10

Workout: Total Body Blast

TBB is a tough workout! A. It is looooong! And no Turbo in the middle to break it up! B. The intervals are so short and there are so many of them that you feel like you have been working out forever and haven't made a dent! C. All the up down up down on the ball standing all the ball standing and tempo changes makes it difficult to keep your energy level high- as a result, I always feel like I am being dragged through this workout.

Wow! Two weeks to go until my vacation! I cannot wait!

Riptoberfest Week 2 Day 5!

Blogdate: 10/9

Workout: Cardio Party 2 + Ab Jam

Yesterday turned into a rest day when we got up very very early to catch the Mass Ascension at the Balloon Fiesta. I was going to work out at night but was so. damn. tired. Then I got crappy sleep all night and excuses, excuses, excuses... late night workout again. I've got to get up early tomorrow and get my rhythm back! I felt so good to have my workout over and done with for the day!

NSV last night- I tried on some size 8 shorts that I wanted to wear on my vacation and they fit- not tight or anything! Hooray!

Riptoberfest Week 2 Day 4!

Blogdate: 10/7

Workout: 3T + Fat Blaster

I got up early again today- I just cannot express how nice it was to have my evening free these last two nights! I find I eat better all day when I work out in the A.M. I also reversed the order I usually do my cardio & strength workouts so I would be nice and warm for my cardio.

Fat Blaster was tough today- it is usually a piece of cake. Maybe it was the weighted gloves, or following up 3T- my muscles were already exhausted.

What is Up With The Biggest Loser?

I am not so sure I like the new format of the Biggest Loser. The whole rhythm of the show is just- wonky now.

It used to be there was a early challenge or contest in the week, then lots of sweating and throwing up and stuff, and then a BIG challenge where you could win immunity or whatever, and then the Last Chance Workout (with more sweating and barfing) and then the weigh in and big vote off.

NOW they switched things around so it goes early challenge or contest, sweating and barfing, WEIGH IN, Last Chance Workout, then a BIG challenge for the players who fell in the bottom half of the weigh in, then the big vote off for the two players who lost the BIG challenge.

This new format just has a feeling of desperation to it. I can understand why they did it- it earlier seasons when in came to challenges contestants were either the one who was on fire and going to win or one of the ones who were just trying to not be last. This is much more exciting, certainly for the contestants, and so far both challenges require the participants to actively strive to complete them instead of passively finishing.

Last night the 6 bottom contestants had to dig through 4 piles of sand to find 4 brass rings. Good gosh, what a nightmare. And how random! If you started on the wrong side of the sand pile- you could be going home! Last week's race seemed more fair, although for the more deconditioned participants, the randomness was probably welcome!

60 Workouts Down!

Blogdate: 10/6

Workout: Punch, Kick & Jam (w/ 20 Minute Workout) + Ab Jam

I tweaked my back big time during Ab Jam- I hope I'm not paying for that later!

Working out in the morning is challenging- and not just from a getting up at 5:30 standpoint. I don't have a full day's supply of energy to draw on, and my body isn't as warm and limber from moving around all day.

I also need to refuel better after an am workout so I am better prepared for the next day. I love my morning oatmeal with blueberries, but I need more protein post-workout.

I Hope You're Sitting Down...

... because I got up early and worked out- in the morning!

Blogdate: 10/5

Workout: Cardio Party Remix & Booty Sculpt + Abs

I am much less coordinated in the morning- yikes. But I managed to get my sweat on without killing myself or anything. It feels really good to be done by 7 am with my workout!

Riptoberfest Week 2 Day 1!

Blogdate: 10/04

Workout: Kickin' Core

Not a huge fan of the ball workouts in general, but the cardio part of this one is a blast!

Camus said, "Real generosity towards the future lies in giving our all to the present".

Chalene said, "It's good for you! It's like broccoli!"

Week 11 Down... Sort Of!

Well, Week 11 I kinda imploded. I think I just needed a break. I did get in 3 of my 6 scheduled workouts, but really, that could have gone better. It was nice to get a break, though. I'm not getting my reward for that week, but I'm not repeating it, either. ONWARD to WEEK 12!

Schedule:

Kickin' Core
Cardio Party Remix + Booty Sculpt
Punch, Kick & Jam + Ab Jam Standing
Fat Blaster + 3T
Cardio Party 2 + Ab Jam
Total Body Blast
Yoga

In related news, you can ACTUALLY SEE DEFINITION IN MY BICEPS. Yes, I am yelling that.