10 Weeks Down!

Blogdate: 9/26

Workout: Cardio Party 1

The schedule said Cardio Party 1 + Turbo Sculpt, but due to poor planning I was lucky to get in Cardio Party 1! I'll try to slip in an extra Turbo Sculpt this week.

Technically, this is the completion of the 4 Week Tip You Up Rotation! Yay me! Now I need to figure out what to do for the last 4 weeks of my 14 week challenge. I could do Rip You Up again and add in the Ball Workouts, or I could rotate in some of my non-turbo DVDs. I was hoping my co-worker would let me borrow her copy of Insanity at this point- but I guess she's not done with it. (hey- that's good!)

Rip You Up Rotation Week 4: Day Five!

Blogdate: 9/25

Workout: Cardio Party 3, Yoga

I took a rest day yesterday, so I need to double up tonight. Luckily, CP3 is my favorite Cardio Party. While exercising, my right knee gave a loud 'pop'! I thought something very, very bad had happened. But so far, I seem fine. No swelling or anything, even.

Tonight I noticed a definite difference in my hamstring flexibility- I could go noticeably further in my yoga poses. I am very, very happy about this because increased hamstring flexibility has been a goal of mine for awhile now.

Rip You Up Rotation Week 4: Day Four!

Blogdate: 9/23

Workout: Punch, Kick & Jam + Lower Body Jam

I did the entirety of PKJ tonight, I had forgotten that there was band work at the end! I never make it past the capeoira. LBJ is pretty brutal- maybe I'm just not used to it, but yikes! I usually don't have to bail on reps, but I did near the end of the squats!

Rip You Up Rotation Week 4: Day Three!

Blogdate: 9/22

Workout: 20 Minute Workout

Really? The 20 Minute Workout? How long has it been since I've done this?

I was really tempted to blow off my workout tonight, and double up another night. I mean, It's just 20 minutes, right?

But hey, it's just 20 minutes. Let's do it!

My pictures got a little messed up at this point, because I thought tonight's workout was 52, instead of 51. So this picture is actually tomorrow night (PKJ + LBJ- I even used the gloves!)

FIFTY WORKOUTS DOWN!!!

Blogdate: 9/21

Workout: Cardio Party Remix + 3T

What a milestone! FIFTY! I was really looking forward to my workout- I wore my party pants and everything! My rotation says "Fat Blaster" for today, but I thought that in honor of this special occasion I would do one of my absolute favorites- Cardio Party Remix.

Let's look back, shall we?

Rip You Up Week 4: Workout 1!

Blogdate: 9/20

Workout: Cardio Party 2 + Yoga

Because I only did 20 minutes of yoga last night I threw in another 20 tonight, since 40 minutes of cardio tonight just felt so short (how crazy is that?).

A bit of an NSV tonight- I am on my 6th 3 month Weight Watchers Food Journal (although, these have all not been used consecutively).

Rip You Up Week 3: Workout 5!

Blogdate: 9/18

Workout: Cardio Party 3

So angry. Went to my local Lady Foot Locker- they had 3- THREE- pairs of cross trainers (And a freaking WALL of go-ram toning shoes). The entirety of the cross training selection was the following style of nike shoe that is, pretty much, the ugliest shoe ever. BEHOLD! The Nike Air Max Trainer One:
I mean- it looks like the kind of shoe they would give to old folks to wear in some sort of convalescent home operated by pre-teens. This isn't even the ugliest pallet. But Lady Foot Locker had it in THREE different colors instead of stocking some decent looking shoes.

My local LFL told me the store across town stocked Rykas. I call over there, they have 4 styles in stock, including one trainer off my list. I decide to drive the 15 miles to try it on. I get there and they have TWO sizes in stock! Of course, neither are my size. But they had THREE different colors of the Nike Air Max Trainer One!

Does no one wear cross trainers anymore? Does everyone just wear running shoes? The guy at Foot Locker said they stock a lot of Men's trainers, but hardly any for women. Is lateral support an outmoded ideal? WTH?!?!?! Any for crying out loud, Lady Foot Locker, do you not have ANY customers who do anything at the gym, besides cardio machines, for which a trainer would be better suited? I'm kinda cheesed with LFL from a philosophical standpoint- way to support things that are pretty much all female- like group fitness classes.


By the time I get home I am pu-hissed and tired, but I think that no matter what happens to me, what others do, I have control over what I do. So I get my workout in.

Rip You Up Week 3: Workout 4!

Blogdate: 9/17

Workout: Turbo Sculpt + Ab Jam

It's been awhile since I've done Turbo Sculpt (relatively). It was nice to have it so fresh (relatively). Let's see- last I did it was workout 29!

I've really gotta thank my co-worker. I haven't seen her in a few weeks and she came in tonight and complimented me on how 'great I look' and asked me if I've been 'working out'. I said, "THANK YOU!" It is funny how something so seemingly small can make such a big difference in your day.

Well, whoever sent Mojo after yesterday's post- I gotta thank you, too! Because today I was back to my old, bony self again! Yeah! My knee is still complaining a little, but my motivation is back!

My favorite persistence quote: "You don't drown by falling in the water- you drown by staying there."

Rip You Up Rotation Week 3: Day Three!

Blogdate: 9/16

Workout: Cardio Party Remix + Fat Blaster

I am teetering on the verge. I feel like I am barely hanging on- out of control. My eating has been so off this week- I've got to reign it in. I've got some anxious feelings and I need to deal with them more productively. I'm also feeling down because I know I'm 11 lbs down, I know my conditioning is vastly improved, but I don't feel like I look any different! I thought these pictures would be a great measurement of my progress- but they all look the freaking same!

I took a rest day yesterday because things felt to sore and achy- I haven't had a true rest day in well over 3 weeks. Plus, I really think I need new cross trainers.

Anyway, whoever is reading this, send me your mojo so I can keep going. It's just 6 more weeks (and then the rest of my life).

Rip You Up Week 3: Workout 2!

Blogdate: 9/14

Workout: Punch, Kick & Jam + Booty Sculpt

I threw in the last 18 minutes of Cardio Party 1 at the end of PKJ instead of the endless capoeira.

My arms were sore today- I'm thinking it was from Yoga on Sunday! I must have worked some muscles that don't usually get so much attention.

My knees felt a little weak tonight- so I babied them somewhat. I've gotten pretty good at looking out for them by keeping weight off my heels in just about everything. I was able to identify some 'trouble moves' for my knees- any time the back leg twists and all the weight is on the front, my front knee was getting torqued. Keeping my weight off my heels in BOTH feet has alleviated this immensely. Also, on kicks and knees, I need to keep my supporting leg slightly bent. Not sure why- but it makes my knee happier. I'm thinking I also might need to replace my shoes- they seem to be losing some lateral support.

I am so looking forward to Turbo Fire. I hope that all this adequately prepares me for it! I have NO IDEA when I am going to be able to get it. Probably when money falls from the sky. We are spending a lot of money on this cruise for work (the bringing my DH part) and flying the whole family out to the coast for the wedding (and hitting Disneyland- things are getting exponentially more expensive). We are just not going to dip into savings 200$ bones for Turbo Fire, and we are old school as far as paying for things all at once goes. Man, I think I just may have to ask Santa for this. Lucky for me, I've been pretty damn good.

8 Weeks Down!

Blogdate: 9/12

Workout: Ten Minute Solution: Yoga

Ten Minute Solution Yoga is included in the Instant Cue on Netflix so I thought I would give it a try. I have nothing but good things to say about it! Well cued, challenging (but not intimidatingly so for an experienced beginner like me) and low on the spirituality (less spiritual than Sara Ivanhoe, and she really isn't) but still uses the English names (and a lot of the sanskrit). It is broken into 5 ten minute segments so you can customize it or do the whole 50 minute thing like I did tonight. Loved it!

8 Weeks down! I weigh in tomorrow. I have to admit, I have peeked, like a week ago. I am pleased. Reasonably pleased, not Biggest Loser pleased.

Next Week's Schedule (Rip You Up Rotation Week 3):
Cardio Party Remix + Fat Blaster
Punch Kick and Jam + Booty Sculpt
Cardio Party 1
Turbo Sculpt + Ab Jam
Cardio Party 3
Fat Blaster + Lower Body Jam
Yoga

Rip You Up Rotation Week 2: Day Six!

Blogdate: 9/11

Workout: Lower Body Jam + 20 Minute Workout (with gloves)

This is the first time I've done LBJ in I don't know how long- well over a year! It is an amazing, intense workout, it just doesn't workout the upper body (duh) so I don't do it very often. I have forgotten how TOUGH this thing is!

This is the first time in weeks that I've done the 20 Minute workout. It is fun to be able to give something your complete and total all knowing you can go guns-a'blazing because it is so short. I can remember, though, a time not so long ago (perhaps 8 weeks ago?) when this was a tougher workout. It's a nice benchmark.

BTW- I had a Non-Scale Victory (NSV) today. After 8 weeks, 42 workouts and who knows how many pounds (I will on Monday) SOMEONE noticed that I have lost weight. My mother-in-law mentioned something to my husband when she came over to babysit tonight about if I 'had lost weight' and he told her to 'please say something' about it to me- apparently I'm neurotic about all this or something. Did the fact that I'm blogging about it give me away as neurotic? ANYWAY my MIL was very complimentary, and me, being a self-conscious goob, thanked her and quickly changed the subject.

Rip You Up Rotation Week 2: Day 5!

Blogdate: 9/10

Workout: Cardio Party 2 + Ab Jam

I am re-ordering my workouts so the resistance training ones alternate better with the cardio-centirc ones.

I was tempted to do yoga tonight because my quads are really sore, but I made cupcakes (stupid, stupid, stupid!) and needed the extra calorie burn.

"Persistence is much more important than perfection in the weight loss battle." - My Weight Watchers food journal said that.

40 Workouts Down!

Blogdate: 9/9

Workout: Fat Blaster + 3T

40 Workouts- wow. When you look at it that way- that's almost 2 straight days of working out.

Some thoughts on motivation: There were a few weeks there where I was having a really hard time- the slow, tired hungry weeks (4-6). Some days I just told myself all I had to do was put on my clothes, and if I didn't feel like working out then I didn't have to. I will most likely have to use this technique again- I don't think anyone is ever 'cured' from a 'no motivation' standpoint. If anything, it might start getting harder.

In the past, when I've gotten into this size/weight range (right around 160/ size 10) I get happy with how I look and how my clothes fit (I'm 5'7", if you're wondering). I am much better at getting my hinder in gear when I am miserable. At this point it becomes about- "let's see what I can do" instead of "I can't go on this way".

I feel really pumped up about finishing off this rotation! I find it helpful to chunk things down into small goals and name or theme them. This 'Rip You Up' month is really motivating! My 'No Sweets' week was, too. (My 'Diet Soda Diet' not so much, but oh well.)

I'm trying to figure out what to do for the last 4 weeks of my 14. I think Santa is going to have to bring me Turbo Fire. Perhaps I'll dig out some other DVDs and rotate through them.

Rip You Up Rotation Week 2: Day Three!

Blogdate: 9/8

Workout: Punch, Kick & Jam + Ab Jam Standing (& last 20 minutes of CP3)

How fun is Punch, Kick and Jam? Super fun. And I enjoy Ab Jam much more broken up this way.

Rip You Up Rotation Week 2: Day Two!

Blogdate: 9/7

Workout: Cardio Party Remix + Booty Sculpt

I have yet to have an A.M. workout. It just isn't going to happen.

I am feeling so strong on my workouts and I am at the point now where I don't have to talk myself into working out- I'm just going to workout. There isn't a debate.

Stanza of the day from The Ladder of St. Augustine by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

Yeah, "Toiling upward in the night". That's me!

Rip You Up Rotation Week 2: Day One!

Blogdate: 9/6

Workout: Cardio Party 1 + Ab Jam Floor

We met some friends at a burger joint called Lumpy's. Yikes. Really greasy, and not really good greasy, like Five Guys or In-N-Out. I only had half of a "Wimpy" burger and I just kind of felt sick afterwards. Not to mention that I went over like EIGHTEEN POINTS and it is DAY ONE. It is going to be a long week.

Happy Labor Day!

Rip You Up Rotation Week 1: Day Six!

Blogdate: 9/4

Workout: Booty Sculpt + Cardio Party Remix

I am really feeling like all I am doing once I get home from work and get the kid to bed is work out. Next week I am going to get up at 5:15 each morning and get my workout in and see how that frees up my evening.

My co-worker is starting Insanity on Tuesday. I cannot wait to see her results. I'd try it- but I'm saving up for Turbo Fire.

Rip You Up Rotation Week 1: Day 5!

Blogdate: 9/3

Workout: Cardio Party 2

I'm pooped!

Rip You Up Rotation Week 1: Day Four!

Blogdate: 9/2
Workout: Fat Blaster + Ab Jam

I was so exhausted tonight. I had a meeting and then Project Runway was on... It was really tempting to blow off my workout. But I got it in! When I returned home from my meeting I decided just to do it, not even to think about it, and that is what I did.