Days 52 & 53: Define- lower and core

I have gotten so bad this week about doing my workouts. At least now I'm caught up again. I have had several people in the last few days tell me they enjoy reading this, so maybe that will help up my motivation to continue doing this - at least I know I'm not typing to dead air now.

For the first time in weeks, I actually felt some of the core muscles engage during some of the beginning workouts on the Core dvd. Amazing! Either I've been doing it wrong all this time, or they're finally getting to the point where they're working like their supposed to.

Zach mentioned yesterday that he can see my abs coming through. Wish I could. All I still see is flab, but he's less critical of me than I am. I think that's another reason I backed off working out a bit - I wasn't seeing the results, so I internally gave up. He can see them, so we'll go with that. Plus, I paid for my boudoir photos the other day, so now I have $550 worth of reasons to keep going. I think I've only got a month or so left, and I get to start Les Mills! There's something to be excited about.

My workout inspiration posters are on my flash drive at work, so all I can give you is this: if I can do it, you most certainly can.

Days 49, 50, & 51: Define - Lower, Define - Upper, Sweat

I'm terrible on weekends at doing exercises. The stress of buying a home doesn't help. Tonight I came home and did lower, upper, and sweat - I don't recommend doing all three in one shot. It hurts. A lot. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but for now, I need dinner before I pass out.

Day 48: Sweat

Ever had deja vu? That feeling you've done something before? I know I've done sweat before, but at 5:30 in the morning, not totally awake, I swore I had done this yesterday. Weird.

Anyway, I had a crap day yesterday (all the technology ganged up on me), and I have no idea why Zach was so tired, but we both wound up in bed by 8. Up by 5:20 for me, and he just rolled out of bed at 6. I'm still a little sleepy, but that could be because I just did a 40 minute workout on nothing but water. Who knows. Hopefully today is better.

Ok, so there's the plank challenge that I'm doing - day two is complete. Yesterday I got bored waiting for my popcorn to pop, so I put my hands up against the counter and did 20 push ups. My shoulders are now sore, but in a good way. However, I am hoping I don't have to lift any heavy books today, or it's gonna hurt.

My main issue most of the time while working out is this:

My brain won't shut up. "Wouldn't you rather be in bed?" "Ow, that's sore, don't do that!" "Ugh, I don't want to do this. Why do you make me do this?" Yes, I would rather be in bed; no, it's not soreness, it's muscle fatigue - shut up; I make you do this to make you stronger and leaner - again, shut up and keep going. Know what? That same brain, when I'm not working out, whines about sitting at my desk at work. "You could be planking." "How about a nice long walk around the building?" "What's tomorrow's workout?" Ya know, if science ever figures out there's a doubt lobe, I will be the first in line to have it removed. Until then, tell that broad to shut it, and workout anyway. You'll be glad you did.

Day 47: Define - Upper

This 5:30 stuff is getting much easier to handle. For a week straight, I've been able to get up after just hitting snooze once, and it's only a 5 minute snooze. Today, I got up before the snooze alarm even hit! That's pretty amazing for me. My workout is done, and I'm working on my shakeology. The one thing I miss about this workout that isn't on the other DVD's is the beast mode. I don't know why I like that one so much, but I do.

Here's hoping I can keep this up now that I'm back on track again. Gotta go wake up Zach and start getting ready for work. Have you gotten your workout in today?

 Short edit - a friend of mine posted a plank challenge on Facebook, so I decided to give it a go. I've always wanted to be better at those, and this is the way to go. After lunch, I got the stopwatch on my phone ready, then headed back to my boss's office (she's out sick today), and did a 20 second plank, per the schedule. If you decide you want it, the schedule is here:

I'm hoping I can keep this up and get better, as planks are wicked  good for you. Read on, if you don't believe me.

Day 46: Define - Lower

Welcome to the flip side of the calendar! I noticed so many changes today from 45 days ago, or however long it's been (with so many starts and stops, who can tell anymore...) I could keep up with her today, although with all the soreness I had from yesterday's drench, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to. Unlike when I started this, I can hold the positions longer, as the first few exercises aren't so much about reps, but stretches and getting to know the muscles. It was nice to do the stretches, although some of the warrior stances were working stretches, so I was a tad wobbly, but that's ok! It means yesterdays stuff was working. 7 more weeks, and I move on to the first exercise set of Les Mills!

Day 45: Drench

I think I finally found my groove! I have the day off, and I got up at 8! Workout is done, a few items are ready to go to the Salvation Army, and I'm set to go grocery shopping as soon as I shower and get my shakeology in. Damn, but I feel good! For now, rehydrating, as I sweat my butt off.

I don't buy into that whole "New Year, New You" garbage, and that's not why I'm doing this. I'm doing this so I can look good for my boudoir photos in 5 months, as well as (hopefully) being able to melt the fat off a little faster after we (again, hopefully) have our little one next year. I'm doing this for me, and I don't give a dang what others may think of me - I know I'm eating as healthy as I can, working out, and trying to maintain good habits all around. Although, I may need a nap later since I stayed up til 2 finishing my book - I truly do have a book hangover. My point? Do this for you, and ignore the haters.

43 & 44: Core and Sculpt

I'm doing these backwards today. I didn't come home and do my workout like I should've, so I get to do both today, and I started with sculpt.

Sculpt isn't bad, although my butt would tell you otherwise. The bowlers lunges are my favorite, probably because I am a bowler, and can therefore kill them.

Core is always wicked, and if you want to hear your obliques scream, take the side plank exercises seriously. I can honestly feel my core tightening as I type this.

Now to wake up the hubby and make breakfast. Kinda glad that Lola woke me up this morning! Workout is in, coffee was brewing while I worked out, and now the cinnamon rolls can bake while I shower. You'd think I planned this. And look at the gorgeous sunrise I got to see this morning!

Have a good Saturday!

Days 40, 41, and 42: Drench, Buns, Sweat

Monday - Drench: The plan was to come home and do the workout, but I got sidetracked. I still got a workout in, just not drench, so I plan to do that one tonight when I get home.

Tuesday - Buns: Zach has figured out how to workout at the gym prior to coming home, so I have an hour or so to get mine in. I got most of buns in last night before my knee popped and I did everything in my power to not hit the floor. I gave up the rest.

Wednesday - Sweat: I was actually up at 5:45 to get this in, and I did - plus 20 Russian Twists for good measure. I plan to knock out drench when I get home from work.

Also, I've found that putting juice in with the shakeology isn't half bad. I still like my yogurt and milk with it better, but this is good in a pinch. Since Zach has taken to using my yogurt for his shakes....take out stock in Dannon, as it's about to skyrocket just from our purchasing power alone.

It's -5 here right now, and since I got up and worked out, I'm treating myself to coffee this morning. Starbucks, here I come!

Days 38 & 39: Sweat and Core

I didn't workout Tuesday or Wednesday like I was supposed to - had no motivation. Then I got in touch with the photographer I want to have take my boudoir photos this summer. Knowing I was going to put $550 on a photo shoot where I wore hardly any clothing was enough to get me the motivation I needed to come home and sweat it out - and boy, did I ever. For the first time since buying that DVD, I put my all into it, and got my ass handed to me on a silver platter. As much as my lower back hurts, I don't know how I'm going to do core today, but it's going to happen. Stretching during the exercise should help.

And core is done. Even with a little bit of a residual migraine, which means if I can do it, you certainly can.

Day 37: Sculpt

Redid Sculpt, since it was 4 weeks since I worked out last. I decided to just start week 7 over. Thankfully, there's only one day to do over, and that was today! Thankfully, I have a wonderful support team that will help keep me accountable, and I have been drinking Shakeology every day. With my nutrition on track, there's no way I can lose, as 80% of health in fitness takes place in the kitchen. Now if I can just get my butt out of bed at 5:30 a.m. every day to get the workout done before heading off to work. Climbing out of a warm bed on a cold morning while it's still dark outside is very hard to do, especially at 5:30 a.m. By the time I get home, my husband is usually home, which means he's on the Xbox. The Xbox doubles as our DVD player, and I hate kicking him off so I can workout, since the game playing is a way for him to relax.

That being said, I'M BACK!