Insanity- Week 8 Day 5

Today was supposed to be my month 2 nemesis MIC but with the upcoming race I didn't want to overstress my body so I did core cardio & balance instead.  I kinda feel like I avoided it on purpose, but I really don't want to overdo it.  If I'm feeling fresh on Monday I might try to work MIC back in.  But I definitely don't think I'm slacking.  :)

Getting myself ready for my May challenge as well.  We have a large FB group doing a 15 pounds in 28 days weight loss challenge.  If I don't lose 15 pounds in that month that's OK.  That would be huge.  But to at least lose 10 would be awesome!  I haven't seen the scale go down much in a long time!!

Time to relax & drink, drink, drink my water!!  Getting myself good & hydrated for Sunday!!

Insanity- WEEK 7 COMPLETED!!!!

Look at that...I'm done week 7!!  Can you believe it????  Since I slacked off yesterday & took my off day then, today was core cardio & balance.  Whew...  When I first looked at WOWY I thought I had to do max interval circuit.  Which was weird since I have that tomorrow PLUS my next fit test!!  Hoping to see results & improvements!!

I was soooo tired earlier today because I didn't go to bed until close to 3am, & then couldn't get moving today.  But after my workout I feel great!  This session felt so good!  My energy felt better, I was able to get through more of the exercises with less breaks.  I really felt like I dug deep today!!  Still didn't burn a ton of calories because it was core cardio & balance, but I definitely brought it!!

I have an update on my eBay issue as well.  After trying to file a dispute with eBay & PayPal with no luck, they were very helpful but it was after 45 days, I did hear back from the seller.  He said he would refund my money but he wished I would have told him sooner.  I told him I didn't have reason to think they were fake 'cause the first 10 DVDs worked fine.  But when I got to the deluxe DVDs that's where the problems started.  But I did get an immediate refund through PayPal & didn't have to send the package back.  That obviously admits some guilt.  He claims to have gotten the DVDs from a wholesaler in Detroit & that he's had a lot of problems with them.  Not sure if I believe him or not but I let him know that they are all phonies & I'd suggest he stop selling them before he gets caught!!  I also cancelled my dispute with my credit card so this should all be settled!!  But I recommend to everyone I know to only buy from Beachbody!!  We all try to save some money through eBay, and most of the time the products are legit, but in the case of these DVD workout programs I believe 99% of them are fake.  It's probably true what I've heard people say: if they're selling more than one copy it's fake!!

So I have sinced ordered the deluxed DVD set directly from Beachbody.  They shipped today & I'm looking forward to trying them out next week!!

On to week 8...OMG two weeks left & then I'm done round 1!!!!  :)

Insanity- END OF RECOVERY WEEK FOR REAL!!

Woohoo, I can finally say I am done with recovery week & am ready to start month 2 on Monday!!  It was a long "week" but I did my last recovery week workout & am ready to move on!  The slight twinge in my rib area seems to be lessening & aches more after the workout & not as much during.  I was icing the area after the workout but was informed it would be better to put heat on it instead so I did that today.

I heard it can be a bit much to do the fit test & the first max workout together so I am going to do the fit test tomorrow.  Then I will have to wake up a bit earlier than usual to get max workout #1 in before I get ready to go to the Phillies home opener Monday afternoon!!  I sure hope I have the energy to make it to the game!  I'm gonna get there one way or the other, even if I have to be rolled out into my car!  :)

I am so thankful for all of my great Insanity friends who have supported me through this whole journey.  And more importantly through the past few weeks of my injury.  I couldn't have gotten through it without all of them!  And Shaun T, you continue to inspire me & push me to reach places I could never have reached without you!!  I will continue to dig deep & push play until I reach the end.  And then I will take a short break & start again.  :)  I can't wait to EARN my t-shirt!!!!

Month 2 get ready 'cause I'm comin' for ya!!!!  I will stare fear in the face & I will succeed!!  LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Insanity- Slow & Steady!

Second day back to Insanity & I'm feeling optimistic.  My rib gave me less trouble than yesterday, but I had another small issue that almost cut the workout short, but I pushed through.  I have a degenerative disc in my neck that I've been dealing with since I was 22 (a "few" years ago LOL).  It doesn't bother me too often except sometimes when it rains or it's really humid.  We did have some rain last night, but my neck was fine.  Well, right when I started my workout today for some reason I all of a sudden got these sharp achy pains in my neck!!  I compare it to having a migraine although I've never had one of those to compare.  But from what I hear it's very similar. I had a major neck spasm & almost had to stop my workout.  But I pushed through & finished!  Just took some Advil & am also icing my rib so I hope to heal up all over soon!

I'm still planning on starting month 2 on Monday but I'm scared.  I feel like I'm having a little trouble digging deep & I want to get that back.  It might just be that I'm still being a little tentative so all I can do is move forward & see how things go!!  I'm ready to push play & to finish round 1 of Insanity!!  Onward & upward!!

Insanity- I'm back...I hope!!

Woohoo, first workout after being sidelined for two weeks with my rib injury!!  I'm a little torn with the results.  It went pretty good & felt great to get back in it, but I felt some twinges in my rib area & that made me a bit tentative with my workout.  I didn't go full out with my arms & was afraid to punch too much & with too much force.  I'm drinking the recovery drink & icing my rib so hopefully it will continue to heal.  I really don't want to injure it more & halt my progress any longer!  I am really hoping to start month 2 on Monday but I have to see how my body reacts to the workouts the next few days.  We shall see!!

It was great to reconnect with Shaun T again!!  I missed his motivation & having him push me!  Let's just hope I can stay healthy to keep pushing forward!!

Insanity- RECOVERY WEEK Day 3

Recovery is going really well!!  I'm kinda getting used to these "lighter" workouts & I'm afraid of what's to come next week!  But I hope to be ready!!  I think I strained an oblique muscle!!  I'm just so excited to know that I have oblique muscles!!  LOL  I couldn't find where the pain was exactly coming from, but it's on the right side under the chest area.  It's either an oblique or a rib.  Hmm...  But when we did oblique work & especially plank, that's when I could feel it the most.  The moving plank walk really gave it a twinge.  But it's not horrible.  I'll try icing it later!  I also threw in cardio abs just for "fun".  LOL  I didn't want to add it everyday because I do want to actually take advantage of my recovery week, but figured an extra session or two of cardio abs this week can only help!!  :)

Got my hair cut & colored today so I'm feelin' like a new person!!  I'm lovin' the looks of my abs that are slowly comin' around!  I have a loooong way to go but I can definitely see some definition starting to peek out.  :)

I'm not too happy with my heartrate monitor, though.  It's not saying that I burned that many calories.  I'm not sure if it's correct or not.  Around 280 for core cardio & balance & only 100 for cardio abs????  Last time it said 325 for core cardio & balance & around 130 for cardio abs.  Hmm...  I'll have to keep an eye on that & see how it records for the other workouts.  Sometimes my wrist hits the "stop" button so that timer stops & I have to start it again so I might lose a minute here or there, but I'm trying to keep an eye on that now.  We'll see...  All I know is I'm giving my all & that's all I can ask for!  And I'm starting to see some results so LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!  :)

Half way through recovery week!!  Month 2 is right around the corner...GULP!!

Insanity- RECOVERY WEEK Day 2

I'm loving this recovery week!!  The workouts push my muscles, and I'm definitely sweating, but I'm having fun!!  I came home today just exhausted, as usual, and it was late (around 6pm) so I couldn't decide whether to eat first or workout first.  I don't workout well after eating, but I also don't like to eat dinner too late so I was confused what to do.  I decided to press play first to get it out of the way & then I could enjoy dinner & relax.

It was kinda funny 'cause my brother was over & he came into my room while I was working out to see if I wanted any chinese food.  LOL  I know, not the best choice especially after eating it for lunch, but I wasn't sure what else I had in the house.  So while working out, no stopping allowed, I said "well, pick me something healthy".  :)  I'm getting shrimp with broccoli from the healthy menu!!

I'm still getting a little tweak in my right shin area from the Frostbite 5 Miler run I did last month which is worrying me a little bit.  I think I strained something during the race, and since I started Insanity that next Monday, my leg didn't get a chance to recover.  It hasn't bothered me too much, but some exercises I feel it more than others.  I hope it gets better before month 2 starts!!

Well, off to eat for me!!  Looking forward to tomorrow!  Oh, and during the one exercise when Shaun says "or grab a Shaun T" I grabbed my bro, since he was right next to me, & I said "or grab a Gregg R.".  HAHA!!

Insanity- RECOVERY WEEK Day 1

I LOVE RECOVERY WEEK!!!!  Why was I smiling the whole time during my workout today??  I was so excited to get to try a new DVD today & I get to do it all week!!  I thought we did the recovery DVD or one of the other less stressful ones, so I was excited to realize it was a new DVD I hadn't done yet.  It was sooooo much fun!!  I still sweat & my heartrate got up a little bit, but it wasn't strenuous & for the most part I could keep up with everything!  I'm so excited this is the workout for the whole week!  I think I said that already, but it's awesome!  :)

I also did my measurements for month 1 & here are my results:

1.7 pounds lost (might be more but my scale isn't accurate so I went with a higher weigh-in)

7 INCHES LOST!!!!  Now that's what I'm talking about!!

~2 inches off of my waist

~1 inch off of lower waist (around belly button)

~1 inch off of my hips

~1/2 inch off of my chest

~1 inch off of each thigh (2 inches total)

~1/2 inch off of my left calf (yes, just the left but now it matches my right calf)

I'm so excited with those numbers!!  Again, the scale isn't moving as much as I would like, but I know the inches number is much more important!  So I am sure I'm gaining muscle & that is amazing!!  It makes me feel good going into month 2 that I'm seeing results!!  I really do have some abs under all that, huh??  LOL

Why am I smiling??..........Because I LOVE it!!!!  :)