Blood, Sweat, and Tears ... But Mostly Sweat ...

After completing a completely un-required (not a word, I know) workout that ended with me crying in the family room, I remembered, "Hey, I was supposed to post about my results from Insanity!"

Yes, most people do their thinking on the toilet or in the shower; I do my thinking (as a procrastination mechanism, I'm certain) during my workouts and when I'm supposed to be sleeping.

Anyhoodle, Tim and I finished our 60 days of pure terror on Sunday.  Most of you who have talked to me since then have asked, "So???  How was it?  Did it get any easier at the end?"

To which I reply and emphatic, "NO!"


At some point in one of the workouts Shaun T says (amidst his silly giggles and slip ups referring to body parts and their positions) something about how, as your endurance improves, you just push harder, so the workouts never really get "easier."  I suppose that's why even the "machines" in the videos start to drop like flies at the close of each workout.

So here I am, 3 days post-Insanity, and I'm still doing the workouts.  I don't really know what to do now.  I can't imagine not doing anything ... and we have the Peachtree Road Race coming up next week, so I don't want to quit cold turkey.  Tim and I are going to do another round after the Race, with the hopes of getting some super duper results.

But, for now, as promised, here are the results for round 1.

Finishing weight (after 2 weeks of Weight Watchers combined with Insanity workouts):
128.4 lbs

Waist: 28"
Hips: 35.5"
Left thigh: 22.5"
Right thing: 21.5"

Fit Test:

Switch kicks: 124 (started with 84)
Power jacks: 63 (started with 49)
Power knees: 120 (started with 92)
Power jumps: 51 (started with 20)
Globe jumps: 11 (started with 5)

Suicide jumps: 19 (started with 13)
Push-up jacks: 27 (started with 14)
Low plank obliques: 72 (started with 50)

Can I get a Hell, Yeah?!!

And here are some before and after pictures ... again, not the results I was hoping for, but I didn't really try as hard as I could have.  (But why work so hard if I can't enjoy a glass of wine or a cookie now and then??)

Before 133 lbs.

After 128 lbs.

Before

After

After

OK, so I still don't look like the chicks in the video.  But I can certainly see differences in my body.  My legs are much stronger (though I may need knee replacement surgery before I'm 40).  My stamina has increased.  My muscles can endure a lot more now than they could just 60 days ago.  We all know a tan makes everything look better. ;0) And I have sweated more than I thought I could.  Seriously ... when we finish a 55 minute workout, we look like we've run 5 miles in the 90 degree heat!  And we do it in the comfort of our air conditioning!!


I appreciate those of you who have asked about my "journey."  My close friends know I detest(ed) exercise.  I hate(d) to sweat.  But I cannot thank my hubs enough for talking me into doing this.  And I'm glad I didn't know what I was getting into -- or I probably wouldn't have done it.  I can't imagine someone jumping (literally) right into this one.  But it is by far the best workout I've ever done.

Moving backwards

Oh!  Forgot to post this for those people who read and ask ...

Week 7 Fit Test: Here's a link if you want to see what these exercises look like.  Pam the Blam shows you how it's done.

133.6 pounds (Yes, that's up ...)

Switch kicks: 123 (down from 126 last time)
Power jacks: 61
Power knees: 111
Power jumps: 45
Globe jumps: 10.5 (down from 11 last time)
Suicide jumps: 20
Push-up jacks: 24 (down from 25)
Low plank obliques: 60 (stayed the same)

Honestly, though, I don't see how I could do more of some of these.  I can only go so fast ...

I didn't do any measurements this time because I was too upset with my numbers that are down.

Or the weight that is up.

So I decided to jump back on the Weight Watchers bandwagon.

Upside is I get 9 activity points for a HIIT workout. :)  So I haven't delved into any of my extra points allowance yet since I started 4 days ago.  And I'm forcing myself not to get on the scale.

I know, Shaun T would scream at me for "dieting," but it's the only way I know.  I'm still makings use to eat lots of protein (egg whites with ricotta and chives this morning).  But I find that when I write my food down (and research proves this is true for almost everyone), I pay more attention to what I put in my mouth.

So Weight Watchers it is.  I miss the days of losing weight just working out or just dieting.

As Tim said yesterday, "Getting old sucks."

Hot mom check in ...

OK, "hot" may be a stretch.  But it's working.

I had high hopes for doubling up on the workouts once the kids were out of school.

Uh hunh.  I think I forgot they are both perfectly capable of walking on their own and complaining.  The.  Entire. Time I am trying to get in a good walk.

Anyhoodle, Tim and I did take a brief hiatus over the holiday weekend.  We know Memorial Day is not about cookouts and partying on the boat or by the pool, but we celebrated our freedom by drinking low calorie beer and eating the best damn brisket ever smoked on a Green Egg.

Yes, my husband is the master.

And we figured since it was our "Recovery Week" with Insanity, it was OK to take a day or three off.  (Mind you, Tim still had us doing some massive reconstruction in the yard.  Imagine ropes tied around tree trunks ... large holes in the ground ... the two of us attempting to pull ton-size trees from the bed of his truck, etc.)  Needless to say, there was no break-taking.

But we did bask in the glory of the sun for two days at our insanely crowded neighborhood pool and partake of a few adult beverages.

So Monday it was back to the grind.  And we were ready.

Well ... until we weren't.

Brisket and beer wreak havoc on your internal organs.

And my internal organs were screaming about half-way through the fit test.

But we proceeded through 35 minutes of a fit test and an hour long, grueling max interval circuit.

And I wanted to die when it was over.  To be specific I wanted to die 5 or 6 times, and I may have even asked Jesus to take me home more than that ...

Then, as Tim and I lay in a pool of sweat on the family room floor, we vowed to get back on track with our eating and un-drinking.

So even after a weekend of bad behavior, here are the results from this week's fit test.

Week 5 (Which is technically Week 6 of working out):

Switch kicks: 126
Power jacks: 60
Power knees: 109
Power jumps: 40
Globe jumps: 11
Suicide jumps: 16
Push up jacks: 25
Low plank obliques: 60

Weight: 130.2

Waist: 28"
Hips: 36"
Left thigh: 22 1/8"
Right thigh: 21 1/5"

My fit test results are a marked improvement from the beginning.  And, as an added bonus, I can actually make it through the entire minute of exercise before bad words start flying from my mouth.

Aside from all of the numbers (and I've sworn off the scale until I get to my fit test days), I can finally SEE the difference.  Yes, Tim and I bask in our glory at night before bed, examining each other's muscles.  Last night was particularly funny ...

"Hey, did you know there's a muscle right here?"
"Yep.  Look a this one on my arm."
"I have that one too!  And look at this one.  Do you have this one?"

I know.  We're pretty funny.

And even better?  For family pictures last week I got into my size 4 skinnies.

A huge feat considering I couldn't get my fat ass in them a few months ago.

But I held onto them.

And when this is over I'll reward myself with a new pair of skinnies ... in a smaller size.

Thanks to those of you who keep checking in on me and asking how it's going.  The downfall to posting all of these updates is that everyone expects us to look like the people in the videos when they see us at the pool.  And we absolutely don't. But I'm not sure we ever could ... I mean, I have carried two substantially-sized babies in my little frame.  We are both over 30.  We have lived years eating the wrong foods and drinking the wrong drinks.  And honestly, Tim and I don't feel the need to push ourselves that hard.  Sure, we sit at the pool and look at other couples and say, "We really need to get serious about this ...," but then we pop open another Bud Light Lime or eat another handful of almonds.

It's all good.  We're getting there.

And while you may not want my abs or my cottage-cheesy thigh when its all over with, you WILL want these arms and shoulders ...

And that's all you see in clothes anyway. ;0)

Week (or Weak ...) 4

I meant to post on Day 16, but the days have, once again, gotten away from me.  So I find myself here, on  Sunday morning, mourning the loss of our baby mouse (which is another post altogether), with a little time on my hands before this morning's workout.

And, honestly, I was feeling a little frustrated around day 11.  I mean, here we were, working our asses off, and I had gained a pound.

Yes, GAINED.

And I'm pretty sure I leave 5 pounds worth of sweat on the floor every day.

But, alas, on Day 15, we did our second fit test and I was pleasantly surprised to see some marked improvement.  Then I did some measuring (because the scale said +3 on day 21...) and also saw some pretty good improvement.

So here you go.

Day 15 Fit Test:

Switch Kicks: 104
Power Jacks: 57
Power Knees: 106
Power Jumps: 35
Globe Jumps: 10
Suicide Jumps: 15
Push-Up Jacks: 23
Low Plank Obliques: 50

And Day 21 Stats:

132.7 lbs.
Waist: 28 3/4 inches
Hips: 37 inches
Left Thigh: 21 3/5 inches
Right Thigh: 21.5 inches

So, not too shabby, I guess.  For those of you who have talked to me, you know the eating is going well (though Tim and I have decided that the 5 meals a day crap is for the birds ...); we are eating healthier.  But, no, the non-alcohol days only lasted about a week.

Well, until Friday night to be exact.

But I did give up my wine on most nights.  (Which is OK because light beer is better for summer anyhow ...)

And I can feel a difference in my body.  Things are tighter.

But I still want these stupid love handles to disappear.

We still have a month and a week to go.  I've read that the pounds really start melting off in the second month, so here's to hoping.

Thanks to everyone who is keeping up with this endeavor.  I will say this -- you should absolutely not try this system if you haven't done something as hard core previously.  It would be a waste of your money to buy it if you can't do the workouts.

And Tim and I still can't make it all the way through without stopping.

Several times.

But we'll get there!!

No Tears...

... Yet. But I was close. Day Three proved to be a little tougher, but I expected that because I was pretty darn sore. Add to the pain in muscles I didn't know I had (Did you know there are muscles on the inside of your knee cap??) the fact that today's workout was a huge chunk of plyo metric crap, and you can picture the hot mess I was at the end. (I think that's a runon sentence but I'm too sore to care.) No, I don't have a post-workout picture to share. Be happy. It was pretty nasty. And after just 30 minutes of sprinting, jumping hurdles, and power jumps, I was ready to cry. Not puke ... Cry. I seriously felt tears well up in my eyes as I crawled out of child pose... But I'm still standing by it. I agree that these workouts are by far the best workouts I've ever done!!

The Fit Test ...

... was harder than any workout I've ever done.

Seriously.  

My fellow Insanity grads did not adequately prepare me for the intensity of the fit test.

Yes, I said the fit test.  In laymen's lingo, the "warm up" workout.  The workout you do before the real workouts to make sure you can even handle the real workouts.

And, let me just say, Tim and I looked at each other after the WARM UP like, "What the heck have we gotten ourselves into??!!"

But, with that said, we completed our fit test yesterday afternoon, and we passed with flying colors.  Thanks to P90X ... I can't imagine just jumping right into this workout series.  Kuddos to those of you who have done it!!

As promised, I will be sharing my evolutionary changes as I embark on this journey.  Sounds like it will be an amazing trip, right? ;)  However, I will not be sharing my "before" photo today.  Perhaps I will share it later ... when I have some progressive photos to go along with it!

Starting weight (can't believe I'm positing this): 131.7

Starting waist: 30

Starting hips: 38.25

Left thigh: 22.5

Right thigh: 22.25

Ugh.

Fit test results (Day One):

Switch kicks: 84

Power jacks: 49

Power knees: 92

Power jumps: 20

Globe jumps: 5 (This is about the time I starting to feel like I was going to vomit ...)

Suicide jumps: 13

Push-up jacks: 14

Low plank obliques: 50 (This is about the time I had to burp a few times to ensure I did not vomit ...)

For an extensive explanation of each of these moves, you can check the Insanity website.

Or you can just take my definition: TORTURE.

There is no other way to describe it.

So, after day one of eating 5 meals a day (totaling 1500 calories), drinking no alcohol, and completing my fit test (which was only 25 minutes of TORTURE), I'm feeling OK.  Not too sore ... my quads and hammies hurt a little bit, but not like the soreness I got from Tony Horton.  So I guess that's a good sign.

The body always remembers ...

So let's hope this one remembers what its like to be 20 pounds lighter!! ;)

As Clean As Possible

I desperately need to clean my toilets, so I'm going to make this one quick.  But I feel the need to post it.

Tim and I have officially decided to change some things around here.  I'm ecstatic that he has jumped on the bandwagon with me (though he was thinking differently after seeing the last grocery bill!), but I think in the long run it will be what's best for our little family.

First, we are starting a new workout regimen on Monday.  After watching infomercials for a while, Tim decided on Insanity.  I know what you're thinking ... "You are insane."  Probably.  Hence, the name.  But we have to do something.  With age, Tim and I have found it harder and harder to stay in shape.  Weight lifting and resistance just aren't enough anymore.  And I am past the age where I can just workout and eat what I want, or not work out and starve.  So we are taking a huge step and beginning this crazy workout on Monday.  I will be posting some pictures so you can follow our journey. ;)


Along with our new workout, we are taking on a new style of eating.  Because we want optimal results, we have decided to follow the meal plan included with the workout.  That means cleaner eating -- more fruits and veggies, no sugar, no alcohol (The hell you say?!), lean meat, etc.  A friend suggested last year that I begin ordering farmer's market baskets, so we ordered one last week.  I was pleasantly surprised by what was included.  By getting a basket filled with unexpected goodies, we will be forced to cook with produce other than carrots and apples. For $18, we got all of this!  Considering a bag of apples at the store is usually $8, I am certain this would have cost at least twice that much at the store.  So my fridge is stocked with lots of greens and we have our first "fruit bowl" on the table in the kitchen.  Kids want a snack?  Get an apple.

We also planted our own garden.  I wish I had a picture of it!  It's not your regular garden -- it's a Pinterest-inspired garden.  And it's gorgeous.  I can't wait for the plants to start sprouting.  We are growing zucchini, tomatoes (big and small), green beans, green onions, red and green bell peppers, and corn.  And on top of that, our apple trees we planted last year have apples!!  Teeny, tiny little green apples!  I love feeling sustainable.  Now we just need to get our own cows and chickens and we are all set. ;)

The last change is more for the kids -- with all this clean eating research, I've read more and more about the harmful effects of high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes.  So those won't be in our diet anymore -- or as much as I can control it.  I shopped on Thursday (as I always do) with the intention of reading every label while still trying to stick to my coupons and the sales.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  For example, GoGurt even makes "safe" yogurt!  I spent about $30 more than what I usually do, but I came home with organic snacks, more produce, and hormone-free meat.  For the first time, I was 100% confident about everything on the belt.  (I sometimes find myself embarrassed by the junk I'm buying.  The belt is usually half good stuff and half bad stuff, or the adult end and the kid end.)

So we are kicking the habit.  Pray for me as I begin 60 days without wine ... and there may be a few slip ups.  But I'm excited about our new journey.  (I know Tim probably thinks that sounds corny, but that's OK.)  I'm just glad he's gonna get "healthy" with me.  I like having him around and I want us to be around, together, for a long, long time.

Nothing Tastes as Good as Skinny Feels

A quote taken from my girlfriend (for life!!), Viv.  I'm not sure where she got the quote from, but it inspired me to write this post.  It appears that I'm running low on material right now, what with the kids returning to school and me not having much going on.  I don't want to bore you with the slightly annoying whining that appears to have taken over my posts as of late.  I've started several entries only to abort after rereading.  I was beginning to see a pattern ...

Kid complains or makes mess.  Mom gets irritated.  Mom yells.  Kid cries.  Mom feels guilty and apologizes to kid.  Then mom posts about it in order to get some affirmation from fellow moms and friends about how awesome she is and why it's OK to yell at the kids sometimes.

See, sounds strangely familiar, right?

Then, yesterday, when I was attempting to enter information in a pre-made spreadsheet from an employer (which, BTW, absolutely does not work for me ... the spreadsheet, I mean), I chatted with my other girlfriend (for like!!), Carly.

I know, right?  Who knew I had so many friends??

Carly has her own blog.  She is witty and charming.  Absolutely hilarious.  She writes about other things -- like living a life of leisure and her workouts and diets.

So this entry is going to be about my current weight loss struggle.

What???  You mean this isn't new material??  Are you sure?  I'm pretty sure I've never written about this before ...

Anyway, regardless, I know several people are in the same boat I'm in right now (mostly because we all complain about it on Facebook).  For whatever reason (too much cake, too many beers, not enough movement), I've put on a couple (or 15) pounds.  Honestly, I know exactly how it happened.  And while some of you may say, "Whatever, Keisha, you look great," you (I say it again) haven't seen me naked.

And you won't.  Stop getting your hopes up. :0P

Actually, I'm not so worried about the nakedness.  Good grief, Tim (who is the only one who does see me in the buff) saw me in all my "glory" when I was 200 pounds; I'm sure he's OK with the way I look.

It all goes back to the jeans.

Not the genes ... the jeans.  The expensive ones.  The ones that I can buc(inhale an suck in)kle, but not sit in.  I would like to be able to sit in said jeans again.  And not have to wait for the blood to rush back to my legs when I stand up after sitting for a little while.

Chuckle, if you must.  But some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

So I decided to start working out again -- Tony Horton now holds a special place in my day.  Picking back up with the P90X workout is just like riding a bike (or whatever you can compare to that).  It makes me ill that I used to be able to do all the exercises in Ab Ripper X and now I can only do half (on a good day).  But I'll get there again.  I also decided to really start paying attention to the food I put in my mouth.  I'm back on my Weight Watchers kick, which is probably becoming annoying to some people.  I'm a bit obsessed.  I don't go so far as to weigh my food, but I calculate points on everything.  I'm having to re-acclimate myself to eating fruits and veggies again; I have even acquired a taste for bananas!  (Those close to me know how much I used to loathe bananas -- I had to eat baby food bananas when I was preggers to keep my blood pressure in check.)  I eat Egg Beaters.  And whole wheat pasta.  And fish.  An drink so much water my bladder could probably swim away if not attached.  All of this leads me to the title of this post.

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

Several of the girls who are also doing the WW thing are complaining about being hungry and unsatisfied.  Luckily, with the new WW Points Plus plan, they encourage the occasional splurge.  (I'm going to get a little technical here -- bear with me.)  I get 29 points a day.  I also get 49 extra points for the week.  That's a lot of points, people.  I know, WW says that, if you are trying to lose, you should stay away from those extra points, but I also think that if you deprive yourself, you won't stick to it.

So ... to an extent, I agree that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

Except red wine and chocolate.

So if I could find a high protein, high fiber, low fat, low carb red wine and chocolate, I'd be all set.

So let me know if you find one.

And remind me to write it on one of my lists so I don't forget. ;0)