Week Four!

I can't believe phase one is just about over. This is the last week of workout's three and four. Then I start Phase two! Man has time flown! Okay so I've had both a GREAT weekend and...kind of a crap one. So the good thing is even though I have not been blogging everyday like I promised to myself I would; I have been working out in addition to following Jillian's schedule every single day-except today. I think I burned about 10,000 calories just over the weekend and quite frankly I think I KILLED my back! So let's start with the awesomeness that was my Friday. So in addition to the 30 minutes of the Jillian, I also went to the gym and did about 45 minutes on the Elliptical. Well I burned about 900 calories just in that day. BUT, I only consumed about 1000 calories Friday. Which is not a real god idea. So Friday evening my good friend and I went to go see Clutch. It was by far one of the best shows I have been too. In addition to it being one of the best, I also had the opportunity to be right up front, something I've never got to do at any concert before (unless you count Loverboy at the casino, just not the same). Being up front at a show like that comes with a price. Just to give you an idea, Clutch fans are pretty much nothing but adrenaline-pumping, hot, sweaty tattooed-bearded men. Like, ratio was 12 dudes for every girl. Me and my girl-bud was definitely loving that. So being up in the front, my girlfriend and I were man-smothered and totally surrounded with testosterone. The squished-up circle of dudes that were around us were pretty nice and as "protecting" as they could be from the drunks, the mosh pits, and aggressive crowd surfers and people trying to push their way to the front. Hey, we knew what we were getting into by being so close to the stage. Not only was I almost smothered to death multiple times, but also kicked in the head. My girl was picked up and pretty much thrown into the mosh pit. At 5'4, 110 pounds soaking wet, that girl can for sure hold her own. It was so much fun and probably once of the best times I had with so much adrenaline pumping through me. By the time the concert was finished, I was nothing but a hot mess. I swear I burned easily another 900 calories. Being on my feet for 5 hours in boots wasn't the best idea for Friday, but I looked great! So after Friday night, my lower back had started to bug. I ignored it. Sunday was an off day for Jillian, so I decided to really devote some time for cardio. I also wanted to burn the three pieces of pizza I had at my niece's birthday party from Saturday. So I did three miles on the elliptical, and I did a 5K on the treadmill. The overkill from the weekend, not eating enough overall, and not stretching made me wake up this morning at 2 am which a tight, burning sensation in my lower back. I got crap sleep, and spent the day on the couch, with an ice pack on my lower back and my legs propped up. With my back hurting the last thing I wanted to do were planks up. Sorry Jillian, but I don't want to strain anything. Although I didn't follow Jillian's plan today, I did hit up the Elliptical at the gym for about 50 minutes. With that I burn a lot of calories, and was able to give my back and knees a rest. So I am just going to be a day behind is all. This is my last week of unemployment! I am very stokes and anxious to be working. And now some pics from Friday. The first is of me and my girl AFTER the show. Exhausted and drained. The Second is the lead singer of Clutch-Neil Fallon. Happy Monday!

Week Three. Day...Four. Workout Three

Man, it's hard to try and blog EVERYDAY. I get side tracked, or just a little lazy. But ya know what I have NOT been lazy with? My Jillian! I'm behind on my updates. So Tuesday was Workout four. It was like a slightly more intense version of Workout two. Workout two you did "Good Mornings" with no weights. Workout four, you did "Good Mornings" with heavy weights. I really enjoy how Jillian has fun with her peeps. It makes me giggle throughout the thirty minutes. Natalie even sticks her tongue out at Jillian and Mimi conducts the class for a hot minute. I also just found a website where you can check out cast members and their profiles. Check it out here: http://fredofirep90x.blogspot.com/search/label/cast%20profile. My favorite cast member? David. Why? Because he is so nice to look at! I had to google him. I suggest you do the same :) So Yesterday I was out and about all day. I didn't get to do Cardio one, but I did meet with a friend at the gym and busted out 55 minutes of cardio. I still did the work son! Today, Workout three and going to the gym for some more cardio. I am still focused on doing more than just the workouts. For me, I feel that I need more than just thirty minutes. Well I am off for the day!

Week THREE: Workout THREE!

Oh Monday. Ya know I really can't wait to get back to work. Two more weeks! So yesterday I ended my first two weeks of the TBR with a nice two-hour hike of South Mountain. Was also able to catch up with a new friend I made from my old job. I am nice and sore today from the hike. My calves, glutes, thighs, and hamstrings are nice and tight. It was seriously tough to get up and out of bed this morning. So before I started the second half of Phase one; I went to the gym and got 45 minutes of cardio in before I busted out workout three. Which kicked my ass, by the way. The Plank ups, Sumo Squats with shoulder presses. The inch-worms. Oh the inch-worms. One thing though is Jillian has you go right into push ups once you are warmed up. I STILL have a tough time with the girlie push ups! HAHA! I have no quotes from this workout. I am just way too wiped out today. I will report more tomorrow. Overall, Workout three is for sure a step up from workouts one and two.

Week 2 Workout 3: Cardio madness

Well I'm up early. Which is good, because I need to be. Even while unemployed I do not sleep in ever past 8. I think I did that once, but was up till 2 am the night before. What a waste of the day to be sleeping in! So once my new job starts I need to be up no later than 4:30 am. I have to drive clear across town for training and I MUST get this workout in before I get ready for work. Since I am going to run a 5K with a girlfriend in May, I need to spend my evenings jogging. So the goal is to get up no later than 4:30...wake up...have coffee...and start my workout no later than 5 am...Be in the shower by 5:35 and be out the door for 6:45 am to be at work for 8! Yea, it takes me over an hour to get ready for work. Hey, ya can't rush perfection! Man, typing that makes me want to crawl back in bed! Anyways. About an hour after I posted yesterday's blog I went ahead and did Cardio one. Three days in a row now to where I have completed two workouts in a day! So far, so good. :) After that, I added some pushups. One thing I have noticed that even in the past two weeks now my pushups are getting more, hmmm maybe fluid? Now right now all I can do are girlie pushups. BUT I can do more and more. Pushups are a part of Workout one. But I am doing them on other days as well. So today's goal: Cardio one and my 45 minute Avanced Tae-Bo workout. The basic is too easy for me. Well, I still work up a sweat; but I need to PUSH MYSELF TODAY. In addition to the workouts, pushups, chest, and abs. I need to keep my abs sore, and that ab-wheel really kicked my ass...on Sunday...and I can still slightly feel it. Wish me luck. In addition to all this I joined BodySpace.com. It's bodybuilding.com's social networking website. Surfing through all the progress pics of both men and women is pretty inspiring. And I think I just fell in love with male bodybuilding competitor. He's not "Incredible Hulk" big, ya know, the kind of body builder that's just totally on 'roids. He is just perfect in every way, shape and form...and I am literally wiping the drool off the keyboard...what was I talking about? Oh yea! WORKOUT TIME BITCHES!

The rest of my WEEK TWO...

Have you ever had those "I suck at life" weeks? Well that was this week for me. Boy have I had a hormonal week! And I feel bad for not blogging everyday, especially since I've been meaning too and had the time. Okay so what is today? Saturday? Well ya know Wednesday I had a crummy day and didn't workout. Thursday I got right back into the Jillian. I realized that that would have been the last time I would complete workout one. Next week I start workouts three and four! Progression, baby! Well I completed workout one with ease and also added 30 minutes of Cardio. In addition to that, I worked out my shoulders, biceps and abs. That was a good day. Friday I woke up feeling like lady-poo. So I napped. And watched A LOT of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. WHICH is the best show ever in the world. And once a year I watch all the seasons (that and Angel). Well since I could use a little girl-power inspiration, and have two more weeks before I start my new job, I figure this is the perfect time to feed my inner slayer. So Friday I did NOT work out. I think I could have though. I was feeling lazy, exhausted, and hormonal. The last thing I should have done was NOT workout. I guess it's not the end of the world though. I just cannot make it a habit to let my emotions take over my goals. Come rain or shine, I must workout. So today I went to the gym. Did about an hour and a half of solid, sweaty-kick-my-own-ass cardio. But I did miss workout two of the Jillian. Today I was suppose to do her Cardio one. But I really wanted to just run. And do the elliptical. And blast some Disturbed in my ears. And just shut out the world, ya know? Tomorrow I am going hiking. It's been while since and the weather is getting GORGEOUS! So tomorrow after my hike, that's the goal, get in Jillian's workout two. It's also been tough to snag the TV this weekend, as my step-mom's daughter-in-law and her little ones are here. So that's it. My week. I missed two days this week. But kicked ass the rest. I am only human. And tomorrow is a new day.

Week 2: Workout 2

I have to be honest and say today was tough. I have been pretty BLAH these past couple days. Didn't have the motivation earlier to do anything but sit on the couch, feel defeated and watch old Star Trek Next generation episodes on Netflix. But I got up. Turned off the Netflix and turned on the Jillian. I said to myself: "Alicia, you will not feel down. You will COMMIT". And I did. And overall I feel better. Something's been on my mind for the past, well, forever it seems like. I won't go into too much detail. I am here to talk to you about my fitness journey, not the matters of my heart. Just having a hard time getting over "something". When I dream about it every night, well it's tough to wake up in a good mood about me, myself and I. And then it's in the back of my mind, like all the time. So what do I do to overcome these sad moments? I try to write in the morning the things I am grateful for. I also write down affirmations. It may be silly, but it helps. I also pray. I am not a religious person, but do believe in God and that he has a plan for me. I give it to God when I am feeling defeated and broken (and when I am happy). Ya know what else? I also think of Barney Stinson from "How I met your Mother" and this: It's silly, but motivating! This pic makes me smile every time. Okay so anyways. I completed Workout two. I can't believe this is the second week. These 90 days are going to be up in no time. I am STILL sore from the ab-wheel from Sunday! The diet these past two days has been good overall. I am keeping it to around 1250 calories and under 100 carbs (before fiber). Still afraid to do the "Supermans" in this workout. I am doing planks instead. My lower back has been feeling a little funky lately so I don't want to overwork that area. My body is feeling like it's going through some changes. I have not yet completed my second workout for today. Wish me luck!

Week 2: Workout 1

Oh my do I feel like jello! Upper back is sore, triceps, hamstrings, my abs, shoulders. Yesterday I completed Jillian's Cardio one. In addition to that, I added 30 minutes of tae-bo and did a bunch of ab workouts and arms curls. I have one of those "ab-wheely" things you roll out on to work out your core. And boy do I feel it today! Yesterday I was a little grumpy. So it really helped transferring all that negative energy out on exercising and pushing myself. Choir rehearsals really helped my mood as well. I am part of a semi-professional Alternative Choral group. There is about 50 of us. We are not associated with any church; we sing Radio Head, Damian Rice, Evanescence, Annie Lenox, Sting. Singing "Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice with an ensemble of 50...brings tears to my eyes. Last night was all about recording. Our director is getting our season lined up for shows and it looks like we are adding Palm Springs and LA to the mix! The last time I was in Choir was about 15 years ago. Although I love to rock out on stage; there is something about the beauty of the collaboration of voices. We have some AMAZING singers in our group. So good that I feel somewhat intimidated. But Choir gives me the chance to read music again as its been years. It helps with the "technicality" of singing...so to speak. Singing balances me out. It's my therapy. Anyways today I completed Workout one. In addition to that, I also completed thirty minutes of Tae-bo! Hey man, I got the time before I start my new job. I hate sitting on my ass all day. And since I made the commitment to do two workouts each day this week, well I am off to a great start! In spite of those DAMN bicycle crunches, workout one is becoming routine for me. I still work up a crazy sweat, but my endurance is totally there. I am excited for the end of this program and what my endurance is going to look like then! I've also decided to wait until next Monday to weigh myself. I don't want to get into the habit of checking the scale all the time. I'll provide an update regarding this next week. Happy Monday!