The first 3 weeks of P90X3 are DONE! I'm loving these workouts, but I'm definitely glad that the next weeks is "transition" week, which means a new schedule of workouts for the week and then the start of the second block which will be another new schedule of workouts. I tend to get bored pretty quickly with workouts so I'm looking forward to some new ones. Here's a breakdown of the workouts in the first 3 weeks in my own words:
Total Synergistics--This is a great full body workout that combines some strength training (using weights), some yoga moves and some body weight training. You can modify the workout by using resistance bands instead of weights or using a resistance band instead of the pull up/chin up bar. I can't quite do a pull up or chin up yet so I use the resistance band instead.
Agility X--a super fun, fast paced workout! This requires you to put some tape on the floor with some marking on it. Movements are explosive and include jumping and lunging from one mark to another.
X3 Yoga--I was never really into yoga much, but as I have gotten stronger and more flexible I enjoy it more. I definitely noticed a difference between my first workout and my third workout! After only 3 weeks of this program I already feel stronger, have better balance and am more flexible! This is a nice break in the middle of some intense and sweaty workouts.
The challenge--by far the hardest workout for me! This workout is entirely pull ups and push ups! Lots of upper body work here. Again, you can modify the pull ups by using a resistance band, which is what I did. It's a tough workout for me because I don't have a lot of upper body strength, but I'm trying to change that! By the third time doing this workout I was able to do some "real" pushups, along with push ups on my knees (which is ALL I was able to do at first!). I'm hoping by the end of the 90 day program I'll be able to do actual pull ups/chin ups as well!
CVX--This is probably my favorite workout. It combines cardio and weights which makes for a super sweaty, mucho calorie burning workout! This was for sure my highest calorie workout.
The Warrior--this workout is super intense! No equipment required, all you need is a small workout space and, according to Tony, gravity, to do this workout. Combining Ab, upper and lower body, cardio and core moves this workout works EVERYTHING.
My body has definitely been challenged the last 3 weeks and I've basically been in a constant state of sore the entire time, which I LOVE! It means my body and muscles have been challenged! I'm excited to take my 30 day progress pictures and do measurements after this transition week and see if there's any noticeable difference. I also haven't stepped on the scale since the day we started, mainly because my focus in this is not really to lose weight but to gain muscle and strength, but I admit I hope to see a lower number, even if it is just a few!
I also started drinking Shakeology at the beginning of this program, and I LOVE it. Not only are the shakes delicious, but they are SUPER nutritious. I'll focus more on the Shakeology in a separate post because I want to share some of my favorite shake combinations. While a lot of people simply drink the Shakeology mixed with water or milk or another liquid, I enjoy mixing different combinations of things to make all kinds of different flavors! It was like having a delicious milkshake for breakfast or lunch, only it was the most nutritious meal of my day! Sadly I ran out of it before the month was up because I was sharing it with my husband, and boy have I noticed a difference in the last several days that I have not been drinking it! I haven't had nearly the same energy for workouts that I was feeling the first 2 weeks. We will have more coming soon and I can't wait!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
A new story
Everyone has a story.
This is the beginning of my new story. But I wouldn't have a new story without an old story so I'm going to start at the beginning. I'm Michelle. I'm a thirtysomething (ha!) stay at home mom of 3 wonderful kids: 7 year old Elijah (Eli) who is in first grade, 5 year old Elliana (Elly) who is in pre-K and will start kindergarten in the fall, and 2 year old Emery who thinks she's 5. I have a husband, Scott, who has been on this wild journey with me for the last 10+ years.
I never had a weight "problem" until I had kids. Oh, I *thought* I was fat, and there were times that I crossed the line from "normal" weight into "overweight" but I was never more than about 10lbs overweight.
Then I got pregnant. In June of 2006 I found out that I was expecting my first baby and I was ecstatic! I was a regular runner at the time and I SWORE I was going to stay in shape during pregnancy. Nope, I was not going to use pregnancy as an excuse to eat anything I wanted. And I was absolutely going to lose EVERY pound I gained before I even thought about getting pregnant again.
(about 6 weeks pregnant with #1. My pants still fit...)
Hahahahahaha.
Fast forward a few weeks into that first pregnancy and the nausea hit me full force. Suddenly anything even remotely healthy made me want to gag. I read in my pregnancy book (we all know the one) that I should eat what sounded good. So out went the whole wheat bread and in came the white bread, bagels, cereal, pretty much any comfort food you can imagine. I was all about the carbs baby. By the end of my first trimester, despite the morning sickness I had gained about 15lbs. By the time my son was born in January of 2007 (7 weeks early) I was tipping the scales at exactly 200lbs. I cried the day I saw that number. After he was born I started Weight Watchers and was able to lose about half the weight I gained pretty easily. Then I got pregnant again shortly after my son turned 1. Thankfully I didn't gain as much weight the second time around but I still weighed exactly 200lbs the day my daughter was born. I was able to take most of the weight off after I had her but I was still about 15lbs shy of my goal weight when we started trying for #3. By the time I got pregnant with my second daughter I had suffered through 2 miscarriages and had managed to pack on about 10lbs just in the time it took to finally have a successful pregnancy. Even though I swore I wouldn't, I still managed to get back up to that 200lb mark....and beyond by the time she was born in December 2011. The day she was born I weighed 207, the day we came home from the hospital I weighed 204 (which still boggles my mind after delivering an 8lb baby, shouldn't I have lost at LEAST 8lbs??). It took me over a year after she was born to finally decide to take back my body and get serious about getting back to a healthy weight. In January of 2013 I committed to working out 5 times a week and started logging everything I ate in My Fitness Pal and now a year later I have finally reached my goal weight of being under 140lbs.
But that's just the beginning of the story.
Now that I've met my weight goal, it's time to work on my fitness goals. And that's where my new story begins. I became a Beachbody coach and purchased my first Beachbody program, P90X3, which my husband and I started yesterday. I'm excited to write about and share my journey both as a coach and to reach my fitness goals. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
And now for a few "before and afters"
Pre-Kids circa August 2003? Seriously, I thought I was fat!
Uber pregnant with my first, December 2006
Post baby #1 October 2007 (what was I thinking with those pants? Just no!)
Newly pregnant with #2 late February 2008
Christmas 2012, #3 is almost a year old. I lovingly refer to this as the "fat family" picture.
Christmas pic one year later December 2013....much better!
And a little side-by-side before and after comparison, January 2012 and my "before" P90X3 pic, taken just yesterday March 1, 2014.
This is the beginning of my new story. But I wouldn't have a new story without an old story so I'm going to start at the beginning. I'm Michelle. I'm a thirtysomething (ha!) stay at home mom of 3 wonderful kids: 7 year old Elijah (Eli) who is in first grade, 5 year old Elliana (Elly) who is in pre-K and will start kindergarten in the fall, and 2 year old Emery who thinks she's 5. I have a husband, Scott, who has been on this wild journey with me for the last 10+ years.
I never had a weight "problem" until I had kids. Oh, I *thought* I was fat, and there were times that I crossed the line from "normal" weight into "overweight" but I was never more than about 10lbs overweight.
Then I got pregnant. In June of 2006 I found out that I was expecting my first baby and I was ecstatic! I was a regular runner at the time and I SWORE I was going to stay in shape during pregnancy. Nope, I was not going to use pregnancy as an excuse to eat anything I wanted. And I was absolutely going to lose EVERY pound I gained before I even thought about getting pregnant again.
Hahahahahaha.
Fast forward a few weeks into that first pregnancy and the nausea hit me full force. Suddenly anything even remotely healthy made me want to gag. I read in my pregnancy book (we all know the one) that I should eat what sounded good. So out went the whole wheat bread and in came the white bread, bagels, cereal, pretty much any comfort food you can imagine. I was all about the carbs baby. By the end of my first trimester, despite the morning sickness I had gained about 15lbs. By the time my son was born in January of 2007 (7 weeks early) I was tipping the scales at exactly 200lbs. I cried the day I saw that number. After he was born I started Weight Watchers and was able to lose about half the weight I gained pretty easily. Then I got pregnant again shortly after my son turned 1. Thankfully I didn't gain as much weight the second time around but I still weighed exactly 200lbs the day my daughter was born. I was able to take most of the weight off after I had her but I was still about 15lbs shy of my goal weight when we started trying for #3. By the time I got pregnant with my second daughter I had suffered through 2 miscarriages and had managed to pack on about 10lbs just in the time it took to finally have a successful pregnancy. Even though I swore I wouldn't, I still managed to get back up to that 200lb mark....and beyond by the time she was born in December 2011. The day she was born I weighed 207, the day we came home from the hospital I weighed 204 (which still boggles my mind after delivering an 8lb baby, shouldn't I have lost at LEAST 8lbs??). It took me over a year after she was born to finally decide to take back my body and get serious about getting back to a healthy weight. In January of 2013 I committed to working out 5 times a week and started logging everything I ate in My Fitness Pal and now a year later I have finally reached my goal weight of being under 140lbs.
But that's just the beginning of the story.
Now that I've met my weight goal, it's time to work on my fitness goals. And that's where my new story begins. I became a Beachbody coach and purchased my first Beachbody program, P90X3, which my husband and I started yesterday. I'm excited to write about and share my journey both as a coach and to reach my fitness goals. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
And now for a few "before and afters"
Pre-Kids circa August 2003? Seriously, I thought I was fat!
Christmas 2012, #3 is almost a year old. I lovingly refer to this as the "fat family" picture.
I'm excited to see my "after" P90X3 pics!
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