30 Days to Greatness Day 12

Gosh, I feel myself getting stronger. Make no mistake I could totally take a nap right now but I feel myself being able to handle the workouts better. I seriously encourage anyone that is interested in achieving a fitness goal to do it today. There is much to gain both physically and mentally.

Today's workout:
P90X Legs and Back with the Ab Ripper X.

Today's Nutrition:
Many glasses of water. I am up to 9+ now.
Breakfast - Cream of Wheat with almonds, ground flaxseeds, and honey. 3 cups of coffee.
Lunch post workout - Fresh juice made of carrots, apple, and lemon. 1 cracked wheat sourdough toast with hummus. 2 hardboiled eggs.

*I sense I am not eating enough to fuel my added activity. I am making due now because I will have to go grocery shopping soon.

Today's Tip:
Have a hard time maintaining your focus when in the middle of a tough workout or exercise? Think about what you are working for. Example: Today while my muscles were burning instead of thinking about that pain, I was imagining my body transformed into my ideal vision. This kept me going and focused on the exercise.

Hope this helps!

& remember.....   You can do it!!!!!!!

30 Days to Greatness, THIS is Day 8.

First off, I'd like to give thanks for the glorious weekend I had. A movie on Friday night with my husband and then Saturday and Sunday we spent at gatherings that totally enriched our souls. It was really great and I am so appreciative. Do you ever get to take stock, just really let yourself review and be grateful for the goodness? I hope you do, there is so much goodness around us. Something about noticing it seems to let it know it's welcome and then it shows up more... So yeah, I'm really grateful that this weekend was so great.

Sunday was my day of rest. I did not do any workouts. I still drank a ton of water because I genuinely enjoy it now. I also had a delicious salad that my Mom had made, it was so good I did not need any dressing, and lasagna, two helpings. What??? ;)

For those of you wanting to drink more water, you can try:
Make it fun! Give yourself a cup goal and mark off each cup you drink.
Add some healthy natural flavor! Lemon wedges, lime wedges, orange wedges, or cucumber taste good! There are also added benefits to this.

As for today, I wondered if it would be hard getting back to it. After all, I had just enjoyed a day of rest and I still feel sore daily. But, I was excited to get my workout in and when my husband suggested we go to the park, I told him I sure would once I exercised. It felt good. I felt empowered at keeping my date with myself. It was totally different than any obligation I might have felt in the past and that was wonderful.

Today's P90X Lean Plan called for Cardio X. It was good. I found I took a few more water breaks than I remember taking the first time. On the flip side I hung in on the kicks a lot better than the first time. It was great. I was sweaty, heaving, and happy. In my first 30 Days to Greatness post I mention the reward I am going to give myself upon completing 2 consecutive weeks. I do not own workout gear so a nice new workout outfit is motivating to me. I have always been tomboyish at the gym. Sweats and large t shirts but I am feeling so good I just may buy something cute. There may even be a little midriff showing... If you're thinking about being fit, taking a stand for health, or just releasing extra stress regularly by working out, GO FOR IT. It feels that good.

Speak soon... <3

30 Days to Greatness Day 6

Woke up early today. I felt excited and ready to workout. Thats how it's starting to feel now. The goodness I feel physically and mentally are so rewarding, I look forward to my workouts. It doesn't mean I am not challenged. It's just that with each workout that I do, I am able to see and prove to myself that I can do it. So knowing I can and how good it will feel, makes me excited and ready for what's next. It's pretty great.

Today's P90X Lean plan called for Legs and Back with the Ab Ripper X. I did them and was seriously hurting by the ab workout. I also saw a greater need for dumbbells while I was doing the legs and back portion (I currently use resistance bands.)

Upon completion I was a sweaty, accomplished, fireball of energy. I am getting so much from this challenge.

Some of the additional benefits are:
Strength, accomplishment, mental clarity, discipline.
Positive physical changes to my abs, arms, butt, and back. (They feel stronger and are already starting to look better. More toned.)
A self peace and love. An assuredness that is coming from creating, sustaining, and maintaining this time for myself. Giving me this time and letting myself relish in being first in this arena is wonderful. I am very grateful and see it spilling out in other areas of my life.

As for today's nutrition:
Breakfast pre workout - Blueberry waffle with ground flaxseeds, greek yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, and syrup on top. 2 cups of coffee.
Lunch post workout - Open faced egg sandwich with ham and avocado on whole wheat toast. Cherries on the side.
Water to drink throughout the day.
Dinner was pizza (1 cheese slice 1 pepperoni slice) I also had about 1 cup worth of Doritos and 4 Blue Moon beers.

I went out to a friends pool party this afternoon which explains the deviation from my normal but like I outlined in my initial challenge post, this is not solely about weight loss, I am creating a healthy habit for the rest of my life. So I am going to live, I am going to eat, I am going to enjoy. There are times I will go out of my normal and that's ok. This is about creating a healthy habit that will last a life time and the majority of days I am focused and showing up with that as my focus. Cheers to health, energy, fitness, and life. See you soon. xo

30 Days to Greatness

What would happen if once we had an idea, we went full force and gave it a go? I mean really, just gave it a go, day in and day out consecutively so it could become a reality?? That is what I am going to find out. 

I have decided to change my life. To take on a challenge I have desired and feared for a long time. I have seen glimpses of it but have never had the tenacity to stick with it. This time, that story will end differently. I shall be victorious, confident, accomplished, stronger, OH and I'm going to enjoy a firmer butt and abs. I'm talking about fitness....

I have belonged to 2 gyms in the past and generally enjoy being active but, I have never conquered my fitness goal and I am certainly not active on an every day basis. The me I see is a fit, toned, strong, healthy, active, accomplished person that works out daily along with eating healthy foods. I have noticed that many of the people I look up to and am inspired by do these things on a regular basis. I am now including myself as one of them. Today is my first day of my 30 day challenge. 

Here's my plan:

From today, June 18th to July 18 I will work out every day except for Sundays. 

My workouts will consist of DVDs at home of Resistance Band workouts, Yoga, P90X, along with Hiking, Walking, Running, outdoors. I DO NOT BELONG TO A GYM. 

As an incentive, I am going to buy myself a nice workout outfit upon completing 2 consecutive weeks. Right now, aside from a pair of cotton yoga pants, I DO NOT OWN WORKOUT GEAR.

My reward for completing the month will be accomplishment, strength, confidence, tight abs, a tight rear, and A NEW HEALTHY HABIT. MY NEW LIFESTYLE.

I wanted to document this because it ups the stakes for me. It helps me to follow through knowing that someone knows about it. That it lives out there. I also figured that anyone else who may have a similar desire could possibly be inspired by my journey. 

Here's my starting point:

5'4, 118 lbs, 34C-27-35, Size 2.

As for eating habits, I found it easier to make changes in that arena and have adopted juicing, along with eating mainly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I am not a vegetarian or vegan however, I still do enjoy all food groups. I am excited to see how I will have to  change my eating to adapt to the extra activity. 

Physically, I sometimes experience restless leg, and tightness in my back has been a recurring issue for me. I know my back is where I store my stress. From my days as a Dancer and a fall on set while shooting a Spanish TV show, I have since had problems with my left knee. So, I plan on being mindful of my knee and back while I am making them stronger.

I sometimes take walks with my husband or go on hikes but generally, I do not work out.  

My GOAL:

To change my life by developing the habit of exercising 6 days a week. They say it takes 30 days to create a new habit so I am giving myself 30 days to make that happen. 

Today I did the P90X Cardio workout. I was able to complete it although I did have to pause it twice in the last third of the workout so I could drink a little water. Additionally, I had to do the last 2 exercises at my own pace which was about half of the speed they were going. At this point I was tired and did not feel strong enough to go at their speed without risking injury. Upon completion I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and was quite moved to have taken my first step. See you tomorrow!!!