Day's 28 & 29 of 30 Days to Greatness

Hi friends, it is already my 29th day of this challenge. I can tell you that I feel great. I have noticed all kinds of changes and am happy to report I am having the best period in a long time. I usually suffer from bad cramps and fatigue but none of that has happened this month. I am hoping that is due to my new fit lifestyle. I was supposed to change up my workout after the third week and didn't realize it so I am now changing up my workout after my 4th week. I am still following the P90X lean plan and have made the modifications they have specified. Here are today's stats.....

Today's Workout:
P90X Yoga X as directed by their lean plan.

Today's Nutrition:
Breakfast - An egg scramble with tomato, onion, spinach, and an English muffin. 3 cups of coffee.
Lunch post workout - leftover wheat pasta with tomato sauce, tomato, onion, and portobello mushrooms with a garlic toast. Low sodium V8 to drink
Water all day.

Yesterday (day 27) was my rest day but I still enjoyed a wonderfully active time. Myself and Tony went to Descanso Gardens and enjoyed nature by way of plants, flowers, trees, insects, Koi, Turtles, and more. We took photos and had great conversation. We both have pedometer apps on our phones but I was lower than usual on my battery and taking photos with my phone so I asked him (a little late in our stay) to track our progress with the pedometer. Yesterday's outing was approximately 2 miles of walking and a lot of fun. :)

Tip:
1. Don't have a gym membership or workout DVD? Get out and WALK. This is free and can start low impact as you warm up if you have not been doing much activity. This is also very good for your mood as it will get your blood pumping and your mind out and into nature and the world at large. Track your progress with a Pedometer App. I started with this one and now I use this one.
2. Places to walk:
Your neighborhood.
The park.
The mall.
The beach.
To a nearby errand that needs to get done like the store, post office, video rental, dry cleaners, etc.

The best things in life are free! So get out there and enjoy what's waiting for you. You are worth it. your mind and body will thank you for it.

<3

30 Days to Greatness, Day 25.

Wow, I can't believe it is my 25th day already. Yet, when I think of how much stronger I am, I can. Today was phenomenal. It was a truly transcending workout in both mind and body. I feel really good. I also had a great day overall. had an audition and a great lunch with my hubby at one of our favorite spots. I have also enjoyed the weather in L.A. today because it seems Chicagoan. It has been overcast and humid. Hot but not boiling. There were even some drizzle drops this afternoon... anyway, back to it! Here are today's stats.

Today's Workout:
P90X Yoga as dictated by their lean plan.
This was the best P90 Yoga practice yet! I went way past my previous boundaries. I was able to hold more, longer, and stretch farther. I was sweating like crazy and felt like a million bucks coming out of it. It was GREAT!

Today's Nutrition:
Breakfast pre workout - Steel cut oats with ground flaxseeds, blueberries, strawberries, and almonds. 3 cups of coffee.
Lunch post workout - 2 slices of margarita pizza (tomato sauce, cheese, and basil) 1 glass of pinot noir, 1/2 a baby greens salad.
Dinner - Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a toasted English muffin.
Water all day.

Tomorrow I have an audition at 11:45 am. Due to this, I have my alarm set to 6:45 to give me time to workout, eat breakfast, get ready, etc. before I head out. I would much rather get my workout in before noon. Today I also signed up to the Beachbody community. I am not sure how active I will be on there since I blog post each day here but it is nice knowing I will have a place to mingle with others taking this on. I am also wondering about adding more components of the meal P90X meal plan. If I do, I'll let you know.

If you are thinking of taking on your own fitness challenge, DO IT! You are so worth it. <3

30 Days to Greatness, Days 17 & 18!

Hi there, hope you had a great 4th of July. I apologize for not blogging on the 4th I had a DJ gig which is why I didn't blog. I can tell you that I did work out and as for my nutrition I'll fill you in on what I remember... Here we go:

Day 17 Workout:
Arms & Shoulders with Ab Ripper X as dictated by the P90X Lean Plan.
I enjoy this workout very much. So far, I have been using resistance bands and they have been working although I will soon buy dumbbells because I think it will make the movements more fluid and I will not have to worry about setting up the bands for each exercise.

Day 17 Nutrition:
Breakfast pre workout - Cream of Wheat with ground flaxseeds, almonds, and honey. 3 cups of coffee.
Lunch post workout - Open faced tuna sandwich, with tomato, onion, and spinach on cracked whole wheat sourdough bread. Low Sodium V8 to drink.
Dinner - Tuna (leftover from lunch) in an open faced sandwich. Water to drink.
*Water all day. I usually have 10 cups+ but this day I didn't because I had cocktails at my DJ gig. I had 3 vodka cranberry drinks. I'm noticing that drinking is not what it used to be. My night's sleep was terrible and I am starting to wonder if drinking is really necessary at all. Perhaps it's because when I am eating and drinking good things that fuel and nourish my body, it feels so good. So now, when I have drinks it may be fun for a bit but I don't enjoy the feeling afterward. My body just doesn't feel top notch when I do that. I'll share more on this when I come to a more of a conclusion.

Because of last night's sleep and the fact it was overcast I was tired most of the day. I also did not set myself up for success. Still, I did get my workout on. I also got myself part of the reward I set up for myself when I took on this challenge. Here's today's 411.....

Day 18 Workout:
Yoga X as recommended by the P90X Lean Plan

Day 18 Nutrition:
Breakfast - 3 cups of coffee
Lunch post workout - Fresh juice made of carrot apple and lemon. Egg scramble of tomato mushroom onion and spinach along with a buttered cracked wheat sourdough toast.
Snack - Bowl of cherries.
Water all day.
* Not eating before my workout was not good. I was already feeling sluggish but didn't eat because I wasn't hungry. My energy during the workout and after has been lacking.

However, I did got to Sport's Authority and got one of my rewards!! I am so excited, I absolutely LOVE my purchase and I signed up for a free rewards card with them (Not a credit card, it's like a Ralph's card) which means I am going to save $5.00 when I go back for clothes!! Plus, I had gotten blessed with a 20% off coupon for Sport's Authority in the mail so I got these for 20% off! Check it out, my swanky new workout kicks:

"Success doesn't come to you, you go to it." - Marva Collins 

Go after it!!!

30 Days to Greatness, Day 11

Ever feel like you could just dream forever?? That's how I awoke this morning. Had to be up and at 'em for 2 auditions and other business. Fit my workout in between it all and now, at 7:08 pm, I'm beat. I can feel myself getting stronger already though. There are exercises that are getting easier and muscle groups that are not burning so badly. Also, I am noticing less soreness which is wonderful. Night's are great because I am genuinely tired and I don't have to work to get to sleep. I am also noticing freedom from back pain which is something I used to feel regularly. I posted about it in my 1st 30 Day Challenge post. My back is where I hold my stress and I know that working out is helping me release stress. It's great to get physical every day. With that said, here are today's stats...

Today's workout:
P90X Yoga X as dictated by their lean plan.

Today's nutrition:
Breakfast - 1 egg on a piece of sourdough toast, 2 cups of coffee.
Lunch pre workout - 2 blueberry waffles with syrup 1 cup of coffee.
Dinner - Chipotle Bowl with romaine lettuce, black beans, fajita vegetables, carnitas, light sour cream and light cheese. Chips and guacamole.
Lots of water all day, I am averaging roughly 10 glasses a day now.

Today's workout tip:
I had posted about working out on my facebook page and asked people when they like to work out. It was then that Luis let me know he was still trying to get started. In honor of him, here's a tip!!

How about approaching a friend, family member, coworker, and seeing if they will work out with you or lend you their workout DVD so you can get your fitness goals started! This can help make you accountable because you will have a partner counting on you and can save you money if you are not interested in joining the gym  or purchasing DVDs right now. Where there's a will, there's a way. So go and find your's today!

;)
See you tomorrow...

30 Days to Greatness, Day 5

Today was mighty special to me. I woke up to my monthly visitor. Boooo! Usually, this would put a pause on any kind of working out. It sure has in the past. But today, there was no way I was going to let it or anything else get me down and keep me away from my fit time. Things are changing, in DEED.

I went the P90X Lean route once more. Today called for an hour and a half of Yoga:

I personally love yoga and was grateful to be doing it. Even though P90X Yoga is more intense than other yoga I have done in the past, I still enjoyed it very much. Each daily workout seems to be helping my sore muscles. It's like they get warm and I feel good. I also noticed how much stronger I am already getting. Not only in my mind but physically as well. There were tough moments in today's workout but I was able to complete and once I did I again felt emotional in that really good, accomplished, winning way. 

Before during and after my workout I had plenty of this:

After my workout I enjoyed this:

As for today's food intake:

Breakfast pre workout - Steel cut oats with strawberries, blueberries, almonds, ground flax seeds. 3 cups of coffee.

Post workout - Fresh carrot apple lemon juice.

Lunch - Open faced ham sandwich with tomato, avocado, spinach, and onion. Greek salad on the side (cucumber, tomato, feta, and olive oil.) V8 to drink

Dinner consisted of a hot dog with ketchup and mustard, 1/2 cup popcorn no butter, and some yogurt covered pretzels. I also had some of my hubby's Sprite. We went to the movies and saw Snow White  and the Huntsman so I splurged a little. I do not drink soda so when I say a little it was probably about 4 oz.

Tomorrow is my last day for the week since I've given myself permission to have Sundays off. I don't know if I will take it off though. I'm really enjoying this feeling. I may just do something outdoors. Well see. Remember friends:

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." 

- Henry  Ford

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!!!