My New Year's Resolutions

1. Eat breakfast.

2. Stay committed to my workout schedule.

3. Eat until I'm satiated, not stuffed.

4. Eat more whole grains.

5. Drink less soda.

5a. Drink more water.

6. Drink less alcohol.

6a. Drink BETTER alcohol

7. Be accountable for my health.

Today's lunch

Ow

So the middle finger on my right hand is swollen and it HURTS. It had been bothering me for a few days, but nothing MAJOR. But last night during league, I noticed EXACTLY how swollen it was. Bowling was all kinds of uncomfortable. Since I have my own balls, they're drilled specifically for my hand. My hand as it is normally. Last night, though, it kept falling off, even without my glove.

So I looked up what causes a swollen finger. And, for once, cancer wasn't the first thing listed on WebMd. So I either have a) an infection, b) a broken finger, c) carpal tunnel, or d) an autoimmune disease.

Pictures

Here's the before pictures. Don't get used to them because between TF, running and bowling--and the eventual return of lifting--I'm gonna look badass. Like Misty Knight, Monica Rambeau, Storm badass.

I slacked

Horrendously. So let's try this again. New pics and I'm going to STAY accountable.  There are things I want to do, and I can't do them if I'm going to backslide. I'm going to be moving into the next stage of my life and I want to do that in my ideal body and with my ideal hair.

LET'S GET IT!!!

And that's what you missed on "Glee," er, I mean Thren

So I enjoy TurboFire, a lot actually. Even more than I liked Turbo Jam (and I loved me some Turbo Jam), but I needed something else. I was losing weight, but not just fat. (BTW, I just had to return a dress I bought online because I didn't realize how much weight I had lost and it looked like a tent on me.) And that's not Chalene's fault; it's a common problem with cardio.

So my solution? A TurboFire/ChaLean Extreme hybrid. I get the strength training I was missing from TF and the pure cardio I didn't get in CLX. I'm nearly finished with the second week, and I have to say (in Chalene terms, of course) that I think I've found my "soul mate workout." The first three weeks are mostly CLX, but week four gets you back into the swing of things with A LOT of TF. And I'm reading Chalene's book "Push." I'm currently up to "Day 8: Mapping Your Course." Yes, I really like Chalene Johnson that much. Considering getting a tat that says Turbo Girl when I get to goal size. That's still four dress sizes away, possibly five if I'm REALLY motivated.

I've really missed weights and I don't really like using resistance bands (which is what you mostly use for the circuit training in TF). I AM going to have to watch band basics, though, so that I don't get tripped up when I take the bands on vacation with me - that was one of the major issues when I did CLX the first time: I went on vacation, I couldn't switch the bands easily (dial-a-weights are your FRIEND) so I didn't get the most of my workout, I didn't workout the rest of vacation because I didn't want to deal with the hassle and then I came home and lapsed.
 
Diet-wise, I'm doing well. The MyFitnessPal app on my phone and the computer help keep me honest, especially since I've got my parents using the app. I do tend to overeat a little--now that I see what nutrients I'm not getting enough of in my regular meals, I'll try to make them up by snacking. It doesn't ALWAYS work out, but I try not to go over my max calories, extra workouts to compensate for when I do.

No measurements until the rest day of Week Five. Also, I still don't LIKE them, but push-ups are no longer the bane of my existence.

Fuck yoga, though.

I'm Back, Bitches!!!

Yes, I'm back, with a NEW program to whip my fat ass into a less fat ass. If you haven't heard of the awesomeness of TurboFire, go HERE. Go ahead; I'll wait. Done? Good.

So you probably noticed two things. One, it's from my favorite fitness guru, Chalene Johnson. Secondly, it's an amped up version of Turbo Jam...and you know how I love me some TJ! I'd made my way about halfway through the prep schedule before I started slacking (yeah, yeah, I know. It's a theme), but tomorrow I start doing TurboFire proper. I got the TF Warriors to keep me on track, homework done early to keep me from being up late and missing workouts, my mom alongside me to make sure I get up at 5:00 AM to workout and Results and Recovery Formula to get me through the soreness. Also, I WILL do yoga (also known as Stretch 40). I know I hate it, but flexibility training IS important and will allow me to do things that I couldn't do before. In addition, I now bowl in a league Wednesday nights, am going to start going to Zumba classes and (possibly) get up early on Wednesday mornings to go run before class (haven't completely made up my mind on that, yet).

So let's get on to my monthly measurements:

Weight: 198 lbs
Chest: 47 5/8 in
Left Arm: 14 3/4 in
Right Arm: 14 3/4 in
Waist: 46 3/8 in
Hips: 45 1/2 in
Left Thigh: 25 5/8 in
Right Thigh: 28 7/8 in

No body fat measurements or pictures this go around because you've seen the other pics. You know I'm fat. I'll take pics at the end, though, before I go to the TF/CLX Hybrid.

Oops...

Forgot about those measurements (and the rest of this phase's workouts, but I'll add those after I finish week 2 tomorrow).

Neck: 15 1/2 in
Chest: 47 in
Left Arm: 15 1/2 in
Right Arm: 14 1/2 in
Waist: 44 in
Hips: 47 in
Left Thigh: 26 1/2 in
Right Thigh: 28 in
Weight: 206.6 lbs

I know it's been almost 2 months, but...

I'm still around and I'm still pushing play. Saturday, I finished up an advanced rotation of Turbo Jam and took measuments on Sunday. I've been using my weighted gloves (K-Mart, not the blue Beachbody ones) for those workouts. Monday, I started my very first round of ChaLean Extreme. For that workout, I used my old 3-pound weights that I got for either 4th or 6th grade PE. I ordered some Reebok adjustable weights from Amazon for the program, but they didn't arrive until I was in the middle of the first workout. Next post will be measurements. But first, let Robert Harden tell you about Monday's and today's workouts:

Monday, Burn Circuit 1
Today, Burn Circuit 2

Also, I STILL fucking hate push-ups.

Still Standing

So I'm still pushing play, despite this virus that has either never left or is making the rounds through GNB again still ravaging my system. (Seriously. It's not pretty. You can ask the people at Olive Garden.) I did Punch, Kick  & Jam earlier in the week, and my sweats fell down. Awe-SOME! I also did Cardio Party with my mom later that night. How'd she like it? Well, she was really feeling the music and the routines. What she didn't like was the water break after the Turbo section. According to her, it was just another 30 seconds that she could've been done sooner. Either way, I burned her a copy, and she's considering getting a pair of weighted gloves, as well.

The only REAL issue with doing TJ is that my eating habits have changed - not the fault of Chalene, of course. It's that I've had NO appetite since being sick (constant cravings of OG breadsticks, notwithstanding) and it's begun to affect my metabolism negatively. Despite the sweatpants incident, it feels like I haven't been getting anywhere in my weight (fat) loss journey. I eat decently at dinner - one serving, where I used to eat three or four - but for the rest of the day I don't eat anything. I was starving at work one night and ordered jalapeno poppers. Eight come in an order, and I ate three before tossing the rest in the garbage. My job is moderately demanding physically - moving up and down lanes, and carrying weights (balls) that range from 6 to 16 pounds - and with no appetite, I'm not bringing in the fuel needed for it to actually BURN anything. And vomiting immediately after finishing my ravioli definitely isn't helping.

I've also been deliberately NOT weighing or measuring myself, as a result. Next set of measurements and pictures will be up next month.

For the Record

I HAVE been keeping up with my workouts, even though there's been an embarrassing lack of posts lately. Well, until last week, anyway. Unfortunately, last Monday was the only scheduled workout that I did, because I've been struck down with a virus. Stupidly, I continued to work with a fever until Saturday morning when I bit the bullet, called out sick for the first time EVER, and went to the doctor. While I DID get a few miles worth of walking in, I may have made myself worse. I'm not allowed to return to work until Wednesday (well, TECHNICALLY, it's Tuesday, but I'm off that day) as per Dr. Mebane's orders. Seriously. She even had the administrative assistants draft a letter to to give my bosses.

My intention was to ignore last week and return to Turbo Jam today, but I still feel pretty shitty. So much so that I can't sleep for extended periods of time without choking on mucus. Today, I'm up to an hour and forty-five minutes. So tomorrow I'm going to be doing a double-shot (really, a triple-shot) of TJ and I'm going to make up yesterday's workout on Saturday (my rest day). Hopefully, that'll get me back on track.

I'm Back! I'm Back!

So the holidays are over and I'm back to working out on a regular basis.  For the last week or so, I've been doing Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds (the original) 2-Mile with my parents. Today, I started Turbo Jam for the first time in my two years of owning it. I also bought a new pedometer and some weighted gloves. I almost bought some speed weights, but they were more than I wanted to spend. I KNEW I should've bought those 25-pound (12.5 each) ones that I saw at Tar-zhay a while back. (I'll see if they still have them before I start Chalene Extreme in two months.) 
Food-wise, I've started limiting my alcoholic beverages. It wouldn't be so hard if I drank beer (besides the VERY occasional Blue Moon) since I could have a light one, cut down on calories and satisfy my craving for both alcohol and bread. But I don't drink beer - it tastes awful and looks like piss, so I avoid it as much as necessary. Alas, my weakness is for hard liquor which packs MORE empty calories in a SMALLER amount than either beer or wine. If I can drop to one adult beverage a week, I should be able to dramatically reduce my caloric intake.

As for Turbo Jam, I did the "Learn and Burn." I learned the "Elite Eleven" moves. Think the 3Ts of Hip Hop Abs + the punches and kicks of Power 90's Sweat * 3. Add "Let It Whip" and "A Night to Remember" as workout tunes and you basically have L&B. The punches and the kicks were harder for me to pull of while staying on balance than the ones in P90, though.

See ya on Wednesday, when after I do "20 Minutes."

No, I'm Not Dead, But...

I have been extremely busy lately, especially now that school has started back up (I'm typing this as I prepare to take a test in Conceptual Physics). What does that mean for this blog? Well, I've been slacking post-Day 60, so I'm going to go on temporary hiatus. How temporary? Well, I'll be back next Monday, starting Rockin' Body as originally scheduled. After a double rotation of Shaun T, I'm going to restart P90 from the beginning, no Master Quest - er, I mean, Master Series (sorry, I recently got into an argument - ahem - a discussion about Zelda canon and it's still fresh in my mind) until I make it through a full rotation. So, see you in 6 days.

So...About that 3-4...

So I'm typing this as I prepare for a trip to Atlanta. Yes, I got long enough off work to go out of the state. Shut up about it.

Progress Report

So today is Day 42, also known as "The Last Day of 1-2." Okay, okay; yesterday was supposed to be my last day of 1-2 (if you follow the Excel spreadsheet. WOWY had 3-4 starting on Day 31, and the original calendar starts 3-4 on Day 45 when Power 90 would be half over), but I missed the workouts for Friday and Saturday because...well, work has me bloody exhausted. Anyway, I had to do a double on what was originally supposed to be my rest day.

New Picture Time!!!

Front Fat

I took a pic from the side this time. And for the record, I actually DID take these on time - I've just been so busy at work that I didn't get to post them until now.

Side Fat

Power 90 Day 30!!!

So today is Day 30, which means it is Measurement Day AND Picture Day!!! So my physical stats were:

Weight - 215 lbs
Waist - 44.5 in
Hips -  47.5 in
Chest - 47.5 in
Right Arm - 14.5 in
Left Arm - 15 in
Right Thigh - 28 in
Left Thigh - 28 in
Body Fat - 52.37%

OH MY GOD, MAKE THE PAIN STOP!!!

As you know, I work at a bowling alley that I call "GNB." Well, we have weekly specials, and Tuesday happens to be College Night - bowl all you want from 10 to midnight for $5. Well, I was actually off that night and went bowling with my family.

Long story short, my right thigh HURTS!!! I somehow managed to get through the workouts for the week, but barely. I have no idea what's going on, but I am in serious pain. It hurts to exercise and even walking up the stairs is painful. Can't go to the doctor because my new work insurance won't officially cover me until next paycheck (not today's, but the one after). I worked Wednesday morning as a favor to a coworker who had to go to orientation and I had yesterday off, so I was hoping  it would go away before I went in tonight, but it hasn't.

Someone shoot me, please!

So What Had Happened Was...

I'm actually just going to hold off on the new pictures until the next picture post, July 13th - also known as "Day 30" and "Measurement Day." Why? Because I'm a filthy, rotten, cheating cheater.

As you very well know, I mostly work nights at a place that I'll call "GNB" so as not to get fired in case there's some gag order that I missed during my training. Anyway, the food that we serve is incredibly tasty, but also LOADED with calories. Because of this, I rarely use my meal break and try to eat dinner before coming in. Unfortunately, closing means that I don't get off work until somewhere between 12:30 and 2:00 AM, depending on the day. And after getting off work, I am HONGRY (that's right: with a long "o" sound instead of a "u"). And, alas, the only places open are fast food - usually I wind up at Mickey D's or Wendy's since Burger King is always closed when I get off. (What's up with that?) Well, that and the Cook-Out is a little out of my way.

Speaking of the Cook-Out, I'm on my way there now. Why? Because it's July and I've been waiting all YEAR for a Watermelon Milkshake.

I told you I was a cheater.

Week 3, Day 1

Yeah, I know there should've been a picture post, but I'm actually going to wait another couple of days to post them. Why? I'm bloated/retaining water.

Well, I missed both Friday & Saturday's workouts because I opened all last week. It was kinda weird - and boring - since most people show up at night. I also made no tips except on one of my birthday parties on Saturday... What's that? Get to the point? This kind of droning belongs on Happy Salty? Fine, then. ANYWAY, the point is that when I made them up on Sunday morning (which is normally my rest day),  I was really exhausted. Let's face it: if I hadn't been reading that book, I would've fallen asleep on my way to the IMAX.

I'm tearing up Ab Ripper now, but those push-ups are still hard. So hard, in fact, that I think I might be getting worse at them while getting better at everything else. Also, "Sweat" is a very appropriate name for my Tues/Thurs/Sat workout because I'm tired and sweaty by the time we finish Power Yoga. Speaking of Yoga, isn't it supposed to be relaxing? I keep waiting for that experience my dad had that one time he did Yoga: falling asleep during the routine.

Next post is going to be pics.

Week 2, Day 1

Like before there isn't much to tell. I'm still struggling with push-ups (even the "chick" ones), but my dips have gotten better...as long I modify them like I'm just sitting. What? I didn't explain what dips were last week? Man, I must really be slacking.

So what are dips? Well, Jerry Nelson - whose blog Jerry's Journey is much more interesting than mine (seriously, go read it now) - describes them as "reverse chair push-ups from hell," and I can't really think of a more accurate assessment. This is an illustration of them. Mind you, Rachel is doing P90X so she gets to use two chairs, but the concept remains the same.

1. You sit in a chair.
2. You fight the urge to pick up the remote and turn off the DVD.
3. You place your hands behind your hips and slide off the front of the chair.
4. You use your arms to raise and lower yourself for 8-15 reps or until you just can't anymore. Whichever comes first.