Project BeastBody: Moving on to Phase 2

Hello everyone! It's been a while since I last wrote.  I guess I just haven't been in the right mindset to get my thoughts down so here goes.  Last week was my last week of the Build phase for Body Beast.  I definitely saw some non-scale victories, but when I did my measurements and progress pictures, I have to say I was slightly disappointed that I was not a little further along.  I did lose 2 pounds but I think that will only be temporary with the Bulk phase I am in now.  Yes, I am human and yes, I am a woman so I did let this get me down a little on Sunday.  I also made the stupid mistake of waiting until after my workout and breakfast to take my pictures so probably not the smartest thing.  I am going to get a personal trainer at my friend's gym to do my measurements for me next time so I'll have a little better accurate reading.  Overall though, I am still madly in love with this program because I have never worked so hard in my life and I am pushing myself farther each time.  I am lifting more weight each time.  I am seeing muscle definition forming in areas, like my arms! I still have goals to reach.  Doing pull-ups/chin-ups and full push-ups are my biggest ones right now when it comes to my physical strength.  I'd say the best thing so far is that I'm not burned out and I'm not bored with this program at all.  And for me, that is huge! I'm including my measurements below.  As you can see, I had some change in my waist and hips so that is a definite "yay" moment.  My biceps are getting bigger and my left side is my dominant side so I need to work on my right a little more.  I didn't have any change in my thighs, but I can tell they are leaning out some because of the muscle I am building so I just have to keep at it.  For my estimated body fat %, I used the formula on the Team Beachbody website.  So overall, not bad because it was a) only 3 weeks and my body is still adjusting b) I am building muscle c) I feel great and feel strong! I was going to include my progress pictures, but my current photos were just done very quickly so I will try to get some better ones this weekend. 

 

Measurements Day 1:

Weight: 166

Waist: 32

Hips: 39.5

Chest: 36

Right Bicep: 11.2

Left Bicep: 11.5

Right Thigh: 24

Left Thigh: 24

Estimated Body Fat %: 26%

 

Measurements Day 21:

Weight: 164

Waist: 31

Hips: 37

Chest: 36

Right Bicep: 11.5

Left Bicep: 12

Right Thigh: 24

Left Thigh: 24

Estimated Body Fat %: 23%

 

Yesterday, I started phase 2, which is the Bulk phase.  I really had no idea as to what to expect with this phase except that I knew I'd be staying in the same calorie bracket for my food.  I also thought maybe the workouts might be slightly shorter since they are all on 1 disc for this phase.  I will do this phase for 5 weeks, 6 days a week.

 

Day 1 is Bulk: Chest and it was about half an hour long.  Bulk phase is slightly different than Build in how the dynamic sets are set up.  In Bulk phase, in addition to Super Sets, we do Progressive Sets, Force Sets, Combo Sets and Multi Sets.  You'll get an idea as to how each is designed below.  I decided to stick to a little bit lighter weights since I wasn't sure what I was getting into and that seemed to be a good idea.  Sagi moves FAST through these sets so I was still feeling a burn, but also building up some intensity.  Because this workout was only 30 minutes long, and I have a feeling some others will be shorter as well, I am going to start adding in some other cardio aside from the Beast Cardio/Abs workouts.  I already do some additional ab days, but now I'll be stepping up some cardio as well.  Because of the contest I am in, I can't do any other programs like PiYo or anything, so when the weather is nice, I will be getting outside for some cardio or going to the fitness center. 

 

Body Beast Bulk: Chest Exercises

• Warm Up

Super Set

• Incline Fly 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Incline Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Force Set

• Chest Press with Rotation 5 reps, 5 reps, 5 reps, 5 reps, 5 reps (Basically going at your max with weight.  5 reps, 5 times with a short break in between)

Progressive Set

• Incline Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps, 12 reps, 15 reps (Similar to a regular single set as you're increasing weight as you go and then decreasing as you come back down)

Combo Set

• Close-Grip Press to Fly 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps (2 or more moves in one to work as many muscles as possible)

Multi Set

• Decline Push-Ups 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Cobra to Airplane 18 reps
• Russian Twist 30 Seconds

 

Day 2 is Bulk: Legs and that workout was still about 40 minutes long and I was practically DEAD at the end of it.  I knew it was tough, but oh my word, my legs are still Jell-O nearly 9 hours later.  And let's not even talk about what my booty is going to feel like tomorrow.  So.Many.Squats. So.Many.Lunges.  And today was the first time I had done stiff leg deadlifts in ages so yeah, there's that burn.  But it's that burn you love! I actually enjoy leg day because those are your biggest muscles so you're burning so many calories and your metabolism is revved up just a little more.  Since my legs are my biggest "trouble" areas in that I want those to look the best and have a long way to go, I will gladly take leg day with a smile.  Tomorrow is Bulk: Arms.  That should be fun to not be able to do anything after that. 

 

Body Beast Bulk Legs Exercises

• Warm Up

Single Set

• Front to Back Lunge, each leg, 12 reps, 10 reps, 8 reps

Progressive Set

• Squat 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps, 12 reps, 15 reps

Force Set

• Full to 1/2 Sumo Squat 5 reps, 5 reps, 5 reps, 5 reps, 5 reps

Progressive Set

• Split Squat, each leg, 15 reps 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps, 12 reps, 15 reps

Super Set

• Stiff Leg Deadlift 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps
• Alt. Side Squat, each side is 10 reps, 10 reps, 10 reps

Super Set

• Calf Raise 50 reps, 50 reps
• Beast Abs 30 seconds, 30 seconds

I'm about a week away from it being 30 days into this program so I am working really hard on my nutrition during this phase.  I am going to do my best to cut out as much alcohol as possible.  I don't drink during the week usually, but I have been bad on the weekends so I'm going to do my best to do whatever it takes to achieve more of my goals.  And away we go! Until tomorrow, friends!  

Project BeastBody: Beginning of Week 3

Monday I started week 3 of my #ProjectBeastBody journey, which is also the last week for phase 1, Build.  I still haven't seen much of a change on the scale, but as I mentioned last week, my non-scale victories are still going strong and that's helping to keep me motivated.  I have increased all of my weights on just about every workout now so I am getting stronger.  I may need to move these workouts into the fitness center soon to have access to more weights.  Clothes are still fitting better than they had been fitting and I am starting to see more definition in certain places.  Today I had a personal victory in that I was able to do some Plyo Push-ups only semi-modified today, meaning I was still on my knees, but actually able to get a little height out of my push-up.  For leg day, I started using weights for my Bulgarian squats and alternating lunges.  And that cardio workout only kills me a little bit now, haha! It feels great to see that I am already having improvement in such a short amount of time.  I am doing a little better in my eating as well and am going to start making a more concerted effort to limit my alcohol intake.  Not that I drink a lot, but on the weekends the vino definitely calls my name.  Next week I start phase 2, Bulk, which will last for 5 weeks.  This is where it could get tricky because it is the same workout every week.  Even though the Build phase was made up of the same workouts, my rest day always fell on a different day so it didn't feel as repetitive.  Whenever I did P90X, I would hit a wall because of boredom.  BUT, I do believe that Body Beast is one of my soul mate workout programs and I have a big goal with trying to land a spot in that next infomercial so I will push through it.  I really do love this program.  I feel so much better after I do the workouts and I actually miss it on my rest days.  Hopefully the weather will continue to be nice on the weekends so I can get some outdoor moderate cardio in as well.  Because of the contest, I am not allowed to do any other programs so I'm kind of missing my PiYo for an added bonus workout, but that's okay.  Like I said, the end goal is too great to mess up.  I plan on doing my measurements again this weekend to see how I've progressed so far and I will need to recalculate my calories for the next phase as well.  Everything is still just swimming along perfectly and I really couldn't be more in love with a program.  I was a girl that would have never thought she'd love lifting weights.  I was telling my dad this weekend that I've come a long way from the chunky girl 10 years ago that couldn't even lift herself onto the tube when we used to go out on the lake.  It was pathetic.  Now, I can't wait for my after picture! Thank you Body Beast!

 

A little Flex Friday action from last week.  Slowly there is some definition showing up there.

 

 

Project BeastBody: Week 2 Days 2 & 3

Monday night I had this grand plan that I would go to bed very early and sleep like a baby through the  night and I'd wake up and hit the ground running.  It was a great plan, but one that my dogs were apparently not aware of and my older one woke me up around 1am needing to go outside.  So, I finally fell back asleep just before that 4am alarm went off.  I decided to try to get more rest and I would figure out later when I'd get my workout in that day.  I usually am pretty good about telling myself that I will workout in the evening, but then get home and just put on my comfy clothes and call it a day.  So, this time, I prepared myself and took my clothes and E&E stash with me to my office and told myself that I WOULD workout after work at our office fitness center.  I actually was excited during the day and was really looking forward to my workout and was ready to go at 5:30 to get started.  It's been months since I last worked out in a public setting like that.  At first no one was in there so I had the whole place to myself and near the end of my workout, someone else came in, but I was in a pretty good zone so didn't feel too weird.  I did miss being at home though.   

 

Yesterday was the Build: Back & Biceps workout again.  This time I'd have to make a few modifications since I didn't have my bands that I use in place of doing chin-ups/pull-ups and also someone had hidden the 10 pound weights from me so I had to use less weight than what I had wanted on some of the moves.  The good news, however, is I did go up in weight on a few moves so yay for me! Each day I feel stronger and that's a great thing.  I came home and slept great too which I so needed.

 

Post-workout.  I promise there is some definition forming in that bicep, haha.

 

This morning I faced that Beast Cardio & Abs duo again.  Man, was it tough, but another victory is that I hung in there and got it done.  It may not have been pretty and I am still having to modify a few moves like burpees and plyo push-ups, but my heart rate monitor didn't tell me I died today and I'd say I busted things up a few notches.  It's a tough workout, but each week will start getting a little better each time.  I have no doubts about that.  For the abs workout, I was able to do everything except the hip up moves (similar to heels to heaven from P90X).  My lower back was a little stiff this morning so I modified that to do something I knew I could handle.  I kinda felt a little like I might puke after today's workout, but in a good way of course.  Tomorrow is Build: Shoulders and then my rest day.  Week 2 is blazing along and I am still really enjoying this program. 

 

Told you it wasn't pretty, but I survived!

 

I am still working on my nutrition which I need to start paying better attention to since that is key in seeing results.  Mainly I need to start keeping track of my calories and what I am eating better.  I haven't been bad during the week, but I am pretty certain that I am not hitting all of my calories I should be eating.  Part of it is because I'm still trying to figure out what works best for my body and part of it is fear and doubt.  Yes, those two evil monsters that like to rear their ugly heads just when things are going well.  I have had some fabulous non-scale victories this week, but I am not going to lie, it is hard to see that number on the scale staying put.  I know better.  I KNOW BETTER than to let that get to me with weight training, but I do worry I am eating too much.  To top things off, my hormones are doing their monthly thing today so, you can imagine how I am feeling.  The important thing is how I'm feeling overall since starting this program, with the exception of today where I went from 10 to -20 in about 3 hours on the post-workout high happiness scale.  This too shall pass.  Overall I know I am stronger each day, my clothes are fitting looser, I am gaining some muscle definition, I have more energy, I am in a better mood overall and I know things will continue to get better.  It's only halfway through week 2 and I have 10 1/2 more weeks to go.  I have goals that I am setting for myself and I will get there.  So, for any of you struggling, I get it.  Allow yourself to feel it, good and bad, but don't dwell in the bad.  You are what you think you are and I am going to continue thinking I am fabulous and awesome and am so going to rock these results! Happy hump day, everyone!

Project BeastBody: Week 1 Recap & Hello Week 2

Sorry for being a little MIA these last few days.  We've been blessed with some amazing weather and I just couldn't bring myself to sit in front of my computer instead of enjoying it while it lasts.  A little fresh air does a body good.  The last time I wrote, I described my near death experience with Beast Cardio and Abs.  I recovered well from that and went on to Build: Shoulders on Day 5 which was Friday.  I have never done just a shoulder workout before.  Usually, like in P90X, it involves more of the upper body but this one certainly delivered.  I would say my only "problem" was with the Dumbbell Scap Trap move (video of the modified version I am going to try) because I don't have a bench and using my stability felt awkward and not like it gave me enough range of motion.  I saw on a post in a Body Beast for Women group I am in that someone said to mimic the move standing in a bent over position so I am going to try that. Other than that, the workout was moves I was familiar with and had done before.  Surprisingly, that was the first workout all week that didn't leave me sore...well, not that much.   

 

Overall, last week was a fantastic week.  I still hurt like hell in some spots and even though the scale didn't budge, I did already notice a change in how my clothes fit and I am starting to see some changes in my body as well.  The thing about weight lifting is that it can take time for the actual number on the scale to change, but your body is changing and that is what I need to keep in mind.  It can get discouraging, but as long as I'm feeling like there is a positive change taking place, I'll be happy.  My eating wasn't 100% clean last week either and I'm still adjusting to this calorie intake.  This week I am going back to what I know works a little better for my body.  I was miserable eating some of the carbs and legumes last week since I don't eat them that often anymore.  This is all a learning process for me as it would be for anyone.  I can see why people would get discouraged and give up, but the main focus is my end goal and that's to look amazing by the end of this journey. 

 

Saturday was my rest day from Body Beast, but I decided I wanted to get out and enjoy the weather so I took the dogs and we headed for the park to walk some trails.  We walked about 50 minutes and those 2 little nuggets held their own.  Sunday was my last workout for week 1 and it was Build: Chest/Tris again from Day 1.  I increased my weights on a few things so I was proud of that.  The rest of the day was spent meal prepping for the week and more time with my dogs at the dog park and enjoying the weather.  It really made it hard to come back to work today!

 

Saturday fun with my babies!

 

Post Build: Chest/Tris and a little extra abs.  End of Week 1!

 

Today started week 2 and what better way to start the week off when you didn't sleep so great than with leg day.  I increased my weights on a few of these moves as well and still used no weights on other moves.  I am still pretty sore in my left quad area along with my right inner thigh so lunges were not my friend, but I did the best I could.  My booty is actually burning a little still from that workout.  I was proud of how I kept up and stayed in "beast" mode for the duration of the workout.  Tomorrow is Back/Biceps again so I'm hoping to get those biceps popping a little more with higher weights.  I did get my chin-up assist band in the mail on Friday and tried it out with my bar yesterday.  It wasn't as easy as I thought so I still have some work to do, but hopefully soon, I'll be able to get going on those as well. 

 

Build: Legs, week 2, day 1. 

 

I am really loving this program so far.  I think what is really helping me is the group I am in and seeing so many women busting their butt to get it done and loving it as well.  It helps to not feel alone.  I am planning on going to get my measurements taken by a trainer so I can see where I am in my progress.  Here's to a great week!  

 

Body Beast Build: Shoulders Exercises

• Warm Up

Single Set

• Shoulders Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Super Set

• Lateral Raise 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Upright Row 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Giant Set

• EZ Bar Underhand Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• 1,1,2 Front Raise 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Rear Delt Raise 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Super Set

• Standing Dumbbell Shrug 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps
• Dumbbell Scap Trap 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Super Set

• Sagi Six-Way
• Tuck and Roll

Cool Down and Stretch

Project BeastBody: Day 4- Beast Cardio/Beast Abs

To say that this week has been challenging is an understatement.  I have worked out with trainers before, I have done tough programs before and I have lifted weights before, but I don't think anything in my past really could have prepared me for the emotional and physical aspects of this journey.  I am not complaining at all.  In fact, I needed this challenge because I was getting too lax in my workouts.  BodyBeast is requiring me to stay focused and I love that.  Now, with that said, I am pretty sure that today I died and lived to tell about it, haha.  I have done P90X PlyoX, I have done 21 Day Fix Plyo Fix, I have done PiYo Drench and I have done boot camps and other rigorous workouts.  I had an idea as to what to expect with today's Beast Cardio workout, but only in the sense of knowing what moves Sagi Kalev would be handing to us.  I didn't realize he would be handing me my ass at the same time. 

 

 

 

This 30 minute workout was definitely plyometrics based, which  means there was a lot of jumping.  Jump squats, burpees, mountain climbers, jump lunges and then some planks and a few moves with weights to really add some variety.  I will have to say that I was excited to see a return of one of my favorite moves from 21 Day Fix's Dirty 30 workout, the renegade row, but damn, I couldn't keep up to even do more than 2! This time at least.  I will get better.  I will get stronger.  About 10 minutes into the workout, my heart rate monitor was no longer able to detect my heart rate.  I am not sure if I was too sweaty or if  like I said, I died.  I got it working again only to quit reading my heart rate again a few minutes later so no telling just how many calories lost their lives today.  Then it was on to the Beast Abs which was about 10 minutes long.  Yay, I thought, I'll get to "rest." Haha, nope.  It was bam, bam, bam through crunches, Russian twists, cobra, spiderman, one armed plank (with a weight I might add, which I didn't do today) and ending with Beast Abs which is spelling out B-E-A-S-T with your feet both forwards and backwards.  Then, at the end of the workout, I curled into the fetal position and couldn't believe what the hell I just did.  And, what's even crazier, is how much I loved it.  Tomorrow is Build: Shoulders and then a rest day.  It can't get here soon enough.  I am really hoping I can walk again by then, too, because unfortunately crawling is not a socially acceptable thing to do as an adult.  Who knew? Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

P.S. I am including a video of someone else's review of Beast Cardio so you can kind of get an idea as to what it was like. 

 

 

Body Beast Cardio Exercises

• Warm Up
• Squat to Overhead Press + Hold
• Toe Tap
• Squat to Jump Squat + Hold
• Mountain Climber + Row + Plank
• Sumo Squat + Hold
• Plyo Push-Up + Hold
• Sumo Jump
• Squat to Upright Row + Hold
• Alt Lunge Jumps + Hold
• Plank + Twist + Sprint
• Cool Down and Stretch

Body Beast Abs Exercises

• Crunch
• Russian Twist w/Dumbbell
• Hip-Up
• Crossed Tuck-In
• Cobra
• Spiderman Crunch
• Bucket Drop
• One Arm Open Plank
• Windshield Wiper
• Beast Abs

Project BeastBody: Day 3- Build: Back/Biceps

Today was a rough start.  I woke up around 2:30am and finally fell back asleep just when the alarm was going off at 4am.  Thought I dozed off for just about 5 minutes, but it was half an hour so a mad dash to get going out of bed and I was onto day 3 of my Project BeastBody, Build: Back/Biceps.  Mad dash is probably slightly exaggerating it as I am quite, no, EXTREMELY sore from the last two days just as I suspected I would be.  I know it is all part of the process, but dang, do I hurt.  And after today's workout, I have a feeling, and am already feeling it, that I'll be sore in my back tomorrow as well.  I will have to say, though, that today's 50 minute workout did feel like it flew by.  There was only 1 super set and 1 giant set, everything else was made up of single sets, but I pushed myself as best I could for being as tired and out of it as I was.  I haven't been logging my worksheets but instead have been using the BodyBeast mobile tracker which will come in handy if I decide to take my workout to my fitness center which I may do as I get further along.  I am not going to lie and will just say that I am sort of dreading tomorrow's Cardio workout.  I don't care for cardio, and I was looking ahead just to get an idea as to what to expect and it is going to be full of squats, jump squats, plyo pushups, planks, lunge jumps and my arch nemesis, burpees.  For a while now, my lower back has sort of kept me from doing burpees full out so we'll see how I hold up tomorrow.  Either way, I'm nearing the end of week 1.  Today has been an emotional day for me and I've noticed that happens when I step up my fitness regimen.  It is like my body is releasing some toxicity I have stored up, plus I just have a few things on my mind, but this too shall pass.  I plan to meet up with my bed a little earlier tonight and be ready to bring it beast style tomorrow.  Happy hump day, everyone!

Body Beast Build: Back and Bi’s Exercises
Warm Up
Single Set

• Deadlift 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Super Set

• Dumbbell Pull-Over 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps
• Pull-Ups 10 reps, 10 reps, 10 reps

Giant Set

• EZ Bar Row 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• One Arm Row Both Arms 15 reps, 12 reps 8 reps
• Reverse Fly 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Single Set

• Close-Grip Chin Ups 30 seconds, 30 seconds, 30 seconds

Single Set

• Seated Bicep Curl 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Single Set

• 1,1,2 Hammer Curl 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Single Set

• Neutral EZ Bar Curl 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps (Can be done with dumbbells)

Single Set

• Airplane Cobra 30 seconds, 30 seconds

Cool Down and Stretch

Project BeastBody: Day 2- Build: Legs

Well, today was leg day for my second day of Body Beast and I have to say while it was rough, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Now, that doesn't mean that tomorrow I won't be crawling everywhere as my main means of transportation, but I am pretty sure that my recent PiYo workouts really helped me with all of the squats and lunges.  I did use weights as much as I could, but there were times when I just relied on good old body weight for the moves and I know I still got a great workout.  Since I am a girl and my goal is to have sexy, sleek legs, I wasn't as concerned about whether or not I used weights or not.  The workout lasts about 38 minutes long and consists of the same dynamic set method that is used in the Chest/Tris workout I did yesterday.  Tomorrow is back/biceps day.  Should be another killer day!

 

Food intake hasn't been as much of a problem as I thought it might be.  I am eating about every 3 hours and don't ever feel hungry.  However, I am thinking I am going to lean towards more of my paleo style diet that I am more used to, though.  I feel good with my food that I have been eating, but I know I could feel a little better and know what works for me.  I try to stick to the 80/20 plan so there are some exceptions to the paleo rule for me.  I certainly don't want to undo all of my hard work since nutrition is such a huge part of any fitness plan. I am already starting to figure out my meals for next week. 

 

I realized something today about myself.  And that is how proud of myself I am for taking on this challenge.  It's hard to think back and remember the girl that would never even think about working out, let alone lift a weight.  I have so much more confidence from this past year and a half than I had in recent years because of my health and nutrition journey and losing that weight and being able to help others on their paths as well.  I think, as cheesy as it sounds, one of the big reasons I am loving Body Beast so far is because I feel like I'm working out with these guys at a gym.  When I first moved back to Houston, I joined what was considered more of a bodybuilder gym that eventually started "softening" a bit to attract more females and I loved it.  It was the perfect environment for me at the time.  Now, I love getting to do these workouts in my living room or if I feel like it, going to my apartment or work fitness center as well, but either way, I'm still working out with people.  It's coming up on my one year anniversary as a Beachbody coach and I can't believe at what a great space I am in physically and mentally thanks to that company and the friends I have made.  Don't let fears hold you back.  If there is something you want, go after it! And with that, I'll see you tomorrow!

  

My calories burned today along with my Results & Recovery drink post workout. 
Also, my little dog Gabby says "hi!'

Body Beast Build: Legs Exercises

• Warm Up

Single Set

• Sumo Squat 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Super Set

• Alternating Lunge 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Step-Up to Reverse Lunge on right and left legs 15 reps, 12 reps 8 reps

Giant Set

• Parallel Squat 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Bulgarian Squat Right and Left Legs 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Straight Leg Deadleft Right and Left 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Giant Set

• Single Leg Calf Raise Right and Left for 30 seconds x 2
• Seated Calf Raise 30 seconds x 2
• In and Outs 30 seconds x 2

Cool Down

Project BeastBody: Day 1- Build: Chest/Tris

I have been absent from this blog for a while.  I don't really have a good reason, just haven't been focusing on any one particular program lately, but I recently decided to throw my hat in the ring and start a new (for me) Beachbody program called Body Beast.  This program focuses on mostly weight training but what's so great about it is that you can easily do it from your own home; no need to join a fancy gym. I had seen so many females really embrace this program that after looking into it a little more, I thought this would be the perfect program for me and my goals so I purchased a set of adjustable dumbbells and ordered the program to get started on the next chapter of my fitness journey. 

 

 

 

I used to do quite a bit of weight lifting.  It really does your body wonders and let's not forget how many calories get burned when doing weight training.  Many women are afraid to lift weights because they think they are going to "bulk" up and look like a man, but in reality, that is not really possible unless you do some serious lifting. The fact is, what I enjoyed about P90X was having a schedule for legs, arms, chest, etc.  What I didn't like about that program was that everything was the same every week.  It started to feel monotonous after a while and I always hit a wall around the same time each time I started the program and would eventually get bored and quit.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Tony Horton, but I needed a little variety and surprise every now and then.  When I started my PiYo journey, I loved how Chalene changed things up from week to week.  I truly felt that PiYo was my soulmate workout program...until today. 

 

My "before" photo-2/1/2015.

Today was my first day of doing Body Beast and it certainly did not disappoint nor lack in the butt-kicking department.  Body Beast is broken down into three phases: Build, Bulk, Beast.  Today's workout focused on Build: Chest/Tris and by the end of the 48 minute workout, my arms were shaky and useless.  As with most workouts, you start out with a warm-up.  Today's consisted of jogging in place, arm circles (forwards & backwards), different variations of pushups and then more running in place.  I can honestly say that I have never done pushups as a warm-up, well except maybe in PiYo early on in the program.  Body Beast is designed to utilize dynamic sets to achieve your results.  You start out with a single set of one move, then move on to a super set where you do two back to back moves with no break, then onto a giant set that is 3 moves back to back.  Then to top it off, as you're adjusting your weights for each one, either increasing or decreasing depending on the set, you end it with a drop set.  Confused? So was I at first, but this page breaks it down for you pretty nicely.  Needless to say, I didn't change out my weights except for at the very beginning when I actually had to decrease the weight I was attempting to lift.  My first reason for doing that was because I haven't lifted in a very long time with weights and didn't want to overdo it while familiarizing myself with this program.  Second, it actually takes a little more time than I had anticipated to unscrew the ring on the handle and add another weight so I went ahead and ordered a second set of handles today and now I'll have two sets of weights for me for each workout.  I still lifted about 10 pounds which for my first day definitely brought on that burn that we all love so much in lifting.  Also, I don't use a workout bench.  I used a stability ball, which is also used by one of the guys in the video, but talk about really having to maintain your balance while building your core.  Below is a list of the exercises we did today. I need to replace the batteries in my heart rate monitor so I couldn't calculate how many calories I burned, but by the end of the workout, I was a sweaty mess so that must mean something good happened! Tomorrow is Build: Legs and I am slightly scared at the thought of not being able to walk or sit the rest of the week.  Oh, the price we pay for beauty, health and lovely lean muscles.  

 

E&E down the hatch and ready to start my first BodyBeast workout!

 

Now let's talk food.  As with any Beachbody program, a nutrition plan is included with Body Beast.  One of the great perks about lifting is how many calories I get to consume while on this program.  I calculated my estimated body fat percentage along with my weight and activity level, prior to this program, and am roughly in the 2400 calories per day range.  Coming from a program where I was about a 1000 calories less than that, it was definitely an eye opener to see just how much I needed to consume each day.  I can see where this might get overwhelming for many people and make them maybe not want to do the program, but once I broke it down a little further, it all started to make sense.  For my calorie intake per day, my breakdown is as follows: 6 starches, 3 legumes or protein liquids, 5 veggies or balanced liquids, 6 fruits or carb liquids, 12 proteins, 5 fats.  Because I have done 21 Day Fix in the past, using those containers helped me not feel so overwhelmed.  For example, 12 servings of protein isn't so bad when you have 2-3 servings per meal.  This is what I love about Beachbody because everyone thinks just counting calories will be enough, but you have to make sure you're not overdoing it in any particular group.  And they tell you how to do that! Now, a couple of years ago, I started following more of a Paleo diet.  I try to avoid legumes and most grains because I do feel better when I don't eat those things.  I am trying this week out following the meal plan with legumes and some grains to see how I do, but I have found that others follow a similar Paleo diet and are doing great with their Body Beast results.  So far I have had 2 of my meals, not including my pre-workout drink and my recovery drink.  It is almost time for lunch and I am hungry, but not starving.  I can tell my metabolism is a little revved up today and that makes me happy!  

 

Most of my meal prep for the week.

Breakfast today: Egg whites with sundried tomatoes over gluten free
toast smeared with 2 tablespoons of avocado, and half a banana.  

 

I realize it is only my first day, but I am truly loving this program and what it may bring.  I even entered myself in the casting call contest to hopefully be in the next Body Beast infomercial! I think because I have seen so many women doing this program and know that there is so much support out there, that is going to help keep me going.  It really does help to have support like that to help keep you accountable and on track.  if you don't have a workout buddy, find one.  I'll be your buddy if you need one! Thank you for being a part of my journey! Day 1 is in the books!

Body Beast Build Chest and Tris Exercises
Warm Up

Single Set

• Dumbbell Chest Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Super Set

• Incline Dumbbell Fly 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Incline Dumbbell Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps

Giant Set

• Close Grip Press 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Partial Chest Fly 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps
• Decline Push-ups 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Single Set

• Tricep Extension 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, reps

Super Set

• Single Arm Kickbacks (right and left arms) 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps, 8 reps
• Tricep Extensions 15 reps, 12 reps, 8 reps

Super Set (60 seconds)

• Dips on Bench
• In and Outs

Cool Down

Eight Twenty-Six & 34 Things...Revisited

I wrote this post for my Loudest Sound blog on my birthday a year ago, but never posted it. Not sure why, I think I just wanted my posts on that blog to basically be about music and not so much about me or my personal life. Now that I have two blogs going, I feel better about posting this and think it's time to revisit some of these goals and see what I can cross off the list and think of some things to add for this year. I turned 35 this week, much to my chagrin, and even though it was a tough pill to swallow of me not being where I'd like to be or where I'd hoped to be at this point in my life, it is time to move on from the negative feelings and focus on the good that is to come. I was fortunate enough to mark off a few things over the last year, so let's see where the next year takes me!

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Today marks 34 years since I joined this crazy world. I’ve always made such a big deal about my birthday and usually drive my friends and family crazy with a countdown and constant reminders, but this year I was actually pretty quiet on the subject prompting some of those close to me to ask if I was feeling well. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older but in all honesty, I was just preoccupied with other things, mainly music and a certain trip I have coming up in a few weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I still thought about the day itself, but it was in more of a “reflecting” manner than a “hey, time to party” manner.

Thirty-three was not a bad year overall. I certainly accomplished one major thing which was to find a new job and I did that, but I’m still hungry for more. And when I look back at my life and everything I’ve said I would have liked to have accomplished by this point, I’m nowhere close. I would have to say that probably the best thing that happened to me this year was that I fell in love with music and writing all over again. Not that I ever stopped loving either, but that intense passion had started to wane over the last couple of years and I needed something to kick start my heart back in gear.

So, I decided to create this list of “34 Things I want to do While I’m 34” to sort of help me get more inspired to get to further points in my life. I believe that 33 was a great catalyst to get me here and now I’m ready for the next step. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I would tell the 17 year old me half a lifetime ago now, and the common theme I seem to keep coming back to is, “To live your life, no regrets, going after each dream and each moment.” Hopefully in a year, I’ll look back at this list and there will be many awesome things that I experienced and accomplished all while learning more about myself along the way. Life is a journey and when you get stuck in a rut or don’t know which path to follow, it’s always a good idea to take a step back and dig deep within your soul to find out what it is that truly makes you tick. For me it’s music and writing and so the journey begins to take that love even further.

34 Things I Want to do While I'm 34

1) Host a party (this might be more successful once I move back into Houston)

2) Read MTV book and find 3 other books to read (Hey, I did read a couple of books, just not that MTV book. )

3) Start Photography again (Now that I have that new camera, I need some help!)

4) Gain more exposure for this blog (And my Loudest Sound blog)

5) Get a press pass to one concert

6) Complete an art project

7) Take a road trip to a new place

8) Visit& Hike Enchanted Rock

9) Write more and submit items for publishing

10) Visit Houston’s art museums

11) Visit California

12) Meet my Black Rebel Motorcycle Club friends in real life ( Still have a few more so not marking it off just yet)

13) Meetand interview Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (still hoping for that interview)

14) Get my passport (Yes Liane, I know. Soon. )

15) Pay off some of my debt

16) Expand my record collection

17) Unclutter my life/apartment

18) Go to Colorado to visit family

19) Take a kickboxing class (Thanks to Kristen for inspiring this one even more now)

20) Take a dance class ( I did go to 1 ballet class, but I think I should continue)

21) Learn how to sew

22) Learn to cook better

23) Take the dogs to the beach (I don't count that 5K in Galveston, so we'll try again. Road trip to Cali, maybe?)

24) Save money to take a real vacation (Keeping this one because I still have yet to leave the country. See #14)

25) Visit New Orleans

26) Take a writing class or 2

27) Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle

28) Take piano lessons

29) Start ice skating again

30) Get a promotion at work

31) See Mazzy Star live (Sigh. I added this right after they announced the album last year, but there were no TX dates. Still hoping though.)

32) Write 2 short stories

33) Go to the observatory to see the stars (Hehe, I kind of did that in California.)

34) Learn to speak better Spanish

So what else should I add to the list? Hmmm...I realize some of these are slightly cheesy and maybe not what I want to do a year later so open to ideas.  I'll update the list soon!

PiYo Journey: Moving Forward to New Limits

Sorry for being MIA the last week.  After I finished my 3-Day Refresh, I was in a little bit of a fog fighting what I am guessing was some remnants of my detox and also just very much looking forward to some much needed time off.  I got a little behind with my PiYo workouts, but I doubled up a couple of days and am still on schedule.  I finished week 4 and am now on the other side of the hill.  I do plan to continue with the advanced schedule once I finish this so there will be another 8 weeks added on to my PiYo journey. 

 

Last week I was introduced to 2 new workouts, Hardcore on the Floor and Drench. Both of which did not disappoint.  Hardcore on the Floor was similar to Core, but you never left the floor, hence the name.  There were plank exercises working your glutes as well, the typical various crunches and a superman sequence that ended with my new favorite move, the sea turtle.  The workout lasts about half an hour and it is definitely another favorite.  Drench, on the other hand, is the first workout that left me feeling sore ever since the first week.  I could tell my booty was burning all day and yesterday I definitely felt it when I sat down.  It is similar to Sweat, but definitely more intense.  Honestly, everything was sort of a blur in that workout so until I give it another go, nothing really stands out except this is the workout that you finally do the famous PiYo Flip move.  I hope to get a great picture of myself doing this next week on the beach in California.  Be prepared to work that booty!

 

The PiYo Flip

 

Today, week 5 started off with another new workout called Sculpt.  I think we've learned by now that Chalene is expecting us to be working it 100% every time with these workouts.  This is another workout that I will need to do a few times before feeling like I've found my groove, but just as I was thinking to myself I need to do more upper body, she shows up with all kinds of push ups.  You work the entire body, arms, core, legs and butt for sure.  I had never had to stop in the middle of the squat/lunge sequences as much as I had to with this one.  It is a burner for sure!

 

I just wanted to say that I am still very much in love with this program.  Other programs I grew bored of right around this point in the journey, but I find myself missing PiYo on days that I don't do it.  I look forward to continuing to see my progress.  I know I am getting stronger and more flexible.  I know my body doesn't hurt as much as it did with other high impact workouts.  I know that I am seeing better results than I ever have.  There really is something to be said about finding your soulmate workout. 

 

 

My 3-Day Refresh Review

If you have been following my posts this week, you saw that I took on one of my biggest challenges yet, the 3-Day Refresh.  This past June at Summit, Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler announced a new product that was about to launch called the 3-Day Refresh.  It was in response to the Shakeology cleanse many had started doing, but that was never endorsed by Beachbody.  You could consider the 3-Day Refresh a mini version of the Ultimate Reset, the 21 day cleanse and body reset system that is offered by Beachbody that has helped numerous people regain control of their lives and health in just 3 weeks.  However, many felt they just needed a quick boost to refocus their efforts and that is why they developed the 3-Day Refresh.  Just after Summit as coaches were returning from their week of sinful eating in Las Vegas, the results started coming in from those that had already completed their Refresh.  In just three short days, people were losing up to 7 pounds, and even more in some cases, and were doing this through shakes and real food.  This isn't a juice cleanse and it isn't a fast.  It is simply a way to break some unhealthy habits you may have picked up, a way to drop a few pounds for an upcoming event or a way to kick start your metabolism if you've hit a plateau in your weight loss journey.

 

3-Day Refresh Kit

 

I quickly ordered mine so that I could hopefully bust through my current plateau as well as refocus on my healthy lifestyle.  I was enjoying too much yummy, but unhealthy food recently.  I also have a trip coming up and just wanted to look and feel my best when I got there.  I admit, I was a little nervous about this.  I don't usually do well with little amounts of food and calories and in the past with other "kick starts" or detox diets, I failed miserably.  This time I knew I'd have support from not only my Beachbody family, but luckily one of my best friends was going to take this ride with me. 

 

Monday was day 1.  I went to the store the previous day, but failed myself in that I didn't get everything laid out and ready to go like I should.  I also didn't sleep well the night before so that didn't help with my energy level.  The morning was pretty similar to most of my mornings, except I decided to skip my workout since I don't like to workout without a small snack in the morning plus since I was only allowed a certain amount of calories for the day, I thought I should see how I do and then if I felt up to it, I would workout when I got home.  You are allowed to do light-moderate exercise while doing the refresh so staying on my PiYo journey was fine.  When you first wake up, you are supposed to drink 8 oz of water.  Then, for breakfast, I had a tropical strawberry Shakeology with half of a banana blended with ice and water.  Later that morning I had my usual green tea that I have most mornings and then about another hour or so after that I had the Fiber Sweep shake that comes in the kit.  I am going to give it to you straight that this can be a hard drink to swallow if you have texture issues.  It is thick and grainy, but luckily has a light lemon flavor.  I just chugged it as soon as I could and then downed some water afterwards.  Throughout the day, it is advised to drink half of your body weight in water, which really isn't too much more than what I normally drink so that was fine.  Just a few more trips to the restroom which means more exercise, right? For lunch, you get your first Vanilla Fresh protein shake of the day along with a vegetable, healthy fat and fruit option of your choice.  I actually felt pretty full after that and thought, I got this.  I was pretty tired, but wasn't sure if that was to be attributed to the body doing it's thing or just from a bad night's sleep and no exercise.  A few hours after lunch, you get a snack that consists of a vegetable and healthy fat of your choice.  I wasn't too hungry throughout the day for the most part, but by the time I got home I was starving which made me cranky.  The Refresh guide comes with dinner recipes that are made up of vegetables so for the first night I chose the stir-fry veggies.  I accidentally used balsamic vinegar thinking it was a free food, but it actually turned out quite good so I have a new favorite side dish for the future.  You also get another Vanilla Fresh shake and can choose to have a cup of vegetable broth if you'd like, which I did.  I went to bed pretty early that night hoping to have a better Tuesday, and I did.

 

 

Tuesday was my best day on the Refresh.  I had more energy, I felt great and even got my PiYo workout in when I got home from work.  I only lost about a pound that first day, but I didn't let that get me down.  I had read many other's comments on Facebook about their results and figured I just didn't have a lot to lose and it was only the first day.  I enjoyed another light dinner and went to bed, but struggled falling asleep right away because I had worked out in the evening and I don't usually do that anymore.  That unfortunately led to a Wednesday that was pretty similar to my Monday.  I woke up Wednesday, my final day of the cleanse and was down about 2 more pounds so that had me excited.  I just kept telling myself after all the dreams I had about food that I just had one more day to get through and I can do it.  I chugged along through the day, downed that last Fiber Sweep begrudgingly and just couldn't wait to get home.  I skipped another workout yesterday unfortunately.  I was just too exhausted and was getting very cranky again.  Right about that time, I found another group of comments on Facebook by others saying they just gave up because it wasn't working for them.  I'll get to my thoughts on that shortly.  I made my final meal of lemony green beans and Vanilla Fresh shake and vegetable broth and again, went to bed pretty early.  I was glad it was over.

 

Overall, my thoughts on this cleanse are good.  I am proud of myself for sticking to it and not cheating.  I honestly didn't crave food, especially sweets, during that whole time.  Yes, I saw pictures of food and thought how delicious that would be right about now, but I didn't blow it with a piece of chocolate or crackers or some other thing that I could have easily talked myself into.  I was hungry, but I wasn't dying of starvation because I got to eat again whenever it got to be at its worst in the stomach growling department.  I think because I get up so early, that could have been a factor as well.  If I was able to start my day a little later, maybe that would help because my day wouldn't be so long.  The Vanilla Fresh shake is actually quite tasty and I added cinnamon to it to give it a little more flavor.  I recommend blending it in the blender with ice or at least using a very good shaker with cold water.  The Fiber Sweep didn't cause me to have to run to the bathroom, if you know what I mean, which was one of my concerns.  I noticed from drinking so much water, that my body temperature lowered a little and at night I wasn't as hot as I usually am so that was nice.  And, I loved the recipes they supplied because like I said, I plan to continue using those paired with proteins for meals in the future.  My negative thoughts, and these are just for me, are that I was tired, which could have been more from the sleep issues rather than the actual cleanse.  I did find it hard to stay focused again during work and with fewer calories consumed and the fact I wasn't able to eat like I normally would, I did get a little cranky towards the end of the day on Monday and Wednesday.  Tuesday was my best day and I have seen many people say that same thing about their day 2 and I have seen others say that they had energy the whole time.  It really depends on your body.  Would I recommend this to a customer or a friend? Absolutely.  But I would share with them my experiences so that they can have an idea as to what they could encounter.  Will I do it again? Yes.  This 3-Day Refresh is safe to do monthly if you'd like.  I know August will be a crazy month as it is my birthday month so I am already planning on doing another round in September.  Next time, though, I think I'll try it on a weekend.  Since I get off early on Fridays, I think I'd like to see how I do with being able to work out in the afternoon after I've eaten and also have the ability to take a nap should I have to.  Another time I may try it in the middle of the week and see how my body reacts to it that way. 

 

The thing you have to remember is that there is no quick fix.  This isn't going to make you lose 20 pounds in a weekend and it isn't going to eliminate all of your bad habits for you.  You still have to put in the work.  I will say that even though I was dreaming about my first real meal, I didn't go crazy and have no intentions to.  I had my normal strawberry Shakeology for breakfast and avoided the kolaches that were in the kitchen this morning when I got to work.  What I am excited about most is that I am refocused on my healthy eating and that feels good to be in that head space again.  And that I am not craving sweets.  Shakeology helps with that, but I still have my moments.  With this though, I can't even think of eating something sweet right now.  And now my results.  I lost 4 pounds and 7 inches in the 3 days.  I have read that others continue to lose weight afterwards so I am hoping I see that too.  If not, I am still proud of myself for taking this challenge head on and getting it done.  If you're interested in starting your own 3-Day Refresh, I would be more than happy to help you get started and offer you support. 

 

 

Playing Catch-up on my PiYo Journey & 2 Pesky Enemies Return

Well, the weekend flew by and I didn't really give myself a chance to sit down and write.  I hate that.  Why can't we just have a little bit more time to do all the things we need to do and want to do in that short amount of time? In any case, I did stick to my journey and worked out every day even though Saturday was supposed to be my "rest" day.  I am glad I did so that I am back on schedule with the program calendar.  I start my third week of this amazing journey and I just keep falling more in love with this program with each workout. 

Friday, I did Define: Upper Body.  I am slowly starting to get those triceps push ups and side planks.  What I am most excited about is the definition I am starting to see in my arms.  There's always been some sort of underlying definition, but now it is starting to show a little more.  Coming from someone that thought you always had to lift weights in order to gain strength and muscle definition, I am so amazed at how quickly I am seeing changes in my body.  It definitely helps to keep me motivated to keep going.  The fact that many of these workouts, like this particular one, are short and easy to bust through in no time helps also. 

As I mentioned, Saturday was supposed to be my "rest" day, but I was so impressed with one of my challenge group members getting up and bringing it that I just couldn't sit and rest.  Plus, I really start to miss Chalene even after a day so I decided to do Sweat and stay on schedule.  I don't know what it was, but for some reason on Saturday when I did this program that I've done a couple of times before really kicked my butt.  I have done P90X and 21 Day Fix workouts, but never have I dripped the amount of sweat I was dripping that morning.  It was insane! I was pushing myself a little harder too, trying to start getting deeper into those lunges and just really enjoying this workout.  Yes, there are times when I may say a bad word here and there, but in the end when I'm done and am experiencing that high, I am proud of myself for doing it.  I've seen another coach lately mention that guys are telling her that workout is not that big of a deal.  I challenge them to try it.  You might be amazed.  I think those haters are just scared they might actually get their butts kicked by Chalene too!

Just after that Sweat workout.  You can't tell, but my hair is soaking wet.  Awesome workout!

Sunday was the Core workout again.  I remember how I felt the next day after I completed that workout last time.  I hurt in places I had never hurt before.  A common theme in my PiYo journey.  I believe I have mentioned before about how I was in a car accident a few years ago and one of my injuries I sustained was a dislocated rib that still occasionally likes to slip out of place.  My chiropractor has told me that basically the best remedy is to build up my core and I had been doing that, but recently before I started PiYo, I had started to slip on my core workouts and I could feel that rib slipping again.  So, after doing the Core workout, I think it is safe to say that that rib will be staying put for a while.  What is awesome is that the place I felt the most post workout soreness was actually in that area so I know those muscles got a great workout along with my obliques and all of my back muscles.  You even get a little butt and leg workout with this routine. I think this is one of my favorite workouts so far because of the way it challenges you and the moves are just awesome and different than the usual core workouts I've done in the past.  One of the last moves is this punt kick move you do while in a modified side plank position and you just feel your whole core working.  I know I have some abs under there that are dying to get out! I can't wait to see them!

Today is Monday and it's time for Define: Upper Body again.  I couldn't get out of bed this morning.  I just couldn't no matter how much coaxing or trying to motivate myself I said I will just do it later.  I ended up regretting that decision throughout the day because my morning workouts are like my morning cup of coffee ( I don't drink coffee, but I think this is a good comparison).  I just feel off without it and I was actually in a cranky mood most of the day.  So note to self, get up and get to it so that your day won't feel all funkified in a bad way.  I went home and I busted through those 20 minutes and felt awesome afterwards.  And stronger.  Tomorrow we get a new workout, Buns.  I am afraid I won't be able to sit or squat for a week.  

 

 So, I have a confession to make.  I have been a little hard on myself and I can feel myself losing some of my mojo.  Not so much with the workouts, but with being a Beachbody coach.  Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and I love that I am hopefully helping others make a change in their lives, but sometimes it can be hard to motivate others when I can feel a little lost myself.  Sometimes I'm not even sure if anyone is paying attention to what I say so I just tell myself to just blow off posting today or sharing something exciting or inspiring.  I fear that I am getting on people's nerves and have lost a few friends over it.  Some days I don't really feel like I am getting support from some of the people in my life, not that it's their job, but just to feel like they take a genuine interest in how much I am passionate about this would be nice, but this is my journey and I have to remember that.  I am also a little frustrated that I'm not further along after being a coach for almost 6 months when I see so many others gaining fast traction.  I know that is some of the old me just trying to bury its way into my brain.  I have a lot of doubts lately that I will be able to grow this into what I'd love to see, but I just keep looking at some of the other successful coaches and they all had days where they felt the same way.  I won't quit.  I have this voice deep in my heart that says just keep at it and so I will.  I also know I should never compare my journey to anyone else's because when I do that I am standing in my own way for my success.  Some days will be harder than others, but in the end I know it will be worth it.  And I need to kick that fear to the curb, because it won't get me anywhere.  I think that our weekly Wake-Up Call struck a nerve with me and spoke to me in a good way.  One thing that stuck out was this quote, "Resistance has a way of sensing when you're getting weaker." I think that is so spot on.  It is so easy to just start a downward snowball effect of negative thinking and wanting to give up.  It's like that little devil sitting on your shoulder saying, "just quit, you're not good at this."  You have to be stronger than that resistance.  I have another confession and that is that part of why I am being hard on myself is that the negative talk in my head is allowing me to think badly of myself because I am not where I want to be in my weight loss journey either.  I know it's stupid especially since in just 2 weeks, I have lost about 5 pounds and 3 inches from my waist and hips, plus my flexibility has greatly improved already and my booty is looking a little higher these days.  I know I can still step it up, especially in the food department, but I am proud of myself of where I came from and certainly thinking I would never achieve that.  I have decided to put the scale away for a while and not focus on that.  I am going to take a big deep breath and just relax and enjoy the journey.  Same with being a coach.  I have said countless times before that I didn't become a Beachbody coach for the money, and that is absolutely true. At the same time, however, I do want to inspire people enough that they do want to join my team and pay it forward in their own way.   If it happens, great.  If not, then at least hopefully someone is reading this and realizing they want to make some sort of change in their life as well.  I have a vacation coming up in a few weeks and I think that will really do me good to recharge my battery and find my center again.   What types of things do you do to recharge or get some sort of motivation back when you can feel the doubt coming on? What do you do to overcome fear in your everyday life?

I have this posted on my Beachbody vision board and I just need to keep it in mind every single day.

 Meals for the Day:

Breakfast: Strawberry Shakeology with frozen black cherries, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, water and ice

Morning Snack: Whole wheat tortilla with all natural peanut butter

Lunch: I had to run an errand at home which cut my lunch short so I stopped to get a salad from a drive through place near my office.  Big mistake.  It tasted horrible and I barely ate it before tossing it in the garbage.  Lesson here is to BE PREPARED! I failed myself today, but will be better prepared tomorrow. 

Afternoon Snack: Carrots and hummus

Dinner:Turkey spaghetti sauce with spiral pasta