Running

I'm in the home stretch - my last month of P90X!  I feel so much stronger....today I did Chest & Back - my total numbers were so much better than when I started.  I did over 250 pushups and over 40 pullups in 45 mins!  Not too shabby for a mom with a 3 month old!  I feel stronger with each workout but I'm still not completely satisfied and I know myself well enough to realize that the only way I'll get the complete results I want is to increase my running.  Not exactly easy in central PA this time of year....it is nasty out! 

As the end of P90X approaches, so does my time back here with my family.  I'll be moving back to SoCal in just 4 weeks!  I can't believe how fast this time has gone - before I know it we will be counting down the days to my hubby's return in February.  Going back to California is going to make running a whole lot easier - I'm actually really looking forward to it.  I have my BOB double jogger ready to go!  I can't wait to put some more miles on it. 

I am planning (along with Rachel) to do the Marine Corps Marathon next year....  But now I feel like I want to do more, sooner.  I think I'm addicted to working out - it could be worse, right?  I'll probably only be living in California for another year.  my husband is approaching his retirement from the USMC and when that happens, we plan to move back east.  Maybe before I leave, I should get a good San Diego marathon under my belt.   So now I'm trying to decide if this is something I can do in 6 months....train for a marathon.  I think I want to try....  Am I crazy?  Any good training programs out there?

~Kasey

Recovery Week # 2

Here I am in Week 8 - my second recovery week and I feel great!!  I love knowing I am getting back in shape.  I still have a ways to go....some more weight to lose but I feel so much stronger.  I think I forgot how good it feels to be in great shape.  I've been there before and I want to be there again....not just good shape, GREAT shape. 

I haven't been perfect in my workout schedule so far - I've had to bend and flex to accommodate the craziness it is to be a mom but I'm proud of making it this far and excited to finish up the last month.  This doesn't just mark the last month of P90X, it also means this is my last month back here with my family.  My last month of having my little Sawyer home with my every day.  When this is done, I'll be boarding a plane back to southern California and anxiously awaiting the return of my hubby.

We've decided we are going to Mexico with our babies in early March....so what does that mean?  I'll be wearing a swimsuit in just a couple months!!  I am so proud of my results so far but I want to look a-ma-zing come March.  So I've decided once I complete P90X, I'm going to jump right into Insanity - another workout program from Team Beachbody.  No weights, no bands, no bars...just your body.  Its a 60 day program so the timing will be perfect.  Hopefully I'll be able to juggle my workout schedule once I'm back to Cali. 

I've also decided (with Rachel as my motivation) that I need to eat better - I am not a great cook and mostly its because I don't take the time to BE a great cook but its time for that to change.  I need to make the effort, not just for me but for my family.  I don't think I eat unhealthy but I definitely don't eat clean.  So come the new year, I'm going to bring on Insanity and clean eating.... 

One more thing....I'm renewing my subscription to Oxygen when I get back.  About 8 yrs ago, I had dreams of being on the cover of Oxygen and competing in fitness competitions.  I was about to register for my first competition but it was just a week before I was scheduled to deploy to Iraq.  I decided I'd rather spend those last weeks eating out and drink beer, not dieting and lifting.  Since then, I've never been back to the level of working out....and I want to be!  I'm ready again - I feel it in me and I'm super excited!  I haven't been this motivated by exercise in such a long time! 

Also,  I think I'm setting a good example for my little girl....she was doing some funky, sort of pushup looking thing the other day and I asked her what she was doing.  She told me "I'm doing my work like you mommy."  That's what she calls my workouts - doing my work. :) 

4.5 Weeks to Go!!!! 
~Kasey

GoWear Fit

I just wanted to take a minute to tell you all how much I LOVE my GoWear Fit Armband.  It is an amazing weight loss and fitness tool.  Everyday (or almost everyday) I plug my GoWear Fit into my computer and see exactly how many calories I burned that day, how many steps I took, how much sleep I got the night before, and how much exercise I am getting.  I also record what I ate and get to see a breakdown of the calories I consumed as well as the carbs, fat, protein and nutrients.  It is fascinating. Truly.

What I like most about it is that it doesn't lie. It is hard to be in denial with my stats right there on the computer screen.It tells me if I am pushing myself or not, if I am improving or not, and if I am doing the work or not. It motivates me to compete with myself and keep going.  Everyday I can't wait to see if I burned more calories than the day before or took more steps or had more minutes of exercise. Seeing my progress right there on the screen is an instant reward.

The bottom line is: I recommend one if you are really looking for serious accountability in your weight loss and fitness pursuits.  It is certainly working for me.

~Rachel

My progress so far...

Kasey's previous post was quite motivating.  She is killing it and I am so impressed.  I am not making even close to the strength gains she is and am struggling daily to get my workout in.  I do what I can though. Being weak sucks!  I completely underestimated how out of shape I have become. I fooled myself into thinking that because I ran a half marathon 10 weeks after my last c-section that I could just jump into P90X, and that is SO not the case.  The workouts are really hard for me, especially Ab Ripper X.  I have not made it through yet. I also hurt my wrist (just more evidence of how weak I am) and have had to lay off the push-ups and pull-ups. And I am not being a baby, I really did something to my left wrist.

However, after reading about the progress Kasey has made I wanted to see what kind of progress I am making, if any?  So, I jumped on the scale...137!  I have lost a solid 5 pounds.  And I took all my measurements and have lost an inch each on my waist, hips, each thigh, and my butt.  So then I felt brave and tried on a pre-pregnancy pair of pants and I could actually button them up. I was encouraged.  Although I can't do a single pull-up and have yet to make it through Ab Ripper Xtremely Hard and Painful, I am making progress.  Little by little.

I am still absolutely convinced that the P90X program works and once I get stronger I want to do it a second time without missing a workout.  I am still frustrated with how inconsistent I have been.  I'd really like to see what kinds of strength gains I could make doing the program right.  I'd like to experience a bit of Kasey's success.

For now though I will continue to do my best and be motivated by the progress I have made so far. Anything is better than nothing right?

~Rachel

P.S.  I will post a recipe for a fat burning salad dressing tomorrow!

Bad Day Turned Good

The past couple days have been rough - I haven't felt motivated and I've been struggling to make myself workout.  I'm worn out and I've had some frustrating moments with my little girl lately.  Today, the absolute last thing I felt like doing when I got my much needed quiet and alone time was plyometrics.  I just wanted to lay down and take a nap.  Or read a book.  Or watch mindless tv.  Anything but jump squats, airborne heisman and all the other craziness that make plyometrics the "X in P90X." 

So I posted a status update on facebook and said just that...........I'm not motivated and don't want to do plyometrics.  A few minutes later one of the Marines I worked with way back in the day replied and basically called me out (even Devil-ed me!) and asked what our blog followers would think.  He was right - I knew I'd feel guilty if I didn't do it and I at least needed to make the effort.  So I got my lazy butt off the couch (all the while praying my little boy would wake up and give me an excuse to sit back down) and put the DVD in...  50 minutes later I was sweaty and tired but I feel so much better about myself.  I even decided to get on the pullup bar and knock out a set (reverse grip, in case you were wondering) and I got a new personal best - 14!!!  I am almost to my goal.  I didn't think it could get much better - I just did a workout I didn't want to do, feel accomplished and motivated and I set a new personal record.  Well, then I went upstairs to check on Sawyer and decided to weigh myself.....I'm under 125!!  Over halfway to my goal weight and halfway done with the program - surprisingly, I'm right on track!!!

What started out as a depressing, unmotivated day has turned out to be full of positive and uplifting achievements.  All it took was getting off the couch and doing something active to turn around the negative feelings I was experiencing.  So thanks to the "devil" that called me out on facebook.  Sometimes you need that little extra push to get yourself going and today you did that for me.  One more workout down and one day closer to my goal. 

~Kasey

Sorry Everyone!

No I didn't fall off the face of the planet, my internet went down at my house.  I will spare you the details but AT&T is lame and it took weeks to get it back up. I cannot even express to you how much that complicated my life.  Anyway...

How is my P90X journey going?  All I can tell you is that I am doing the best I can.  My little one is old enough now to go into the daycare at the YMCA so I have been going there to do my workouts.  Sometimes I take my little video player and find an empty room and workout there.  Sometimes I just bring the worksheets and go down the list making sure I finish in under an hour. Some days I can't get a workout in or can only get part of a workout in, but I just do what I can. My life is crazy, my baby is so sweet but completely unpredictable, my tea company obligations grow by the day, and my husband has a constantly changing schedule.  This makes it tough for me.  But I am not giving up.  Since Kasey is doing so ridiculously amazing it pushes me to remain dedicated.  I am not doing 9 pull-ups (as if!), but I did 25 push-up (the boy kind) in a row last week which is a huge improvement for me since I could do ZERO when we started.  I am not losing weight as fast as I hoped, but I finally dropped below 140lbs so at least it is coming off slowly but surely. I am struggling the most with my abs.  It is a long, slow process after a c-section.  I do get frustrated however.  What is that saying? "Pain is weakness leaving the body..."  That would be me these days. 

Anyone having trouble with their wrists?  My left wrist is hurting.  Any advice?

I also wanted to tell you all that I love my GoWearFit by BodyMedia.  It really holds me accountable.  I love to see how many calories I burn everyday and I try to beat it the next day!  I recommend it.

Lastly, I promised recipes.  So here is one I love and it is perfect for a busy life like mine.

Easy Foolproof Slow Cooker Chicken

All you need is a slow cooker and a whole (preferably organic or all natural) chicken.  I usually get a six-pounder or so because I like to make soup from the left-overs.  Rinse the chicken in cold water and clean out the cavity.  For extra flavor, cut up a lemon and onion into large chunks and break off three or so whole cloves of garlic and stuff them into the cavity of the chicken.  Add any herbs you like to the cavity as well, thyme is always good with chicken.  Season the outside with salt and pepper.  Put the whole chicken into the slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  That is is!  When it is done it is so tender the meat just falls off the bone. I usually serve it with some root vegetables like carrots and potatoes (but celery root is also awesome) and brown rice or quinoa and spoon the juices from the cooked chicken over everything.  Try it and tell me what you think.  I can almost guarantee this will become a weekly staple meal.

~Rachel

Day 1 Week 5....wow

Today was my first day to try the Chest, Shoulders & Triceps workout....it isn't introduced until the 2nd month.  And wow am I going to be sore!  I guess that's part of the whole P90X logic - change things up so your muscles don't get bored and you don't plateau.  Well, that's exactly what they did with a whole buch of crazy new types of pushups.  I was feeling great on the last pushup workout....today was definitely a different story.  I struggled with pretty much every exercise they put out there - I hurt during regular arm circles and now we have to add weights???  Seriously Tony?  I'm going to be feeling it tomorrow...and the next day....and probably the next.  But that's the point right?  I'm excited to tackle a new set of exercises and see how much I can improve.  I was also able to get a little in on the treadmill today - I'm hoping that will step up the weight loss a bit.

And to anyone out there looking for recipes - sorry, I'm not the cook of the group.  Once Rachel is back up online, I'm sure she'll post a couple for you!  My food challenge right now is resisting all the candy my little Tinkerbell brought home!  Also, if I don't do better on the weight loss I'm going to have to suck it up and make the ultimate sacrifice.....peanut butter.  I wish I was a better cook - maybe once my husband comes home I'll set that as a goal.

Keep on P90X-ing that booty away! 
~Kasey