Hubs Joins Me on the Dark Side :: P90X

My husband, Allan, is finally working out with me, but only because it was 'his' idea. Friends of ours decided to do the P90X workout DVD series and Allan thought this sounded like great fun, after all, if Doug and Alicia could do it, he could too.  Allan was amazed at how much work the first few days of the P90X program have been, but if he sticks with it for the first 14 days he will be hooked. I am looking forward to spending even more quality time with Allan, as if working together wasn't enough! The best part of this being his idea is that I have a legitimate reason to nag.

Photo :: Lisa Mueller | ALM Photo

I will be following the P90X workout for the next 90 days as well as continuing with my daily cardio.  So excited to be trying something different especially something that most people can do in their home with little or no investment in equipment. I will be posting updates as well as some 'new' before photos for the this new phase of training.

Training and Food Journal: Thursday, February 19

I went to lunch with my mom and she tried to make sure she picked someplace good for me. The dish I chose was very tasty and although it involved rice I don't think it was too bad for me. Allan and I shared the leftovers from both our meals for dinner.

Training:
AM: 30 minutes elliptical
PM: 15 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Workout #2/Lower Body

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon and Splenda
Snack: N/A
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: Firecracker Beef at Wok Hay, egg drop soup, crunchy noodles, 2 crab rangoon
Afternoon snack: 2 tbps. peanut butter
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Leftover Firecracker Beef and Chicken and Broccoli from lunch
Dessert: Sugar-free jello
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Friday, January 23

Really got into the treadmill this morning...just kept on trucking. Now I will have to keep that up! Upped my level on the elliptical too. WOOHOO! I keep forgetting to note that I have a cup of tea each morning. I went off the coffee several weeks ago and have been drinking tea with a teaspoon of Splenda in it. I think every once in a while I forget some small random thing I have eaten but for the most part I include everything.

Training:
AM: 50 minutes treadmill
PM: 20 minutes elliptical
Weight training: Shoulders

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon, 1/4 apple and Splenda
Pre-lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Lunch: Soup (80 cals) and one slice bread and 6 slices of turkey (150 cals)
Afternoon snack: 1/3 cup non-fat cottage cheese (and three bites of Allan's Reese's Sonic Blast...he's the devil!)
Pre-dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Dinner: Chicken breast, brown rice, diced tomatoes and veggies; cup of skim milk
Snack: Serving of sugar-free pudding prepared with skim milk
Lots of water

Training and Food Journal: Monday, January 12

Today I started taking two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules before each meal to see if I have different results from just taking two in the morning. I didn't eat my snacks today, not sure why. Allan and I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow to stock up on my food plan items. We are out of food...not good! I am feeling good and my visit to the chiropractor today went well. YAY!

Training:
AM: 30 minutes treadmill
PM: 30 minutes treadmill
Weight training: Back

Food:
Pre-cardio: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with cinnamon, ginger and Splenda
Lunch: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules 30 minutes before 6 slices of turkey and 1/3 cup cottage cheese
Dinner: Two Tight Curves Fat Burner capsules 30 minutes before Macaroni and cheese, homemade, about one cup
Lots of water

Days Four and Five :: Updates

I received my diet plan and shopping list from Carlene yesterday along with four workout plans that I will do once a week on four different days. I also have to do 30 minutes of cardio each morning when I get moving and then make sure I eat my breakfast and the rest of my 4-5 meals each day. I have been disciplined with my diet and exercise before so this won't be too difficult, however; I do have to make sure that Allan gets enough to eat... He is very support of me in everything I do so I should be fine for the duration of the Transformation Challenge (and beyond). The protein supplement and fat burner have not arrived so Carlene substituted another protein source for my diet, but the Tight Curves products should arrive this week. Each program that Carlene designs for Mommy's Body is specifically tailored to the individual based on the information she obtains from a series of questions, tests and feedback during the consultation. Although Carlene and I have known each other for quite some time she has followed her usual procedures to ensure she doesn't overlook anything in my analysis.

I have to keep a diet journal of everything I eat. This, I know, will be the most surprising part of the next 11 weeks. I honestly don't eat as well as I used to and I will have to work hard to prepare the nutritious meals that Carlene has on my program. The meals themselves are not difficult it will be me making the time to shop and then prepare each day. Just a little re-prioritizing of my time and energy is all. I have gotten so used to working from home that I often overwork and lose focus on me and what is important to my health and well-being.

Just to keep me on track...30 minutes of cardio and the shoulders/abs workout yesterday and 30 minutes of cardio already this morning (per the program!). Thought for the day: Focus!

Day One :: Tight Curves Transformation Challenge

December 10 marks the first day of the Tight Curves Transformation Challenge. My before photos are below. They are not pretty and I didn't realize how out of shape I am. Thanks to Carlene Steenekamp of Mommy's Body - http://www.mommysbody.com/ - for getting me involved in this Challenge. The Transformation Challenge is about 12 weeks long and the winner is chosen based on overall appearance improvement not weight loss, fat loss or increase in muscle mass. I have been so focused on building the two businesses my husband Allan and I have, Sassy Glass Studio and ALM Photo that I have not been focusing on my fitness like I used to when I had a regular job. You would think that working for yourself would guarantee you would have and make time to workout but you would be wrong. It has taken a goal to get me to reevaluate my life and day to day activities in order to fit fitness back in.

In this blog I will be keeping track of my progress and providing some information on the challenges I face on my way to the end of the challenge and beyond. Drop me a line if you have any suggestions or tips that will help me stay focused and strong!