I should be on the show The Originals

OK... am I the only 40-something person that still fan girls over these things?

Yep, I started off as a Vampire Diaries gal - which I still watch faithfully -#TeamDamon #always - & when The Originals came on, I was hooked on that as well.  Because as much as I love Damon, I am more of a Elijah type of girl. 

#TeamElijah #foreverandalways

What the heck am I even talking about?

Well, on The Originals, one of the original vampires is 'special' - he's a hybrid.  He's both a vampire & a werewolf.  Told you - special.

But that's all I keep thinking of now since I started my new workout program that is going to take me through 2015.

I found on Pinterest a hybrid of a program that alternates P90X3 & T25 for 12 weeks....

Pinterest - the place where you can find pretty much anything.

This will take me right through the time till I need to start my next half marathon training.

I think it will be good for my knees to get a break ... & of course, it is always helpful to build some strength & muscles & get a little more toned up.

I'm excited about it....

something new - something to work the body differently - a plan.

I like a good plan.  I NEED a plan in my life.  My days laid out for me.

& who knows - maybe it will make me feel as tough as a vampire and werewolf combined ....

I just cant make myself like it....

Oh gosh y'all...

I tried...

once again.

What in the world am I talking about?

Piyo

Except this body has a bad shoulder & I will basically cry in extreme pain doing this move

The amazing workout program that I see a lot of people talking about - the workout that combines Pilates & Yoga.

First, let me once again reinforce my struggle with Yoga.

I just can't make myself like it.

I WANT to like it.

I know my body needs to stretch & I know I have kinks I need to work out.

But with this stupid sucky bicep tendonitis, it totally kills me to do hold all my weight on my arms to do these holds ... & I can't handle the repetitive sun salutations over & over. 

Just punch me in the face instead.

I will say, I do like Pilates. I like the ab work on that.  Strong core - I'm all about that.

So yesterday, I found a hybrid sheet that combines T25 with Piyo & thought, this may be something I need to challenge myself with.  Get the cardio of T25 & then try the full body workout of Piyo.... I printed out the schedule, pinned it to my cork board & put in the first DVD that started with Piyo Sweat.

I was 15 minutes in & I was MISERABLE!!!

I even said out loud, "I cant make myself do this anymore"... & popped it out & put in P90X3

(I also found a hybrid of P90X3 & T25)

I don't feel like I'm giving up on a workout - I just know its not for me.

Just like I want the world to love kickboxing... not everyone is going to love it.

It's good to see there are options for everyone out there - right? 

Not everything is black & white... no one is going to agree on everything

I just know I don't want to be bored out of my mind & making my BT any worse then it already is...

Piyo - back into the back of the cabinet you shall go...

T25 about killed me....

Look at me getting back into a routine.

I used to get miles in on Monday, Thursday & a longer day on the weekend & cross train on Tuesday, & then Wednesday or Friday...

Well, I got the miles in on Monday - let's see what the cross training thing feels like.

So back to T25 I go. 

I figure I'll put my P90X3 off until I get through my races in March & then re-evaluate everything.

T25 Cardio.  I forgot what a witch you are ...

It felt like the longest 25 minutes of my life.

& I'm pretty sure I was thisclose to passing out by the end of it.

I may or may not have looked like this at the end of 25 minutes

But it felt good to work muscles that haven't been worked ... in a LONNGGGG time.

So I'm slowly working my way back to what my life used to look like.

Even remembering what it was like to moan & groan from sore muscles the next day.

That's a good thing by the way.

......

Side note - send me some good vibes. I go tomorrow to find out about my liver/pancreas/kidney scan for my side pain.  I always turn into a big ball of nerves at anything that is medically related so I could use some well wishes for good news & prayers of calm nerves.  Thanks!!!

Yeah... this is me...everytime

Getting back in the swing of things...

Working out...

yeah, I used to be into that...

& then vacation happened... & my back injury again happened & not feeling good happened... & being depressed happened...

& working out has been slacking.

I was starting in the 2nd phase of my P90X3 & feeling great.  & I had every intention of working out on vacation, especially since plans got nixed & we were going to be home.

& then I hurt my back the minute I woke up on the morning of vacation.

& the first thing Ricky said to me, "Don't even think about working out"... & for the first time,  I knew I couldn't.  I usually push myself, working out even when I know I probably shouldn't.  This time, I knew I couldn't. Talk about humbling.  So the whole week was off.

& then the time changed.

Let me tell you. I sink into a deep depression when the time changes. I know its coming & I try to fight it, but when its dark at 5:30, I just want to put on PJ's & hide & go to bed. I cop the attitude of "I don't care about life"

... & then for the past 4 weeks, my stomach has been a mess. Like a MESS...

I used to have issues with IBS but when I gave up meat about 3 years ago, I haven't had one problem with it.  I don't know if my issues now are related to IBS or what is going on, but its a lot of feeling nauseated, stomach pains, nothing fun.

& then we're moving at work.  I don't even want to talk about it. I'm so depressed about this whole work issue.  Add work depression on top of darkness depression & its a perfect storm of depression

So what do I do now - because I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.  I want to let working out be my antidepressant - which is hard at first... but I'm getting that kick in my butt to get back at it.

I'm not sure whether to pick up in the 2nd part of my P90X3...
or do I start at the beginning?

I did my old T25 last night just to get a good sweat & some cardio going.

My heart rate was up in the 150's... my heart was saying, "Wow, its been awhile since I pumped"

& Tuesday, I did the best antidepressant work out - I just put in "Just Dance" in my Xbox & moved for 55 minutes...

I think I'm going to just play out 2014 by ear...
Do what I can do...
move however I can move...

praying my back & knee take a turn for the better & that my mood picks up...

& praying I don't end up an extra 20 lbs heavier by the start of 2015...

Fizzle at the finish....

OK... so I'm probably going to be a debbie downer today...

I'm just so frustrated - so aggravated - want to punch something or someone.

Volunteers?

Where's my irritating co-workers when I need them?

 

I'm on the last week of T25... 10 weeks.  I've done every day (except Sundays which is stretching... & well, not really a workout).  Proud of myself getting through it all...

& here we are on the home stretch... & what happens?

I've done something to my knee. 

Well, not something.  It's not like its new. My knee ALWAYS has problems. I messed up my knees in martial arts when I was in elementary school.  Yes, I started martial arts at 7 years old - so by the time I was 11 years old, in 5th grade I had injuries from exercise.  I was on crutches & needed physical therapy for hamstring injuries ... it was quite dramatic.

So I'm used to knee pain... & I know it comes & goes.  Running hasn't helped the knees, but it doesn't really hurt it either. I mean, I hurt it doing T25 - low impact version for goodness sakes.

& I COULD press on & make it through this week, BUT I have a wedding Saturday - which means I have to stand on my feet - & my painful knee - for about 12 hours. Smiling the whole time.  Bending up & down.  Walking all day long from place to place, grabbing equipment, going to the bride & groom whenever they want me.  As of right now, I'm nervous - my knee hurts that bad. 

So my hubs & I decided I take off working out until after the wedding.

it's killing me... I feel like my body is getting fatter & lazier by the minute.

& then, I did the worse thing possible. Remember when I said I wouldn't weigh in until the end of T25. Well, I feel like this is the end anyways - because when I start working out again, I'm going to start my running program....

Got on the scale...

FREAKING.HEAVIEST.EVER.IN.MY.LIFE~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no, I didn't measure. I'll do that tomorrow.

I was too shocked to think about measuring. 

I am up.  Higher then ever. 

Dear God... WHY?!?!?!!?

10 weeks was useless?

Where's that co worker at?  I'm heading into their office now with my dukes up....

Mark it Off... & jumping back into half marathon training? again?

So I totally didn't put the Mark it Off post for April...

I'm a little forgetful sometimes... Or I just had a lot to say in May & that post just kept getting pushed to the side.

& then, as time does, it flies... & we're done with May as well & we're into June.

Seriously?

I'm already having Christmas anxiety thinking of all the shopping we need to do.... I get that way about Christmas.

So here for your viewing pleasure - not ONE... but TWO Mark it off pics...

At least I'm looking consistent...

I should have Sunday marked off but do you know I have not done the T25 stretch video yet... not ever... & its the easiest thing.  25 minutes of stretching & getting the body longer & more flexible?  & I just haven't done it.  I only have less then 4 weeks left in the 60 days of T25... I need to try it... maybe that will be my goal for this Sunday.

Someone - send me a tweet or message & tell me, "DO THE STRETCH DVD" on Sunday :)

I can't believe I'm on the back side of T25.  I'll miss it... but then see other blog buddies who do it every day, ALONG with some sort of running or biking.  Right now, that blows my mind because I'm a sweaty exhausted mess after just these 25 minutes.  (T25 aint no joke)...

BUT, I think next week, I'm going to challenge myself.

I'm thinking I'm doing a half marathon in October called the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon...

Its Louisville... we love our Bourbon... except I've never tasted bourbon in my life.    Bygones.

or I'm going to do the Women's Series Race in Nashville... that is if I can talk the hubs in traveling for a race.  He's not all gun-ho for that idea. 

Either way - I want to do a fall half marathon.

In my last Women's Running magazine (fav magazine ever) - they had a Couch to Half Marathon plan.  It goes over 20 weeks.  & I should start that training on Monday if I want to stick with it.

So I'm nervous.  Can I do this training AND finish up the T25 for the last few weeks?

& am I ready for the training of a half marathon again?

People don't understand the time it takes to get in a training program... its a serious time sucker... but its worth it... I know that...

But I'm heading into some busy photo schedules too...

Nothing is more important then health though - right?

So here we go again... apparently...

I do miss running... anxious to see if the T25 will make a difference in my training.

& maybe I'll be cool & awesome like some of you bloggers who do BOTH every day.

oh... the dream....

& I'll secretly freak out to think that 20 weeks, we'll be at the end of October... closer to Christmas...

Why I'm breaking the scale habit... at least for the next 6 weeks

Here I am... going into week 5 in the T25

Shaun T... my new best friend. 

I still say, I have never sweat so much in my LIFE for a 25 minute workout. 

Last night, I actually went with my husband & we got in a quick mile, just so I could have my legs (& stupid low back) remember what moving in that motion felt like.  I came home & did Day 26 of my T25 & I literally was dripping sweat.

I'm not a sweat-er... not like that.  (Is it sweater? I just think of the garment to wear)

I may glow & glisten ... my skin gets dewy... but I never have actual sweat falling off of my face on the mat. 

With T25, it happens. 

I feel like such a tough chic when it does that...

But I've been feeling a difference lately.  My legs seem to be feeling more toned, my burpees are progressing stronger, I am even able to get more push ups in that are solid & strong then ever before. 

Oh believe me - there's lots of flab there I need to tone, lots of issues I need to work out - but I am feeling a little progress.

So then Monday comes.  I thought, let me step on the scale & I was prepared for a drop in the number. 

Let me remind you - I've been at the same stupid weight for about 4 months now. Not even joking.  A half marathon in there, training for that race, never more then 3 days not working out - & that was once when I was sick... its usually missing 1 day a week of working out... & yet, the same stupid BIG FAT NUMBER on the scale... refusing to move.

I just knew it was going to drop... even if it was half pound, I would have taken it.

I stepped on the scale....

The EXACT SAME FREAKING NUMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was funny because when I got on the scale, I had on my sports bra, some boy shorts & I looked in the mirror & was like, "Yep... I see progress.  Its happening"

I got off of the scale & looked back in the mirror & I saw something completely different...

I felt flabby, fat, lazy... ready to just give up...

As I went & ate a cream filled donut - NOOOO!!! I really didn't.... just seeing if anyone is paying attention... but as I went through the morning, it ended up making me angry.

That scale totally distorted my thinking, the way I was feeling. 
I started off feeling confident, stronger then before...

The scale made me feel like a failure, like nothing really matters... that I'm going to be a pile of blubber forever...

that's right when I decided... no more...

I'm putting the scale up...

at least till the end of my T25, which is in 6 weeks.

At the end, you're supposed to measure yourself & that's the numbers I'm looking forward to.  But I'll also weight then & see if it makes a difference.

I'm through letting some stupid number define me & the way I see myself...

Good bye scale.  I won't miss you...

& if in 6 weeks that number is still the same?  Someone just needs to say a prayer for that scale because my Mr. Sledgehammer will have a close & personal relationship with Mr. Scale.

Do you weigh yourself often?

 

Does the scale change your mood?

First Double Day...

I woke up Saturday & thought, I can't believe its been a week since my half marathon.

You work for so long to get there...

But this past week, I've been doing good on the T25 path.

Stuck to the calendar of what to do - except it has Saturday as your rest day.  I actually took mine on Friday.  So Saturday, with no race, no running planned, I went to grab my T25 schedule....

& then noticed something I didn't pay attention to before...

There's 2 work outs for the day...

exactly my reaction when I looked at the calendar

Saturday called for the lower Focus & the Cardio...

Oh sweet mother of all things fitness... this was going to be tough.

I actually started with the Lower Focus & then thought, "Cardio?  I'll go run - I haven't done that in a week anyways"

... & then about half way through, I thought a few things.

1. my allergies are acting up CRAZY & being outside would make it work.
2. I really didn't want to get on the treadmill
3. If I want to see what the 90 days on this program is about, I can't alter it - I want to stick to it.

So I thought, I'll do what it says.

I'll just deal with the schedule & what it says....

... & then I thought I would die...

Thank God for the modifier when I got to the Cardio video.

Truth be told, I should have done Cardio first & then the low body afterwards.  Doing it first, my legs were jello. 

BUT.... I did it... both videos all the way through...

Yep... some calories were BURNED in an hour!

Score for me...

I made it through week 1 of T25... & now we start doing videos all over again in different combos.  I'm so anxious to see how I feel when I go to do workouts for the 2nd/3rd time... if I can feel a difference in my body.

As of this morning, I weighed in & am exactly the same... which still bites fat donuts...

But we'll see what it looks like next week.

I'm still Pressing On!!!

What did you do this weekend to work out?

Now what?

Its always so weird after a race is done, isn't it?

I mean, you invest so much time in training. 

I have on my calendar exactly what the training was for that day. 
I have canceled appointments or rescheduled them when my long runs hit on the weekend.
Life revolves around training.

& then the race happens... & BAM, its over & its like, "What now?"

Its just like when you plan for a wedding.  All that time on the details & when the wedding is over, you wake up the next day & say, "You mean I don't have to call the florist to change the flower order again?"

Life just feels like something is missing...

I will say, after this last half marathon, I woke up on Sunday feeling fantastic - only my blister hurting & my legs just a slight bit of tightness.  Nothing that felt like I was miserable. 

I told Ricky I could even go running on Monday...

But I've decided not to.

I'm taking the running down for a bit. 

Oh, I'll still do it.  No doubt.  It was a beautiful day yesterday & I was itching at the bit to run....

But I started on Monday my next 90 days - I'm going through the whole T25 program.

I'm going to see if I can get some of this weight off & get my body toner & tighter...
I want to become a better runner & I think this is a good way to get it started.

I actually took my measurements to see what the difference will be in 90 days...
there BETTER be a difference!

I found out that the right side of me is a half inch bigger too... fun fact...

Yes, I'll still sneak in some 5k's...
I love some Jost Running medals so I know I'll be doing a 5k at least every month...

#medalsrule

I'm excited to get my body in better shape...

& I can't wait to start looking ahead at my future races.

I already have the next Kentucky Derby miniMarathon marked on my calendar for 2015... have a Fall half marathon in mind. 

But these next 90 days?  I'm going to turn into a fitness BEAST!

YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

T25 First Day

After talking to a few people that know a LOT more then I do, they suggested that I still do the T25 along with the training for another half marathon...

& being the OCD person I am about following orders & plans, I was told to continue with what the calendar says... except don't do the lower body work out if it falls before the day before my long runs...

OK... a plan...

So I was excited to take the video & open up all the books & get ready.

25 minutes... I can do this - right?

I am someone who thinks in terms of numbers all the time.  I count when I run... I know how many steps are in a tenth of a mile, which leads me to knowing how many times I need to count 10 times to get to one mile... yes, I'm that crazy when it comes to numbers.

I'm like the Rain Man of Working Out....

If only I could turn my number nerdness into real money

I know myself well enough to know what 25 minutes looks like in a run - how I feel, how far I get...
So translate 25 minutes to a work out ... I can do this.

Rephrase this...
I can do this WHILE working out around a dog that likes to lay dead center of the floor
I get extra points for this

The first thing I liked about this work out is they take some of the pressure off of me by having a count down clock, as well as a ticker that shows how long that particular exercise is going to last.

Which is great for those one exercises that you are feeling like they are straight from hell & are used for only some sort of spy torture... you can see the end is near...

Day 1 means the Cardio tape...

I was kinda interested to see how hard a work out can be for 25 minutes.

yeah... it had me sweating... & panting... & groaning... in just 25 minutes.

But I did it.. & actually enjoyed it.

Right after taking the picture, I'm still deep breathing

& even more so, I did it with thanks to the modifier. 

I ain't even trying to make it sound like I stepped in Day 1 & was like T25 pro... heck no... I wanted to find that Ms. Modifier lady & hug her in real life.

I would try each exercise at the full impact & most times, that would be for like 2 moves & then back to the modifier... but I loved she was there to show what to do.    And now I have a goal to get through the whole video without any modifications. 

I see T25 being in my life for awhile to get to that level....

My next dilemma?  My running training gives me 2 rest days... T25 gives me one...

So do I use a rest day today or do a T25 work out?... we shall see...

Work out Dilemma

So I posted yesterday about how I was waiting by the door for my T25...

The Fed-Ex guy must read my blog because as soon as I got home from work, someone pulled up into my drive way & left a package..

YES.. here it is...

I really was like a kid on Christmas morning.  Give me scissors to cut the box & STAND BACK.. mainly because I'm really dangerous with scissors.

I poured into the box.  Then said, "Where's the books?"... it was supposed to come with a cookbook with 5 ingredients or less & a chart to keep track of everything... but they were there - just a LOT smaller then I thought.  They fit in the DVD box.

So I'm excited... going to start on Monday... because the chart tells me to start on a Monday.

& then I looked at my calendar & my dilemma begins...

I'm registered to run the Kentucky Derby miniMarathon on April 19th... paid in full...

 

& my training that I follow (Marathon for Mortals) has a 14 week plan... which would start on, you guessed it, Monday...

So what do I do?

The running plan has me running on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & a long run on Saturday... with cross training on Wednesday & Friday...

So do I put off the T25 until I get through the running training?
Do I forget the race & first try & get fit with this T25, which lasts 10 weeks?
Or do I go REALLY crazy & try to do BOTH?

T25 workout is 6 days a week

I actually thought about this last night... if I do both, I could potentially get up at 5am & do the T25 in the morning before work... which would require some SERIOUS dedication.  I'd have to be in bed early, which freaks me out because I do love my night time TV...

Priorities... gotta have 'em...

 & I'm not much of a morning workout person...

This would be me in the morning

But then I could dedicate nights for running... & if there is no running scheduled, just relax on those nights since I got my cross training in with the T25 earlier...

I don't know what to do...

Do I really push myself?  Maybe cause more injuries with my back & knee? ... or do I push myself & become some sort of She-Beast that is amazing & find strength I never knew I had?

I know this is giving my brain a workout...

I have to Monday to decide....