DAY 87 - StretchyX

Ooops... I was just looking at what I need to do tomorrow... and I realized that I did stretchyX a day too early...

This morning was supposed to be Kenpo!

Well, the stretchy video I did was no big craziness, but I've never found it to be a challenge. It's just "nice"... Maybe if I liked it more, I would have done it more often on Sundays instead of opting for the "rest" day...

DAY 86 - Core SynergistX

It's been awhile since I've done this video!! Wow.

And I can't believe how much I sweated!!

I find it a challenge to remember to keep your core engaged the whole time... Well, I get to do it one last time this week, so maybe I'll be able to do a great job at it - the last time! Ha!

DAY 85 - YogaX

The final week is FINALLY here!

I slept in a bit this morning... when you combo that with yoga - that leaves me in a slow, dreamlike, zen state - I'm late for work even by the time I'm pressing play... That's definitely what happened today. I used to be at work between 8 - 8:30... then I started to work later, so I adjusted my time... 8:30-9... Then on yoga days... 9:20...

But hey! It's the final week! (And I have yoga TWICE this week!!)

This morning's yoga went really well. I was really twisting and turning during the Warrior Three series. Did crane several times for several seconds... And then fell on my head (gently, and partially hit the pillow I put out in front of me)... I was REALLY great at plough/shoulder stands. It's incredible to think that the last time I did this program I couldn't even get into plough! I'm awesome.

And - I did a great job on Yoga Belly 7. I went for gold. :)

DAY 84 - Rest day!

Oh, you know how I love REST DAY! :)

I'll probably get out to do a walk today... and could still do the stretch video, I haven't ruled it out... I'm not that sore, which kind of surprises me after increasing all my weights this week. Each day I was sore, but the pain didn't really linger... it just to replaced by other screaming body parts and then forgotten. Not a bad way to roll. ;)

Here we are... on the eve of the LAST week! I know my shape has changed... it will be interesting to compare my measurements, weight and photos to my first week next Monday.

DAY 83 - KenpoX

Do you want to know something amazing? I've done this Kenpo video at least 12 times now since I started in January... And I can still feel like I'm REALLY working out. It hasn't become "old hat" - I've continued to find ways to really challenge myself. Interesting how doing a program like this doesn't just impact you physically, but mentally. I'm proud of myself always being present and creative and thoughtful during each of these workouts. There is a lot of repetition. But there's also the chance to show yourself how you can always find more in familiar movements.

Wax on. Wax off.

DAY 82 - Legs & Back

Ladies and gentlemen...

The moment we have all been waiting for...

I have filled in EVERY column of EVERY worksheet!!!

Incredible!!

And even more fabulous... I've completed Ab Ripper X for the last time! (Thank goodness!)

Before you can ask, yes, I brought it! I X'ed that workout!! Deeper lunges, more weight, more pull-ups... When you're calling yourself an animal after some of your sets... you HAVE to be doing something right!!!

Kenpo/Stretchy this weekend and then we're into my FINAL week!

TA DA!

DAY 81 - YogaX

"I know, I"m yelling too much for yoga!"

What a great workout today! I had actually considered doing one of the other (shorter) yoga videos since I slept in a bit... but then I just felt like I've come so far without switching up ANY workouts, why start now? So, I did YogaX and totally brought it.

And, yes, I rocked Yoga Belly 7 times. ;) It's funny how much more you can accomplish when you remind yourself that this is one of the last times you'll be doing the workout... (Yoga will be part of my "recovery week" next week, so this wasn't the last time).

I was thinking of my cousin during my workout, wondering how she's doing with the program, and then when I was having my breakfast, she sent me a note! (Crazy, right?) Anyway, her husband is a congressman - and got to workout in D.C. with TONY yesterday!! How awesome is that?

(Feels a little bit like "An American Tail" knowing that we were working out at the same time...underneath the same bright sky... LOL

DAY 80 - Back & Biceps

Oh the glamour workout...

I did some really GREAT work today... changed up my band and REALLY pushed it. Hello!??!

There were like 6 sets that have FOUR exclamation marks behind them... I'm a machine!

It's SO awesome to see a worksheet fill up! I only have ONE column remaining out of all my worksheets!! How crazy is that?? LOVE IT!

DAY 79 - Plyo

OK, this challenge that I gave myself to BRING IT for all of these final routines is sometimes CRAZY! I'm so impressed with the effort I put forward today. Especially my jump knee tucks and my rockstar hops... As you know, these have been a struggle for me since the start...but today... I rocked them! :)

DAY 78 - Chest, shoulders & triceps

BRING IT!!!

Like last week, this will be the last time I do these workouts this week - so I'm going to bring it all week.

Today was a GREAT start!!! Wow.

I switched to a harder band - and I think every note on my worksheets has a ! beside it...basically meaning... I can't believe I just did that!!! :)

My arms are going to feel it this week! Love it!

Now Ab Ripper X... That's a whole other deal... Thankfully enough, I ran out of time before my first appointment, so I had to end at Leg climbs... But, I didn't really mind...

DAY 77 - Rest day!

I have a lot on my plate today... and I enjoyed a bit of a sleep in... so, I'm QUITE thankful for a rest day today!

My legs were so tight still this morning that I got up and went and soaked them in the hot tub... It was great to just sit and soak. Nice down time.

This is it... The eve of the last "weights" week... and then "recovery" week... and then we're done... It's so crazy that the end is SO near!

DAY 76 - KenpoX

I received a new Kenpo video from B1X when I saw him a couple of weeks ago...and contemplated doing it today... but then thought I may as well just keep using this video until the end... Go classic all the way. ;)

My legs were SO tight all day yesterday - and they still were this morning. OUCH! So, it was great to get some kicks in there and loosen things up!

I sweated like a mad beast today! Sometimes it's quite fabulous to just workout in your own living room and not have to worry about running into anyone at the gym... :)

DAY 75 - Legs & Back

I can't believe this is the second last time for Legs & Back... It's so crazy to just have one column left!

Great workout this morning. I have been pushing it harder all week - and today is NO exception... but I'll tell you... I can definitely feel my "curling" muscles!! Oh my!

DAY 74 - Yoga X

Well, after thinking yesterday that there would be no way I could do all the "optional" push-ups between all my downward dogs... It's nice to know that I'm not that smart! That's now how it went down AT ALL!! I rocked it.

I did struggle with crane a bit... but WAY better than before!

I just wish that when we're doing "corpse" pose at the end that he would take more time for it... :(

DAY 73 - Shoulders & arms

So, this week, at work, there is a corporate curling bonspiel on... We played our first game on Monday and on Tuesday, my team was commenting on areas they were sore... and I wasn't. We played again yesterday, and again, I thought it was no big deal... Well... you pair that up with doing Shoulders & Arms today - and man oh man!! I'm sore and it's not even the next day yet...

I hope that tomorrow when I'm doing YogaX I have enough strength for my downward dogs... but I doubt I'll be adding the optional push-ups between!

The workout itself this morning was really good. It's the last time I'll do this video in the program... How crazy is that? The end is VERY near! In honour of my last time through, I increased my weight on everything. It was TOUGH! I was very happy when I made it through... Although, I followed it up with Ab Ripper X and I can't believe how poorly I did in that video this morning... well, except for the Mason Twists - which I completed! (Big accomplishment for me... I usually stop at 40 reps).

Hopefully I can brush my teeth tomorrow...

DAY 72 - Plyo

Due to my recovery from my cold, I did take things a bit easier this morning... I wanted to get through it, challenge myself, but not set my recovery back... And, I have to say, I was surprised at what I was able to keep up to normal pace. There were a couple of things that I did modify... and one set that I skipped.

Keeping a close eye on my heart-rate monitor, I was still around the same BPM that I usually am.

Good workout. Lots of sweat!

DAY 71 - Chest & back

I'm back!

I did do the stretch video on Saturday, but didn't do yoga yesterday.

This morning we got back on the horse and hit chest & back - HARD! I matched most of the reps that I did the last time - and really pushed myself - especially on the pull-ups. Also, I moved up to one of the hardest resistance bands I have just to really push me over the edge for the other resistance sets. My arms and back are a little sore right now... although, I did just curl for the first time ever tonight... So, chances are, it's feeling some strain from being used differently...

And, I did Ab Ripper X along with the video... It's hard-er (In my mind, that's said just like Tony). It was a challenge!! I can't believe how hard that video is STILL!

OOPS!!

Oh my goodness! I haven't posted since March 14th! I knew it had been awhile... but I didn't realize it was THAT long!

Well, you'll be happy to know that on March 15, 16, 17 and 18th - I completed my workouts!

On March 19th and 20th I was visiting my family... and didn't workout... You would think that because I was in the same house as my younger brother, B2X, who is doing his own modified version of the program, that we would have helped each other stay on track... But, he had to work early, and barely made it to work on time as it was... and being that it was a "vacation" for me - I didn't set an alarm...

On Monday March 21st, we were back in action. He and I did Chest, Shoulders & Triceps along with Ab Ripper X together. It was fun having someone to workout beside! But it was also interesting that at times I found it distracting and couldn't push myself further... Or maybe it was just the change in venue and time of day...?

After our workout, B2X made us Recovery Drinks (from Beachbody). Tony talks about recovery drink in the videos all the time... and I have to say... they ARE GREAT! I love the smooth orange-vanilla flavour of the recovery drink... But, point of interest - B2X and I both got a little shakey afterwards. Sometimes we do shake, and it can be a little unnerving. He and I just shrug it off. But, it was interesting to see us both shaking after our workout... I'm going to pay more attention to this, because I don't feel like I've been as shaky in Winnipeg... Curious.

Tuesday (22) and Wednesday (23) I worked out in my hotel room while I was on the "business" portion of my trip. It was funny on Wednesday trying to find somewhere to do a pull-up from... but ultimately looped my resistance band around the leg of the bed. Worked great!

Thursday morning I was not feeling well. I skipped Yoga and slept in as much as I could. :(

Friday March 25th, I had more time on my hands, being back on "vacation", and I did Legs & Back at my sister's apartment... Once again, I was troubled with finding somewhere to do my pull-ups... I used their couch, but it wasn't heavy enough. For one rep I made my brother-in-law sit on the arm of the couch, that was perfect! I skipped Ab Ripper, too tired and I didn't have the video or my handy email on me.

Friday night I hung out with B1X and his family. He and I got to discuss a couple of technique issues I was having... particularly around Crane. So, we both did our best crane poses and found that I am WAY more vertical than he is... But couldn't really find a solution... I was still feeling under the weather so we didn't do a lot in his new training room. I didn't even try any pullups... which I was intending to do.

My brother's crane:


My crane:


My 2.5 year old nephew's crane:


On Saturday March 26th, I skipped my workout. I was getting much sicker at this point... and my sister and I were hungry!

Sunday March 27th, totally sick. Woke up in Toronto after a night out with girlfriends. I was exhausted! And - I only had a couple of hours before flying back to Winnipeg.

Upon my return to Winnipeg... I wasn't fighting a cold... I WAS SICK!!! Two days off work, but all week have not been feeling well, so I couldn't even contemplate a workout! Today, I am going to attempt StretchyX just to get me back in the swing of things! I might do yoga tomorrow... And then Monday, we'll REALLY do week 11!

I only have three weeks left!