I'm bad at this

So, basically I realized it has been a RIDICULOUSLY long time since I have updated on here. Three and a half months, actually

Wow, I'm really bad at blogging.

Eeesh. But never fear, I am NOT really bad at fitness and working out (at least not as bad as I am at blogging).

I have not disappeared. I have not given up. I have not stopped. I'm working harder than EVER.

At a gym.

Yeah. I'm not doing Insanity right now. We've been on a long break. But the local college has allowed us to stop in and use their running track and their weight room. So that's where I've been spending my time.

Also, in early March, I started working full time in DC. One of the things that I've noticed over the years, is that once a long commute (mine is two hours) and a full day sitting at a desk are combined, movement is minimal and working out is put off to the side. As a result, there is a great deal of weight problems in the Washington DC area (despite the intense need for business perseverance and political socialite groups).

First week on the job, I could see how easy it would be for me to fall into that tendency. Be just too tired to workout. But also first week on the job, I realized that no way Jose was I going to give up the health and strength I've worked so hard to build up over this past year+. Working full time was NOT going to get the better of me.

So no, I dont work out every day (because honestly, yes, there are days when I come home and collapse in exhaustion), but it is a minimum of three times a week (usually 4-5). And though I'm still often tired and feel groggy, I still know I am doing really well! I am running (trying to work up to a 5k - still a long way to go, but we're getting there), weight lifting, ab working, and constantly mixing things up so my body never gets used to something.

I leave the gym with sore muscles and a different kind of physical exhaustion than Insanity ever gave me - the kind of exhaustion that leaves you waiting to feel it again tomorrow :-)

Sooooo also I decided to add a few more "progress pics" mostly you'll notice the difference in my arms as you cant see my new runner legs in here (lol, I'll post those later ;-) ).

Also you'll notice my awesome shirt. My younger sister remodeled it from an old tshirt into this quite awesome and much more flattering piece of art :) She's pretty awesome.

You'll also notice (or maybe you wont. I dunno), there is much more definition around my neck and face (yay situps - they dont just work your abs, y'all). 

So here we are. Still working - still work to do. But keeping on!!! :)

happy anniversary... to me.

well it has now officially been a year since i started with BeachBody's workouts (primarily Insanity). And I know i just posted a bunch of before and after pictures so you do get the deal there... but still... i love those moments of being able to look back on where i was, and then see how far i've come and how much better i am.

I get to see that in my kickboxing class (when i first started, lets face it, i suuuuuucked) and now i have a brown belt and (i think) am getting close to a black belt. It's been about a year and a half of hard work, dedication and practice, and its certainly paying off.

and because everything helps with everything else, being healthier over all by eating better, gaining muscle strength through Insanity as well, has also helped me in kickboxing - helped me pick up my speed, has increased my endurance, and my overall strength.

so this morning - after a couple weeks of sorta hit or miss with working out due to holiday schedules, having to work some extra hours in he office, and just some life stuff that came up - i decided to try a new workout. with the challenge i've been doing with my coach, Amy, a few months back i won a few extra Insanity dvds - Insane Abs (anextended and much harder version of Cardio Abs from the regular Insanity program), Max  Interval Sports Training (which is pretty much what it sounds like... Month 2 length *an hour* of inteeeeeeeeeeeeeeense sports training inspired exercises), and a strength training one (that uses dumbells at various weights - i need to buy heavier weights.... CANT BELIEVE I'M SAYING THAT!!!).

I've done the Insane Abs a few times and eventhough I hate working my abs (cuz it freakin hurts, y'all), I like it. It's a 30 minute workout for when I dont have time for a full Insanity workout. And you still are drenched in sweat after it. haha. ;-) Haven't been able to try the strength training one yet, because i need to buy heavier weights, but I'm looking forward to trying it.

This morning, however, I tried the Max Interval Sports Training. and Oh. My. Holy. Goodness. Remember how I was telling you, oh a long time ago, about how hard Month 2 was? heheheheheh. Okay, MIST is harder. But, unlike the first time of doing Month 2, I at least *tried* all the exercises. Some i couldn't do more than five reps, but I still tried. And when I'd get up, I honestly couldn't help but smile. It was like feeeeeeling your muscles getting ripped and feeling your six pack burning to the front. Kinda cool.

So that was today. Backtrack a few days, back to Christmas day.... For the first time I can remember  I felt great. I'd had a good night's sleep, My family was around, and I honestly felt like I looked good. Wasn't wearing anything special (I mean, other than the fact i had on skinny pants and a form fitting shirt), but it was like... wow, this is me. this is what a healthy me feels like! I LIKE IT!

And i really do. My goal for 2013? To feel like that all the time. To be able to walk around knowing that no, i'm not a sports model (yet. hehe), but I am healthy. I am young and strong and getting stronger every day. It makes a huge difference, people. So excited for what the next year of fitness will be like. I will be working more (hopefully) as a Beach Body coach and who knows.... maybe start teaching something :) :) :)

Reflections

November 2012 *with my awesome friend, Evelyn* 

So,

I've been thinking the past few days (dangerous, I know). And I realized that it's been about a year since I decided to really take this weight loss bull by the horns and wrestle it with all my might. It's been quite an incredible year, actually....

In my first post I talked about how I was convicted about New Years resolutions - how we make these grand plans for how we're going to improve our lives for the next year, but never actually do any of those things. The next year rolls around and we haven't changed one lousy bit.

I am so thankful to say that when I hit December 31 this year... I will not look back with regret. I will not look back wishing I'd stuck to those plans. I will not be discouraged by  how little I've done and now no progress has been made.

This year has been a good year. No, I havent come as far as I wanted. No, I'm not done yet. But yes, I have made progress.

I now have two (and a quarter) rounds of Insanity under my belt where a year ago I barely exercised at all. I can honestly say that the vast majority of days this year I HAVE been faithful to workout in the morning. I HAVE been faithful to eat well (though I still can improve). And I HAVE increased my strength, stamina, health, body image, and physique.

Hey, it's a small thing... but I was excited when I was at the grocery store the other day getting a turkey for today (Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!) and I could pull a 22 lb turkey out from the bottom of the bin - out from under other 17, 18, and 19 lb turkeys - with ONE hand! Booyah. Last year, I could barely get the 18 lb-er out with *both* hands.

Yes, I'm a bit of a dork. But yes, I did stand in the grocery store and do a few bicep curls with the 22 lb turkey. Laugh if you want. It was fun. And pretty dang cool to see that kind of visible improvement.

Another part that's interesting... while I'm "shrinking" and having to get smaller clothes, there is one aspect that's challenging..... sleeves. Due to the masses of pushups required in Insanity (plus the intense dumbell routine we go through at every kickboxing class), my biceps no longer fit well in sleeves. I've had to buy larger shirts and take them in at the waist just in order for my *cough* guns to fit inside.

Nevertheless, I decided last week to do a photoshoot with my sister (yes, this year I have been comfortable to get IN FRONT of the camera. It's quite a change...). So... now we're going to delve into deep, dark history, and pull some "before" and "afters" (cuz I know you all loooove that). And really... feel honored. We're going back to a few years ago... back to the kids of pictures that most ppl would say.... NO! don't put that online! I look fat!

my 18th birthday - 2009 

senior photos 2009

"refrigerator model" at a friends' wedding in 2010

birthday photo 2010

spring formal 2010

brother's wedding 2010

Father's Day 2011

July 2011

October 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 (ONE YEAR AGO!!!) 

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012 - My 21 birthday - check out the difference from 2009 (yikes!)

July 2012

September 2012

September 2012 

September 2012

September 2012

November 2012

November 20, 2012 

November 20, 2012

November 20, 2012 *I actually have BICEPS!* 

 As I said before, still a distance to go. But um, hello! I'm so happy with how far I've come already. Can't wait to see what the next year holds!

Third Time's the Charm!

So turns out that that old saying, that I always found annoying, actually has an element of truth to it!

This is my third round of Insanity and this was my FIRST time making it through all three sets of the warm up!

Yeah, I know. It sounds lame. But really. It's not. Think 10 minutes of full speed ahead cardio - to you runners out there, imagine a 10 minute sprint. wheeeee! it's tough, but I'm excited to know that I could actually make it through!! I was a bit more tired through the rest of the routine, but making it through one milestone was definitely worth it! Now to just keep up that wining streak AND be able to continue strong through the rest of the workout!

OWN IT! :) :) :)

Because I Forgot

I realized that I never posted pictures from my Diamond Head hike (eventhough I said I would).

Sooooo here they are :)

headed into the state park

starting the looong hike

first stop

breathe. just breathe. 

not even halfway up... but exhausted. 

some random person offered to take a picture. yay me. about to tackle the first set of 73 stairs. 

the tuuuunnnnelllll 

that, way down there, is the parking lot where we started. and i had my camera zoomed in as far as it would go. 

at the top!! 

I made it!

looots of staairs. i hate stairs. 

but the view was worth it. 

 

in every direction. 

another random person offered to take a picture on the way down. 

Bam! 

Insanity biceps. 

 

the second set of 90+ stairs that i forgot to take a picture of on the way up. i wanted to cry. 

but we conquered and lived to fight another day.