Embracing YOUR Body Type.

“Why can’t I be one of those people who can eat whatever they want, never exercise, and still look great?” Unless you ARE one of the few who fit into that category, you have asked yourself this at one point…and probably wish nothing more than to be able to inhale a Big Mac with zero repercussions. For most of my life I wished the same – but not anymore. Here is why I am proud to work for what I get – and you should be too!

1. Health. Simple, but so, so powerful. If you could get away with it, you would more than likely do it. And it might be fine and dandy for a while, but after a few years of eating artery-clogging food and sitting around, the consequences will be reflected in your health regardless of how you look on the outside. When I start to gain weight, I look it as my body’s way of telling me that I need to get healthy, and give it what it needs. If I didn’t have that reminder, it would me MUCH more difficult to keep tabs on my health.

2. Age. More often than not, those who have extremely fast metabolisms face major trepidation when they reach a ‘certain age’ because things start to slow down, and they have absolutely no idea how to eat healthy and manage their weight. Whereas those who had to learn from the start are not only are in better health, but have made healthy eating and exercise a habit, and don’t have to worry about making a lifestyle change.

3. Pride. Seriously, where has all the self-accomplishment gone? I would much rather know that I worked for what I got than know that some pill, ‘body type’, or surgeon did it for me. There is nothing more satisfying than reaching your goals through pure hard work, sweat, and determination. Take pride in not using shortcuts, so when you reach your goal, you can look back and say 'Yep, that was all me'.

And lastly…don’t assume that everyone with a great body is ‘naturally’ that way. Society may portray it to be so…but it’s unrealistic and you know it : ). I used to do this…but it was really just me attempting to convince myself that I couldn’t achieve it. Once I faced the facts and quit with the excuses, I achieved the results I desired.

Round 2 Day 10: MAX Interval Plyo

Sorry for the week of absence! I was still working out, I assure you. Robert and I went home for Memorial Day Weekend, and I didn't particularly feel like blogging on my iPhone. That being said...working out on vacation is HARD!! It takes all you've got to do it, but it's definitely worth while. We did miss one work out, only because we were driving the entire day. If you're doing Insanity for the first time, it might not seem like it's imperative to follow the schedule. But it IS! If you want to get extreme results, you have to follow the schedule. Sure, you can still get results by skipping a few here and there, but they won't be the kind you're looking for. Insanity was created and designed by professionals...all to get you into incredible shape. Why not take advantage of it? It would cost a fortune to pay a personal trainer to design something similar just for you. I know it can seem impossible to incorporate such a rigid work out schedule into your life. But once you do, it becomes a habit, like brushing your teeth and taking a shower...and before too long it's not so overwhelming anymore. It's just an hour out of your day. ONE HOUR!! That is nothing.

Robert wanted me to post some pre/post work out pics, just to show you how hard Insanity pushes you : ).

Day 2 Round 2: MAX Interval Plyo & INSANE Abs

I forgot how hard that work out was!!! Damn. I love it. I was able to notice quite a bit of improvement. The squat push-ups used to KILL me, but I handled them pretty well this time. And I just about kept up with the Level 3 Drills, but that last set of 16 push ups got to me a little bit. Considering I could hardly do 3 when I first started (for real), I'm pretty proud of myself! And I believe there are 96 push ups altogether during Level 3 Drills...if my math is correct. Not to mention all the power push-ups, squat push-ups, oblique push-ups, and balance push-ups. Wow, I never realized how many push-ups were in that work out until writing it out. Crazy! I still suck badly at the balance push-ups, but I am improving. All in all it feels so good to red line my body again. You just can't match the feeling of accomplishment after completing a MAX workout.

Question of the Day: Ladies...I need help. I have yet to find a solution for my hair during Insanity work outs. Pony tails fall out, braids whip me in the face during Power Jumps, and leaving it down drives me absolutely crazy. Tips are much appreciated!! Comments are activated on the blog so post your advice, if you have any. Thanks : ).
















'Guns' ; ).

Breakfast
170 - Protein Bar
90 - Small Banana
Snack
69 - Almonds (10)
105 - Flax Crackers (6)
Lunch
180 - Shakeology w/Almond Milk
15 - Strawberries (4)
45 - Smoked Turkey Slices
Snack
170 - Protein Bar
Dinner
60 - Veggie Stir Fry
86 - Pistachios (1/8c)
160 - Protein Shake w/Almond Milk
1150 - Total
1585 - Budget
435 - Under (will probably snack on something else tonight)

Day 1 Round 2 - MAX Interval Circuit

Well, I decided to skip the rest of month 1 and jump right into month 2. Why? I'm not exactly sure. I just missed them. Plus, I have about a month before Hawaii, and I want to get in the best work outs possible. And since I'm already conditioned for the MAX work outs, might as well do them, right?

Anyway, I had a lot of fun with MAX Interval Circuit. I did pretty well on it too, better than I expected anyway. I figured I would have lost at least a little ground after having not done it for a few weeks, but this wasn't the case. I had noticeable improvement in the Ski Abs, Push Up Jacks, In & Outs, to Oblique Push Ups exercise. I used to die out towards the end, but I was able to get all the reps in this time. I also did much better on the Floor Switch Kicks. All in all I'm happy to be back in month 2!!

Tip of the Day - Don't look at the timer. If you have to, shut your eyes. This will ensure that you're pushing yourself to your personal max, not letting the timer get the best of you. Once I tried this I was able to get in a lot more reps.

Breakfast
180 - Shakeology w/Almond Milk
77 - Apple
Snack
360 - Veggie Chips (too many)
Lunch
240 - Think Thin Bar
172 - Almonds (25)
Snack
140 - Flax Crackers
160 - Casein Protein Shake w/Almond Milk
Dinner
190 - Veggie Patty
60 - Stir Fry Veggies
(literally took 2 minutes to prepare)

1580 - Total
1585 - Budget
5 - Under

Day 9 Round 2: Pure Cardio & Insane Abs

I got my 'I earned it' Insanity T shirt today, pretty stoked about it : ). It's actually soft and comfortable, and for being free, that's not bad. I've never been so proud to wear a plain old cotton T-shirt in my life!!

I was actually supposed to have Cardio Recovery today, but I wanted to work out with Robert so I just decided to do Pure Cardio. Then I convinced him to do Insane Abs instead of Cardio Abs : ). I freaking love Insane Abs. Probably because core work is the only thing I'm really good at. Anyway, Pure Cardio was still just as hard as it was before, because I really pushed myself. And it's still one of my favorite work outs. My arms just about gave out in the middle of Push-Up Jacks, I think it has something to do with Upper Body Weight Training yesterday. But I'm determined to have a stronger upper body before month 2! Well seeing as how it's 2:30am and I am probably not making any sense I'm going to cut this post short.

Breakfast
170 - Protein bar (NuGo)
145 - Flax Bread w/Swiss Cheese
78 - Egg, hard broiled
Snack
77 - Apple
70 - Baby carrots
170 - Protein bar (NuGo)
Lunch
180 - Shakeology w/Almond Milk
78 - Egg, hard broiled
Snack
140 - Protein bar (South Beach)
Dinner
225 - Veggie Patty w/Swiss Cheese
50 - Spinach salad w/bell pepper
Snack
180 - Shakeology w/Almond Milk
1563 - Total
1585 - Budget
22 - Under

Day 8 Round 2: Cardio Power & Resistance and Upper Body Weight Training

Well I just finished Upper Body Weight Training. My plan is to do it 2-3 times a week, alternating with Insane Abs. Why? Because my upper body strength sucks : (. It's MUCH better than it was pre-Insanity, that's for sure, but I still would like more strength in that area. I don't want to have like, P90X arms or anything, I really just want to be able to lift heavier things! Especially since my husband is gone 1/2 the year, it helps to be self-sufficient in that area : ). Speaking of my husband...he has already lost TWO INCHES off his waist in the first two weeks of Insanity. I love him and hate him for this : ). But seriously...I am so stoked to share this with him and be able to be mutually enthusiastic.

Anyway, I still haven't started Cardio Power & Resistance, I'm waiting for it to get cooler outside (I'm a wimp when it's hot). For some reason NO ONE in Washington has A/C, so when it actually does get hot, everyone freaks out and doesn't know what to do. Including me. Oh...by the way...for those of you who have done Upper Body Weight Training, you know at the end how Shaun says something like "Well that's it, good job everybody...now go do...Cardio Power...haha just kidding"...thanks Shaun, thanks : ).
Breakfast
255 cals - 2 Pieces Flax Bread w/Laughing Cow cheese
180 cals - Shakeology
Snack
170 - Protein bar
Lunch
225 cals - Veggie Patty w/Laughing Cow cheese
77 cals- Apple
Snack
170 - Protein bar
Dinner
169 - Ground Turkey Patty (4oz)
44 - Spinach/Romaine salad w/orange bell pepper

Snack
160 - Casein protein shake
1450 - Total
1585 - Budget
135 - Under

Tip of the Day: It sounds obvious...but BE AWARE of what is around you when you're working out. Today I was doing the Heisman and my ankle caught onto the couch and I rolled it. Could have been bad, thankfully it wasn't.

Day 3 Round 2: Cardio Recovery & Cardio Abs

Well, on the bright side, Cardio Recovery is a breeze after having pushed through MAX Recovery for a month. However, it was still easy to challenge myself. This time around I'm able to have better form, and sit deeper into the squat & lunge pulses, whereas two months ago I could just barely get through them without collapsing. It's pretty encouraging to see how much I've improved. I also did Cardio Abs; I would have done Insane Abs but my core was still a little soar from doing it on Wednesday. Plus I was a little pressed for time. I've come to the realization that there really is no better feeling than having soar abs : ).

I haven't had dinner yet so I can't really post my diet for the entire day, but here's what I got so far. OH - also, I got my Shakeology today...so happy : ). I'm going to try Greenberry for the first time tomorrow, I'll be sure to let you all know how that goes.

Breakfast: Casein protein shake w/1tbs instant coffee
Lunch: Veggie burger patty (190cals) w/1 wedge Laughing Cow Cheese (35cals). Don't bash veggie burgers before you try them!! I buy mine at Costco, they are chipoltle flavored and have like 10grams of protein, and they are DELISH. And the best part about them is they only take 45 seconds to prepare : ).
Snacks: Almonds, apple, protein bar

Tip of the Day: Write down everything you eat. Like, everything. Determine your appropriate daily calorie limit, and track! I purchased an iPhone app called 'Lose It' and it has helped me immensely. Every time I eat, I search for what it was, select it, and it adds the calories to your daily log, and tells you how many calories you can eat that day (or how many you are over). You can also create your own food if it's not already in the database. But, if you don't have an iPhone, just suck it up and use good old fashioned pen & paper : ). There are also several free online calorie trackers you can use, just remember to log *everything* you eat.
http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/
http://caloriecount.about.com/

Day 2 Round 2: Cardio Power & Resistance

WOO-HOO! Round II is here!! I had a nice week off after my last day of Round I, but it feels so good to get back into the Insane swing of things : ). I missed it. For those of you who might be curious about what exactly I did on my week off in terms of exercise, here you go. I ran 3-6 miles every other day, with a little Cardio Abs thrown into the mix. I really wanted to let my muscles recover, and just enjoy the mental break. Turns out, the 'mental break' kind of made me crazy. I hated not having the feeling of knowing that I worked my ass off that day, and knowing that my body was changing shape. If you are wondering what you should do during your recovery week, my best advice would be to listen to your body. However, I wouldn't advise anything super intense.

But anyway...back to Round II. I decided to start from the very beginning instead of jumping right back into month two, because I feel that I can still push myself harder and get the absolute most out of the month 1 work outs. And I was right. Even though they are considerably less painful than they were two months ago, I can still push myself harder, and feel just as challenged as I was before. That's the beauty about Insanity...you can take things at your own pace, and I truly believe that none of the exercises will become 'easy' if you are pushing yourself to the max. You can always strive to be faster, jump higher, squat deeper, etc.

My diet today was kind of messed up...I was exceptionally lazy and didn't feel like eating unless it took less than 5 seconds to prepare. I'm also stuck in that frightening time of the month when I'm in between Shakeology orders. I'm not perfect, so don't follow my diet to the T! I just wanted to give you an honest representation of what I'm eating, and what kind of results it's producing. If you want to follow something verbatim, follow the Elite Nutrition Guide : ). Nevertheless...I promised honesty, so here 'goes:

Breakfast: Casein protein shake w/strawberries & pistachios (sounds gross but IT'S SO GOOD!)
Lunch: Protein bar
Dinner: Exact same thing as breakfast.

Tip of the Day: If possible, work out in front of a mirror, and write a short-term physical goal on it with a dry-erase marker. Not only will this keep you motivated, but it will more importantly allow you to correct your form. I just have one of those cheap full-length mirrors and I brought it out into the living room. Hey, it works!

FINAL RESULTS.

Well, I kind of think the photos speak for themselves! It's been an incredible, sweat-filled, muscle-burning 63 days...and I can't wait to do it all over again!!! More than anything, INSANITY showed me just how hard I can push myself, mentally and physically. My definition of 'difficult' has changed, let's just put it at that : ). I'm pretty proud of myself, I must admit. It's a great feeling of accomplishment.

Muscle vs. Fat...this is why you should throw out the scale!

Right now you're looking at 5lbs of fat, and 5lbs of muscle.

Notice how much larger and bulkier the fat is in comparison to the muscle. This is visual proof that even if you gain muscle and lose fat, your weight probably won't change that much. However, your body will be leaner, tighter, and smaller. So which one is more important? Would you rather weigh 10lbs less and still be flabby, or the same weight, and tight, lean & toned?

For example...a woman, 5' 6" tall weighing 140lbs who does regular muscle enhancing exercise, will have a lower body fat percentage, and look slimmer, than a woman of the same height and weight who doesn't exercise and therefore has a higher ratio of body fat.

I think it's time we stop obsessing over the # on the scale, because it is so incredibly inaccurate when it comes to tracking your progress. I personally haven't weighed myself since high school. It only made my life more frustrating and discouraging...two things you definitely don't need when tackling an intense fitness program, or any fitness program for that matter.

I used to think that cardio was the best weight-loss cure...thinking that I could get the toned body I wanted just by running alone. I was so wrong! I was running 5-10 miles every day, and saw little change in my body. Yeah...that was frustrating. It happened for a few reasons.
1) Muscle burns fat, even when you're not exercising...and I didn't have enough of it.
2) My exercise routine was the same every single day - resulting in a plateau that negated pretty much any results. This is one of the reasons why INSANITY is so effective, because you are constantly switching up your work-outs, and producing maximum results in the shortest amount of time possible.

So how do you track your results? My personal favorite method is by using a body fat percentage meter. You can pick one up from Amazon for a reasonable price. Just make sure you choose one that measures fat throughout the entire body, not just the upper body (here is an article that explains how body fat percentage monitors actually work). It takes all the guesswork out of tracking your progress, and really is the only way for you to know for sure that you are losing actual fat. Another great but simple method is measuring. I would recommend measuring the areas where you carry the most fat, for women around the thickest part of the upper thighs, and for men around the bellybutton area. This can vary between different body types, so pick your own personal problem-area.

So...in conclusion...throw out that scale!!!

(me holding 10lbs of fat...if that doesn't motivate you I don't know what will!)

ONE WEEK LEFT!!!

I know, I know, I totally slacked on blogging the past two weeks! Life got a little crazy, and those MAX workouts don't leave you with much extra energy! As of today, I officially have one week left. I am so incredibly proud of myself. I pushed myself to a level I never thought I could get to before, and I realized just how much my body is capable of! And the results are awesome. My body fat so far has gone from 23% to 17%, and pretty much toned up everywhere. After this last week I'm going to take a Recovery Week (Core Cardio & Balance) every day, maybe with some Cardio Abs thrown in, and then jump right back into the MAX workouts and do it all over. Now that I know how good this program works I can't wait to see what it will do to me after Round II : ). I will be posting my final results & pictures next week, but here is one from today.Breakfast: Think Thin Protein Bar
Snacks: Flax Crackers, Almonds
Lunch: Shakeology w/banana
Dinner: Clam Chowder (homemade w/light soy milk, not heavy cream!!)
After Workout: Casein Protein Shake

Here are some various tips I've acquired since the last time I wrote.

If possible, don't work out when you're in a hurry. I did this once...never again. It just stresses you out, and takes your energy away from the exercise. Plus, I tried fast forwarding through the breaks to save time, and ended up almost not being able to finish. INSANITY takes just as much mental strength as it does physical strength...and if your mind isn't in the right place, you're making things harder than they should be.

Wait AT LEAST three hours after a meal before working out. If you need something in your stomach right before, grab a handful of almonds or a banana.

The object of each exercise is not to get to a point where it's easy. You should constantly be pushing yourself and digging deeper!

Day 34: MAX Recovery

My legs have never trembled so much! MAX Recovery is hardly a recovery, so don't underestimate it. However, it was nice to have a break from hardcore plyo for a night. Just prepare to have your thighs set on fire. As usual, the upper-body exercises were tough for me. The elbow-back push-ups were really really hard, unfortunately my arm strength just isn't there yet, so I wasn't able to go all the way down to the floor on most of them. I did, however, kick ass on the core exercises : ). The squat pulses were definitely the most 'painful', in a good sort of way. I can't believe I used to think my quads were strong, holy goodness!

Breakfast: Shakeology (banana+strawberries)
Lunch: Chicken burger patty w/steamed veggies
Snacks: Plantain Chips, Kashi Crackers, and Snap Pea Crisps
Dinner: Shakeology
After Workout: Casein Shake *I decided to start drinking Casein because it is metabolized slowly, and is perfect to take in the evenings because it prevents your body from going into starvation mode during sleep.

Day 33: Max Cardio Conditioning

Whew, awesome workout. Max Cardio Conditioning is my fave so far. It really does feel like day 1 all over again! Which is pretty encouraging, actually, because I know a month ago there was no way I could do what I'm doing today. I wasn't able to keep up as much as I'd like, but I'm not letting it get me down because I know each week I'll be able to do a little bit more. These were the exercises I found exceptionally difficult:

Push-up Abs: Again, those upper-body strength exercises kick my ass. But man o man did this set my abs on fire...and I loooove that feeling.
Football Sprints to Plank: Couldn't keep up 100%, but I wasn't far behind. Great exercise though.
Plank Punches: Also probably because they were at the very end, right after Push-up Abs. I had to take a few split second breaks so my arms wouldn't give out.

Tip of the day: Like I said before, don't get discouraged if you find you can't keep up with the MAX work outs like you could in month 1. Remember that each week you're going to improve, and that the more the difficulty of the workout increases, so will your results.

Breakfast: Shakeology (banana+1tbs organic peanut butter+2tbs instant coffee)
Lunch: Think Thin Protein/Meal Replacement Bar (20grams protein, 0grams sugar, 300cals)
Snacks: Plantain Chips (great 'potato chip' replacement, I get mine at Trader Joe's), Snap Pea Crisps
Dinner: Kashi Lemongrass Coconut Chicken frozen entree
After Workout: Casein Protein Shake

Day 32: Max Interval Plyo

Not gonna lie, tonight's workout left me crumpled on the floor in the fetal position. In a completely good way!! There is something incredibly rewarding about finishing a workout that leaves your body completely spent. Just knowing that you pushed yourself to the max and kicked ass. In fact......I'm so tired that I don't have the energy to write anymore haha. Catch me tomorrow.

Day 31: Fit Test & Max Interval Circuit

Oh. My. God. That was freaking hard!! But I must be honest, it felt really good to take the intensity level back up to 110%. I'm beginning to love the feeling of sweat dripping from my body, and the burn that sets in during each exercise. These are just reminders that my body is transforming into exactly what I want it to be. Plus, I didn't fail as miserably as I expected I would haha, I actually made it through relatively well without many breaks at all. The exercises themselves were slightly more difficult than month 1, but where it really got hard, was repeating them over the span of an HOUR! That was the most grueling part, in my opinion. I thought the plank punches were pretty hard, probably just because they were at the very end and because my upper body strength is my weakest link. But I LOVED the burn I felt in my abs. Month 2 definitely brings it to a whole new level! It feels like day 1 all over again, which is a GOOD thing because it means my results are going to be twice as good.

Oh yeah...almost forgot to talk about the fit test! This one was tough. I improved in every exercise except for switch kicks. If you don't improve a ton on this one don't be too hard on yourself, remember that you still have 3 more fit tests to go. I also "cheated" and did it the day before on my day off. Some advise against this, but I say do what's comfortable for you. I knew that today was going to be a SUPER long day for me, and that I probably wouldn't have the steam to give both the fit test and my work out my all, so I opted to separate them.

Tip of the day: Eat small amounts often throughout the day to keep your metabolism running like a well oiled machine. If you wait too long between meals it will go into starvation mode and store fat instead of burning it. Additionally, you want to keep your energy level up so you don't crash in the middle of your work out!

Breakfast: Protein bar
Lunch: Shakeology (1 scoop, frozen banana, 3 ice cubes, milk, blend...with frozen strawberries mixed in after)
Snacks (throughout the day): Flax crackers w/light swiss cheese, banana, protein bar
Dinner: Veggie burger w/guacamole (minus bun)
After workout: Recovery drink *definitely needed it today

My Journey to Health.

It seems to be a common trend in America today to look good no matter what the cost. We impulsively resort to 'quick-fixes', completely disregarding the permanent damage they have on our bodies. Crash diets, diet pills, artificial/souped up protein powders, plastic surgery, eating disorders, and God knows what else...as long as it seems 'easy & quick', we're all over it. I'm sure every one of you has at one point in time been affected by this, so I thought I would share my story on the matter and how I came to realize that health should be prioritized before the way you look, not the other way around. Once you do this, I promise, it will pay off, in more ways than one. I hope that by sharing my experiences you can learn from my mistakes, and save yourself a LOT of wasted time, and more importantly, save your body from having to undergo the strain of unhealthy eating/exercise habits.

Not too long ago in high school - freshman year of college (actually come to think of it, that was a long time ago), I would do just about anything to be thin, in shape, and beautiful. In fact, I've tried just about every single one of the methods I listed above (minus plastic surgery).

Crash Dieting/Eating Disorders
I started experimenting with crash dieting in high school. I think we've all done it, or all of us women anyway. Before I had *any* understanding of nutrition and the metabolism, I skipped meals, expecting to lose loads of weight because of the restricted caloric intake. And I did, for about a month. What I didn't understand was that I was kicking my body into starvation mode, and that my metabolism would eventually adjust to the change and my weight loss would plateau. And that's exactly what happened. The metabolism is a beautiful, frustrating thing. It's designed to keep us alive and adapt to just about any situation you throw at it, which is why it is SO important to keep it happy...seriously, piss off your metabolism and you can pretty much kiss your weight loss goals goodbye. However, I didn't know this at the time. So I took things a step further, and stopped eating altogether. Biggest mistake of my life. I kid you not. If I could take back one decision in my entire life, it would be that one. The physical, mental, and emotional repercussions of engaging in an eating disorder are so incredibly massive, and they take years, sometimes a lifetime, to repair. Anyway, once I stopped eating it was just a huge downward spiral. Sure, I lost a lot of weight, pretty fast. But once you stop eating for that long, you will gain weight twice as fast because your metabolism has been in starvation mode for so long. You can't just say, "I'm going to be anorexic for a month or two just to get to the weight I want, and then I'll start eating normally," because by that time you've F-ed up your body so bad that it won't burn calories as efficiently as it was before. And this is why eating disorders kill people. Because once you get to that point, you either want to be healthy again and are ready to risk gaining all the weight back to repair your metabolism, or you feel trapped, like gaining weight is the most terrifying thing in the world, and that you have to keep on starving yourself. And by then that is the point you will have come to, starving yourself just to maintain weight. Sound fun? No. So please, spare yourself the pain and frustration, be happy that you have a functioning metabolism that burns the calories that you eat, and if you don't think it's burning them fast enough, then focus on increasing your metabolism through frequent exercise and eating small, healthy amounts often. Avoid putting your body into 'starvation mode' at all costs. Even after just 3 hours without eating your body is forced to store calories as fat instead of burning them, because it does not know when it will get it's next meal. Crash dieting and eating disorders are extremely counter-productive, and they pretty much screw over your metabolism. I struggled with my eating disorder off and on for about 6 years, and my metabolism is just now getting to the point where it can burning calories efficiently.

Diet Pills/Artificial/Souped Up Protein Powders
I think I've pretty well established that a happy metabolism=easier weight loss, right? Ok. Diet Pills=UNHAPPY METABOLISM. Throughout those unfortunate 6 years, I also experimented with these. Who could resist the outrageous claims they make, right? Most of these pills have the same affect on the body as eating disorders do. They may (I stress...*may*) work, but even if they do, it will only be for a short period of time. However, once the metabolism adjusts for to the crap you're putting into your body, your weight loss will plateau and you've just made natural weight loss 10x more difficult, and weight gain 10x easier. So once again, spare yourselves. They do not work, and after a period of time will become counter-productive and actually make you gain weight. 'Artificial/souped up protein powders' do the exact same thing. Products like No-Xplode that increase your heart rate/blood flow are not only extremely dangerous for your heart, but also have the same affect on the metabolism.

Alcohol
Ahh, this is a tough one for me. I'm not really a hardcore partier but I do love having a drink every now and then. And realistically, I probably will have a drink every now and then until the day I die. Moderation is definitely key here. Most people, myself included, drink without thinking of what it's doing to your body. Alcohol is not 'free calories', in fact, it is metabolized exactly the same way as sugar. Additionally, it clogs your liver. Big deal, right? Actually, when your liver is too busy filtering alcohol, it can't effectively filter other toxins/fats, and they will go straight to your gut/hips.

In summary - if something seems to be a 'quick & easy' fix, it's not. It is a long-term detriment to your body, and will only make your weight loss goals harder to reach. Be a purist to your body. Don't do anything that will unnaturally affect your metabolism. And don't be afraid of hard work, because when it comes down to it, that is the only thing that is going to get you long-term results. Your health is priceless, invaluable, and it will be with you for the rest of your life. It's up to you to decide what condition you want it to be in. Pursuing health will not only give you a great body now, but it will enable you to do the things you love to do later in life. Make health your priority, and the nice body will come as a result, permanently!

Day 30: Core Cardio & Balance

Yep, I'm still here : ). This recovery week has been incredibly nice. I hope my body still remembers how hard it has to work during 'regular' work outs, because month 2 is only three days away. Today when I was putting my hair back in front of the mirror I realized how toned my arms are getting...it's awesome! I haven't felt this good about myself in a really long time.

I went running today on top of my work out; I didn't realize how fatigued my muscles really are. They definitely feel stronger, but now I know that I really do need to take a break and let this be 'recovery' week, otherwise I have a feeling I'll have some strong regrets in month 2. I took some time to watch all of the MAX work outs yesterday, just so I could get the form down on the new exercises. Holy goodness!! It looks awesome. I'm excited.

Day 28: Core Cardio & Balance

RECOVERY WEEK IS HERE...yay! I'm pretty stoked about finishing month one. Today's work out was suuuch a nice break. It's strange to have been giving it 110% and then taking it down to 90%, definitely took some getting used to. Nevertheless, my body is thanking me : ). The only really difficult exercise was the hip flexor burners...or whatever you call them. Anyway, I probably won't post every day this week considering it's the same work out every day. If not, I'll definitely be posting my re-cap of the first day of month 2!

Breakfast: Shakeology + frozen banana & instant coffee blended (soooooo good)
Lunch: Baked Tofu, Flax Crackers & light swiss cheese
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Veggie burger (minus bun) and steamed broccoli & cauliflower

Day 27: Plyometric Cardio Circuit

This is probably one of my favorite work outs. I pushed myself much harder than usual because I didn't seem like I was on the brink of exhaustion like I usually do, so I sat deeper into the squat jacks and went much deeper into my push ups. My arms were literally trembling by the end! I've noticed much improvements in the squat type exercises. In the first week I could barely keep up and now it's almost easy (until I decided to sit deeper into them). In & Out Abs and Ski Abs are still EXTREMELY hard. However I was able to do Ski Abs the entire time w/o taking a break, but those damn In & Outs got me on the last circuit. My core could handle it, but my arms just aren't there yet. Anyway, it was my last day of month 1! Yay!! I'm terrified/excited for month 2, and am really curious as to what this 'recovery week' is all about. I have a feeling it's not easy haha.

Tip of the day: Shakeology + Instant Coffee = Best Hangover Cure EVER.

Day 26: Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs

I brought it today! I really focused on contracting my core during each exercise, and sitting even deeper into the squats. I'd say the Pedals exercise is the hardest, the one with the lunges in between. Once again I had to take a quick break during the frog jumps. The exercise itself isn't that hard, I think I lose steam during them because by that time in the circuit my quads are trembling. But I have improved immensely. Oh yeah, today was also my first day with official cross-trainers. DO NOT wait until day 26 to get them! Trust me, your ankles will thank you. Regular running shoes do not support side to side movement like cross-trainers do.

Breakfast: Shakeology
Lunch: Grilled chicken w/steamed broccoli & cauliflower
Snack: Flax crackers & light swiss cheese
Dinner: Veggie burger (minus the bun)
Snack: Apple & flax crackers
After Workout: Recovery drink

Tip of the day: When you get to the 3d-4th week, you will feel yourself being able to complete the exercises 'easier'. When you get to this point, DIG DEEPER. Sit into the squats deeper, go faster to complete more reps, and really concentrate on contracting your core. The point isn't to get to a point where it is easy. The point is to constantly push yourself to a higher level.

Day 25: Cardio Recovery

Ahh, another day of "recovery". Haha. Although the break from intense cardio was nice, those squat and lunge pulses set my muscles on fire every time! I really have to concentrate to get through them. It definitely helps to remember that the pain is sculpting my legs. Well it's going to be a short one tonight, just got back from a night out with the girls and I'm ready for bed.

Tip of the day: If you have to, bite something to get through those pulses! Remember that the burn is good.

Days 23 & 24: Cardio Power & Resistance and Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Day 24: Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Not gonna lie, this work out kicked my ass today...more than usual. I'm not really sure why...I think it's probably because I still haven't caught up on sleep since finals, and my body just hasn't recovered. Sleep is IMPORTANT!!! Anyway, I was ok until about the 2nd set of the drills, during the Ski Abs & In and Out Abs. Not too worried about it though, you'll always have on and off days, you just have to push through no matter what. Definitely looking forward to Cardio Recovery tomorrow, and a loooong night of sleep, finals-free!

Breakfast: Protein Bar
Lunch: Shakeology
Snack: Dried Mangos, Flax Crackers & light swiss cheese (Laughing Cow - 35cals)
Dinner: Baked Tofu
After Workout: Recovery drink

Tip of the day: Invest in Cross-Trainers. I heard Shaun T give the same advice on the 1st work out and ignored it, thinking my running shoes would suffice. They don't. Running shoes are only built for forward motion, not side to side motion, and unfortunately my ankles have started to pay the price. I'm going to pick up some cross-trainers tomorrow!

Day 23: Cardio Power & Resistance

Yesterday I was able to work out one more day with Robert before he had to go back to San Diego. I think Cardio Power & Resistance is the 2nd most difficult work out - and I pretty much crushed it last night! only had to stop and take a 5 second brake once. Otherwise I was able to keep up with everyone on the DVD.

Days 20, 21 & 22

Dang, the past few days have been crazy. Robert surprised me and came home for our 1st anniversary on the 16th, smack dab in the middle of finals and extra work shifts. It's sooo good to have him home for a few days! Needless to say I didn't have much time to update my blog. I DID, however, finish Plyometric Cardio Circuit at 3am two nights ago after working on finals non stop. Commitment is key! The next day was my day off, thankfully, because it was when Robert came in. Then tonight we did Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs together. It was his first ever Insanity workout, quite the initiation! He is totally hooked though. It was nice to work out with someone else. It's awesome to remember what I was like on day 1 and see how much I've improved.

Breakfast: Protein bar
Lunch: Shakeology
Snack: Baked Tofu & crackers
Dinner: Chicken Tuscany soup
After workout: Recovery drink
(Didn't eat enough today...not enough time!!)

Tip of the day: Do the workout, NO MATTER WHAT. It's never going to be 100% convenient, you just have to do it anyway.

Day 19: Cardio Power & Resistance

In light of the time change, I didn't get to blog yesterday because after finishing my work out I realized it was 3am. No bueno for finals the next morning. Anyway, Cardio Power & Resistance was great. One of my favorites. I'm really starting to notice improvements! I can do the squat jacks in the warm-up at all 3 intensities without a problem. The only exercise I found myself having to break in was the tricep dips...but considering I haven't worked out that muscle in, I don't know...years...I think I'm doing ok. I'm getting much better at moving push-ups, I can do them in one fluid motion now instead of looking like a malfunctioning robot. And the jumps...ah, what's the name...the jumps you do in the beginning...I've noticed a lot of improvement there as well. I can get higher off the ground with much less effort.

Results-wise, my jeans are getting looser quick. I'm loving it, but if I have to buy a new pair of Sevens I'm going to be pissed!! I also noticed today when I was putting my hair back that I have biceps! Amazing. All in all, I love this workout. I never have to doubt if I'm going to get results.

Tip of the day: Throw away the scale. They're for anorexics. But no, really, the scale is just NOT an accurate way to gauge your success/results. I haven't weighed myself in years, because a) your body weight fluctuates on a daily basis, and b) muscle weighs more than fat. So if I stay the same weight, but all my fat turns into muscle and I lose inches, I will be completely content! I would recommend measuring yourself instead. Or, if you have access to it, measure your body fat percentage. Unless you're a wrestler or a model, throw the damn scale away.

Days 17 & 18: Pure Cardio, Cardio Abs, and Cardio Recovery

I just barely squeezed in my work out yesterday in between class and work. I really think Pure Cardio is my favorite Insanity work-out so far. Probably because my cardio is in much better shape than my muscles are, and because I'm somewhat of a cardio freak : ). I was able to keep up until those damn frog jumps...then I had to stop for a second and shake my legs out because my quads were burning so bad. Then I jumped right back into it. I'm really starting to love push-up jacks, probably because I never fathomed being able to do such an exercise haha. I can really notice my endurance improving, and that's super motivating! I love how awesome I feel after a workout...tired but energized at the same time. Then I had to go to work and show someone how to use the equipment for the first time at the gym...needless to say I was pretty tired by the end of the day.

...Did I mention that I LOVE Cardio Abs? The fact that you never have to do a single crunch is ingenious. And the exercises Shaun has you do target your abs way better than Ab Ribber X in P90X.

And now today I'll get a nice break and do Cardio Recovery. NOT. A lot of people like Cardio Recovery, but I absolutely hate it!! I mean, I love it and hate it at the same time. It is a nice break from all the jumping, but I'd honestly rather jump than do squat pulses. That burn is intense. But I know it's really good for my muscles, and my joints as well, being able to take a break from plyo for a day.

And yep...I still love Shakeology. Just finished one for breakfast (yes, breakfast at 1:29pm...it was a long week and and even longer night, ok??). It's great to be able to satisfy my chocolate fix (which I never eat) and be eating my healthiest meal of the day at the same time. My favorite recipe so far is just a frozen banana, 1 scoop, milk, and once it's all blended cut up frozen strawberries and mix them in with a spoon...soooo yummy. Well, I'm off to start 3 final projects that I should have started 4 months ago. Wish me luck!!

Tip of the day: If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't look at the 60-day calendar, or even the time remaining on the screen. Take 1 second at a time. Just say to yourself...1 or 5 more seconds...not '40 more minutes'. This has helped me push through when my muscles were telling me no.

Day 16: Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Wow, I am whooped! Today was just one of those days that I did not have any motivation. But if you wanna get results, you just have to push through. Some days I'm going to be pumped, and some days I'm not.

I can definitely feel myself improving on the Plyometric Cardio Circuit. The ski abs and in & outs are still hard as hell, but I'm pretty sure they always will be haha. My upper body strength is improving considerably...I can actually do the 4 push-ups during the drills now. Toward the 3d set I'm still struggling to finish ski-abs and in & outs, but I'm improving a ton.

I ordered my P90X recovery formula last week, hopefully it will get here soon. I know my muscles will love me for it! I was also amazed at how filling Shakeology was. 1 shake for breakfast kept me full well into lunch time.

Tip of the day: Even if you're not motivated, that's ok. You're still going to feel a ton better after you do it, physically & mentally. Consistency is key!

Breakfast: Shakeology w/banana & strawberries
Lunch: Chicken noodle soup (running out of food)
Snack: Handful of peanuts and fat free string cheese
Dinner: Ground turkey patty w/1/2 avocado & carrots

Why Shakeology.

Before I start, please take some time to watch the Shakeology videos below.










(click to view larger)

Most of you know that healthy food is expensive. And whether or not you're doing a work-out as extreme as INSANITY or not even working out at all, you need healthy food in order to lose weight. If you aren't eating a variety of healthy foods, your body isn't going to be as efficient at burning fat. That's what I love about Shakeology. It gives me all of the nutrients I need to stay energized for my daily work out, and it helps me lose weight at the same time. And I don't have to go to the store and spend $30 a day on over priced health food! Not to mention, it's DELICIOUS. And I can take it anywhere, thanks to the individual packets. I used to have to spend $4 for an unhealthy bagel for lunch in between classes, now I just take Shakeology, and I'm saving money, losing weight, getting insanely healthy, and getting the energy I need to keep up with INSANITY. I was also amazed at how filling it was. Usually meal replacement shakes don't really keep you satisfied until your next meal, but I had 1 shake for breakfast, and it's 3pm and I'm still not hungry. The difference is that Shakeology isn't full of empty calories, it's full of 70 different nutrients your body NEEDS.

Before I was a coach, when I saw my first Shakeology video, I was pretty impressed, I must admit. But I just couldn't justify spending $119 for one bag.

Then I realized that each serving comes down to about $3.80 per serving per day, and it's designed to replace 1 meal. I spend about $300 on groceries per month, so that's around $100 per month per meal. So after I broke it down and did the math, I realized that my budget would essentially be the same. And not to mention...there is just no way the $100 worth of groceries I purchased at the store can equal the value of nutrition I get in one bag of Shakeology. Not to mention, I throw down 4 bucks on coffee without even thinking about it. Why not kick the unhealthy habit and spend it on something 1 million times better for me, that will help me lose weight at the same time?

Day 15 of 60: Second Fit Test

Well, since I'm such an extreme night owl, I'm posting this update at 1:47am : ). After two long critiques I came home from class around 3, ripped open my first bag of Shakeology and LOVED it (will post a full review later), took a nap till 5, then took my 2nd fit test around 6. And let me tell you, I am stoked about the results!! I'm almost even more proud with these results than I am with the results I see on my body. I'm addicted to this stuff, let me tell ya!

Alright, here's what I got : ).

First number=day 1
Second number=day 15

Switch Kicks: 50-80
Power Jacks: 52-65
Power Knees: 93-115
Power Jumps: 50-57
Globe Jumps: 9-11
Suicide Jumps: 18-22
Push-Up Jacks: 15-30
Low-Plank Oblique: 63-79

I must admit I was quite impressed with the 30 push up jacks. I've never had great upper body strength, because I've never really worked on it. The thought of doing a 'push-up' let alone a 'push-up jack' was pretty overwhelming until I started Insanity. I was really just happy to beat all of my previous numbers. I have a feeling I'm going to have one hell of a time beating them during my next fit test! Actually, come to think of it, I probably won't...because I KNOW these next two weeks are going to push me even farther than what I've achieved in the last two weeks, and all I can say is BRING IT ON!!

I'll be posting my full review on Shakeology tomorrow. For now, I've got to get to bed, now that it's past 2am.

Tip of the day: Don't look at your previous numbers during your fit tests. Just push yourself to the MAX, and you're going to surprise yourself, trust me!

Days 1-14

Well, it really seems like these past two weeks have flown by. I can't believe tomorrow I have my second fit test, and that it will be the start of my third week of Insanity! I can't wait to see how much I've improved. I will definitely be posting the results : ).

I'm not gonna lie. The first week was HARD. There were times when my body physically locked up and said "I'm not doing any more." But I just stopped for a second, took a five second break (even the people in the DVD do), and then kept on pushing. I've realized that as long as you are pushing yourself to your personal max, then you are succeeding.

The second week was a little easier (however 'easy' is never a word to describe this workout in the first place), but it was, we'll say, less strenuous. I could tell that my endurance and strength had already improved a little bit. I just had to remember that it's only 40 minutes out of my entire day to push myself to the max! I've become addicted to seeing just how hard and fast I can go. It's all about being your personal best.

Insanity Videos

My Insanity Journey Begins!

Hey all!

Well, I've been getting a TON of inquiries about this new fitness program I'm doing, so I thought I would explain it in a note. Three weeks ago I saw that my sister in law Kristine had started this new fitness program called INSANITY. I had absolutely no idea what it was, but I'm not gonna lie, the name had me interested! So I asked her what it was all about on her FB page, and both she and Beachbody Fitness Coach Darren Natoni filled me in. I was informed that it was made by Beachbody, the same company that makes P90X, only Insanity guarantees you will be in the greatest shape of your life in 60 days instead of 90 days due to its intense cardio nature.

I've always been a cardio freak. I've been running religiously for years, but my body reached a plateau and I stopped seeing results altogether. I quit my gym membership a while ago because I just couldn't justify the monthly cost. We were spending about $480 a year, and I wasn't getting the results I wanted. Plus I was just sick of constantly wondering if I was losing or gaining weight...I wanted to KNOW for sure that I was getting in better shape. So I figured that if Insanity can get me into the best shape of my life in 60 days for a one time cost of $119, I might as well give it a try. Another perk that convinced me to do it was the fact that you don't need anything but your own body. No dumbells, resistance bands, or pull-up bars. So I decided I was ready for a challenge and to kick my body into high gear, and get the results I've always wanted, but just never pushed myself hard enough to get. I ordered Insanity off of Darren's site that day. During the week or so that I was patiently waiting for it to arrive on my doorstep, I saw an infomercial for Insanity on TV, and became even more pumped to start. This was the video I saw, in case you're curious : ).

Insanity Success Story

After ripping open the package, this is what I found. 10 discs, a nutrition/meal plan guide, and an Insanity calendar to mark your progress (and let me tell you, you work HARD for those red 'X's!). Not to mention, you get a free fitness profile on Teambeachbody.com, an online community full of people doing the same program you are doing. The message boards have been a great motivator for me. It's great to talk to other people just like me working just as hard. There is also an entire forum dedicated to before/after pictures, which is quite honestly the single-most motivating factor ever!

So I laminated the calendar, stuck it on the wall, and got straight to the work out. The first day you perform your first 'fit test', which you will complete every two weeks to see your progress. I was kind of embarrassed, not gonna lie! But then I realized that it was the first day, and I had many hours and work outs ahead designed to get me to improve. The next week I discovered exactly why it's called "Insanity". It is HARD. But let me tell you, the results I have seen after just two weeks have been incredible! Every time I try on my jeans they feel looser, and my body just feels 'tighter' altogether. After 10 days!! I've realized that if the work out isn't extreme, the results won't be extreme. And I really, really want extreme results! This thought gets me through the work outs. The work outs are usually 40 minutes long. They are intense, but it's only 40 minutes out of my entire day to push myself to the max. The first week was probably the toughest. My muscles were confused, soar, and PISSED lol. If anyone is reading this and is in week one, my advice is to just PUSH THROUGH, because in about a week you're going to be amazed at how far you've come. So I pushed through it, and am now completely hooked. I often refer to it as both my favorite and least favorite part of the day! But I've become addicted to pushing and challenging myself, to keep on getting these amazing results. I absolutely cannot wait to see what I will look like on day 60.

Day 10 results

After the first week, and realizing that the program really does work, I started doing some research on becoming a Beachbody (makers of Insanity, P90X, etc) Coach. I figured that if this program works as well as it does, might as well tell other people how it has worked for me, and give them the opportunity to get the results they've always wanted as well. And the idea of having a job opportunity in fitness where I could work from home on my own time was quite appealing. So I emailed my coach, Darren, and asked him a few questions. I liked what I heard and signed up a few days later.

So, here I am, about to start my 3d week! If you have any more questions, just shoot me a message. If you're ready to join me and get into the best shape of your life right now, you can purchase Insanity off my Beachbody coach site.

www.beachbodycoach.com/meganhale77

If you truly want to be in the best shape of your life in 60 days, this program can give it to you. It just depends on how bad you want it.