Day 27 - Duck Duck Goose

Today was not the ideal workout, but I did it and feel good now. I came home from work, and we headed straight out for sushi happy hour. Then I went to this new yin yoga class I posted about the other day. We did some lying twists, and they felt totally awesome.

When I came home, I did some errands, and then at last: workout time. The guys were watching Inglorious Bastards facing one direction, so I set up my computer on the other side of the room and did my workout. Plank felt quite tough today, since we did a lot of plank in yoga class. But that last set of leg raises and arm raises in circuit 3 felt quite good, since I was already feeling pretty limber. For the moving pushups in circuit 3, I discovered that I could get a nice rhythm going by saying "duck duck goose" in my head, "duck" being the hand placements, and "goose" being the actual pushup.

Cheers (tap water lol) to another day!

Half Way Through Level Two ...

My, oh my, I do believe that rhymes:-)

Ok, so I got in a long run this morning, and it wasn't too terribly cold outside (around 40), so it wasn't bad after about the first hour. I was nice and toasty after that ... but I would like to have finished my run/walk in a little less time than I did. Oh well, I still have time to improve on that (it took me four hours today to get in 12 miles, not exactly the timeframe I want to be working in).

As for the rest of the day, Thanksgiving when you are alone with no family near kind of sucks - really. I am very thankful for Janet and working on this together, like her, if she wasn't there pushing me along, I would have given up on Jillian back during day two. Thank you for pushing me to get this done and be able to finish in February :-)

I did Jillian tonight and I have to say, my balance ball is doing wonders for the walk-out push-ups. I am keeping the ball right under my shin so that it helps on the way down, and then once I am down I am able to do the full push-up and then use the ball to keep the pressure off my back on the way back up. Sure, it isn't what JM intended, but it is keeping my back in one piece, and that is music to my ears.

I was able to get all the way through the oblique twists today without any problems, so I think my knee is finally getting used to the twisty jumps. The plank jacks, well, I am still following Miss Anita, but hey, at least I am down in that dreaded plank pose while working them know (as opposed to day 1 of this level when I modified with regular jumping jacks).

The plank oblique abs in circuit three, those are still giving me trouble - so the modifications of the V-Sit still stand. I do hope I will be able to make it through those before moving on to level three in five short days.

Let's see, now that I am half of the way through level two, I have to say the move that I am enjoying the most is a tie between the static lunge (before the nutso pendulum lunge), and the military press-kick out. Those two moves keep the entire body engaged, yet they don't kill you. I am finding them quite enjoyable.

Here's to another day being done and gone.

Day 13 - JM Rocks My World

Day 13... and I'm still here. I wasn't able to work out this morning, so I did my workout this evening when I got home from work. Despite a big Thanksgiving lunch, I was able to complete the workout without feeling like I was going to throw up. Planks omg planks are still killing me. My shoulders have been sore every day since starting level 2. The double jump ropes just don't happen. I do a couple doubles, then go back to singles. Overall though, I'm feeling good. Let's see how I feel tomorrow after all this mac and cheese settles into my body.

As for my Jillian love, I gotta say, I love her in this level 2 video. She's funny and very motivating. No messing around and straight to business. I was watching Biggest Loser today too, and it just amplified how much I think JM rocks. She is inspiring and positive, but very very tough. Don't get me wrong, I love Bob too... but I've spent the past 13 days with Jillian, so I'm really feeling the Jillian love lately. Also, did you know Jillian was overweight as a teenager and that's why she's a personal trainer? Shucks, I just think she's great.

Um, Hanging in There

Well, as day 2 of level 2 comes to a close I find myself wondering why I am putting myself through this torture. There is no other way to describe it. Like Janet, these plank poses are KILLING ME. My core simply isn't strong enough to be able to do it properly, so with my rear up in the air I try to keep up with Anita as much as I possibly can ... needless to say, at this point my keeping up means getting at least one or two full movements in before the cycle is up.

My goal for getting through level 2 is simply to get through level 2 and keep up on the modified revolutions. I know there is no way I am going to be doing the plank poses consistent with Natalie - forget about it; but, I am hopeful that by my day 10 I will be able to keep up with Anita. (So much for keeping up with the Joneses).

With 8 days to go I am terrified of what level three has to offer. If level two is doing me in like this, what is level three gonna have in store?!?

On another note - today I got in my walk/run this morning and then another cardio boxing session in this evening before shredding myself. I am liking adding the alternate exercises in with my wii -- keeps things interesting and then I am all warmed up by the time Jillian chops me down.

Here's to another day gone!!!