Day 89!!: EIGHTY-NINE!!!!!!!!!!

Last time workout 12. I did 16 wheel pushups per circuit. Loved every minute of it. This one and workout 7 may be my favorites in the series. I'll definitely be coming back to this in the future. This leaves one more Cardio 3 tomorrow and I'm DONE.

Well, sort of. I'll be done with the official Body Revolution, but I'm not done with working out and I'm not done with Jillian. I'm calling next month "Phase 4." I'm going to have to ramp up the running again because I have 2 half marathons coming up at the end of June. I'm not willing to give up any of the muscles I've gained and I'm not willing to wake up more than half an hour early every day for workouts like I've been doing for the last 3 months. So here's what I've got coming up:

Yup, I'm pretty sure Meghan guessed this one in advance. Jillian talked about it in her podcast as something tougher than Body Revolution so it seemed like a good next step. More 30 minute workouts, but the difference is that you have the same workout every single day (5 or 6 days) in a week and then you move to a different workout the next week.

I'll also be getting 3-4 runs in a week. Two easy 4-5 milers and two harder 7-10 milers. And upping my calories to 1800. I'm going to sit myself down this weekend and draw out a plan for the week. I'm very excited about phase 4 because I'll be switching it up, but not too much.Also, I'll have measurements to go by. That will be new for me.

I went roller skating last night and a place that does adults only nights on Thursdays. One of the friends I went with is so good. Actually most of the people who show up are really good. I just go around in circles and try to not fall down. It's amazing how fun that can be.

In other excellent news for today - my quartet just landed a couple of gigs. We've been practicing for a couple of months, but hadn't really set anything up officially. We had a nibble from a group my mom volunteers for but it was in the middle of the day in the middle of the week and we all work, obviously. Anyway, the first is for a wedding in a couple of weeks. No money, but it will be great experience. The second is for my company holiday party and we will get paid. I don't know how much and it's really far off, but I'm so excited!

Day 86!: wheeeee!!!!

Day 86! I'm not sure I've ever done anything for 86 days.

Workout 12 today. I babied the knee a little on the single leg squat jump things. It was twinging a little but not too bad. I'll be running this afternoon so I'll really see what's up then.

Did you see that our girl Jillian is on the cover of Women's Health magazine? The article is super short but she gives an abs routine that's a sneak peek into her next DVD release which comes out in September and is all about abs! I want it!

I have her 6-week 6-pack and I don't think it's that great. Hopefully this one will be more hard core. Get it? Hard CORE. I crack myself up.

Anyway, funny tidbit...the mag cover in the store is different than the one I got in the mail with my subscription. Can you tell the difference? I laughed when I opened my mailbox.

Here's a pic of the one I got.

Day 82: procrastinating

I have a planned day off work today because I'm leaving for a camping trip/bluegrass festival in a couple of hours.

I did workout 12 earlier this morning. Fourteen wheel pushups per circuit! Then I got the kids all set and off to school, and now I'm procrastinating doing cardio 3. I obviously won't be doing it this weekend so it's now or never. Im not feeling it.

I actually wouldn't mind going back to sleep for an hour.

I haven't had any coffee yet today though. Maybe that's my problem.
*****

Ok, I just did cardio 3. First I checked Facebook and your blogs. Then I made a pot of coffee and didn't drink it. Then I shut my brain off and just turned the stupid DVD player on. Then I found a podcast to listen to and turned the volume up on that and down on Jillian.

Near the end of circuit 1 I was considering turning it off and was thinking maybe half of cardio 3 today and half on Monday could count. Then I realized that I didn't want to go through this again. I focused and blasted it out.

I'm dripping in sweat and headed for the shower. I have coffee waiting for me when I'm out and no more Jillian till Monday! One week to go!

Day 79: blast from the past

Back in November I participated in a fashion show for sales meeting at work. It was a lot of fun. It was mostly people from the office and one professional model to do the sports bras.

The pro had an amazing body. She was all muscle. I was completely inspired. I was also inspired in a different way when backstage someone who didn't know me patted my belly and asked if I was pregnant.

I bought 6-week 6-pack and No More Trouble Zones shortly after. 6 pack was ok. NMTZ was a great workout. I was so surprised because it was the first DVD I could do 2-3 times a week without getting bored. I did it for probably three months and saw good results then moved on to Body Revolution.

Last night was another sales meeting with another fashion show. It was all pros this time. I was inspired again, but only in a good way. Those chicks are so strong! I was their arms and abs!!

I stuck to my water only plan and got a few comments about it. I wanted water though. I had a little of a lot of things at the buffet (nothing too crazy) so I probably could've skipped something and had a glass of wine, but knowing myself it would've turned into 3 glasses.

Workout 12 again this morning. I did 12 wheel pushups during each circuit. On the 2nd I tried putting a leg up but didn't get very far. It was funny.

My challenge today will be to not snack at my desk. I had a snack attack yesterday but was able to curb it with sugar free gum.

Day 75: Finishing strong

Workout 12 this morning again. I did all the wheel pushups. When I'm upside-down I can  see my reflection in the sliding glass door and I look ridiculous. Happy, but ridiculous. I really like the last move of this workout where you are in a crab position and lift the opposite arm and foot towards each other. Feels good!

Now for a confession. Ugh. I hate confessions. I've pretty much taken this whole last week off food wise. I've been snacking like the old me and raiding the office candy jar. I think I just got so sick of being vigilant all the time and thinking about calories constantly. I needed a break. Will power with food is a million times harder for me than will power with exercise. Excersize is over in 30 minutes. I can eat all day long!

The kicker is that I know I have some serious abs going on underneath my jiggle. Jillian has definitely delivered in this department. I've got that baby 2-pack on the top, but also I can see those lines on the sides wanting to emerge. I'm hiding some awesome abs with a thick layer of candy. This makes no sense.

This is the final 15, ladies. Fifteen days of spot on, excellent food choices. I'm going to report it all here, starting tomorrow. It's going to be good. I really need to get a measuring tape.

Day 73: Workout 12 is da shiznit

Love, love, LOVE! I did Workout 12 for the first time last night. It gets the abs working and was really fun. The only thing I don't like  is the super cheesy "chariots of fire" type music at the beginning. It's so over-the-top, but so is our dear Jillian so I guess it works. Workouts 11 and 12 are going to be a great way to finish this thing off.

Workout 12 makes me feel strong. The moves are creative. Challenging, but doable. The really help me see how far I've come in terms of strength and balance. The wheel pushups are so goofy but I like them because, hey, why not go upside-down in a bridge position and then do a pushup? My back will be much more flexible a couple of weeks from now. Or I may be in a full body cast. Stay tuned!

I went to bed at a normal time last night and hit Cardio 3 this morning. Still kind of sleepy today, but I'll make it through. I have quartet practice tonight after work and then I'm off to check out the new Buffalo Wild Wings that just opened. Good luck to me!

Thanks, everyone, for the comments and encouragement. I had a dream that I randomly met all of you in Houston but we couldn't chat for very long because I had to go defend my family from a man riding a moose.

I haven't had much encouragement from people in "real" life so it's been so nice to get it here. My boyfriend doesn't like that I get up early and have to spend every weeknight at my place and none at his. My usual running buddy doesn't get why I don't want to run to exhaustion every day like before. I don't get a lot of flack, but there's enough.

Anyway, thank you.