WOW!

Insanity is an incredible program.  Went to visit with some friends the other night, and the only response to me was, "Still losing weight I see."  SO nice to feel this way:)

Saturday, I had to teach extra early and just couldn't dynamite myself out of bed to do my workout.  By the time we got home, it was 11:00 pm.  I ended up deciding to go for a run instead of do the "Core Cardio and Balance" workout.  Decided to run for half an hour straight and see how far I got.

Started to run and didn't stop.  By the end, I'd gone 2 miles, broken a pretty good sweat despite strong winds, and BARELY raised my heart rate.  I was astounded.  I haven't pounded the pavement in almost 8 weeks, and I RAN 30 minutes without any problems whatsoever.  I normally would start to huff halfway up the first hill.  By the third hill, I would be wheezing like a 400lb asthmatic.  Saturday, I literally could have carried on a conversation the ENTIRE time I ran.  I can't believe how much improved my cardio endurance is.  Planning on my next 5k being in January, the "Hot Chocolate" 5k.  I may try to actually run on a little bit this time!

"Weigh in" pics this coming Saturday!  My pants are fitting GREAT, hopefully down that one more size by next month!

Losing weight can be dangerous!

Carpet burn from low plank!

As I knew it would, the soreness has gradually abated.  I'm still definitely feeling like I'm pushing my body harder this week than I have, though, especially coming off "Recovery Week". I love the way Insanity starts slow and builds you up with a nice warm up then stretch.  I have shown a few of the exercises to my hubby and friends, and doing even 1 or 2 "cold" is super hard.  

I am officially "happy".  By that I mean I am absolutely 100% in a size 10 now!  Finally made it to Goodwill, and it's AMAZING the variety in that particular size, lol.  Usually, I'd come away with about 6 pairs of size 14's to try, maybe 4 of those would fit.  I pulled about 12 pairs of jeans to try, and I didn't even go THROUGH the last 2 racks ... my ADD had kicked in and I felt like I had enough to try on.  4 of them were 12's, the rest 10's.  Every pair of 12's were too big.  One pair did fit well in the thigh and butt, but was loose in the waist; I bought them anyway because I liked the cut and color.  I must say, the 10's look smashing on me.  It shows off my "new" curves even more when my jeans aren't hanging off my rear, lol.  It's weird to have pants that FIT again, I'd gotten used to having to strap on a belt.

The great thing is the fact that I've made a LIFESTYLE change.  When I think of stopping for fast food every now and then, I totally avoid "burger" joints.  Taco Bell is the one I go to most often; I get tacos and a Mtn. Dew.  I literally consume 4-6 oz of the "dew", then pour the rest out the window.  Subway is a good alternative, and I've had Arby's once or twice.  I just avoid everywhere else because I know I don't have the self control to go into McD's and NOT get a QP with cheese.  I've been fighting sugar cravings all week because it's 'that' time of the month, and I've done ok.  My big "lightbulb" moment has been in indulging my sweet tooth, but in a SMALL way.  Instead of 6 snack size candy bars, just 2.  Instead of 4 Oreos, just 2.  Instead of 3 scoops of icecream, weigh out the proper serving size.  On that note, weighing out peanut butter for my protein shake!  Going a step further, substituting Peter Pan PB for all natural Almond Butter.  Buying brown rice instead of white.  Buying the pasta with the lower glycemic index.  Eating baked tilapia and black beans for lunch.  It goes on and on ... the best thing is, I CAN keep it up forever.  I don't MISS white rice, or normal pasta, or even the Peter Pan.  I LOVE that baked tilapia, and after eating a full serving of beans or peas, I'm too full to worry about a chip craving or something.  Yay me:)

I will not stop until I have a subtle 6 pack.  Since I've made my size 10 goal, size is now irrelevant.  I want to look like one of those girls doing the videos.  The only way to do that is to keep pushing, keep sweating, and keep eating right!  My journey is far from over, it is going to last the rest of my life!;)

A bruise of unknown origin, and a very painful rub from my half chaps that are now too big and shift around:(

Back to sore ...

A typical dinner for me!

Day 3 of week one of Insanity just about killed me.  I was so sore I was practically in tears wondering how I could ever make it through!  The soreness gradually went away though, leaving me with greater cardio capacity, and feeling much more strong through the movements.

Day 2 of month 2 of Insanity almost killed me!  I am SO sore!  I am FINALLY for the first time doing 'real' pushups instead of 'girly' pushups.  I'm also doing a move called "push up jacks" for the first time ... it's taken me a full month to work up to doing something like 8 'real' ones.  Whew!

Still losing.  It really is getting to the point that my pants just need to be given away.  Note, I said GIVEN AWAY.  NOT "put" away.  I'm NOT keeping around "fat" clothes.  For every smaller pair of jeans I buy, I will get rid of a 'fat' pair.  For the first time ... in 12 years ... I zipped a pair of size 10 pants over my hips:):):) I had ONE random pair of black pants hanging in the 'dormant' closet in a size 10.  Why, I have not idea!  But when I tried them on yesterday, they fit perfect:)  No tightness, no muffin top, success!!  When I go to Goodwill this week I will try on both 10's and 12's and get a sense of what size I actually am.  Since I haven't weighed or measured, I'm not really sure where I am!  All I DO know is the 12's I just bought are big and baggy already, and the 10's I have in my closet fit:)

New wardrobe?

While the process of buying new clothes is FUN ... it also costs $$!  Bummer;)  Goodwill, here I come!  Bought my first pair of size down jeans the other day; they're not exactly tight.  In fact, I seriously think in the next 30 days they will hanging off me like my size 14's.  Good thing they were on sale!

Sucks when your favorite belt becomes too big

Picture day!

Well, this months pics are interesting.  I'm contemplating buying a pair of bikini bottoms ( I have 2 pairs, but they have attached skirts, which defeats the purpose!) to start taking pics in.  I initially chose the black shorts because they're the shortest I own (and 1 of only 3 pairs I own!), and therefore the most 'revealing'.  I'm finding by looking at the pics though, that they're really not as revealing as I thought!

Starting to see a little definition!

Over the last 30 days, I have lost a lot of fat in my lower belly, under my belly button.  In my panties, it's FLAT from the belly button down, which is UNHEARD of for me!  Also, my "girls" have shrunk significantly (this is actually a YAY from me).  The pics don't show as MUCH of a change as I thought they'd show, but I do realize it takes time for skin to tone up after you've lost weight.  My brother had a VERY flabby stomach for several years before he started doing Insanity from all the weight he lost running.  He has a 6 pack now, but it's taken him 2 or so years to get that.  My arms are also showing definition for the first time in a LONG time; still a ways to go, but happy for the changes I DO see:)  Just for fun, comparing alongside the pics from day ONE, beginning of July.

The biggest thing you can really see in the new pics is how different my shorts look.  In the back pic, my shorts keep sitting lower and lower on my hips.  Also, in the front facing pics, look how my arms don't stick out from my body any more.  Not only are my 'girls' smaller, they're a nicer shape now too I think;)  I think the side pic really illustrates how much my jaw line has changed.  From fat and muttony to actually defined:)  It also shows how much my butt has shrunk, I think:)

This upcoming week is "Recovery", and then I hit it extra hard with "max interval" everything for the remaining 4 weeks after.  More pics in 30 days!

Work OUT!

So, here's what I have to say ...

NO EXCUSES!
There's ALWAYS someone out there more busy and more sleepy than you are.  WORK OUT!
JUST WORKOUT!
And again ... NO EXCUSES!

I totally enjoy this ... chain of motivation I'm seeing.  For all of us, there must be some driving force inside of us to push.  Push to get more fit, and exercise will power to eat right.  But there can be external motivational factors as well.  "Well, if SHE can do it ... "

That's kind of how I started.  My brother lost well over 100 lbs by changing the way he eats and by exercising.  My MIL and SIL together have gone on Weight Watchers again, and lost in the neighborhood of 30 lbs.  They both got up around 5 something and did floor exercises and lightweight dumbbell moves.  My sister went vegan.  From meat eating carnivore to VEGAN!!!  My aunt and uncle went vegetarian and started running marathons.  Motivation is ALL around us if you look.  When you're ready, you WILL make a lifestyle change.  We ALL can!

Now people are telling me I'm their motivation.  That makes me feel SO good.  I'm proud to be "that" girl, "Well, if SHE can do it ... "

See that sweat?  It's a necessary evil!  KEEP SWEATING!

My muscles are no longer sore from doing Insanity.  I can totally tell I'm working my butt off (literally), but the nagging soreness is gone.  I push myself hard each day to do as many of the exercises as I can.  The warm up on 3 of the videos are about 3 1/2 minutes of jumps, jogging, zigging and zagging.  You repeat that 3 1/2 minute set 3 times with no break, getting faster and faster each time.  By the time you're done with that, you're dripping.  I keep stopping during the FIRST set to breathe and calm my racing heart.  Yesterday, I made it ALL the way through 2 rotations before stopping to catch my gasping breath:)  Progress!

Next week is the "Recovery Week", then following that is 4 weeks of "Max Interval" everything.  Oh boy!  I'm pretty much at the point where I am going to have to go buy some new clothes.  My hanging jeans are bordering on ridiculous:)

Can't wait for Saturday's big reveal!  I'm starting to feel some abs under that layer of fat!  SO EXCITED for that fat to melt away permanently to reveal those all new muscles:)  Stay tuned, I think y'all will be pleased for me!