Day 7 - Do not eat the cookie! and week one stats

Today is Sunday.  Easier day with stretch.  I did not say easy.  More on that next week.  First week stats:  I lost 3.8 pounds and down 1.1% body fat.  Not bad for one week.  I'm sold.

The thing I am noticing is how habits are so strong.  Shakeology is usually my yummy treat (the meal replacement recommended in the T25 meal plan).  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the chocolate vegan flavor.  Did I say I love it?  It is so tasty, and sweet enough that when I have it, I am not constantly battling my sweet tooth.  Thank goodness.  If you want info go to www.shakeology.com/jenngibbs  Amazing stuff.

My lovely daughter works at a bakery and brings home pastries on Saturday nights.  This sounded like a good thing a few weeks ago, before I committed to the T25 meal plan.  I didn't realize it, but my habit is to reach in the bag for this week's treat and have a bite.  I did the reach today, but luckily remembered my promise at the last second.  Wow.  I didn't even think about it.  It was like I was conditioned to be in some trance and approach the bakery bag.  I really didn't consciously consider it more than cave-man style ("food. yum. that look good." grunt).  It was a strong pull and I actually reached a second time before shaking myself awake.  If not for being committed to my transformation in a big way, I would have caved.  But I need a compelling after picture and I am going to get one.  Man, that was tough!

Then I had an afternoon with the family, and around 4:00 the cookie thing again!  Not the bag this time (I made sure a calorie-deprived pre-teen boy took care of that).  This time it was "let's make some cookies from scratch".  I am becoming more of a food snob to where commercial baked goods have less and less appeal.  So my rationalization has been, if it's made at home with wholesome ingredients like organic butter and love, then it's ok.  Well, normally maybe, but for 25 days, THERE ARE NO COOKIES IN THE T25 MEAL PLAN.  Not to mention that this way of thinking has brought me to needing an after picture.  :(  So another habit, Sunday afternoon baking, will have to take a backseat for a while.   It's ok.  It's ok.  I have several weeks to consider how to deal with it.  It's almost a relief to know I cannot have it, so I don't have to decide what level of guilt to feel about having some.  For now I can feel good about the workout my discipline muscle got today.

T25 Transformation Day 6 - Double workouts

So this is my own real story about T25.  I got frustrated because on Monday I said I was doing T25 to the letter, no variances.  But then my big anniversary came around three days into the process and screwed me all up.  At least it happend in the first week and now it's behind me.  This is life happening to me just like it will happen to you.  The thing is, I am still following the program.  I just switched my days off, but it messed with my head.  I feel like I am off track.  The only time I will deviate in the whole program is that one night for my anniversary.  And I had Thai food, nothing incredibly crazy. 

But the thing is I felt like I lost my momentum.  I will go over stats tomorrow, but it took three days to get back to my pre-Thai dinner weight (curse that white rice).  UGH!  Right when I am wanting real results.

So, the fifth workout day is a double.  Saturday is usually STAT-urday, you get the day off per Shaun T and do your measures.  I will post that on my next day.  I did do double workouts and was sore, but but in the good way.  Looking forward to tomorrow's rest/stretch day.  Thank you Shaun.  Excited for feeling back in sync this next week.

Lesson here:  If you get off track, just keep going.  Make do until Monday, then go at it again, but DO NOT STOP.  And do not wait for Monday to start again.

T25 - Day 5 Sloppy

I'm gonna start this post with a :(  .  I'm pretty proud of my fitness level in general, but today's workout made me feel like a wuss.  I don't like feeling like a wuss.  So I'll keep doing it until I don't.  I only thought it was fair to let you know though.  I'm not even going to post an interesting picture today because I don't want to call your attention back to this. 

But there is something to be said for honesty.  I have gotten my days mixed up from their proper order this week because of my anniversary, so I did the lower body dvd today.   I would say I did 75% full on, and took little breaks and had to modify the rest.  I did finish.  Not my best day, but I am already feeling strong.  Like I can sense my muscles developing underneath in my legs and my core and merging to the outside.  It's a sexy feeling and I like it.  More tomorrow...

Day 4 - Feel the burn

Ok, I thought I was doing pretty good with ab strength.  I mean, I don't have a 6 pack yet, but I feel pretty strong.  Or I did.  Shaun T does a couple of things in the Abs dvd that tweak your move just a bit and that changes everything.  Definitely got my sweat on.  Definitely felt that pump from being worked.

I have to share this - I had the dvd on in my living room, right next to the kitchen.  My little boy was watching while he had breakfast

and got very concerned when Shaun says "you should be feeling it start to burn right now".  He looked at me with a worried face and asked if it was burning me.  I explained that it means it's kind of hard to do and it makes your muscles stronger.  He seemed satisfied with that and finished his food.  Then he joined me for the rest of the workout and after a few minutes turned to me and said "Mommy, I feel the burn!".  You gotta love how getting yourself in shape effects all those around you.

T 25 Day 3 - Happy 20th Anniversary to me and my sweetie!

It's just crazy how time flies!  I have been married to my wonderful man for 20 years on June 26th.  Lots of ups and downs, but I can honestly say this is our best anniversary yet.  We are both in a very positive place and enjoying each other very much.  I am so lucky and blessed.

That being said, I chose to take today as a rest day instead of Saturday this week.  I ended up working 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and then he stole me away for dinner and a romantic zombie movie (World War Z - loved it!).  For a moment I did consider doing my T25 workout at midnight after the movie, but I got distracted when we got back home...

But HE went ahead and did his day 3 (yes, he is doing the whole program with me).  He texted me his picture of his sweaty self while I was working and I was jealous all day cuz I didn't get to do mine.  I have had such a good experience for the first two days I am actually looking way forward to the next one.

Day 2 - My new favorite workout

So day 2 today.  I put in the Speed 1.0 dvd.  Can I just say I might have a new favorite workout?  I love how hard it pushes you, but you get the little countdown on the screen, so you know you can make it 15 more seconds or 12 more minutes.  I like small mental bites.

I am doing this in the basement of my house.  There is a lot of jumping, jogging, moving around.   I tried to warn the dog...  She got the message. 

Anyway, I like to get a sweat from my face.  Clean out the pores, all that stuff.  If my face is working I know I am really in gear and good things are happening inside my body.  I was rewarded for my time today with sweat dripping off my nose.  It made me happy.

I guess I should tell you where you can get it if you like what you read.  Go to
www.beachbodycoach.com/jenngibbs   Yes, I am a coach with Beachbody and this will take you directly into my site.  That means that you will get a bonus dvd with your workout and me as your coach instead of being assaigned to a random coach you know nothing about.  Hopefully you pick me.  Whoever you are, if you are reading this I would love to meet you and take the journey with you.

My FOCUS T25 Transformation - Day 1

Hello!  Welcome to my Focus T25 transformation blog!  This is as much for me as it is for you.  Let me tell you why.

I have been a Zumba fitness instructor for about two years now.  It was the first fitness class I certified in teaching because I love it and I wanted to be more consistent at my own workouts.  When you have a class showing up for you, you can't rationalize out of your workout that day (thank you students!).  Zumba is a great cardio workout, but cardio alone cannot get you supermodel results.  And let's be honest, that's what we all wish we had.  After months of classes and seeing initial results, my students began to come to me wanting more toning and more weight loss, having hit a plateau.  I didn't know how to help them until I found the Beachbody coaching program.  It is the answer we were looking for.  EVERY Zumba student of mine that has joined my Beachbody Challenge groups, including drinking Shakeology - more on that later - has come off their plateau and started losing weight again.  I would say 3-6 pounds in the first two weeks is an average.

Anyway, I was already in pretty good shape from being a fitness instructor, but still did not have the 100% bikini ready body I have wanted for all of my adult life.  I have battled those "last ten pounds" that keep me from feeling absolutely confident.  I did Brazil Butt Lift Master Series (and YES it works, my bootie is lifted!) and then the Turbo Fire workout with Chalene Johnson (sporadically, I admit) and got good results, but a bad diet covers everything up!  I realize I rationalized poor eating choices because I felt I could get away with it since I did so many workouts.  Nope.  I am going to get really real in this blog and sorry if it is TMI at any point.  I just turned 41 (hopefully you are gasping in surprise - I certainly don't look 41 right??).  And I don't think my hormones are playing fair.  Diet slips I used to get away with, I can't any more.  So this blog is me dealing with that, and once and for all creating that amazing "after" picture that every girl wants. 

I know this program will work, and I am going to prove it.  Starting today I am doing the full FOCUS T25 workout every day without fail, AND doing the nutrition plan.  It actually looks awesome.  I'm kind of excited at everything to choose from (I have been on some very restrictive diet plans before!).  Day 1 is just about done and feeling good.  More tomorrow on it.  In a bit I am off to teach my Monday night Zumba class.  Can't wait to check out T25 disc 2 tomorrow!