Week 2

Last week went well with Week 2 of Insanity. It's crazy because it still kicks my trash every time, but I can go longer and harder without needing to stop. It's quite encouraging.

I measured my dimensions earlier this week and weighed myself. Although I weigh the same and have basically the same dimensions, I feel confident I am seeing results and will see more drastic ones soon. I think one of the reasons I haven't lost weight is because I'm gaining muscle. I have a lot more definition in my thighs, for instance, and my biceps have grown a quarter inch:)

One of the most obvious differences is my energy level. Plus, when my energy is generally higher, it's easier to initiate my workouts, which I find to be the hardest part. So it's a positive perpetuating cycle.

Wow!

I did it! I did Insanity on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I was a champ. It was tough on Friday and Saturday because my left calf muscle was super tight, but it wasn't bad enough that I was at a high risk of injury so I did it anyway. I'm glad I did. I rolled it out and iced it a bit and after a day off (Sunday), it's feeling a lot better. Thank goodness because tomorrow I jump right back in!

It's crazy how intense these workouts are. By the end, I'm a total sweat monster. It's cool because the workouts I could hardly finish are becoming much easier now. Also, just in the week I've officially done it, my pants are looser and I can tell my face is getting thinner.

On Friday and Saturday I had the sense to use my heart rate monitor. Both workouts were about 42 minutes. In both workouts, my average heart rate was 132. My max was 162 on Friday and 160 on Saturday. I love that feeling when you're heart is beating fast and you're all stretched and warmed up. You're in the zone and feel like you can take on anything.

As far as sugar goes, I've been eating it in moderation. While I'm working out everyday, I don't have a problem with overeating sugar. We'll see how it goes, but for now my plan is to just eat treats sparingly, but as a reward for my hard work:)

Insanity's Finally Arrived!

Well, a few days ago Insanity finally came. The first one I bought had some bad discs so I wasn't able to do the actual program. Then the second one I ordered never charged my card nor shipped. Finally, the third one arrived this week, after about three weeks of shipping!

I did some of the workouts this week, but tomorrow I start the official program! I'm excited. It's going to kick my trash, but I enjoy a good trash-kicking workout. If by the end I'm not freakishly sweaty and the next day I'm not sore in places I didn't know existed, then I know I'm not getting the max out of my workouts. That's the great thing about Insanity. It pushes me. It drives me nuts sometimes. But I always feel great afterward.

Wish me luck!

Insanity

Well, I've stepped up my exercise now that I have more time. I'm doing Insanity!!!! And let me tell you, it was correctly named. The first day you have a 30 minute fitness test, and that alone was super intense. I was sore the next day in places I didn't know muscles exist. Yesterday I did Pure Cardio. Shaun T at the beginning says we're going to do a warm up. After a few minutes it's so intense that I assumed the warm up is over and I had already begun the intense part of the workout. NOPE! By the end of the 40 minute work out, Whitney came into the room I was exercising in to find me sprawled out on the floor. I gotta tell you, though, it feels great!
Today I'm doing a recovery workout that Whitney did yesterday. It's still super intense though because it works out your core. You have to do seemingly impossible yoga-type positions and hold them for a time. Whitney's in the best shape out of anyone I know and she couldn't hold them for as long as you're supposed to, so I'm sure it will kick my trash. I'm excited!
As far as the sugar free thing goes, don't judge me, but I decided to eat sugar for the holidays.

Blahh!!

Well, I'm sick. So are my daughter and wife. In fact, I'm so sick that I missed my LSAT, which is costly and unfortunate. I'll have to take it in February and apply to only half of the schools I was planning on applying to. Plus, by March, when I'll be able to apply, most law schools have already admitted the majority of their upcoming class so it will be a lot more competitive. Oh, well.

Due to my illness, I only did about half of my mileage this week. That may be the case next week too, depending on how quickly I recover. I haven't been this sick in a very looong time:(

On a happier note, I haven't broken in my resolve to not eat sugar, even though I wanted to badly because I missed my test.

Sugar—BAD Not Sugar—GOOD

Well, as far as running goes, last week was a success. I got a lot of my miles in throughout the week instead of clumped near the end, which makes it so much more enjoyable and fun. It also gives me more energy throughout the week. It seems like I wake up, don't feel like doing anything, run, then I feel totally ready for the day. It's amazing!

Well, on Thanksgiving I had dessert. Like a lot of dessert. Then I felt pretty not energetic and lethargic for the next two days. In fact, I'm studying for the LSAT and the Saturday after Thanksgiving I totally bombed my practice test—12 points less than usual, which is a lot! I'm convinced it was the sugar messing with my brain. After not being on it for so long and then reintroducing myself to it certainly made my brain sluggish. So I'm glad I learned that lesson the week before the LSAT instead of the actual LSAT.

To Pie or Not to Pie?

Well, this week was a lot easier because I started on Monday and spread the miles out throughout the week, so I didn't have to worry about getting chunks of mileage near the end of the week. I also didn't dread it either since I knew doing like 1.5 miles at a time is nothing. So this week was awesome. I'll have to do the same next week.

The sugar free thing is still going great. It's funny, I never noticed how much people around me eat sugar until I can't eat it myself. Now it seems people are eating it everywhere!

With the holidays coming, I'm faced with quite a predicament. Should I eat dessert on Thanksgiving and Christmas (pie), or should I torture myself? What do you guys think? Tonight my father-in-law asked me whether I was going to eat sugar for the holidays and I didn't know what to tell him. He makes the most amazing homemade pies, so I know this Thursday is going to present me some delicious opportunities!!! What to do!!!???