Day 54: Yoga; Day 55: Plyo

Okay, okay.  I've really, really messed up this week.  I've messed up with working out, I've messed up with eating, and I've messed up with blogging.  Just plain old messed up.  I took "recovery week" way too literally, and I'm regretting it fully.  At least I'm putting it in writing to remind myself of how not to do my next recovery week. 

So, here's the deal.  I wimped out on plyo yesterday and did yoga again.  BUT--I only did the first half of the yoga workout.  It still counts in my book since that first half is really crazy, but it was still dogging it.  I hang my head contritely. 

I've been eating crap all week.  And wouldn't you know it, my moods have been down in the dumps.  I mean the DUMPS.  Since I started this whole fitness/eating right regimen as a way to combat depression, it's no wonder I was feeling pretty blue when I wasn't working out to my full potential or eating anything that was nutritionally redeeming. 

I woke up this morning with a new resolve.  I can't change this last week.  It's done.  There are a couple extra pounds on the scale to show for it.  I scared myself straight after seeing how quickly I can slide back down that slope.  I didn't realize I was so on the edge, and now, I have to work harder to get away from that edge. 

I did toy with the idea of going full on Body-for-Life, but after looking more into it, I can't do it.  I really can't.  There's just not enough there to keep me going on P90X.  I'm going to get back to doing my food journal, which really helps, and I'm going to pay extra close attention to my portion sizes.  I also need to be more deliberate with eating regularly every couple of hours.  This is the only way to keep myself from full-on bingeing. 

So, with my new resolve, I jumped out of bed and kicked it into high plyo gear.  Really, when you need to adjust your fitness/eating attitude, a good dose of plyo is the way to go.  It's that amazing.  I did it barefoot today to see if that would help the balls of my feet.  It actually went very well.  I was shocked.  I thought it would hurt more.  I've been having some achilles issues, and the no shoes kind of aggravated that.  HOWEVER, that pain was actually easier to work around than the pain I get in the balls of my feet.  So, it was a trade-off. 

This next week will be a totally different week, friends.  There are a couple new workouts on the schedule.  I finally got a pull-up bar and some even stronger bands, so that's going to kick my butt.  I will blog better.  I promise. 

Thank you for being my support system.  I would have quit a while ago if I didn't think there were people that would be kind of sad for me if I did. 

Let's do this!

Days 54 and 55:  Barely brought, but brought nonetheless. 

Day 53: Stretch

Ugh.  I didn't switch it out with yoga.  It's just been one of those days, and it's just going to be one of those blogs.

I came.  I stretched.  I felt good.  Plyo tomorrow. 

Day 53:  Brought. 

Day 52: Kenpo

After all that mental prep yesterday, I took a quick glance at the schedule this morning to find that it's a Kenpo day, not a Plyo day.  I'd be lying if I didn't say I was somewhat relieved.  You know how I love Kenpo, and you know how hard Plyo is.  Well, some of you do.  Some of you have yet to experience it. 

I've started doing Kenpo barefooted.  I was having a lot of trouble with the hip swinging and feet dragging with my rubber soles on carpet.  It's been a vast improvement.  I feel so free!  I'm even kicking faster and hitting harder.  Who'da thunk shoes could hold you back?  Actually, probably a lot of people have thought that.  It's what keeps the shoe industry alive and well. 

There really isn't much to report today.  The workout went really well.  I find myself having to work even harder to get my heart rate up.  When I first started, I simply had to throw one punch, and I was in the zone.  In fact, I'd be blasted out of the zone on the other side.  I had to take it easy on the breaks to get myself back to the zone where it's much safer and my heart won't explode.  Now, I have to do everything they do in the breaks just to keep my rate up in the zone.  It's awesome, my friends, to experience changes like this.  It's internal, granted, but it's awesome. 

Day 52:  Brought. 

Day 51: Core Synergistics

I woke up this morning really, really wanting to stay in bed.  The pain was gone, but I have some residual crankiness.  I was feeling sorry for myself, if I'm being truthful.  There are days when I know the workout that is in front of me and the battle that it can be to endure it, and I just want to give up.  It's so hard.  SO hard.  Especially when my pillow is so, so soft. 

But, I dragged my bad attitude and bad ass out of bed.  It wasn't cheerfully done, but it was done.  What else do you want from me? 

I couldn't help but be a bit smug when I finished with the warm-up and came to the first move.  Staggered hand stacked foot push ups.  People, this is the very first move Tony asked me to do.  This move that seemed so impossible 51 days ago was a cakewalk this morning.  Well, not exactly a cakewalk.  It's still tough, but I don't even flinch at the idea of it anymore.  I don't ask, "You want me to do WHAT?!?" anymore. 

I even find myself talking to Tony like he's in the room.  P90X makes you crazy, friends.  Cuh-RAY-zee.  I just look at him while he sets up each move for me, and I nod and give a lot of "uh huh's" and "okay's" and "no problem's."  I wish that he could pop out of the TV and make adjustments for me like he does with the people on the videos.  Those people who have become almost friends.  Almost. 

Tomorrow's plyo.  Mentally gearing up at this very moment. 

Day 51:  Brought.  Uh huh. 

Day 50: X Stretch

So, once again, yoga eluded me.  Well, I eluded it.  I woke up with some significant pain upon which I will not elaborate.  Suffice it to say, I traded yoga for stretch.  Stretch is part of the weekly routine this week, though, so on stretch day, I'll simply do yoga since the pain should be gone.  Not wimping out.  Just rearranging a bit. 

It was a wise choice, too.  I really do love the X Stretch routine.  Since I still cannot manage to wake my sorry self up on my actual rest days in order to do the stretch, it's nice when it's part of the "rest week" routines.  I also like seeing Phil slightly less intimidating.  I'm pretty scared of him in the other videos.  Scary Phil, the lawyer. 

I've begun researching 10K's, thinking I should have one under my belt between Run for Awareness and Half Marathon.  I cannot wait to get back to running.  I actually miss it.  ME?  Miss running?  Yessireebob.  I do.  I hated it.  Now I love it.  I'm going to go to a real running store and get fitted for real running shoes, too.  That will make my life even more spectacular than it already is. 

Day 50:  Brought. 

Day 49: Rest

This was a great day to rest.  It was our second official day of summer this week.  Third official day of summer all summer long!  It's been a bleak one, but I haven't really minded.  I brace myself for hot weather and just try to endure it until it's over.  If it never comes, well, then I can relax a bit.  BUT--it is nice to see the sun. 

I had an amazing couple of phone calls today.  First, my cousin Nate in Chicago has decided that he is going to fly out here in November and do the half marathon with me!  I mentioned to him last week that I was going to run it.  Next thing I know, he's going to sign up, too.  I am beyond excited for this development.  Nate's a total inspiration.  He tipped the scales at about 300 two years ago (my numbers could be a bit off, but they're definitely ball park).  Now he's svelte and fit and amazing.  This will be his SECOND half marathon this year.  I think if you do two in one calendar year then you can say you've run a whole one. 

Then I had a great talk with my big brother.  Jake's coaching me through P90X.  I know Tony says if I have questions to go to Beach Body dot com, but I've gotta be honest.  It's not a very helpful sight for me.  Jake's more accessible.  Plus, I trust him.  He inspired me with his own marathon training story, and he has encouraged me to the point of believing that the transition from P90X to half marathon is completely manageable.  I can't wait to try out my running legs in September.  Well, first in August at the Run for Awareness. 

Speaking of, Josh?  You still reading?  Lizzie?  I miss your guys' blogs! 

So, it was a fantastically uplifting day.  This week's a "rest" week in that there won't be any resistance training.  Yoga, Kenpo, Plyo.  Yup.  Sounds restful to me. 

Day 49:  Brought. 

Day 47: Legs and Back; Day 48: Kenpo

I owe you all a big apology.  I'm SORRY!  I didn't realize until this moment that I didn't write yesterday.  So, today's a two-fer. 

Yesterday's adventures in leg and back land were amazing.  I'm getting to the point in all the workouts where I'm really, really stepping it up.  I am determined to get the most out of this as possible.  My bum was really sore when it was all over, so I'm thinking I did something right. 

Then, take that sore bum and do Kenpo kicks for 45 minutes.  A-MA-ZING!  Pain was such a deterrent for me for so, so long.  Now, if I don't feel it, I get a little bummed out.  Like, maybe I didn't do it as hard as I could have.  I'm hoping I'm not turning into a crazy person.  It's okay to like the pain associated with a job well done after an awesome workout, right?  RIGHT?  Validation please. 

I upped my Kenpo kicks game today.  I've been telling myself that I'm not ready to keep up, and today I said to myself, "Self, you can keep up."  So, I did.  Seriously that easy.  Of course, when I took my pulse, I was at about 300 beats per minute.  Not really, but my heart was going.  Well, it's going to just have to learn to keep up with me, that's all.  If I can keep up with Tony, my heart can keep up with me.  Easy.  Until it explodes.  Then we may have to switch directions. 

Days 47 and 48:  Brought.  Brought.